Abstract:
A smoke conditioning and filtration system is disclosed. The system mixes smoke created from a burnable substance, such as tobacco or other herbal substances, with liquid vapor. This causes expanding of the inherent hot gases and moisturizing and cooling of the smoke, thereby creating a more pleasurable smoking experience. The system also conditions the smoke produced from tobacco or other herbal substances by filtering out a portion of the particulates and congeals a portion of the oil contained within the smoke. Furthermore, the system blows smoke from a spout, eliminating the need to put one&#39;s mouth on the spout, thus creating a more sanitary smoking experience.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to a corresponding provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/835,286, filed Aug. 3, 2006 in the name of the applicants of this application. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to filtration devices and, more specifically, to a smoke conditioning and filtration system that mixes liquid vapor with smoke to condition and filter the smoke. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    People have been smoking tobacco and other herbal substances as a pastime for years. Using a water pipe for smoking the tobacco and other herbal substances has also been known. However, those previous water pipes simply draw smoke from a bowl down and through a body of stagnant water. This causes only a very marginal amount of cooling of the smoke prior to inhalation by a user. 
         [0004]    Therefore, a need existed for a smoke conditioning and filtration system that agitates liquid and provides for increased cooling of the smoke prior to its inhalation by a user. The smoke conditioning and filtration system allows for conditioning and filtering of the smoke to make it less harsh for the user when it is inhaled. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a smoke conditioning and filtration system that conditions the smoke produced from tobacco or other herbal substances by expanding the inherent hot gases and then moisturizing and cooling the smoke. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a smoke conditioning and filtration system that conditions the smoke produced from tobacco or other herbal substances by filtering out a portion of the particulates and that congeals a portion of the oil contained within the smoke. 
         [0007]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a smoke conditioning and filtration system that blows smoke from a spout, eliminating the need to put one&#39;s mouth on the spout. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0008]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a smoke conditioning and filtration system is disclosed. The system comprises a bowl for containing a burnable substance and a mixing apparatus for mixing liquid vapor with smoke created from the burnable substance, the mixing apparatus being coupled to the bowl. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a smoking pipe is disclosed. The smoking pipe comprises a bowl for containing a burnable substance and a mixing apparatus having means for mixing water vapor with smoke created from the burnable substance. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for conditioning and filtering smoke is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a bowl for containing a burnable substance, providing a mixing apparatus coupled to the bowl, the mixing apparatus comprising: a base for containing an amount of liquid; a fan housed within the base; and a top coupled to the base, agitating the liquid with the fan to create liquid vapor, drawing smoke created from the burnable substance down from the bowl into the mixing apparatus, and mixing the smoke with the liquid vapor. 
         [0011]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a smoke conditioning and filtration system of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mixing apparatus of the smoke conditioning and filtration system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the conditioning and filtration system of  FIG. 1  with the baffle, fan, and  0 -ring gasket shown in phantom lines. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the conditioning and filtration system of  FIG. 1  showing direction of smoke flowing through the bowl, the mixing apparatus, and out the spout. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a baffle that is used with the mixing apparatus of the present invention, shown having a corrugated end. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another baffle used with the mixing apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a bowl and stem used with the conditioning and filtration system of the present invention, shown containing a burnable substance. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the base of the mixing apparatus, shown having batteries as its power source. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a conditioning and filtration system of the present invention, showing an electrical cord coupled to the base of the mixing apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1-9  together show a smoke conditioning and filtration system, hereinafter referred to as smoke conditioning and filtration system  10 . The smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  comprises a bowl  12  and a mixing apparatus  32 . The bowl  12  is dimensioned to contain a burnable substance  26 , such as tobacco and other herbal substances. And the mixing apparatus  32  mixes liquid vapor with smoke created from the burnable substance  26 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1-4  show a smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  in the form of a smoking pipe  10   a.  The bowl  12  has an inwardly tapered first end  14 , a hollow body  16 , and a second end  18 . The inwardly tapered first end  14  is dimensioned to contain a burnable substance  26 , such as tobacco and other herbs, and defines an aperture  15  that leads to the hollow body  16  of the bowl  12 . A porous barrier  28 , such as a screen  28   a,  may be removably coupled within the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12  and coupled above the aperture  15  defined by the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12 . The screen  28   a  would preferably be made of stainless steel or some other suitable material. The porous barrier  28  helps to prevent the burnable substance  26  from descending through the bowl  12  into the mixing apparatus  32 . While it is preferred that the first end  14  be tapered to hold the porous barrier  28  in place, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be achieved from a first end  14  that is not tapered and wherein the porous barrier  28  is permanently coupled within the first end  14 . 
         [0024]    The second end  18  of the bowl  12  may be coupled directly to the mixing apparatus  32 . Or, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the second end  18  of the bowl  12  may be coupled to a hollow stem  20  that connects the bowl  12  to the top  36  of the mixing apparatus  32 . The hollow stem  20  has a first end  22  that is coupled to the second end  18  of the bowl  12  and has a second end  24  that is coupled to the top  36  of the mixing apparatus  32 . The second end  24  of the hollow stem  20  may be permanently coupled to the top  36  of the mixing apparatus  32  or, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the second end  24  of the hollow stem  20  may be removably inserted into a channel  30  defined by the top  36  of the mixing apparatus  32 . Preferably, the hollow stem  20  would be slightly tapered to help ensure an air-tight connection between the second end  24  of the hollow stem  20  and the channel  30  defined by the top  36  of the mixing apparatus  32 . 
         [0025]    The mixing apparatus  32  has a base  34 , a top  36  coupled to the base  34 , and a fan  42  housed within the base  34 . The base  34  is dimensioned to contain an amount of liquid. While the preferred liquid is water, it should be clearly understand that any other suitable liquid may be used. And while it is preferred that the amount of liquid be approximately five milliliters, it should be clear that substantial benefit may be derived from a different amount of liquid. The bottom of the base  34  is shown as having a removable cover  62 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the base  34  having no cover  62 . As shown, the base  34  also has a “power” button  56  that, when pressed, will cause the fan  42  to turn on. 
         [0026]    The top  36  is preferably removably coupled to the base  34 . However, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the top  36  being permanently coupled to the base  34 . And although the top  36  is shown as being dome-shaped, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from a top  36  having an alternative shape. The top  36  also defines an aperture  40  that allows smoke to exit the mixing apparatus  32 . Though not required, a tubular spout  52  may be coupled at one end  54  to the aperture  40  defined by the top  36 . 
         [0027]    A baffle  44  is preferably used to regulate flow of the smoke from the bowl  12  into the mixing apparatus  32 . The baffle  44  has a first end  46  that is coupled to an interior surface  38  of the top  36  and has a second end  48  positioned proximate the fan  42 . Preferably, the second end  48  of the baffle  44  will have a diameter similar to the diameter of the fan  42 , though this is not required. It should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may also be derived from a smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  that did not use a baffle  44 . 
         [0028]    An O-ring gasket  50  is also preferably used to help create a fluid-tight seal between the base  34  and the top  36 . The O-ring gasket  50  will preferably fit within an annular channel  51  that is defined by an interior portion of the base  34  and that surrounds the fan  42 . But it should also be clearly understood that substantial benefit may nevertheless be derived from a conditioning and filtration system  10  that does not use an O-ring gasket  50 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show two embodiments of a baffle  44 . Each baffle  44  has a first end  46  and a second end  48 . In  FIG. 5 , the second end  48  of the baffle  44  is corrugated. This helps to cause greater agitation of the liquid in the mixing apparatus  32 . The arrows in  FIG. 5 and 6  show the direction of the flow of smoke through the baffle  44 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a bowl  12  and a hollow stem  20  coupled thereto. A porous barrier  28  is shown coupled within the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12 . The porous barrier  28  is preferably removable and replaceable, in order to keep the conditioning and filtration system  10  clean and functional. The porous barrier  28  is also shown as suspending the burnable substance  26  above the aperture  15  defined by the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12  and preventing the burnable substance  26  from descending through the bowl  12  and into the mixing apparatus  32 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows the bottom of the base  34  of the mixing apparatus  32  with the cover  62  removed. Two batteries  58  are shown as being the power source for the fan  42 . In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  may have an electrical cord  60  that can be plugged into a wall socket. Further substantial benefit may also be derived from a smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  having a rechargeable base  34  and charger (not shown). Still further substantial benefit may also be derived from the smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  that is manually operated (not shown). 
       Statement of Operation 
       [0032]    To use the smoke conditioning and filtration system  10 , a user will add about five milliliters of water to the base and will couple the top  26  to the base. The user will then insert the hollow stem  20  into the channel  30  defined by the top  36 . A screen  28   a  may be placed within the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12  and an amount of a burnable substance  26  such as but not limited to tobacco may be placed on top of the screen  28   a.    
         [0033]    As the burnable substance  26  is burned with a lighter, a torch or a match, the user will press the “power” button  56  to make the fan  42  spin. When the “power” button  56  is pressed, the fan  42  spins and causes centrifugal agitation of the liquid. This pushes the liquid outwardly toward the sides of the top  36 , which then creates water vapor within the mixing apparatus  32 . The centrifugal agitation of the liquid also creates a vortex within the mixing apparatus  32 , which causes the smoke to be drawn downwardly from the bowl  12  into the mixing apparatus  32 . The smoke is then mixed with the liquid vapor. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , arrows show the direction of the flow of smoke from the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12 , through the aperture  15  defined by the inwardly tapered first end  14  of the bowl  12 , into the hollow body  16  of the bowl  12 , and through the second end  18  of the bowl  12 . The smoke then travels through the hollow stem  20 , through the channel  30  defined by the top  36  of the mixing apparatus  32 , down through the baffle  44 , and toward the fan  42 . Here, within the top  36 , the smoke is mixed with the water vapor. This mixing causes moisturizing and cooling of the smoke. This mixing also causes a portion of the particulates to be filtered out of the smoke and causes a portion of the tar or the oil contained within the smoke to congeal and separate from the smoke. Finally, the smoke is expelled through the aperture  40  defined by the top  36 . If a spout  52  is used, the smoke will also be expelled through the spout  52 . 
         [0035]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the smoke conditioning and filtration system  10  may make noise or music. The system  10  may also be equipped with LED lights or any other lights that will shine or flash.