Abstract:
An adaptor system for smoking apparatus such as hookah water pipes that allows for the expansion of the number of hoses available for use with the smoking apparatus by providing a novel connecting means that allows for converting a single hose hookah to a hookah having a plurality of hoses, the system including a means for filtering and flavoring vapors.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/624000 filed on Apr. 13, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally relates to an adaptor system for smoking apparatus such as hookah water pipes. More particularly, the adaptor system allows for the expansion of the number of hoses available for use with the smoking apparatus by providing a unique connecting means that allows for converting a single hose hookah to a hookah having a plurality of hoses. 
         [0004]    2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
         [0005]    Hookah and similar types of water pipes are well known and have a long tradition of use for smoking flavored tobaccos in social and ceremonial settings. Traditional water pipe smoking apparatus provide for a receptacle or chamber for holding a volume of water and collecting vapor. A down-stem is inserted through the top of the chamber using a grommet and extends down into the chamber below the waterline. A tight seal between the chamber and grommet is desirable in order to minimize any unintended air flowing into the chamber. A bowl is secured to the top of the down-stem, which extends above the top opening of the chamber. The bowl is loaded with tobacco then covered in a small piece of perforated aluminum foil or a glass or metal screen. One or more hoses are inserted into holes of the chamber above the waterline or through the grommet. Hoses are preferably a slender flexible tube that allows the smoke to be drawn from a short distance away from the chamber. The end of the hose is typically fitted with a metal, wooden, or plastic mouthpiece of various shape, size, color or material type. The mouthpiece is used for ease drawing air through the hose and for ornamental appeal. 
         [0006]    Lit coals are placed on top of the bowl containing tobacco. When one inhales through the mouthpiece, it draws air through the hose and lit charcoal into the bowl holding the tobacco. The hot air, heated by the charcoal ignites the tobacco, thus producing smoke vapor, which is passed down through the down-stem into the chamber. Smoke bubbles up through the water, losing heat, and filling the top part of the chamber, to which the hose is attached. When a smoker inhales from the hose, smoke and vapor passes into the lungs, and the change in pressure in the chamber pulls more air through the charcoal, continuing the process. 
         [0007]    Traditional hookah pipes have a single hose extending from the base or attached through a grommet which is inserted into the neck of the chamber. U.S. Pat. No. D403,106 discloses a hookah design having multiple hoses, but using multiple hoses can cause undesirable air flow through the chamber. With multiple hoses, air can be drawn into the chamber from the second or other additional hose rather than through the down-stem and bowl. For this reason, single hose designs have continued to predominate. 
         [0008]    Check valves have been used to regulate water and air flow when multiple tubes are used. When air is drawn on one hose the back pressure on the remaining hoses, spring or other mechanical mechanism will cause a valve to close forcing air to be drawn from the stem and bowl. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/489,114 discloses a smoking apparatus having a valve system. However, these designs still are generally permanently built into the design of the smoking apparatus and are susceptible to a buildup of oils and resins from the tobacco, causing clogging of the valve. Since the valve is not readily accessible, they cannot be easily cleaned rendering the hookah useless. 
         [0009]    Hookah tobacco, called shisha comes in many flavors. However, when sharing a hookah, the user is limited to the flavor of tobacco loaded in the bowl. Therefore a need exist for a system that allows for multiple tobacco flavors in a single smoking apparatus when multiple users share. 
         [0010]    Therefore a need exists to provide a means for conversion of a traditional hookah type smoking apparatus having a single hose to one with a plurality of hoses without creating adverse air flow and pressure gradients. Further a need exist for a system that is easily cleaned without disassembly of the entire valve structure. The present teachings provide such a system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hose adaptor system for smoking apparatus such as hookah water pipes. The adaptor system allowing for the increase in the number of hoses available for use with the smoking apparatus without modifying the smoking apparatus by providing a connecting means that allows for converting a single hose hookah to a hookah having a plurality of hoses. 
         [0012]    In one aspect of the invention, a system is provided that includes a chamber suitable for containing filtering materials such as water, mesh, charcoal or silica gel granules. The filtering material is used to cool and purify undesirable substances from a vapors created by a smoking apparatus. The chamber filtering material can be infused with a variety of herbs, spices, oils and similar substance that will influence the taste, color or smell of the vapors. The chamber can be made from any suitable material that can be formed into any shape conducive to accepting the filtering materials and accepting the hose mount grommet. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention disclosed is a valve system that regulates the internal air flow of a smoking apparatus to allow for efficient draw of vapors when multiple users are simultaneously smoking. 
         [0014]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided that allows a plurality of users to personalize the flavor of smoking vapors. Smokers can select a flavor from a plurality of different flavors cartridges. The selected cartridge is inserted into a shared chamber. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will be more readily understood by reference to the following figures, in which like reference numbers and designations indicate like elements. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a smoking apparatus hose adaptor system according to the present teachings. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates further details of an embodiment of smoking apparatus hose adaptor system according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a smoking apparatus hose adaptor system of the present teachings. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  illustrates yet another embodiment of smoking apparatus hose adaptor system according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of smoking apparatus hose adaptor system of the present teaching. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments disclosed. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The hose adaptor will now be described in detail, with reference made to FIGURES. 
         [0022]    Now with reference to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment of the invention, the system  10  provides for a generally globe shaped chamber  12 . It will be recognized that the chamber is not limited to a globe shape and can be of any suitable or preferable shape. The chamber  12  can be made of any suitable or preferable material such as clay, glass, plastic, metal or other material that is capable of being shaped or formed. The chamber  12  incorporates a plurality hose grommet tubes  14  proximately located on the distal hemisphere of the globe chamber  12  for accommodating the insertion of a plurality of hose bits  16 . The grommets  14  are permanently formed into openings (not shown) within the chamber  12  and are generally flared with a rubber or silicon rim  15  to allow for a tight fit of a hose bit  16  when pressed into the grommet  14 , allowing for a tight seal for preventing the leakage of air. The grommets  14  may be made of any suitable material, but are preferably made of a hardened plastic or metal. The material is generally the same material as the chamber  12 . 
         [0023]    Each hose  18  is place into the grommet  14 , and is preferably flexible and may have a hose cover and a mouth piece (not shown) on the distal end. The hose is generally a length that allows for easy smoking when sitting near the hookah. 
         [0024]    Within each grommet  14  is a ball valve  24  that regulates the flow of air so that air flows only in one direction, from the hookah to the hose  18 . The valve  24  also prevents the back flow of air from unused hoses  18  when only one of the hoses  18  is drawn upon. It is contemplated that the valve  18  can be any type of a number of well-known valves, including a ball valve, diaphragm valve, a swing valve or tilting disc valve. 
         [0025]    Generally, at the proximal hemisphere below the equatorial plane of the globe  12  is a single pipe insertion stem  20  that extends from the globe  12  a distance sufficient to allow for insertion into the hose port  22  of the hookah pipe. The insertion stem  20  is hollow and permanently affixed to the globe  12  to allow air flow through the globe  12  and is tapered for insertion into the hookah hose port  22 . When the system  10  is inserted into the hookah hose port  22  the hookah can accommodate a plurality of hoses  18 . 
         [0026]    As previously discussed, the traditional hookah or similar smoking apparatus have a single hose or stem for smoking, which is placed in a hose grommet or inserted into a hole on the hookah. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the traditional single hose is removed from the hookah and the insertion stem  20  of the invention is inserted into the hose port  22  of the traditional hookah. This allows for multiple hoses to be used with a single hose hookah pipe. The insertion stem  20  may also incorporate a grommet so that a tight seal is formed when inserted in the hookah pipe. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the hose adaptor  20 . The adaptor  20  may be separated into an upper hemisphere  22  and a lower hemisphere  24 , each hemisphere having a threaded portion  26  that allows for the opening and separation of the adaptor  20 . Interior to the adaptor  20  is an area that may incorporate a filter system. The filter can simply be filtering material  28  placed within the adaptor interior. The filter system can also incorporate a cage  30  where filter material is inserted into the cage  30  and the cage  30  is then clipped into the lower hemisphere  24 . 
         [0028]    The grommets  34  extend to interfaces with the filter material  28  so that all vapors from the hookah flow through the filter material  28  prior to the vapors flowing to the hose, removing impurities or toxins from the vapors. The adaptor interior can accommodate a variety of filtering material  28  and may be infused or accommodate various herbs, spices or oils to flavor the vapors prior to being inhaled. 
         [0029]    In an alternative embodiment the filter can be a canister  40  that is removably inserted into the interior of the insertion stem  32 , which may be removably attached to the chamber by threads, into the chamber through a dedicated whole on the lower hemisphere of the globe  24 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3A , illustrates an embodiment with three and four grommets, which allow for additional hoses.  FIG. 3B , illustrates a similar embodiment where no grommet is used and the hose bit is inserted directly into a port on the body of the chamber. 
         [0031]    Now with reference to  FIG. 4 , in another alternative embodiment of the inventive hose adaptor system  40 , a chamber  42  can be placed on a table or other stable location within proximity of the hookah  44 . The chamber  42  comprises a canister with a sealed removable cover  46 . The cover comprises a top side and a bottom side. The cover further comprises a cover grommet  48  with a stem  50  extending from the top side through to the bottom side into the interior of the chamber  42 . The cover grommet  48  accepts the insertion of the hookah hose  52  from a traditional single hose hookah  44  on the top side and the stem  48  extends from the bottom side of the grommet into the filter material  54 . The cover also has a plurality of hose grommets  56  extending from the top side of the cover for insertion of a plurality of smoking hoses  58  that allow users to draw vapors from the hookah. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the location of the holes for each of the grommets is not critical and is a matter of design choice, and the disclosed embodiment is but one example of locations that can be used. The hose  58  includes a threaded portion  60  that allows for attachment of a mouth piece  62  by threading the mouth piece  62  to the threaded portion  60 . A cartridge  64  can be accepted into the mouth piece  62 . The cartridge  64  can contain additional filtering material or a flavoring substance. The cartridge is placed in the mouth piece  62  or alternatively can be placed in the grommet  56  of the chamber  42  and a hose  58  is then fitted into the hose grommet of the flavor cartridge  64 . This allows the flavor cartridge to be placed between the chamber and the added hose and provides for a unique flavor for each of the users from a single hookah. A filter cage  66  contains the filter material  54  is contained within the interior of the chamber  42 . The attachment of the filter cage  66  may be by threads, clips or any other well-known attachment means. Each hose grommet  56  has a ball valve (not shown) for providing one way flow of vapors. 
         [0032]    The foregoing description illustrates exemplary implementations, and novel features, of aspects of an apparatus for accessing a security system. Alternative implementations are suggested, but it is impractical to list all alternative implementations of the present teachings. Therefore, the scope of the presented disclosure should be determined only by reference to the appended claims, and should not be limited by features illustrated in the foregoing description except insofar as such limitation is recited in an appended claim. 
         [0033]    While the above description has pointed out novel features of the present disclosure as applied to various embodiments, the skilled person will understand that various omissions, substitutions, permutations, and changes in the form and details of the present teachings illustrated may be made without departing from the scope of the present teachings. 
         [0034]    Each practical and novel combination of the elements and alternatives described hereinabove, and each practical combination of equivalents to such elements, is contemplated as an embodiment of the present teachings. Because many more element combinations are contemplated as embodiments of the present teachings than can reasonably be explicitly enumerated herein, the scope of the present teachings is properly defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All variations coming within the meaning and range of equivalency of the various claim elements are embraced within the scope of the corresponding claim. Each claim set forth below is intended to encompass any apparatus or method that differs only insubstantially from the literal language of such claim, as long as such apparatus or method is not, in fact, an embodiment of the prior art. To this end, each described element in each claim should be construed as broadly as possible, and moreover should be understood to encompass any equivalent to such element insofar as possible without also encompassing the prior art. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise”.