Pipe Smoking Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A pipe smoking apparatus consists of a malleable metal wire having a linear proximal end wherein the proximal end is connected to an insulating handle, a linear distal end wherein the distal end is configured to be inserted into the draft hole of a pipe bowl, and a plurality of helical coil windings, the plurality of helical coil windings between and connecting the linear proximal end to the linear distal end configured to create a chamber which may be surrounded by tobacco or a tobacco-like substance with gas passages into the said chamber formed from the said helical coil windings. Use of the pipe smoking apparatus involves inserting the distal end of the pipe smoking apparatus into the draft hole of a pipe bowl; loading tobacco, tobacco-like substance and/or concentrates so as to surround the helical coil windings; applying a heat source to the tobacco or tobacco-like substance; applying a partial vacuum to the pipe bowl by inhaling or drawing on a pipe; and manipulating the tobacco or tobacco-like substance by manipulating the handle so as to stir and/or lift the contents of a pipe bowl and to clean the pipe when finished.

Claims

1. A pipe smoking apparatus consisting of: a malleable metal wire having a linear proximal end wherein the proximal end is connected to an insulating handle; a linear distal end wherein the distal end is configured to be inserted into the draft hole of a pipe bowl in a manner where a user may manipulate the pipe smoking apparatus by manipulating and/or lifting the insulating handle so as to stir and/or lift the contents of a pipe bowl and to clean the pipe when finished; and a plurality of helical coil windings, the plurality of helical coil windings between and connecting the linear proximal end to the linear distal end configured to create a chamber which may be surrounded by tobacco or a tobacco-like substance with gas passages into the said chamber formed from the said helical coil windings.

2. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the metal wire may vary.

3. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the number of helical coil windings may vary.

4. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the metal is steel or steel alloy.

5. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the metal is silver or a silver alloy.

6. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the metal wire may be shaped into a handle.

7. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the said pipe smoking apparatus may be shaped.

8. An apparatus for smoking tobacco, tobacco-like substances and/or concentrates of tobacco and tobacco-like substances in a in a pipe, waterpipe or hookah comprising a bowl, a chamber, a draft hole, a stem, and a bit or mouthpiece, the apparatus consisting of: a malleable metal wire having a linear proximal end wherein the proximal end is connected to an insulating handle; a linear distal end wherein the distal end is configured to be inserted into the draft hole of a pipe bowl in a manner where a user may manipulate the pipe smoking apparatus by manipulating and/or lifting the insulating handle so as to stir and/or lift the contents of a pipe bowl and to clean the pipe when finished; and a plurality of helical coil windings, the plurality of helical coil windings between and connecting the linear proximal end to the linear distal end configured to create a chamber, the outside of which may be surrounded by tobacco or a tobacco-like substance with gas passages into the said chamber formed from the said helical coil windings.

9. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the thickness of the metal wire may vary.

10. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the number of helical coil windings may vary.

11. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the chamber may accommodate a wrapped tobacco concentrate inside the space created by the helical coil windings

12. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the metal is steel or steel alloy.

13. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the metal is silver or a silver alloy.

14. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the said pipe smoking apparatus may be shaped.

15. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the proximal end of the metal wire may be shaped into a handle.

16. The pipe smoking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the said pipe smoking apparatus may be sold as a pre-packaged unit with tobacco, tobacco-like substances and/or concentrates mixed and surrounding the helical coil windings.

17. A method of smoking tobacco, tobacco-like substances and concentrates in a pipe, waterpipe or hookah comprising a bowl, a chamber, a draft hole, a stem, and a bit or mouthpiece using a pipe smoking apparatus comprising the steps of: a. inserting the distal end of the pipe smoking apparatus into the draft hole of a pipe bowl; b. loading tobacco, tobacco-like substance and/or concentrates so as to surround the helical coil windings; c. applying a heat source to the tobacco or tobacco-like substance; d. applying a partial vacuum to the pipe bowl by inhaling or drawing on a pipe; and e. manipulating the tobacco or tobacco-like substance by manipulating the handle so as to stir and/or lift the contents of a pipe bowl and to clean the pipe when finished.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising inserting a wrapped concentrate inside the chamber created by the helical coil windings.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of creating a purge valve by gently lifting the pipe smoking apparatus.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of using the pipe smoking apparatus to clean a pipe bowl, a chamber, a draft hole, a shank, a joint, a stem, and a bit or mouthpiece when finished.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention directed by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

[0019] FIG. 1A is a top view of a prior art pipe bowl screen.

[0020] FIG. 1B is a cross sectional view of a pipe bowl and a prior art screen loosely fitting into a pipe bowl.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a pipe containing the pipe smoking system in use in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be understood that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, a reference to an element is a reference to one or more elements and includes all equivalents known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word or should be understood as having the definition of a logical or rather than that of a logical exclusive or unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0029] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described. But any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein should also be understood to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.

[0030] References to one embodiment, an embodiment, various embodiments, etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics. However, not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Further, repeated use of the phrase in one embodiment, or in an exemplary embodiment, do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment although they may. A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] Concentrates are products made from certain smokable plants that have been processed to keep only the most desirable plant compounds, while removing excess plant material and other impurities such as the stems and seeds. Concentrates may be mixed with smokable material to increase the potency of the material being smoked or they may be used to add or enhance the flavor. Alternatively, concentrates may be smoked as a separate material. Concentrates may assume differing forms ranging from a loose, yet resinous dust to semi-solid wax-like compounds to liquids having the consistency of oils.

[0032] As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation of a pipe smoking apparatus and method of use. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art.

[0033] The exemplary pipe smoking apparatus and method will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1A is a top view of a typical prior art pipe screen 100. Such a screen is typically made from a mesh of a metal such as brass or stainless steel, with a set thickness, and are sold as circular discs.

[0035] FIG. 1B is a cross sectional view of a pipe bowl with a folded pipe screen 100 inside. A traditional prior art pipe screen is shaped or folded into a conical or parabolic shape 102 to prevent a mass of tobacco or a tobacco-like substance 104 from entering and clogging the draft hole of a pipe bowl. When a partial vacuum is applied to a pipe by drawing, air flows through the mass of a tobacco or tobacco like substance and then through the conical or parabolic shaped screen.

[0036] Because pipe screens are made of metal and metal alloys, pipe screens are often difficult to mold to the shape of a pipe bowl. Many times, screens must be carefully folded and manipulated so as to create a proper fit inside a typical pipe bowl. Furthermore, numerous pipe bowls are made of materials having a low coefficient of sliding friction. As such, pipe screens often slide out of the bowl or slide clear of the draft hole making use of the pipe difficult and potentially hazardous.

[0037] FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A representation of a generic pipe bowl 202 and shank and/or stem 204 are illustrated. Situated inside the bowl and standing up vertically is the exemplary pipe smoking apparatus 206. The pipe smoking apparatus may be held in place under its own weight, by the distal end resting in the pipe stem. The bowl chamber 208 may also serve to support the pipe smoking apparatus.

[0038] The pipe smoking apparatus 206 comprises a malleable metal wire having a linear proximal end 210, a linear distal end 212 and a plurality of helical coil shaped windings 214 situated between the and connecting the linear proximal end to the linear distal end with a chamber 216 formed from the shaped windings. In other words, the chamber is the space inside the shaped windings. The chamber 216 is represented by dashed lines. Gas passages into the chamber 216 are created by the coil windings having a space between the said windings. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that there are numerous means of making such windings from metal wire. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a helical coil configuration is employed where three windings are used. However, a number greater or less than three coils may be used depending largely on the type of smoking pipe is used and the shape of the coils. The metal wire may be made from a number of metals or metal alloys such as, but not limited to, iron, steel, stainless steel, silver, silver alloys, copper or copper alloys. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the malleable metal wire's thickness is 20 AWG (American Wire Gauge). However, the malleable metal wire's thickness may vary and may be bent or shaped into a number of configurations to suit a user's needs. The pipe smoking apparatus allows for efficient air passage through the smoking material, the coil windings and into the chamber 216 and ultimately into the draft hole 218.

[0039] The pipe smoking apparatus further comprises an insulating handle 220 attached to the proximal end. It will be apparent to persons having skill in the art that the insulating handle may be attached by adhesives, or it may be welded, or it may be attached by threading the proximal end 210 through the insulating handle 220. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulating handle is made of glass. However, numerous other materials such as, but not limited to, ceramic, gemstone, stone, wood or crystal may be used. In some embodiments of the invention, the insulating handle may take on the shape of a sphere or an icosahedron or other polyhedron. The insulating handle may serve as a thermal insulator so as to protect the user's hand and fingers when operating. In alternative embodiments, the handle may be a flat shape. In certain embodiments of the invention, the distal end 222 of the pipe smoking apparatus may be a flat or blunted shape. In other embodiments of the invention, the distal end 222 may take on a triangular, blade shape. In even more embodiments of the invention, the distal end 222 may take on a pointed shape. The distal end of the wire may also be cut by the user to accommodate various pipe bowls and pipe stem lengths.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this view, the pipe smoking apparatus has been inserted into a pipe bowl. The pipe smoking apparatus may be held in place under its own weight, by the inner wall of the pipe stem 204 and the bowl chamber 208 surrounding the apparatus. Smokable material 302 may further hold the apparatus in place. In this view, gas passages 304 are shown as being created with the empty spaces between the helical coils 214. A chamber 216 is shown as being created by the helical coil shaped windings. The chamber allows for smoke to pass from the smokable material 302 through the gas passages 304 into the chamber 216 and ultimately into and through the pipe stem 204 and ultimately to the user of the pipe, waterpipe or hookah.

[0041] The pipe smoking apparatus is depicted as resting at a slight angle in FIG. 3. Embodiments of the pipe smoking apparatus may function at varying angles depending on the dimensions of the pipe bowl and pipe stem as well as the user's manipulation of the apparatus. As opposed to typical pipe screens, the pipe smoking apparatus is designed to be moveable while in use. A user may twist the apparatus while drawing air through a pipe A user may lift the apparatus while drawing air through a pipe. A user may rotate the apparatus while drawing air through a pipe. A user may move the apparatus in a conical/frustoconical manner while drawing air through a pipe. Such motions may allow a user to manipulate the smokable material 302 so as to facilitate combustion as well as provide a consistent flow of smoke from the smokable material 302 through the gas passages 304 into the chamber 216 and ultimately into and through the pipe stem 204.

[0042] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the exemplary pipe smoking apparatus. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention may be customized in numerous ways. In this embodiment, an icosahedral handle 402 has been attached to the distal end. Additionally, a knife shaped scraping tool has 404 been shaped on the distal end. Persons having skill in the art will recognize that the distal end may be shaped in numerous ways so as to provide for a better cleaning tool or for the pipe smoking apparatus to nestle in a pipe stem.

[0043] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the exemplary pipe smoking apparatus. In this embodiment, a disc-shaped handle 406 has been attached to the distal end. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a shaped handle may accommodate a logo 408 for advertising purposes. Additionally, a point ended tool 410 has been shaped on the distal end.

[0044] Alternative embodiments contemplated as within the scope of the present invention are variations of the number of wire coils. Furthermore, the shape of the coils need not be limited to a purely helical and cylindrical shape. Alternative shapes for the coil could be spherical, frustoconical or truncated in nature.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pipe smoking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, a tobacco, tobacco-like substance or a concentrate may be wrapped in thin, smokable paper otherwise known as rolling paper by persons having skill in the art. This wrapped mixture of a tobacco, tobacco-like substance or a concentrate wrapped in thin, smokable paper may be smoked by itself or it may be placed in a pipe bowl and surrounded by a mixture of tobacco, tobacco-like substance and/or a concentrate. In an alternative embodiment, the pipe smoking apparatus may be sold as a pre-packaged unit with varying types and/or mixtures of tobacco, tobacco-like substances and/or concentrates mixed and ready to smoke. Wrapping paper, rolling paper or a plastic wrap may surround the tobacco, tobacco-like substances and/or concentrates mixed and surrounding the helical coil windings. All a user would have to do is insert the distal end of the pre-packaged unit into a draft hole of a pipe, unwrap or burn off the wrapping material and proceed with smoking.

[0046] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a typical pipe containing the exemplary pipe smoking system and a hand manipulating the tobacco or tobacco-like substance by manipulating the insulating handle. Use of the pipe smoking apparatus involves inserting the distal end of the pipe smoking apparatus into the draft hole of a pipe bowl; loading tobacco, tobacco-like substance and/or concentrates so as to surround the helical coil windings; applying a heat source to the tobacco or tobacco-like substance; applying a partial vacuum to the pipe bowl by inhaling or drawing on a pipe; and manipulating the tobacco or tobacco-like substance by manipulating the handle so as to stir and/or lift the contents of a pipe bowl and to clean the pipe when finished. Alternatively, a wrapped mixture of a tobacco, tobacco-like substance or a concentrate wrapped in thin, smokable paper may be smoked by itself or it may be placed in a pipe bowl and surrounded by a mixture of tobacco, tobacco-like substance and/or a concentrate in a manner consistent with the aforementioned use of the exemplary pipe smoking apparatus.

[0047] The helical coil windings create smoke passages from the coils as well as the aperture in the coil itself which allows smoke to pass from the chamber into the draft hole and into the pipe stem. Concentrates of tobacco and tobacco-like products may be applied directly to the coils and the distal end of the apparatus then inserted into the draft hole so as to slide the apparatus in place. Heat or an open flame is then applied to the material, while the user draws or inhales the combusting smoke. The user may manipulate the tobacco-like substance by manipulating the insulating handle when desired. The pipe smoking apparatus may be gently lifted by the insulating to provide a purge valve from pipes with larger smoke chambers such as hookahs and waterpipes. The pipe smoking apparatus may optionally be used as a pipe cleaning tool should the need arise.

[0048] Having fully described at least one embodiment of the exemplary pipe smoking apparatus and method, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing the pipe smoking apparatus and method according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the pipe smoking apparatus and method may vary depending upon the particular context or application.

[0049] By way of example, and not limitation, the pipe smoking apparatus and method described in the foregoing patent application is principally directed towards a standard tobacco pipe. However, similar techniques may instead be applied to water pipes or hookahs or specialty glass and ceramic pipes, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.

[0050] Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not others, persons skilled in the art will understand that this is for convenience. Each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words including, comprising, having, and with as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively, and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims to be added at a later date.

[0051] All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0052] Any amendment presented during the prosecution of the application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the description or claims to be filed. Persons skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass each and every equivalent.