Abstract:
This invention relates to a smoking accessory which includes one or more of a lighter for lighting a smokable substance, a grater for breaking apart the smokable substance in to smaller pieces, a smoking device for smoking the substance, and a container for depositing an amount of the smokable substance and holding it therein until needed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/580,486, filed Dec. 27, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a multi-purpose smoking accessory. More particularly, this invention relates to an accessory which provides a smoker with some commonly required smoking accessories in one portable assembly. Specifically, this invention relates to an accessory which includes one or more of a lighter for lighting a smokable substance, a grater for breaking apart the smokable substance in to smaller pieces, a smoking device for smoking the substance, and a container for depositing an amount of the smokable substance and holding it therein until needed. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Heretofore, smokers are required to bring multiple devices, accessories, or elements to facilitate smoking a smokable substance. For example, a lighter for generating a flame to ignite the smokable substance and a pipe to actually smoke the substance. Unfortunately, depending on the chosen method of smoking and the chosen substance, the number of required devices can increase to include items such as a grater for granulating the substance and a container to hold the substance itself. Inasmuch as all of these items are generally beneficial to conduct the smoking activity, losing or misplacing any one of these items may eliminate the ability of the user to smoke the substance. Thus, the user must remember to carry and keep track of all of these items. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a tremendous need in the art for an all encompassing multi-purpose smoking accessory which combines one or more of the above mentioned devices or accessories into one self-contained device. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention relates to a smoking accessory which includes one or more of a lighter for lighting a smokable substance, a grater for breaking apart the smokable substance in to smaller pieces, a smoking device for smoking the substance, and a container for depositing an amount of the smokable substance and holding it therein until needed. The smoking accessory may also include other devices or components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front side perspective view of a smoking accessory of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear side perspective view thereof; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a similar view thereof, showing a pipe and a container being removed from a housing of the smoking accessory; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  showing a grater pivoting outwardly from the housing; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of the smoking accessory. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    One exemplary embodiment of the smoking accessory of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-11  and indicated generally at  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , smoking accessory  1  extends from a top portion  3  to a bottom portion  5  and includes a front side  7 , a back side  9 , a left side  8 , and a right side  10 . Smoking accessory  1  is generally comprised of a main housing  11  which includes a lighter section  13  joined to a compartment section  15 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , lighter section  13  is joined to compartment section  15  by a divider wall  21  extending from a back wall  17  to a front wall  19 . Lighter section  13  includes an exterior lighter wall  23 , an interior lighter wall  25 , and a top lighter wall  26 . Likewise, compartment section  15  includes an exterior compartment wall  27 , an interior compartment wall  29 , and a top compartment wall  31 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , compartment section  15  is separated into a pipe compartment  33  and a container compartment  35  by way of a divider wall  37  extending between interior compartment wall  29 , exterior compartment wall  27 , and top compartment wall  31 . Pipe compartment  33  is sized to removably receive a pipe  39  therein. Similarly, container compartment  35  is sized to removably receive a container  41  therein. As shown in  FIG. 4 , pipe  39  and container  41  are sized to slidably move within of pipe compartment  33  and container compartment  35 , respectively, as the user desires in the directions of Arrows A. Container  41  is sized to hold any user desired substance therein. However, in the preferred embodiment of smoking accessory  1 , container  41  is intended to hold a smokable substance  43 . Likewise, container  41  may exist in any common container-like configuration, however, in the preferred embodiment, container  41  includes a lid  45  for releasably sealing container  41  as desired. Other embodiments of the present invention may not include a container-like element and may simply use container compartment  35  as a means for holding smokable substance  43  within smoking accessory  1 . Pursuant to this, container compartment  35  may be formed in any shape to complementarily receive a container formed in any desired shape. Likewise, pipe compartment  33  may be formed in any shape to complementarily receive a pipe or smoking device formed in any desired shape. 
         [0023]    With particular reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  10 , lighter section  13  is formed to hold a common, off-the-shelf lighter  47  ( FIG. 10 ) therein. Exterior lighter wall  23 , interior lighter wall  25 , top lighter wall  26 , back wall  17  and front wall  19  connect to form a lighter compartment  49  ( FIG. 10 ) for receiving lighter  47  therein. In the preferred embodiment, a flicker aperture  51  is defined by lighter section  13  for allowing a flicker  53  of lighter  47  to extend therethrough for actuation by the user. Similarly, top lighter wall  26  defines a flame aperture  55  for allowing the flame of lighter  47  to extend therethrough and be utilized by the user. Inasmuch as lighter  47  is an off-the-shelf component, all of the internal mechanisms for producing and maintain the flame are commonly known in the art, and therefore not described herein. In the preferred embodiment of smoking accessory  1 , flicker  53  is pressed down and released in the directions Arrow D to ignite and extinguish the flame, respectively. Lighter compartment  49  may be formed in any shape to complementarily receive a lighter formed in any desired shape. Further, it is a main feature of the present invention that lighter  47  may be removed from smoking accessory  1  and replaced. Alternatively, lighter  47  may also be refilled with flammable material while remaining in lighter compartment  49 . 
         [0024]    With particular reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  9 , smoking accessory  1  includes a grinder  57  disposed generally in a grinder compartment  58  between lighter section  13  and compartment section  15  in a retracted position ( FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment of grinder  57 , this particular placement within smoking accessory  1  provides protection to this relatively thin and bendable element. While grinder  57  may be disposed or secured to main housing  11  in any orientation or placement with respect to main housing  11 , disposing grinder  57  intermediate lighter section  13  and compartment section  15  provides a secure and safe resting place when grinder  57  is in the closed position. 
         [0025]    In the embodiment of grinder  57  shown in  FIG. 5 , grinder  57  extends from a first end  59  to a second end  61  in a generally flat planer sheet or grinder plate, whereby a plurality of grinder holes  63  are defined. A pivot aperture  65  is defined proximate first end  59 , and sized to receive a non-threaded section  67  of a bolt  69 . In the preferred embodiment, bolt  69  further includes a threaded portion  71  sized to engage a channel  73  defined by a bushing  72  and extending through container compartment  35  and align bolt  69  with pivot aperture  65 . Thus, grinder  57  may rotate about non-threaded section  67  of bolt  69  from a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , to an open position in the direction of Arrow C, as shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a pair of washers  75  may also be aligned with pivot aperture  65  to buffer grinder  57  between lighter section  13  and compartment section  15 , and to provide a pair of surfaces having a lower friction for grinder  57  to rotate against. As such, bolt  69  may extend through washers  75  and grinder  57 . As shown in FIG.  5 , grinder  57  includes a tab  78  which extends outwardly away from main housing  11  when grinder  57  is in the closed position. Tab  78  allows the user to grasp grinder  57  and pull outwardly to rotate grinder  57  from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , smoking accessory  1  includes a bottom cap  80  disposed proximate bottom portion  5 . Bottom cap  80  extends from a hinged end  82  to a free end  84 . Hinged end  82  is secured to front wall  19  by way of a hinge  86  which facilitates moving bottom cap  80  from a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to an open position in the direction of Arrow B, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Bottom cap  80  includes a cap wall  88  sized to seal and enclose container compartment  35 , pipe compartment  39 , and lighter compartment  49  when bottom cap  80  is in the closed position. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a clip  90  extends from cap wall  88  proximate free end  84  and includes a latch tab  92  and a release wall  91 . Latch tab  92  is sized to frictionally engage a latch aperture  94  defined by back wall  17  to hold bottom cap  80  in the closed position as desired. Release wall  91  extends outwardly away from back wall  17  when bottom cap  80  is in the closed position to allow a user to manually actuate release wall  91  to overcome the frictional engagement between latch tab  92  and latch aperture  94 , thus releasing bottom cap  80  to move to the open position. While a frictional engagement between clip  90  and back wall  17  is shown in the preferred embodiment, any style of providing a locking engagement between bottom cap  80  and bottom portion  5  of smoking accessory  1  is within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, a magnetic latch or any other style of locking engagement is within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    In operation, a user must first prepare smoking accessory  1  for everyday use. Pursuant to this, smoking accessory  1  may be purchased with lighter  47 , container  41 , and/or pipe  39  supplied by the manufacturer or reseller of smoking accessory  1 . Alternatively, any one or all of aforementioned elements may be supplied by the user as desired. Thereafter, the user fills container  41  with any desired smokable substance  43 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , smokable substance  43  is intended to reside within a container  41  primarily with lid  45  in the closed position. Once container  41  is prepared with smokable substance  43 , bottom cap  80  is moved to the open position in the direction of Arrow B so that container  41  may be received in container compartment  35  in the direction opposite of Arrow A ( FIG. 4 ). Likewise, pipe  39  is received in pipe compartment  33  in the direction opposite Arrow A ( FIG. 4 ). With reference to  FIG. 3 , smoking accessory  1  is shown with container  41  fully received within container compartment  35  and pipe  39  fully received in pipe compartment  33 . Thereafter, the user may move bottom cap  80  to the closed position with cap wall  88  sealing container compartment  35  and pipe compartment  33 . Thus, the configuration shown in  FIG. 3  may be referred to as the portable configuration of smoking accessory  1  as the main components are fully contained within main housing  11  for easy portability as smoking accessory  1  operates as a one-piece unit. 
         [0028]    Hereinafter, a method of smoking a substance using smoking accessory  1  is now described in greater detail. When the user desires to smoke smokable substance  43 , bottom cap  80  is moved from the closed position to the open position by way of clip  90 . The user uses a thumb or finger to actuate release wall  91 , thus overcoming the frictional engagement between latch tab  92  and latch aperture  94  and allowing bottom cap  80  to move from the closed position to the open position in the direction of Arrow B ( FIG. 4 ). Thereafter, pipe  39  and container  41  are free to be removed from pipe compartment  33  and container compartment  35 , respectively, in the direction of Arrow A ( FIG. 4 ). Once container  41  has been removed from container compartment  35 , the user opens lid  45  to remove a portion of smokable substance  43 . Typically smokable substance  43  may be in a compacted form. As such, many users find that smokable substance  43  in this state provides an easier, fuller, and longer lasting burn if smokable substance  43  is ground down into a finer granulated form. Thus, as discussed previously, smoking accessory  1  provides a grinder  57  for use in such situations. As shown in  FIG. 5 , grinder  57  is retracted in the closed position when not in use. As desired, grinder  57  may be rotated in the direction of Arrow C ( FIG. 9 ) to fully expose grinder holes  63  to the user. To provide a simple and easy mechanism for exposing grinder  57 , bolt  69  is extended through pivot aperture  65  defined by grinder  57  to allow an easy pivoting motion and to simplify mechanical construction. Once grinder  57  is moved to the open position, grinder holes  63  may be used to grate smokable substance  43  into a finer granulated form (not shown). Once the user is satisfied that smokable substance  43  is ground down to the desired size, grinder  57  is moved in the direction opposite of Arrow C to retract grinder  57  back into the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The user then closes lid  45  on container  41  and places container  41  back into container compartment  35  for storage and future use. 
         [0029]    With smokable substance  43  in a finely granulated form, smokable substance  43  is thereby prepared for smoking. The user then removes pipe  39  from pipe compartment  33  and fills pipe  39  with the granulated smokable substance  43 . Once pipe  39  is fully packed with smokable substance  43 , the user then grasps smoking accessory  1  to manually flick flicker  53 . As commonly known in the art, manually flicking flicker  53  ignites a flame which extends through flame aperture  55  to provide a flame for igniting smokable substance  43  within pipe  39 . After, the user then smokes the granulated smokable substance  43  by way of pipe  39  as desired. 
         [0030]    When the user is finished smoking granulated smokable substance  43  by way of pipe  39 , pipe  39  is then placed within pipe compartment  33  and bottom cap  80  is moved from the open position to the closed position to thereby seal container  41  and pipe  39  within container compartment  35  and pipe compartment  33 , respectively. The user may then place smoking accessory  1  in a pocket or another form of storage in this convenient portable configuration, with all of the required elements for smoking smokable substance  43  contained therein. 
         [0031]    It will be noted that the steps performed in the above-described method may be rearranged as desired by the user. For example, the user may desire to grind the entire amount of smokable substance  43  into a more granulated form by way of grinder  57  before placing any of the smokable substance  43  within container  41 . The user may then skip the step of grinding smokable substance  43  each time the user wishes to fill pipe  39  as the entire amount of smokable substance  43  within container  41  is already pre-ground to a more finely granulated form. Thus, the user may then potentially even extend pipe  39  into container  41  to pack pipe  39  with the granulated smokable substance  43 . 
         [0032]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0033]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.