SMOKING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smoking device, which comprises a combustion section and an exhaust line. The combustion section includes a combustion chamber for housing tobacco and the exhaust line has an inlet portion and an outlet portion comprising an inhalation opening. The exhaust line is forming a canal surrounded by a tube wall. The intake, the combustion chamber, the exhaust opening, the canal and the inhalation opening are aligned with the longitudinal axis. Optionally, the combustion wall and the tube wall are also aligned with the longitudinal axis. The combustion section or the combustion section and the exhaust line is/are substantially made from a ceramic material. Such ceramic material could be for example, but not limited to, earthenware, stoneware or porcelain or porcelain containing kaolin. Furthermore, the entire smoking device can have conical outer shape with a substantially continuous outer surface, in particular, the entire smoking device has a truncated conical shape.

Claims

1. Smoking device (1) comprising a combustion section (10) having a combustion chamber (11) for incinerating a suitable substance with a substantially rotational body, a combustion wall (12) surrounding the combustion chamber (11), an intake (14) for charging the combustion chamber (11) with the substance and/or intake air (4), and not more than one single exhaust opening (19) for discharging flue gas (3), and an exhaust line (20) having an inlet portion (21) adjoining an area of the exhaust opening (19) of the combustion section (10) and an outlet portion (23) comprising an inhalation opening (25) for facilitating the inhalation of the flue gas (3), wherein the exhaust line (20) forms a canal (24) surrounded by a tube wall (22) connecting the exhaust opening (19) with the inhalation opening (25), wherein the intake (14), combustion chamber (11), the exhaust opening (19), canal (24) and inhalation opening (25), and more particularly the combustion wall (12) and tube wall (22), are aligned with respect to one longitudinal axis (8), and wherein the combustion section (10) or combustion section (10) and the exhaust line (20) is/are substantially made from a ceramic material.

2. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first combustion thickness (d11) of the combustion wall (12) is smaller than a first tube thickness (d21) of the tube wall (22) being measured in the inlet portion (21).

3. Smoking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first combustion thickness (d11) measured in an area of the intake (14) is smaller than a second combustion thickness (d12) of the combustion wall (12) measured in an area of the exhaust opening (19).

4. Smoking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first tube thickness (d21) is larger than a second tube thickness (d22) of the tube wall (22) measured in the outlet portion (23).

5. Smoking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein an inner diameter (D11) and the body of the combustion chamber (11), a diameter (D24) of the canal (24), the thicknesses (d11, d12, d21, d22) are determined such, that the smoking device (1) has at least partially a conical outer shape with a substantially continuous outer surface (6), and a maximum outer diameter (D10) of combustion section (10) is larger than a maximum outer diameter (D20) of the exhaust line (20).

6. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a diameter (D24) of the canal (24) is between 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

7. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter (D11) of the combustion chamber (11) measured at the intake (14) is 16 mm to 13 mm, a length (L11) of the combustion chamber (11) measured from the intake (14) to the exhaust (19) in longitudinal direction (5) is 13 mm to 27 mm, the first combustion thickness (d11) is less than 1.5 mm, and/or wherein the exhaust line (20) has a length (L20) of 40 mm to 80 mm.

8. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the combustion section (10) and the exhaust line (20) are integrally formed as one piece from the same material.

9. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the combustion section (10) and the exhaust line (20) are formed as separate components, which can be assembled with a connection arrangement (7), and by this jointly forming the smoking device (1), wherein the combustion section (10) and the exhaust line (20) are designed such, that an outer shape of the connection arrangement (7) has a continuous transition and/or a transition without steps, and/or wherein the connection arrangement (7) is formed as a plug-in arrangement, wherein the combustion section (10) can be at least partially plugged into the exhaust line (20) by a movement in longitudinal direction (5), or vice versa.

10. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber (11) forms an intake portion (15) with a first inner surface (17) adjoining the intake (14) and an exhaust portion (16) with a second inner surface (18) leading to the exhaust opening (19), the smoking device (1) comprising restraining means (30) with an effective portion (31), which is at least partially located within the exhaust portion (16) for preventing particles to reach into the canal (24).

11. Smoking device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the effective portion (31) has a roundish shape, wherein an effective diameter (D31) of the effective portion (31) and an inner diameter (D16) of the exhaust portion (16) are determined such, that the restraining means (30), when mounted within the combustion chamber (11), are circumferentially supported by the second inner surface (18) providing a venting gap (v) in longitudinal direction (5) between the effective portion (31) and the exhaust opening (19) of 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

12. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the combustion section (10) or the combustion section (10) and the exhaust line (20) is/are made from technical ceramics, porcelain, porcelain containing kaolin, earthenware or stoneware.

13. Smoking device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the outer surface (6) does not comprise, in a longitudinal sectional view, a step or any relevant irregularity.

14. Smoking device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the diameter (D24) is between 2.8 mm to 3.2 mm.

15. Smoking device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the inner diameter (D11) is between 14 mm to 15 mm, the length (L11) is 15 mm to 25 mm, the first combustion thickness (d11) is less than 1.25 mm, and/or the length (L20) is 50 mm to 70 mm.

16. Smoking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter (D11) is 14.5 mm, the first combustion thickness (d11) is less than 1 mm, and/or the length (L20) is 55 mm to 65 mm.

17. Smoking device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the venting gap (v) is 1 mm to 2 mm.

18. Smoking device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the venting gap (v) is 1.5 mm.

19. Restraining means (30) for a smoking device (1) according to claim 10 comprising an effective portion (31) having a roundish shape with an effective diameter (D31).

20. Restraining means (30) according to claim 19, comprising a holder (32) attached to the effective portion (31), wherein, when the restraining means (30) are mounted within the combustion chamber (11), the holder (32) extends at least partially in longitudinal direction (5) through the combustion chamber (11) and protrudes the intake (14), and wherein the holder (32) comprises a hook portion (33) which interacts with the combustion wall (12) for fixing a position of the restraining means (30) with respect to the combustion section (10).

21. Restraining means (30) according to claim 19, wherein the effective portion (31) is formed from a wire being rolled up in a spiral-coil-formed shape, wherein the wire is made from steel, and/or has a thickness (s) of at least 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

22. Restraining means (30) according to claim 21, wherein single windings of the effective portion (31) are spaced with respect to each other by a gap (g) of at least 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

23. Restraining means (30) according to claim 18, wherein the wire has a thickness of 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm.

24. Restraining means (30) according to claim 18, wherein the wire has a thickness of 0.8 mm.

25. Restraining means (30) according to claim 19, wherein the gap (g) is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

26. Restraining means (30) according to claim 19, wherein the gap (g) is 0.15 mm.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0053] The attached figures display various embodiments and thereby serve in conjunction with the description for explaining the principles of the invention. Single features depicted in the figures are shown relatively with regard to each other and therefore are not necessarily to scale.

[0054] Similar or same elements in the figures, even if displayed in different embodiments, are represented with the same reference numbers.

[0055] FIG. 1 depicts a first embodiment of the smoking device in an overview;

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view on the combustion section and the inlet portion of the smoking device according to FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a detailed view on the combustion section of a second embodiment of the smoking device;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a detailed view on of the combustion section of a third embodiment of the smoking device;

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the smoking device; and

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the smoking device.

EMBODIMENTS

[0061] With the help of FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the smoking device 1 is presented. Overall, the structure of the smoking device 1 is designed rotationally symmetrical with a longitudinal axis 8 and comprises a combustion section 10 and an exhaust line 20.

[0062] In the following, any given information with regard to location or spatial arrangements is referenced to the longitudinal axis 8, for example, a longitudinal direction 5 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 and a radial direction is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 8. Additionally, any terms like upside/downside, upper/lower shall be understood in accordance to the position of the smoking device 1 in the figures.

[0063] The combustion section 10 and the exhaust line 20 are connected with each other and integrally formed as one piece from the same ceramic material.

[0064] The combustion section 10 houses the combustion chamber 11, which is adapted for receiving tobacco 2. Said combustion chamber 11 is at least partially formed by a combustion wall 12, which is a structural component of the combustion section 10 and is surrounding the combustion chamber 11.

[0065] A bottom area of the combustion section 10 is connected with an inlet portion 21 of the exhaust line 20, wherein the exhaust line 20 further comprises a tube wall 22 forming a canal 24 and an outlet portion 23 having an inhalation opening 25. Hence, an intake 14 of the combustion chamber 11 is aerodynamically connected with the inhalation opening 25 of the outlet portion 23 of the exhaust line 20.

[0066] Furthermoreas also shown in FIG. 2 , restraining means 30 are placed within the combustion section 10, wherein the restraining means 30 comprise an effective portion 31, a holder 32 and a hook portion 33. When placed in the combustion chamber 11, the restraining means 30 is supported by an inner surface 18 of the combustion chamber 11 such, that a venting gap v is formed between an exhaust opening 19 of the combustion chamber 11 and the effective portion 31. Meanwhile, the holder 32 extends through the combustion chamber 11, and is protruding the intake 14 of the combustion section 10 with the hook portion 33. The hook portion 33 provides additional fixing of the restraining means 30 to the combustion section 10.

[0067] The restraining means 30 are made from a steel wire having a thickness s, wherein the effective portion 31 is formed by coiling the steel wire in form of a spiral. The manufacturing of the restraining means 30 is configured such, that a gap g is formed between the single windings of the coil of the effective portion 31, wherein the gap g has a size of at least 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, most preferably 0.15 mm.

[0068] According to the embodiment, a preferred thickness s of the wire of the restraining means 30 can have a thickness of at least 0.5 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm, most preferably 0.8 mm.

[0069] When tobacco 2as shown in FIG. 1is placed and incinerated in the combustion chamber 11, while air is sucked through the smoking device 1, intake air 4 gets into the combustion chamber 11 and supports the combustion of tobacco 2. The combustion process generates flue gas 3, which reaches from the combustion chamber 11 into the canal 22 passing the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust line 20. Eventually, the flue gas 3 exits the smoking device 1 through the inhalation opening 25 of the outlet portion 23. With the help of the restraining means 30 it is prevented, that particles of the tobacco 2 or ash of the combustion reaches into the canal 24.

[0070] With the help of FIG. 2 the following design details of the combustion section 10 are explained: according to the first embodiment, the combustion chamber 11 can be structured in an intake portion 15 and an exhaust portion 16, wherein both portions jointly form the combustion chamber 11. The intake portion 15 comprises the intake 14 and a first inner surface 17 of the combustion wall 12, and the exhaust portion 16 has the second inner surface 18 and is connected to the exhaust opening 19. The first inner surface 17 and the second inner surface 18 jointly form the inner combustion surface of the combustion section 10.

[0071] The intake portion 15 has mainly a truncated cone shape, wherein the neighbouring exhaust portion 16 has at least partially a, preferably roundish, half-cup shape and leads from the intake portion 15 to the exhaust opening 19. In a longitudinal sectional view, the second surface 18 is designed with two different radii R1 and R2. Preferably, the second radius R2 is smaller than the first radius R1.

[0072] Alternatively, the embodiment of the combustion chamber 11 can be described as well with the help of a general inclination angle of the first inner surface 17 and the second inner surface 18. FIG. 2 showsin a longitudinal sectional viewthat the second inner surface 18 is inclined with regard to the longitudinal axis 8 by an angle , wherein the first inner surface 17 is inclined by an angle . The present form of the embodiment of the smoking device 1 according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is represented by the fact, that angle is larger than angle .

[0073] An inner diameter D16 of the exhaust portion 16 is smaller than an inner diameter D11 in an area of the intake 14.

[0074] The shape of the exhaust portion 16 is carefully determined according to an effective diameter D31, and vice versa, such, that a position of the effective portion 31 of the restraining means 30 in longitudinal direction 5 enables the existence of the venting gap v. Preferably, the venting gap is between 0.5 mm to 3 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm, most preferably 1.5 mm.

[0075] The combustion section 10 is connected to the inlet portion 21 of the exhaust line 20, wherein a thickness d12 of the combustion wall 12 in an area of the exhaust portion 16 is larger than a thickness d11 of the combustion wall 12 in an area of the intake portion 15. Hence, the thickness of the combustion wall 12 is increasing from the intake 14 towards the exhaust opening 19.

[0076] A thickness d21 of the tube wall 12 in an area of the intake portion 21 is larger than thickness 12 of the combustion wall 12 of the exhaust portion 16. This design of the combustion wall 12 and/or of the tube wall 22 means a thickening of the combustion 12 towards the inlet portion 21. The thickened combustion wall 12 and/or tube wall 22 is functioning as a heat barrier for thermal energy generated by the combustion of tobacco 2. Thus, heat entering the combustion wall 12 is more likely to radiate into the ambient of the combustion section 10 passing the outer surface of the combustion section 10, than to be conducted through the combustion wall 12 into tube wall 22.

[0077] The various thicknesses d11, d12, d21, d22, of the combustion wall 12 or of the tube wall 22 and the outer diameters D10 of the combustion section 10 and the diameter D20 of the exhaust line 20 are carefully chosen such, that the outer surface 6 of the smoking device 1 is continuous and does not comprise any steps or further irregularity. Furthermore, the outer surface and the outer shape of the smoking device 1 have a slight concave form.

[0078] With the help of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 alternative embodiments with regard to the shape of the combustion chamber 11 of the smoking device 1 are disclosed. Design details of these embodiments which are mainly the same as in the embodiments according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will not be repeated, but only differing functional and/or design features referring to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are going to be outlined:

[0079] The combustion chamber 11 of the second embodiment of the smoking device 1 shown in FIG. 3 has a slim structure wherein the second inner surface 18 of the exhaust portion 16 has, in longitudinal sectional view, only one radius R1, wherein the first inner surface 17 of the intake portion 15 comes with a truncated coned shape.

[0080] The dashed lines in FIG. 3 present an alternative embodiment, wherein the first inner surface 17 and the second inner surface 18 arein longitudinal sectional viewstraight.

[0081] In contrast to the second embodiment according to FIG. 3, the third embodiment according to FIG. 4 has a rather small combustion chamber 11, wherein the radius R1 of the second surface 18 is smaller than the radius R1 in the embodiment according to FIG. 3.

[0082] Alternativelyas shown with the dashed lines , the entire radial inner surface of the combustion wall 12 is straight and comprises no radius or curve, but a flat bottom section.

[0083] A fourth and a fifth embodiment of the smoking device 1 are shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, wherein both represent a two-parted version of the smoking device 1. The combustion section 10 is a sole component which can be connected via a connection arrangement 7 to the exhaust line 20. According to both embodiments, the combustion section 10also referred to as the combustion headcan be inserted with the help of a movement in longitudinal direction into the exhaust line 20.

[0084] According to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the connection arrangement 7 is designed such, that no steps or irregularity of the outer surface 6 are present; the outer surface 6 is smooth and comprises a slight concave form.

[0085] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications and may be embodied in various forms within the gist thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments and modifications corresponding to the technical features according to the aspects described in the Summary of the Invention section may be replaced or combined as appropriate to solve some or all of the above-described problems or obtain some or all of the above-described effects. The technical features may also be omitted as appropriate unless they are described as being essential in this specification.

REFERENCES

[0086] 1 smoking device [0087] 2 tobacco [0088] 3 flue gas [0089] 4 intake air [0090] 5 longitudinal direction [0091] 6 outer surface [0092] 7 connection arrangement [0093] 8 longitudinal axis [0094] 10 combustion section [0095] 11 combustion chamber [0096] 12 combustion wall [0097] 14 intake [0098] 15 intake portion [0099] 16 exhaust portion [0100] 17 first inner surface [0101] 18 second inner surface [0102] 19 exhaust opening [0103] 20 exhaust line [0104] 21 inlet portion [0105] 22 tube wall [0106] 23 outlet portion [0107] 24 canal [0108] 25 inhalation opening [0109] 30 restraining means [0110] 31 effective portion [0111] 32 holder [0112] 33 hook portion [0113] L11 length combustion chamber [0114] L20 length tube [0115] D10 outer diameter combustion section [0116] D11 diameter combustion chamber [0117] D16 diameter exhaust portion [0118] D20 outer diameter tube [0119] D24 diameter [0120] D31 effective diameter [0121] d11 first combustion thickness [0122] d12 second combustion thickness [0123] d21 first tube thickness [0124] d22 second tube thickness [0125] v vent gap [0126] s thickness of wire [0127] g gap between windings [0128] R1 radius [0129] R2 radius [0130] angle [0131] angle