Abstract:
Electric heat for generating smoke from tobacco or the like in a hookah type smoking pipe. Electric heat is obtained from an electrically powered heating element which may be placed proximate the tobacco. The heating element may be contained within a housing which in turn may be placed above the smoking chamber of the hookah. The housing may have adjustably damped holes disposed to pass air over the heating element. Electrical circuitry serving the heating element may comprise a step down transformer and a voltage adjusting switch. The heating element may be integral with the hookah, may take the form of a separate component which is mountable over the smoking chamber of the hookah, or may comprise a free standing assembly which may be placed to stand adjacent to the hookah.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/393,286 filed Feb. 26, 2009, and claims the benefit of priority thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to water pipes for smoking combusted materials, of the type known as hookahs, and more particularly to an electric heating source for hookah type smoking pipes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hookah water pipes have long been used in smoking using combusted materials such as tobacco. As traditionally practiced, a hookah provides a water receptacle having an inlet conduit and at least one and often several outlet conduits. Smoke enters the water receptacle through the inlet conduit and is distributed to individual smokers through the outlet conduits, which are typically connected to hoses. Smoke is generated in a bowl in which a combustible substance such as tobacco is placed. A heat source is placed over the tobacco. In traditional practice, ignited charcoal may be used as the heat source. 
         [0004]    Heating the tobacco generates smoke, which is drawn into the water receptacle through a supply conduit. The supply conduit is arranged to terminate below the level of the water within the water receptacle to assure filtration of raw smoke obtained from the bowl. The act of breathing air from the head space of the water receptacle induces partial vacuum in the head space, which in turn draws in smoke from the bowl through the supply conduit. 
         [0005]    This arrangement requires that a fuel such as charcoal be provided and suitably ignited. This heat source must be maintained during smoking so that the combustible material is suitably roasted. It is possible for products of combustion, such as volatile gasses and ash to be conducted into the water receptacle along with smoke which intentionally generated by heating the tobacco or other combustible material. 
         [0006]    It is difficult at best to regulate the output of a combustion based heat source. Also, smoke and other products of combustion may be objectionable within a closed room or building. 
         [0007]    Use of electric heating sources has been proposed. There remain issues of control of heat output and limitation of potentially hazardous voltages in an electric heating source for a hookah style water pipe. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention replaces combustion of fuel as the heat source in a hookah type water pipe in favor of electric heat. The electric power source and optional controller for the electric heater may take any one of several forms. In one form, the power source may be removably placed in the bowl or otherwise suspended from or supported on the hookah. A second form is to make the electric power source integral with the bowl or other part of the hookah. A third form is to provide the electric power source as a free standing assembly which is separate from the hookah, although operably disposed to heat a combustible such as tobacco and to conduct smoke from the heated combustible to the water receptacle of the hookah. 
         [0009]    The electric supply may be controlled such that the wattage consumed is variable. Optionally, a thermostatic control may be provided to control wattage and heat output. In another option, a manual variable switch may be used to control wattage and heat output. 
         [0010]    The heating element may comprise an exposed resistive element, or may comprise a covered resistive element, such as a light bulb. 
         [0011]    Another heating control is regulation of air flowing past the heat source to tobacco or the like which is to be smoked. Regardless of the nature of the power supply and its controller, the electric heater may have a damper to control air flow through holes formed in the top of the heater and holes formed in the side of the heater. 
         [0012]    It is an object of the invention to eliminate burning a fuel in a hookah as a heat source for roasting a combustible material such as tobacco. 
         [0013]    Another object of the invention is to utilize electrical power at inherently safe voltages. 
         [0014]    A further object of the invention is to control the amount of heat which is produced by an electric heater. 
         [0015]    Still another object of the invention is to regulate air flow through the heater. 
         [0016]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0017]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a hookah using an electrical heat source for generating smoke according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a hookah using an electrical heat source according to at least a second aspect of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged detail view of an alternative to the component seen at the top of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail view of an alternative to the component seen at the bottom of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a hookah and a separate, free standing electric heater, according to a further aspect of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a heater which may be used with a hookah according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top view of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative form of a heater such as the heater of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a side cross sectional view of another heater which may be used with a hookah according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a side view of another heater which may be used with a hookah according to a further aspect of the invention, partially in section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a hookah type water pipe  100  having an electrical heat source for generating smoke. The hookah type water pipe  100  may comprise a conventional hookah  10  which comprises a liquid chamber  12 , a smoking chamber  14  for receiving a combustible substance such as tobacco  16  and for generating smoke (not shown) by subjecting the tobacco  16  to heat. As employed herein, the term “chamber” will be understood to encompass both an enclosed space for performing a specified function and also surrounding structure such as walls, floor, etc., as may be necessary to define and maintain structural integrity of the enclosed space. 
         [0030]    In conventional hookahs, heat is generated by placing charcoal (not shown) above or within the smoking chamber  14 . The charcoal may be contained in a partially open cage (not shown) which is placed on the tobacco  16  or otherwise in heat exchange relation thereto. The charcoal is ignited. Heat from the burning charcoal is exposed to the tobacco  16 . The tobacco  16  is partially combusted, thereby generating smoke. As employed herein, the term “heat exchange relation” will be understood to define any location in which an electric heater may expose a combustible substance to enough heat that the combustible substance partially combusts, thereby generating smoke (for example, in direct contact with, separated by a barrier, above, or below the combustible substance). 
         [0031]    Smoke is drawn through a smoke supply conduit  18  disposed to conduct gasses and smoke from the smoking chamber  14  to the liquid chamber  12 . Smoke is discharged into the liquid chamber by partial vacuum induced when a person (not shown) using the hookah  10  inhales through a smoking conduit  20  disposed to conduct cooled gasses and smoke from the smoking chamber  12  to the person smoking using the hookah  10 . A hookah such as the hookah  10  may have more than one smoking conduit  20 , including for example the smoking conduit  22 . This enables the hookah  10  to be used for smoking simultaneously by more than one person. The smoking conduits  20 ,  22  may comprise flexible hoses. 
         [0032]    It will be seen in  FIG. 1  that the liquid chamber  12  is partially filled with water W. The water W is sufficient in volume to cover the lower open end  24  of the smoke supply conduit  18 . When a person inhales through a smoking conduit  20  or  22 , a partial vacuum is induced in the headspace H of the liquid chamber  12 . Smoke and gasses such as air drawn from the smoking chamber  14  pass through the water W and are cooled thereby prior to passing to the headspace H. Inhalation continues until the person inhales cooled smoke from the headspace H. Vacuum levels within the liquid chamber  12  may be moderated by an air valve  26  which incorporates a check valve (not separately shown) adapted to allow air to pass from the exterior of the hookah  10  to the headspace H. The unidirectional nature of the check valve prevents smoke and gasses from exiting the liquid chamber  12  through the air valve  26 . 
         [0033]    The smoking conduits  20 ,  22 , the conduit  28  serving the air valve  26 , and the smoke supply conduit  18  pass through a gasket  30  which is arranged to close the top of the liquid chamber  12  and to pass the smoke supply conduit  17 , the conduit  28 , and each one of the smoking conduits  20 ,  22  from the liquid chamber  12  to the exterior thereof while sealing the smoking chamber  12  against loss of smoke residing therein. 
         [0034]    In a traditional hookah such as the hookah  10 , a plate  32  projects or radiates outwardly from the smoke supply conduit  18  between the smoking chamber  14  and the gasket  30 . Also in a traditional hookah such as the hookah  10 , the tobacco  16  is contained in a bowl  34 , which bowl  34  may serve as the lower portion of the smoking chamber  14 . The upper portion of the smoking chamber  14  may have a covering member (not shown), may comprise the previously mentioned cage for containing burning charcoal, or may be open to the atmosphere. 
         [0035]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower refer to the orientations depicted in the referenced drawing figures. In turn, the drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, such as supported on a horizontal tabletop or desktop. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way. 
         [0036]    To further characterize conventional configuration of traditional combustion based hookahs, when the hookah type water pipe  100  is in an operable position resting on a generally horizontal supporting environmental surface, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid chamber  12  is the lowermost component and the smoking chamber  14  is located above the liquid chamber  12  in vertical registry therewith. Also, the liquid chamber,  12 , the gasket  30 , the smoke supply conduit  18 , and the smoking chamber  14  are generally coaxial and disposed in vertical registry with one another. 
         [0037]    An electric heater  36  may be disposed in heat exchange relation to the smoking chamber  14 . The electric heater  36  may comprise an electric supply circuit (not shown in its entirety, but seen in the view of  FIG. 1  to include a supply conductor  38  and an electrical resistive heating element  40  which is connected to the supply conductor  38 ). As employed herein, the terms “circuit” and “circuitry” will be understood to encompass all conductors, components, and connections necessary to accomplish the described functions regardless of whether all such conductors, components, and connections are explicitly shown or described. Similarly, conductors shown or described in the singular will be understood to comprise more than one conductor where necessary to make function operational. 
         [0038]    The electric supply circuit may be disposed to obtain electrical power at a first voltage and to supply electrical power to the resistive heating element  40  at a second reduced voltage, as will be further explained hereinafter. 
         [0039]    The electric heater  36  may comprise a support element which holds the heating element  40  at a predetermined constant orientation relative to the smoking chamber  14  when the user is smoking, and a mounting element disposed to mount the support element and the heating element  40  to the smoking chamber  14 . The mounting element may enable manual removal of the support element and the heating element  40  from the smoking chamber. 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 1 , the support element may be that part of the housing  42  which grips the heating element  40 . The mounting element may be that part of the housing  42  comprising a depending skirt  44  which, when the electric heater  36  is lowered into engagement with the bowl  34 , is retained by gravity or by friction or by both. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a hookah type water pipe  200  wherein structure corresponding to the electric heater  36  is integral with the smoking chamber  214 . The smoking chamber  214  may be the structural and functional equivalent of the smoking chamber  14  of  FIG. 1 . The same holds true for smoking conduits  220 ,  222 , an air valve  226 , and a gasket  230 . 
         [0042]    The smoking chamber  214  provides a place to hold a combustible substance such as tobacco  16 . An electric heating element  240  is held to the upper wall of the smoking chamber  214  such that heat radiated therefrom impinges upon the tobacco  16 . The side wall of the smoking chamber  214  may have openings  246  for passage of air into the smoking chamber  214 . 
         [0043]    The hookah type water pipe  200  may comprise a base comprising an electrical chamber  248  for containing a voltage adjuster such as a step down transformer  250  and a plug and cord assembly  252  which is connected to the transformer  250  and which projects from the electrical chamber  248  so as to reach a standard 120 volt electrical receptacle (not shown) of a building (not shown). The circuitry which connects the plug and cord assembly  252  to the electric heating element  240 , not shown in its entirety, thereby supplies electrical power to the electrical heating element  240  at reduced power from the 120 volt source. The circuitry may include a switch  254 . 
         [0044]    Voltage reduced from that of conventional 120 volts may be derived not only by use of the transformer  250 . For example, a hookah such as the hookah  200  may comprise instead a conventional battery charger (not shown) which in addition to rectifying household AC power to DC power, also reduces the voltage. Reduced voltage may be obtained by incorporating a voltage divider (not shown) into the circuitry, by introducing resistors (not shown) into the circuitry, or in any other suitable way. 
         [0045]    Referring momentarily to  FIG. 3 , the voltage adjuster contained within the electrical chamber  248  may comprise a conventional dimming switch  350  which is adjusted by a dial operator  354 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows an arrangement wherein a heating element may comprise one or more incandescent lamps  440 A,  440 B. Incandescent lamps  440 A,  440 B may be fabricated from materials which withstand fair high temperatures, so that despite their usual usage as light sources, the incandescent lamps  440 A,  440 B may be employed as heat sources. The housing  442  of the heater  436  may be ceramic and may house those portions of electrical supply circuitry which is omitted from view in  FIG. 4 . The heater  436  may in other ways be the structural and functional equivalent of the heater  36  of  FIG. 1 , for example. 
         [0047]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a hookah type water pipe arrangement includes a hookah  500  which may be for example similar to the hookah  10 . The hookah  500  may be a free standing assembly which is served by an electric heater  536  comprising a free standing base  502 , a rigid generally vertical post  504  disposed to project upwardly from the base  502  when the base  502  is placed on a generally horizontal supporting environmental surface (not shown), and an electrical conductor  506  which projects from the vertical post  504  and extends to a heater head. The electrical conductor  506  may be flexible. The heater head comprises a housing  542  which encloses a heating element  540 . The electrical conductor  506  is part of a circuit which is disposed to conduct electrical power to the heating element  540 , and to enable the heater head to be placed over the smoking chamber  514  of the hookah  500  while the base  502  of the heater  536  rests on the generally horizontal supporting environmental surface beside the hookah  500 . This is similar to how the heater  36  of  FIG. 1  is placed over the smoking chamber  14  of its respective hookah  10 . It will be seen that the electrical conductor  506  projects from the vertical post  504  at a height about equal to that of the smoking chamber  514 , whereby length of the electrical conductor  506  is minimized while enabling operation when the hookah  500  and the electric heater  536  are placed on the same generally horizontal supporting environmental surface. 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a heater for a hookah type water pipe, such as the heater  36 , may comprise a selectively variable damper arrangement disposed to regulate volume of air flow over the heating element, such as the heating element  40 . A heater  636  may comprise a housing  642  which further comprises a top wall  643  and a perforated closure  645  having a top wall  655 . The top wall  643  may have one or more openings  647  (concealed in  FIG. 6 , but shown in  FIG. 7 ). The top wall  655  of the closure  645  may have corresponding openings  649 . The closure is movably mounted on the tope wall  643 , being rotatable about an axis A in  FIG. 6  when grasped and manipulated by a projecting handle  651 . As the closure  645  is rotated, the openings  649  come into registry with and move out of registry with the openings  647  of the top wall  643 . The openings  647  and  649  are disposed to communicate between the electrical heating element and the exterior of the heater housing  642 , thereby enabling air to pass over the electrical heating element. This arrangement of adjustably positioned overlying openings selectively damps or throttles air flow into the heater  636  and over the heating element (not shown) by varying the effective area of the holes  647  and  649  which overlie one another. Of course, the holes  647  and  649  may be moved entirely out of registry to close the holes  647  and  649  to air flow. 
         [0049]    The heater  636  may be similar to the heater  36  of  FIG. 1 , having supporting structure (not shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and electrical circuitry serving the electric heating element (not shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). This circuitry may include any of the features of the circuitry described with respect to the previously presented drawing figures and their respective subject matter. The housing  642  may partially envelop the electrical heating element in that the heating element may be covered at the top and at the sides, as depicted for the heater  36  in  FIG. 1 . The heating element is left uncovered at the bottom so that heat emanating from the heating element will heat combustible substances such as tobacco  16  which has been placed in the smoking chamber of the associated hookah, such as the hookah  10  of  FIG. 1 . The heater  636  may have a depending skirt  644  which serves to retain the heater on the bowl or corresponding structure of an associated hookah such as the hookah  10  when the heater  636  is mounted on the associated hookah. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  shows a heater  736  which is similar in function to the heater  636 . However, in the heater  736 , air passage openings  747  and  749  are formed on the respective side walls  755  and  753  of the heater housing  742  and the adjustable closure  745 . The closure  745  may be rotatable about an axis A by grasping and manipulating a projecting handle  751 . 
         [0051]    A heater such as the heaters  636  and  736  may have air passage openings formed on both side walls such as the side walls  753  and  755  and also on the top walls such as the top walls  643  and  655  if desired. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  shows a heater position adjustment feature which may be introduced to a heater such as the heater  36 . The heater adjustment feature may selectively vary proximity of the heating element from the floor of the smoking chamber, with the effect of varying proximity of a combustible substance such as tobacco  16  to the heating element of the heater. 
         [0053]    A heater  836  may comprise an upper member  860  and a lower member  862  which slidably interfit. The lower member  862  may have a side wall  864  and a depending skirt  844 . The depending skirt may be dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the bowl or smoking chamber of an associated hookah, such as the hookah  10  of  FIG. 1 . The lower member  862  may have a shoulder  866  which limits vertical motion of the upper member  860  by interference. 
         [0054]    The upper member  860  may comprise a top wall  843  to which is mounted a heating element  840 . A side wall  868  may be dimensioned and configured to fit closely to the side wall  864  of the lower member  862 . The side walls may have dimensions and surfaces arranged such that friction between the outer surface  870  of the side wall  868  and the inner surface  872  of the side wall  864  will resist spontaneous or unintended movement therebetween, while still enabling manual force to reposition the upper member  860  and the lower member  864  as desired. Such adjustment, indicated by an arrow B in  FIG. 9 , varies proximity of the heating element  840  to for example tobacco  16  contained within the smoking chamber of a hookah to which the heater  836  has been mounted. The tobacco  16  is shown representatively, and may be supported in the position shown in  FIG. 9  but not by the heater  836 . For example, the tobacco  16  may be supported by the floor of a bowl, such as the bowl  34  of  FIG. 1 , of the hookah, or may be contained in a cage (not shown) supported by the bowl. 
         [0055]      FIG. 10  shows a ceramic heater  936  which may be seen as a direct replacement for the charcoal which is traditionally used in conventional hookahs. The ceramic heater  936  may be contained in a partially open cage above or within the smoking chamber, similar to the smoking chamber  14  of  FIG. 1 . The ceramic heater  936  may be placed either directly on the tobacco or otherwise in heat exchange relation thereto. 
         [0056]    The ceramic heater  936  may be similar to the one manufactured by Hotwatt, Inc., and constructed in like fashion. The ceramic heater  936  may comprise a ceramic body  901 , terminated at both ends by the ceramic end seals  904 . The ceramic heater  936  may encase a resistance wire element  902 , packed within a heating element  903 , such as magnesium oxide, that effectively converts the electricity received through the wire element  902  into heat. Either end seal  904  of the ceramic heater  936  may be terminated with flexible insulated lead wires  905 . The flexible insulated lead wires  905  may lead into a voltage adjuster, similar to the voltage adjuster shown in  FIG. 3 , and may ultimately terminate with a plug and cord assembly, such as the plug and cord assembly  252  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0057]    While the ceramic heater may utilize a simple plug and cord assembly to be plugged directly into a traditional 120 volt outlet, the voltage adjuster will provide means for a user to vary and control the heat output of the ceramic heater  936  at the user&#39;s impulse. The circuitry of the ceramic heater  936  and voltage adjuster may include any of the features of the circuitry described with respect to the previously presented drawings and figures and their respective subject matter. It should be appreciated that the ceramic heater  936  may be used in conjunction with the selectively variable damper arrangement, such as the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0058]    The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, although the invention has been described as obtaining electrical power using cord and plug assemblies such as the cord and plug assembly  252 , it would be possible to provide electrical storage devices such as an electrochemical cell, a battery of such cells, a capacitor, a super capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or any combination of these devices. 
         [0059]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.