ASH VAC

Abstract

According to an embodiment a cleaning assembly for a smoking component is provided with a housing and a base. The housing has a proximal end and a distal end. The base is removably coupled to the distal end of the housing. The cleaning assembly is also provided with a first tool member with a stem portion and a head portion. The stem portion of the first tool member is sized to fit within the proximal end of the housing. The cleaning assembly is further provided with an electric drive device oriented within the housing to rotationally oscillate the first tool member about an axis when the first tool member is connected to the housing.

Claims

1. A cleaning assembly for a smoking component, the cleaning assembly comprising: a housing with a proximal end and a distal end; a base removably coupled to the distal end of the housing; a first tool member with a stem portion and a head portion, wherein the stem portion of the first tool member is sized to fit within the proximal end of the housing; and an electric drive device oriented within the housing to rotationally oscillate the first tool member about an axis when the first tool member is connected to the housing.

2. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, further comprising a suction device disposed within the housing for sucking debris from a smoking component.

3. The cleaning assembly of claim 2, wherein the first tool member further comprises an opening associated with the suction device for introducing debris from a smoking component into the housing.

4. The cleaning assembly of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a debris collection compartment for receiving debris sucked from a smoking component by the suction device.

5. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the first tool member further comprises a wire brush connected to the head portion to remove debris from a smoking component.

6. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second tool member with a stem portion sized to fit within the proximal end of the housing and a tapered head portion, wherein the tapered head portion comprises an abrasive surface to remove debris from a smoking component.

7. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the first tool member is removably coupled to the housing and is interchangeable with a second tool member.

8. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, further comprising an attachment member removably coupled to the housing, wherein the attachment member is sized to receive the stem portion of the first tool member.

9. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, further comprising an attachment member connected to the housing, wherein the attachment member is sized to receive the stem portion of the first tool member and wherein the attachment member cannot be removed from the housing.

10. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a cavity sized to receive a filter of a smoking device.

11. The cleaning assembly of claim 10, further comprising a tool member sized to be received within the cavity of the smoking device to aid in removing the filter from the cavity.

12. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing further comprises a threaded region sized to receive and be in threaded engagement with the base.

13. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the electric drive device oscillates at a predetermined speed.

14. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing comprises a circumference and the proximal end of the housing comprises a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the distal end of the housing.

15. The cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a rechargeable electric power source.

16. The cleaning assembly of claim 15, wherein the base further comprises an indicator in communication with the electric power source, to indicate a charge level of the electric power source.

17. The cleaning assembly of claim 16, wherein the indicator further comprises an LED and a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to receive a signal indicative of the charge level of the electric power source and turn the LED on in response to the charge level of the electric power source being below a predetermined threshold.

18. The cleaning assembly of claim 16, wherein the indicator further comprises a plurality of LEDs and a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to receive a signal indicative of the charge level of the electric power source and turn on a selective number of the plurality of LEDs that correspond to the level of charge left in the electric power source.

19. A cleaning assembly for a smoking component, the cleaning assembly comprising: a housing; a first tool member with a stem portion and a head portion, wherein the first tool member is receivably connected with the housing by the stem portion of the first tool member, being operably associated with the housing; and an electric drive device within the housing to oscillate the head portion of the first tool member to enable the head portion to remove debris from a smoking component when the first tool member is operationally received within the housing and the head portion is disposed within a smoking component.

20. The cleaning assembly of claim 19, further comprising a suction device disposed in the housing for sucking debris from a smoking component, the first tool member having an opening associated with the suction device for introducing debris from a smoking component into the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning assembly for a smoking component according to an embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a distal end of the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a tool member used with the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cavity to hold smoking device filters within the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tool member used with the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the base of the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1; and

[0031] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 being used to clean a smoking component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present disclosure known to the inventors. However, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure which may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, rather merely as representative bases for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a cleaning assembly 20 for a smoking device/component is illustrated. The cleaning assembly 20 is provided with a housing 22, having a proximal end 24 and a distal end 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal end 26 is provided with a larger circumference than the proximal end 24 of the housing 22. In an alternate embodiment, the distal end 26 may be provided with a circumference of the same size or smaller than the proximal end 24 of the housing 22. The cleaning assembly 20 is further provided with a base 28 removably coupled to the distal end 26 of the housing 2. The distal end 26 of the housing 22 is provided with a threaded region 60, according to an embodiment, so that the housing 22 is in threaded engagement with the base 28 (best shown in FIG. 2). However, the housing 22 can be connected to the base 28 by any suitable means, according to another embodiment. Furthermore, the base 28 can be integral with the housing 22.

[0034] The cleaning assembly 20 is provided with a first tool member 30. The first tool member 30 has a stem portion 32 and a head portion 34. The stem portion 32 of the first tool member 30 is sized to fit within the proximal end 24 of the housing 22, connecting the first tool member 30 to the housing 22. The head portion 34 of the first tool member 30 is provided with a wire brush 38 to aid in removing resin, tar, and other debris from a smoking component, generally referred to as debris. The head portion 34 of the first tool member 30 also has an opening 72 that allows debris from the smoking component to be introduced into the housing.

[0035] The cleaning assembly 20 is further provided with an electric drive device 36 oriented within the housing 22 to, in at least one embodiment, rotationally oscillate the first tool member 30 about an axis when the first tool member 30 is connected to the housing 22. The rotational movement of the first tool member 30 helps to break up any residue, debris, left in the smoking component. Additionally, while the first tool member 30 is rotating, the cleaning assembly 20 is simultaneously suctioning the debris out of the smoking component into the opening 70 in the head portion 34 of the first tool member 30 and into a debris collection component 74 located within the housing 22 (not shown in the figures). The housing 22 includes a suction device 76 and a communication channel or path that provides fluid communication between the opening 72 in the head portion 34 of the first tool member 30 and the debris collection component 74. The collected debris can be discarded by removing the base 28 from the housing 22. Alternatively, the collected debris can be discarded by an access door that allows communication with the debris collection component 74.

[0036] Typically, manually removing debris from a smoking component is time consuming, thus, the addition of the electric drive device 36 and the suction device 76 makes the process of cleaning a smoking component quicker and more efficient. Further, the ability for the cleaning assembly 20 to suction the debris as a user is cleaning the smoking component also makes the cleaning process faster and more sanitary.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, a second tool member 40 is illustrated. The second tool member 40 is provided with a stem portion 42 and a tapered head portion 44. The stem portion 42 of the second tool member 40 is sized to fit within the proximal end 24 of the housing 22 of the cleaning assembly 20. The tapered head portion 44 is provided with an abrasive surface 46 to aid in removing resin, tar, and other debris from the smoking component. The tapered head portion 44 is illustrated in FIG. 3 with a cylindrical shape, however, any suitable shape may be used. The second tool member 40 is provided with an opening 78 that communicates with the suction device 76, the passage and the debris collection component 74 in the same way as described above with respect to the opening 72 of the first tool member 30.

[0038] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the cleaning assembly 20 is illustrated with two tool members in total: the first tool member 30 and the second tool member 40. However, any number of tool members is contemplated. Additionally, the shape and size of the tool members may vary and the illustrations in FIGS. 1-3 are not intended to be limiting. For example, in an alternative embodiment, a tool member could be provided with a curved tapered head portion that is used to collect and remove resin, tar, and other debris from the smoking component. The curved tapered head portion could be smaller in size than the first tool member 30 and the second tool member 40. The curved tapered head portion could also be provided with sharp edges so that a user may scrape the sides of the smoking component to remove any debris that is stuck in the smoking component.

[0039] Furthermore, the ability for the tool members 30, 40 to be interchangeable provides convenience to the user. Rather than purchasing multiple cleaning devices, a user only has to purchase one device and then can use different tool members to clean various smoking components. This is more cost effective to a consumer and is also more cost effective to a manufacturer in terms of packaging and shipping expenses.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrated an attachment member 54 of the housing 22 of the cleaning assembly 20. The attachment member 54 is connected to the distal end 26 of the housing 22, according to an embodiment. However, the attachment member 54 may be connected to any portion of the housing 22. The attachment member 54 is sized to receive the stem portion 32, 42 of the first tool member 30 and the second tool member 40. This is so that a user may store one of the tool members 30, 40 when the user is not utilizing it. The attachment member 54 may be adjustable in size to accommodate various dimensions of different tool members. The attachment member 54 is removably connected to the housing 22 of the cleaning assembly 20 according to an embodiment. In an alternate embodiment, the attachment member 54 is permanently affixed to the housing 22 of the cleaning assembly 20 and cannot be removed from the housing 22.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 5, the housing 22 of the cleaning assembly 20 is also provided with a cavity 56. The cavity 56 is sized to receive a filter 58 of a smoking device/component. The cavity 56 is provided with a closure piece 70 to keep the filter 58 of the smoking device clean and secured within the housing 22. The cavity 56 may be entirely hollow, allowing the filter 58 to freely sit within the cavity 56. The cavity 56 may also be provided with a clasp or retaining component to hold the filter 58 in place, ensuring that the filter 58 does not fall out of the housing 22 when the closure piece 70 of the cavity 56 is opened. In FIG. 5, the cavity 56 is illustrated located at the distal end 26 of the housing 22, however, the cavity 56 may be located at any portion of the housing 22. The cavity 56 may be provided with a tool member 82, as shown in FIG. 6. The tool member 82 is used to aid a user in removing the filter 58 from the cavity 56 of the housing 22. The tool member 82 is provided with a pointed end 84 and a ribbed or grooved end 86, according to an embodiment. The tool member 82 may be provided with any suitable shape or size that can fit within the cavity 56 of the housing 22. Similarly to the filter 58, the tool member 82 may sit freely within the cavity 56. In an alternate embodiment, the cavity 56 may be provided with a clasp or retaining component to hold the tool member 82 in place, ensuring that the tool member 82 does not fall out of the housing 22 when the closure piece 70 of the cavity 56 is opened. In another alternate embodiment, the tool member 82 may be retained within the attachment member 54 of the housing 22.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, the base 28 of the housing 22 is provided with a rechargeable electric power source 62. The base 28 is also provided with an indicator 64 in communication with the electric power source 62 to indicate a charge level of the electric power source 62. According to an embodiment, the indicator 64 is provided with a controller 66 and an LED 68. According to another embodiment, the indicator 64 is provided with controller 66 and a plurality of LEDs 68. The controller 66 is programmed to receive a signal indicative of the charge level of the electric power source 62 and turn on the LED(s) 68 in response to the charge level of the electric power source 62. When the base 28 is provided with only one LED 68, the controller 66 will turn on the LED 68 in response to the charge level of the electric power source 62 being below a predetermined threshold. In the alternate embodiment when the base 28 is provided with a plurality of LEDs 68, the controller 66 is programmed to turn on a selective number of the plurality of LEDs 68 based on the level of charge left in the electric power source 62.

[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates the cleaning assembly 20 being utilized to clean a smoking device/component.

[0044] It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.