Device and Method for Forming Smokable Materials

Abstract

A device and method of forming smokable materials are disclosed. The device may include a puck, which may be configured to at least partially pass through a channel defined by a die from one end of the die. The die and the puck are configured such that smokable material may be placed within the die from that end and compressed by the puck against a substantially rigid surface proximal to the other end of the die. The puck may be pushed through the channel in the die using a feature that provides mechanical advantage. The puck and die may also be attached to or may be part of a press, such as a t-handle press. A spacer may also be included to maintain a minimum height of the compressed smokable material. The device is configured such that the compressed smokable material may be inserted into the oven of a vaporizer.

Claims

1. A device for forming smokable material, comprising: a puck with at least one side and a first footprint which has a first area; a die which has a longitudinal axis and a first length and wherein the die defines a first open volume, wherein the first open volume has a second footprint with a second area, the die has a first end defining a first opening, and the die has a second end defining a second opening; and a translating element; wherein the puck is configured to substantially conform to a third footprint of a second open volume defined by an oven of a vaporizer, the third footprint has a third area, the first open volume is configured to substantially conform to and surround the at least one side of the puck, and the translating element is configured to translate the puck substantially along the longitudinal axis.

2. The device according to claim 1, further wherein the device provides mechanical advantage when translating the puck along the longitudinal axis.

3. The device according to claim 2, further wherein the translating element is part of a press.

4. The device according to claim 3, further wherein the press is a t-handle press.

5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a spacer which is configured to at least partially surround a translating feature of the t-handle press, wherein the spacer is further configured to impede the motion of the translating feature of the t-handle press when material which has been inserted into the die is compressed to a desired height.

6. The device according to claim 1, further wherein the first end of the die comprises at least one chamfered surface.

7. The device according to claim 3, further wherein the press comprises a body which has a second length, and wherein the second length is less than the first length.

8. The device according to claim 3, further wherein the press comprises a body which has a second length and a bottom cap which has a third length.

9. The device according to claim 8, further wherein the first length is less than the sum of the second length and the third length.

10. The device according to claim 3, further wherein the press comprises a first removable bottom cap which has a first substantially rigid bottom surface.

11. The device according to claim 10, further wherein the first removable bottom cap may be replaced by a second removable bottom cap which has a second bottom surface which defines a third opening having a fourth area at least equal to the first area.

12. The device according to claim 11, further wherein the device is configured to resist the translation of the die along the longitudinal axis through the third opening.

13. The device according to claim 1, further wherein the puck and the die are removable from the device.

14. The device according to claim 1, further wherein the device is configured to compress smoking material sufficiently wherein the smoking material may be removed from the device while substantially maintaining a compressed configuration.

15. The device according to claim 14, further wherein the compressed configuration has a fourth footprint having a fourth area, wherein the fourth area is smaller than the third area.

16. The device according to claim 1, further wherein the first footprint is substantially circular.

17. The device according to claim 1, further wherein the puck comprises at least one curved surface and at least one substantially planar surface.

18. A method of forming smokable material, comprising: inserting smokable material at least partially into a first open volume defined by a die through a first opening defined by a first end of the die; inserting a puck at least partially into the first opening; and compressing the smokable material against a first surface proximal to a second end of the die by translating the puck at least partially through the first open volume along a longitudinal axis defined by the die; wherein the puck is translated along the longitudinal axis by means of a translation element, the translation element provides mechanical advantage in translating the puck along the longitudinal axis, and the die and puck are configured to compress the smokable material into a form configured to substantially conform to a second open volume defined by an oven of a vaporizer, the form further having a first volume which is less than a second volume of the second open volume.

19. A kit of parts adapted for use in forming smokable materials, comprising: a puck with at least one side and a first footprint which has a first area and is configured to substantially conform to a second footprint of a first open volume defined by an oven of a vaporizer; and a die which defines a second open volume, wherein the second open volume has a third footprint and further wherein the second open volume is configured to substantially conform to and surround the at least one side of the puck; wherein the second footprint has a second area, the third footprint has a third area, and the first area is less than the second area.

20. The kit of parts according to claim 19, further comprising a t-handle press and a spacer component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is now disclosed in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the device of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a front sectional view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a front sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the device of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the device of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a front top isometric view of another embodiment of the device of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the puck of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a front top isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the puck of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the die of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the embodiment of the die of FIG. 8;

[0031] FIG. 10 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the spacer of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 11 shows a front top isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the spacer of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 12 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the bottom cap of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 13 shows a top view of the embodiment of the bottom cap of FIG. 12;

[0035] FIG. 14 shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the bottom cap of the present disclosure; and

[0036] FIG. 15 shows a front sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the device of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in the Figures and are explained in the following description in more detail, wherein identical reference numbers refer to identical, or similar, or functionally identical or similar components.

[0038] Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features or those previously described are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

[0039] Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the device 100. The device 100 includes a t-handle 110 which further includes a threaded rod 115. The t-handle 110 may thread into and through a top cap 120, which may be attached to a main body 130. The main body 130 may be attached to a bottom cap 140. It should be understood that other types of devices 100 may not utilize a t-handle 110, but may be actuated through other means. Additionally, other means of imparting mechanical advantage that do not require a threaded rod 115 may also be used, such as a lever arm. The top cap 120 and main body 130 may be unitary, though it may be preferable to have two distinct removably attachable components for easier use.

[0041] A sectional view of the device 100 is shown in FIG. 2. The device 100 may include a puck 150 which may be translated through the device 100. The puck 150 is shown separate from the t-handle 110 in general and the threaded rod 115 in particular. It should, however, be understood that the puck 150 may be removably or permanently connected to the t-handle 110 or may be unitary with it. The puck 150 may also be fixedly or rotatably connected to the threaded rod 115.

[0042] A die 160 is shown substantially within the main body 130. While having the die 160 as a separate and removable component presents advantages, including allowing for the use of existing commercially available main bodies 130, it should be understood that the die 160 may be unitary with the main body 130. The die 160, as shown in FIG. 2, has substantially the same length as the main body 130, though other lengths, including both longer and shorter ones, may also be used.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the device 200, where the die 260 has a longer length than that of the main body 230. In this embodiment, the die 260 is close to the same length as the combined length of the main body 230 and the bottom cap 240, though it is shorter than the combined length of the top cap 220, the main body 230, and the bottom cap 240.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a front top isometric view of another embodiment of the device 300. A spacer 370 is shown partially surrounding a portion of the length of the threaded rod 315. The spacer 370 limits the translation of the threaded rod 315 and the t-handle 310 when the threaded rod 315 is threaded through the top cap 320. Different heights of spacers may be used to create different amounts of compression of the smokable material. The spacer 370 is shown with an open configuration, such that it can be slid on or off of the threaded rod 315 without requiring separation of the threaded rod 315 from the top cap 320. FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the device 400 with an alternate spacer 470. This alternate spacer 470 may be permanently connected to top cap 420 or the t-handle 410. The alternate spacer 470 may be slidably connected to the threaded rod 415. The alternate spacer 470 may also be removable from the threaded rod 415, though it may require disconnecting the threaded rod 415 from the top cap 420.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the puck 550. The puck 550 has a footprint which is substantially circular, though other shapes of footprints may be desirable for compatibility with differed vaporizers or to allow for different air flow and gaps within the oven of a vaporizer. FIG. 7 shows an alternate puck 650 which has curved and linear features to its footprint.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the die 760, such as one that might be configured to be used with the puck 650 of FIG. 7. The die 760 may define a channel 761 which may pass through the length of the die 760. The die 760 may also feature a chamfered surface 762 on an end, enabling a user to fill or partially fill the channel 761 of the die 760 more easily or with less likelihood of spilling smokable material. FIG. 9 shows a top view of the die 760 of FIG. 8.

[0047] FIG. 10 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the spacer 870 of the present disclosure, with a closed configuration, which may require disassembly at least part of the device 400 to remove the spacer 870. FIG. 11 shows an alternate spacer 970, with an open configuration. The spacer 970 may be removed from the device 300 without requiring disassembly of the device 300.

[0048] FIG. 12 shows a front top isometric view of an embodiment of the bottom cap 1040. The bottom cap 1040 may substantially conform to the shape of the main body 130, or it may have a different footprint, such as hexagonal or octagonal, in order to more easily be attached to or removed from the main body 130. FIG. 13 shows a top view of the bottom cap 1040, wherein the bottom cap 1040 is substantially solid. FIG. 14 shows a top view of an alternate bottom cap 1140. The alternate bottom cap 1140 defines an opening 1141 which may be configured to allow passage of all or a substantial portion of a compressed packet of smokable material while resisting passage of a die 160.

[0049] FIG. 15 shows a front section view of another embodiment of the present device 1100. The puck 1150 is connected to the threaded rod 1115. The puck 1150 may be connected by various means known in the art, such as pinning, welding, a press fit, or deformation. In the embodiment shown, the puck 1150 is connected to the threaded rod 1115 by means of one or more pins 1151. If a recess is provided along the circumference of the threaded rod 1115 which is sized equal to or larger than the pin 1151, and is off-axis from the axis passing through the threaded rod 1115, then the puck 1150 may be able to rotate around the threaded rod 1115 while translating along with it. The one or more pins 1151 may be removable, or may be attached to the puck 1150 or threaded rod 1115 by means of a press fit, welding, adhesive, deformation, or other means known in the art. In an embodiment where the puck 1150 is connected to the threaded rod 1115 but is not able to rotate around it, it may be preferable to have the die 1160 configured so as to be able to rotate relative to the main body 1130, thus allowing the die 1160 and the puck 1150 to remain in relative alignment. Where the puck 1150 is connected to the threaded rod 1115, it may be preferable to use an at least partially open spacer 1170 which can be slid off of the threaded rod 1115 without requiring disassembly of the device 1100.

[0050] An opening 1141 is defined by the bottom surface of the end cap 1140. In the embodiment shown, the opening 1141 is sized and shaped to allow for expulsion of compressed smokable material while not permitting the die 1160 to be passed out through the opening 1141. At least one chamfered surface 1161 is shown at the top end of the die 1160 in this embodiment, allowing for easier insertion of uncompressed smokable material into the die 1160.

[0051] While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claimed coverage.