SMOKING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SMOKING

A smoking apparatus for smoking having a first chamber where the first chamber has at least one smoking material holder, at least one ignitor, at least one smoking conduit beginning outside of the smoking apparatus and extending into the first chamber of the smoking apparatus; a second chamber having a cavity encapsulating the first chamber; an exhalation conduit; at least one exhaust fan; an air purifier; at least one air filter; an external exhaust; and electronics and a power supply to power and control the at least one exhaust fan and the at least one ignitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device used by smokers for reducing smoke pollution and, more specifically, to a device which allows a cigarette or other smoking materials to be lighted and smoked, and the smoke therefrom filtered and removed from the air exhausted from the device.

Background of the Invention

Health problems related to the inhalation by non-smokers of “passive” or “second hand” smoke, produced by smokers while they are lighted and smoking, has been well documented. In fact, according to the JAMA Network, “The World Health Organization estimates that the 1 billion individuals who smoke worldwide contribute to the 880,000 secondhand smoke (SHS)—related deaths among individuals who do not smoke each year.” The present invention is designed and created to help mitigate this extremely important issue. Although it seems that this number is going down there is still a significant impact on non-smokers by smokers. The prior art is replete with devices that attempt to alleviate or eliminate second-hand smoke released into a surrounding atmosphere by smokers during smoking. One such device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,646, utilizes a bladder to contain exhaled smoke and prevent such from escaping into the ambient atmosphere. While suitable for its intended purpose, the bladder is cumbersome and will build up in pressure making exhalation of cigarette smoke a difficult task. To drain the bladder of exhaled smoke, a manually controllable flap must be opened, resulting in unfiltered smoke escaping to the surrounding atmosphere. Furthermore, the device allows smoke to escape when the cigarette is first lighted.

Another device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,332, filters exhaled smoke prior to releasing it to the atmosphere. While suitable for its intended purpose, the device has no means of creating the vacuum necessary to supply combustion air and pull the smoke from the lighted end through the filter. Furthermore, while using replaceable filters, the device offers no convenient way to maintain the inside of its body, which will eventually build up a tar residue from repeated use. Finally, the device does not prevent smoke from escaping when the cigarette is first lighted.

Other patents that disclose devices showing approaches to solving the above stated problem include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,200,114, 4,066,088, 4,369,798, 5,529,078 and 4,083,374. It is abundantly clear that a need exists for a device for use by smokers which reduces pollution released into the ambient air by smoking, to remove smoke from the exhaled air, to easily output clean, or clean scented air, and to provide a pleasing look and feel to the user or an entertaining user experience. It is beneficial to have a device where a cigarette can be lit and smoked entirely within the device, so that no smoke, or only a minimal amount of the resulting smoke, passes out of the device without first being filtered. It is also desirable in such a device that the smoke from the burning end is actively drawn through a filtration system located entirely within the device, and then exhausted into the ambient air. This would also draw in the necessary combustion air. It would further be desirable if the device provided an inexpensive and conveniently replaceable cartridge within which tar and ash from repeated use could be contained and easily disposed. Another advantage would be provided if the cartridge contained the device's filtration system so that the filtration system could simultaneously be conveniently and inexpensively replaced. A final advantage would be to provide a means to use different types of essential oils into the apparatus whereby the oils are used to clean the smoke and then output a clean, scented air.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the foregoing background, a smoke house, or smoking apparatus and method of using the smoking apparatus is provided which offers convenient use to the smoker, is simple and inexpensive to maintain, that allows the cigarette or smoking material to be lighted so that the smoke generated, both during the lighting of the cigarette or smoking material and during smoking, does not pass to the outside atmosphere without first being filtered or, in the alternative, exhausted directly outside. These advantages are accomplished using a housing having a variety of openable and closeable housing portions. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing looks like a house or some other alternative design. This external design can be any of a variety of houses, living spaces, or any pleasing configuration.

The smoke house has a first chamber that defines a storage cavity within which a smoking apparatus is placed. This smoking apparatus provides a holding cavity for tobacco or other smoking materials and a heating element, or ignitor, where the heating element is used to ignite and burn the smoking materials. The first housing is encapsulated by a second housing. A fan is provided to move smoke through and out from the apparatus. A filter is provided to clean the smoke. The fan pulls the smoke from the chamber through the filter. From the chamber the smoke is pulled through an essential oils bath where thereafter the smoke is vented to the surrounding atmosphere.

The present invention further includes a mouthpiece assembly which is detachably mounted in sealing relationship to the smoke house. The invention further includes a second mouthpiece assembly for exhaust smoke that is also detachably mounted in a sealing relationship to the smoke house. The smoke house also has a loading chamber so that a cigarette, tobacco or other smoking materials may be loaded into the first chamber prior to being lighted by an ignitor.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed subject matter will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide example embodiments of the invention described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. As described above in the summary there is a need for a smoke house that efficiently and cleanly prevents smoke from entering a room. There is also a need for a smoking apparatus that provides an enjoyable, relaxing and entertaining way to smoke that also prevents smoke from entering the surrounding atmosphere.

The FIGS. Illustrate a preferred smoke house of the present invention. Ideally, the entire smoke house is designed to look like a traditional house of any culture. That is, it could be in the shape of an Alaskan Igloo, an Eritrean Hidmo, a Japanese Minka, or any other structure. The design can be large or more compact and can look like a traditional house, as just described. It should be noted that the design is not restricted to traditional homes but could be of any structural design. It is also noted that the design does not need to be a house but could be of any form as long as all the smoking apparatus elements are included. The invention will now be described in relation to the Figures.

FIG.1Ais a side view of a smoke house apparatus with a glass front. The components inside can be seen through the glass or plexiglass front.FIG.1Bis a similar side view of the smoke house apparatus100with the glass removed and all of the internal parts visible. In its most basic form, the invention includes a first chamber110having at least one loading apparatus111to load a smoking material, at least one holding space112for the smoking material, at least one ignitor113,127, and at least one smoking conduit114beginning outside of the smoking apparatus100and extending into the first chamber110of the smoking apparatus100for a user to use for inhaling smoke. Next, it has a second chamber200, as shown inFIGS.1B and1nFIG.7B, having a cavity210encapsulating the first chamber110, an exhalation conduit211for a user to exhale smoke into the exhalation conduit211that then passes into the cavity210, an exhaust fan212, a liquid retaining receptacle214, a rotatable wheel215, such as a mill wheel, an air filter218, an external exhaust tube219, electronics220and a power supply221to power and control the exhaust fan212and the at least one ignitor113. The device also has a power cord or power supply221that provides power to the apparatus to run all the electrical components included in the apparatus.

This first chamber110defines the smoking area of the smoking apparatus100. Inside the first chamber in its simplest form is the ignitor113and the at least one holding space112for the smoking material. The ignitor113can be automatically activated, it can be manually activated or could even be remotely activated. The ignitor113in one embodiment is connected to electrical power that provides power to the ignitor so that the ignitor can heat up until it is hot enough to light tobacco or other smoking material. This power could be via an electrical outlet through a power cord, from a battery, a solar panel or panels, or any other apparatus that could provide power.

FIG.1BandFIG.8show the details of the first method of loading and smoking the smoking materials. In this embodiment the smoking materials are loaded from the top, dropped down a tube and land on a mesh ignitor. More specifically, in this embodiment the invention has the elements just listed in addition to a loading tube120that has a first end121, a middle section122and a second end123. The first end extends outside of said second chamber and has an openable and closeable orifice124that can receive the smoking material. Ideally the loading tube120has the first end121extending upwardly from a top wall of the smoking apparatus100so that the smoking material can be deposited into the orifice124whereafter they drop down through the tube. The loading tube middle section122extends down through the top wall of the smoking apparatus until it reaches the first chamber110. The loading tube second end123continues to extend down and into the first chamber110. The insertion points at the first and second chambers are sealed so that no smoke or smoking material leaves the loading tube120.

In one embodiment the at least one smoking conduit114is connected to the loading tube120at the first end121such that the smoking conduit114becomes part of the loading tube120. That is, the smoking conduit's hollow center portion is joined with the hollow center portion of the loading tube120so that smoke rising up through the loading tube can be inhaled up through the loading tube and then through the smoking conduit. As seen inFIG.8andFIG.1Bthe smoking conduit114is joined to the loading tube120at a smoking conduit connector128. In the Figs. this connection forms a Y but it is understood that any other connection method could be used to connect the smoking conduit114to the smoking conduit connector128and then the smoking conduit connector128to the loading tube120. This could include joining at a T, having the smoking conduit connector128and the loading tube120as single tube for both loading and smoking, or having the smoking conduit114extend from the end of the loading tube120. The smoking conduit114could also be entirely separate from the loading tube. It could run alongside the loading tube or be inserted into the smoking chamber any other way possible. In this particular embodiment where the smoking conduit and the loading tube are the same, the user loads the smoking material through the loading tube120and uses the loading tube120in conjunction with the smoking conduit114to smoke the smoking material. Another option here is to have the smoking conduit114extend through a side of the first chamber110where a user could use the loading tube120to load the smoking material, seal it shut, and then smoke from the smoking conduit114that extends from the side wall of the smoking apparatus100, as seen inFIGS.1A and1B.

Smoking material loaded onto metal mesh ignitor. As seen inFIG.8, the loading tube middle122section passes down into the smoking apparatus100and into the first chamber110so that the smoking material can drop down through the loading tube120to the loading tube second end123. This loading tube second end123terminates at or near the at least one ignitor113and in this embodiment the at least one ignitor is an electrically heated metal mesh member126. This ignitor has an on/off switch129located on the outside of the smoking apparatus that is easily accessible to the user. This ignitor could also be automatically activated by the weight of the smoking material and then could also be automatically deactivated when the smoking material turns to ash and is removed by ash fan116from the mesh member126. It could also have sensors of some sort on or about the mesh member126to indicate when the smoking material is present and these sensors could then turn the ignitor on and off, depending on the presence or absence of the smoking material.

This embodiment is generally used for smoking loose-leaf smoking materials. As shown inFIG.8, the orifice124is opened, the loose-leaf smoking materials are dropped into the loading tube120through the orifice124and down to the loading tube second end123where they eventually land and rest on top of the electrically heated metal mesh ignitor member126. This ignitor member126is made of a thin mesh metal that is connected to a power source. The user will turn the on/off switch129to the on position and electricity is passed through the thin metal where the resistance causes the metal to heat up to a point where the loose-leaf smoking material burns. When the smoking material begins to burn, in a first embodiment, the user will inhale the resultant smoke up and through the loading tube120, then out through the smoking conduit connector128, through the smoking conduit114and finally through the smoking tip500and to the user. Next to the metal mesh ignitor126there is the ash fan116and below the ignitor126is an ash collector115. As the smoking material burns, ash is created. The ash is blown down into the ash collector115by the ash fan116, thus keeping the metal mesh ignitor126clean and free of ash. This ash collector115is easily removeable from the smoking apparatus so as it fills it can be cleaned out by the user. It can be a slide tray or some other carrier that can easily be removed from the smoking apparatus. In any situation, when the ash collector is in place it forms a tight seal with the body of the smoking apparatus so as to prevent smoke from leaving the smoking apparatus and entering the atmosphere.

Smoking material loaded into the rolled smoking member holder. In another embodiment, shown inFIGS.1B,2and8there is shown an alternative way to load the smoking material into smoking apparatus100. This embodiment is specifically designed to load a rolled smoking member but could also be used to load loose-leaf material onto the metal mesh ignitor126. The rolled smoking member application is described first.

In this embodiment the at least one ignitor113is an electronically heated coil member127, shown inFIGS.1B and2, similar to the mesh ignitor126described above, but configured to effectively light a rolled smoking member, such as a cigarette. This ignitor is a coil ignitor127that generally has an end formed by a coil metal member where electricity is run through the coil so that the coil metal member heats to a point that is hot enough to light the smoking material. This coil ignitor127has an on/off switch129located on the outside of the smoking apparatus that is easily accessible to the user. The loading apparatus is different in this embodiment. Here, the at least one loading apparatus to load the smoking material is a rolled smoking member holder118. This member is generally a cylindrical tube where the rolled smoking member is inserted into the tube. However, it could be a clip or any other type of holding member that will provide a way to hold a rolled smoking member in place. For use in this embodiment, the smoking material is rolled in a smoking paper to form the rolled smoking member. To further facilitate efficient and effective use of this iteration the smoking apparatus can have a rolling apparatus, such as for a cigarette, affixed to the body. This roller can be manually operated or it can be mechanical and powered.

FIG.1Bfurther shows a sealable ingress and egress225located at one exterior side of the second chamber. This provides access to the inner, first chamber110where there is a second sealable ingress and egress117that provides access to the first chamber110. The at least one ignitor is the electronically heated member127as described above, the at least one loading apparatus111to load the smoking material is a rolled smoking member holder118, the smoking material is rolled in a smoking paper to form the rolled smoking member where the rolled smoking member is inserted through the first sealable ingress and egress225into the second chamber and then through the second ingress and egress door117to the first chamber and is inserted into the rolled smoking member holder118, where the electronically heated member127can light the rolled smoking member. The ingress/egress117can be anything that allows a user access to and from the first chamber110. It could be a door, a flap, a rubber member through which a user can insert a hand, or any other type of closure that allows ingress and egress to the first chamber110. The ignitor also can be any type of ignitor. In the preferred embodiment it is an electrically heated member, but it could be a plastic sparkwheel, a piezo spark, a butane torch, an electric coil, an electric arc or any other type of lighter designed to light a cigarette.

To operate this configuration the rolled smoking member is inserted through the sealable ingress and egress117to the first chamber110and is inserted into the rolled smoking member holder118where the electronically heated member127can light the rolled smoking member. The smoking member can be loaded either through the sealable ingress/egress117or the rolled smoking member holder118can be physically removed from the smoking apparatus100so that the smoking member can be loaded outside the smoking apparatus100. After loading, the smoking member holder118is then reinserted into the smoking apparatus100and into the first chamber110. If the smoking member holder118is loaded through the door it is also possible to have a fire-resistant glove member223. The glove223provides protection for the user and is ideally heat and fireproof to avoid burns or injury to the user. As shown inFIGS.7B and9the glove223forms part of an entry passage to both the second chamber200and the first chamber110. The glove member223is part of a larger removeable entry member that is the sealable ingress and egress member225. This larger entry member can be screwed onto the smoking apparatus or it can be part of a door member that is easily opened and closed. When removed or opened this entry member provides greater access to the inside of the smoking apparatus and can be used to clean or repair any portion of the internal portions of the smoking apparatus100. When this larger removeable entry member is secured to the smoking apparatus the user can place a hand into the glove member223in order to gain access to both the first and second chambers, as seen inFIG.9. To use properly, the user takes and holds the unlit smoking member with the glove member223, then inserts the unlit smoking member through the second chamber, into the first chamber110and then inserts the unlit smoking member into the smoking member holder118.

The smoking apparatus100is simple to use. In operation, the user loads the smoking material into the smoking material holding space112. As described above, this holding space can be loaded either through the loading tube120such that the smoking material is dropped down into the loading tube120and then rests on top of the heated metal mesh member126or it can be loaded through the dual ingress/egress117,225loading apparatus where the rolled smoking member is held in the rolled smoking member holder118and is lit using the ignitor that is the electrically heated member127. In either case, the smoking material is loaded into the smoking material holding space112. After loading the smoking material it is ignited using either of the ignitors just explained.

The smoking apparatus100next has at least one smoking conduit114. This smoking conduit114provides the means for the user to inhale the smoke from the ignited smoking material. In one embodiment, shown inFIG.1B, this smoking conduit114is a tube that is inserted into the burn chamber, or first chamber110, and then goes through a first wall of the smoking apparatus and extends outside the smoking apparatus so that it is accessible to the user. This smoking conduit ideally has a smoking tip500that can easily be attached and detached from the smoking conduit. This smoking tip500can be any of a wide variety of styles, designs, all interchangeable.

In another embodiment the smoking conduit114works in conjunction with the loading apparatus111. As seen inFIG.8, the loading tube first end121extends from outside the top of the smoking apparatus100, then the loading tube middle section122extends down through second chamber200and the loading tube second end123terminates in the burn chamber, or first chamber110. In this embodiment the loading tube120acts as both a loading tube and as a smoking conduit114. As can be seen in theFIG.8, the smoking conduit tube114is connected to the smoking conduit connecting member128at the loading tube first end121just below the openable and closeable orifice124and outside the smoking apparatus100. In one configuration the tube extends upwardly and outwardly from the loading tube120in a Y type orientation. However, it could be a T or any other configuration so long as it is connected to the loading tube120. The smoking conduit114can be made of plastic, rubber, silicone or other material, either flexible or solid. A flexible material is preferable as it allows the user to move to different positions and it provides an easier way to smoke. Alternatively, the smoking conduit114could be a hard material, such as metal, pvc, hard plastic, or any other hard material than can be formed into a cylinder, tube or any passageway for the smoke. In the preferred embodiment it is made of a flexible material and it connects to the loading tube120so that the user can load the device through the loading tube and then smoke through the same tube. This configuration eliminates parts, is easier to manufacture and is easier to use.

In operation, the user opens the openable and closeable orifice124at the loading tube first end121, loads the smoking material into the tube whereafter it drops down on top of the ignitor that is the electrically heated metal mesh member126. The user then closes the closeable orifice124, turns on the ignitor126with a switch located on the outside of the smoking apparatus, whereafter the smoking material begins to burn. The user then inhales the resultant smoke up through the loading tube120, smoking conduit connector128, and the smoking conduit114. This smoking conduit also has a replaceable smoking tip500. This smoking tip500can any of a wide variety of smoking tips and can be personalized to each user. The tip is easily attached and removed from the smoking conduit114so that each user can use his or her own smoking tip500. Design, style, configuration and look of these tips is limitless. Additionally, the smoking conduit114can have a one-way check valve130inserted in the tube so that when the user inhales the smoke and air is allowed to move in the direction of the user but when the user ceases to inhale the check valve reverses so that additional smoke is prevented from escaping from the smoking conduit114. This is another way to prevent the smoke from contaminating the clean air in the smoking environment.

Next, the smoking apparatus has a variety of devices designed to clean, purify and even add scent to the air that is exhausted from the apparatus. To properly clean the air exhaled from the user the present invention uses a variety of devices. When the user is ready to exhale the user exhales into the exhalation tube33that is connected to the exhalation conduit211, shown inFIG.1B. The exhalation conduit211can also have a second one-way check valve226, as shown inFIG.4, so that when the user exhales the smoke into the exhalation conduit211it is allowed to only go into the purification chamber and will not escape into the room. This exhalation conduit211has a distal end342that faces the user and a proximal end341that openly communicates with the second chamber200of the smoking apparatus100such that when the user exhales the smoke goes through the exhalation conduit211and passes into the second chamber200. This exhalation conduit211is a hollow tube (flexible or rigid). In a preferred embodiment, this exhalation conduit211has an intake fan340, located somewhere along the exhalation conduit211or even at the top wall of the smoking apparatus. It could be located at the distal end342, the proximal end341, or anywhere along the conduit211. This fan340draws the smoke into the smoking apparatus100and ideally the fan340is powerful enough so that the user does not actually have to place his or her mouth on the tube, but rather the fan340will create a vacuum that is strong enough to pull the smoke out of the air, into the smoking apparatus100and then into the cavity210.

FIG.9shows a smoke path after exhalation. In one embodiment, after the smoke enters the cavity210it is drawn out using the exhaust fan212.FIGS.9A,9B and9Cshow three embodiments. In one embodiment there are only two chambers, as shown inFIG.9A, but in a preferred embodiment there is a third chamber,300. In this three chambered embodiment the user breathes in smoke from the first chamber, or burn chamber110. The smoke is then exhaled into the exhalation conduit211. It passes through the conduit and enters the second chamber200. Adjacent to the second chamber200is the third chamber, as can be seen inFIG.9. This chamber has an opening301communicated between the second chamber200and the third chamber300. This opening can simply be an unimpeded opening or it can contain a first air filter. In one embodiment the second chamber contains the air cleaning system, but ideally the third chamber contains the air cleaning system.

The system also can include an air purification system, as shown inFIG.9. In this system the apparatus has the exhaust fan212, the liquid filling tube213, the liquid retaining receptacle214, scented liquid, or scented oil217, the rotatable wheel215, the liquid retaining receptacle clean out216, the first exhaust air filter218, the external exhaust tube219and electronics220, a power supply to power221and control the exhaust fan212, the ignitor113, and a variety of control switches to power on and off the fans, ignitors and millwheel215. In one embodiment the millwheel is turned by an electric motor222. It is envisioned that each could have its own control switch or, in the alternative, there could be a main switch that turns everything on and off at once and from one single location. This air purification system is ideally located within the third chamber300. After the user smokes he or she exhales into the exhalation conduit211. The exhausted smoke-air then is drawn into the second chamber200whereafter it is drawn out and into the third chamber300through the opening301between the second and third chambers. The smoke-air is drawn into the third chamber300via the exhaust fan212. This fan can be located at or near the end of an exhaust transfer tube310or it can be anywhere between the second and third chambers so that it pulls the smoke from the second chamber into the third chamber. There can also be an exhaust filter218located somewhere along the smoke exit path or at the exhaust fan212to clean the air a first time. As noted above, alternatively there could be another filter located between the second and third chambers, as seen inFIG.7B. The smoke-air is drawn into the exhaust transfer pathway and past this first exhaust air filter218. This can be a charcoal filter, a HEPA filter, or any other type of air purifying filter. All filters in the smoking apparatus are easily changeable and cleanable. The smoke-air is then pulled through the exhaust transfer pathway where, if a second filter is provided, it passes through a secondary air filter224. This air filter is not required but can be added to the exhaust transfer pathway to remove more smoke particulate. After passing through the secondary filter224the smoke-air reaches the liquid cleaning chamber.

FIGS.7A,7B and9show the liquid purification system of the liquid cleaning chamber. This liquid cleaning chamber is not required but does more fully clean the air and can scent the air prior to exiting the apparatus and is preferably included. Ideally this liquid cleaning chamber contains a liquid filling tube213, the liquid retaining receptacle214, the rotatable wheel, or mill wheel215, the scented liquid or oil217, and a liquid retaining receptacle clean out216to easily remove old oil or liquids so that they can be replaced with clean oil or liquid. In operation the user loads the scented liquid or oil217through the liquid filing tube213into the liquid retaining receptacle214. Generally, the liquid filling tube has a fill hole located at the top of the smoking apparatus100where the user can pour the oil into the fill hole and down into the liquid retaining receptacle214. The liquid flows through the tube that extends down from the fill hole and into the third chamber300whereafter it terminates at the liquid retaining receptacle214. To remove the liquid there is the liquid retaining receptacle clean out216, that is typically another tube that extends from a bottom of the liquid retaining receptacle214and then out from the smoking apparatus100. This clean out216has an open/close mechanism so that the oil remains in the retaining receptacle until the user is ready to drain the oil. The user can open the mechanism to drain the oil out into another holding apparatus or into a disposal tank or garbage. The rotatable wheel215is typically a mill wheel that sits in the retaining receptacle214, and is powered by the electric motor222, so that when the wheel rotates about an axis the lower portion of the wheel passes through the liquid in the retaining receptacle214, thus disrupting the oil and bringing some of the oil to the top of the wheel to thereafter drain down and over the wheel, so that the oil is continually moved and aerated, keeping it fresh. The wheel can have paddles, or scoops or any other design so that the oil is moved up to the top of the wheel and then runs down the wheel, again, keeping the oil aerated and moving. Alternatively, the system could simply have an oil bath without the wheel or even have no oil at all, but rather some other scented material, all being easily exchanged and replaced, thus providing an additional way to purify and clean the smoke.

The exhausted smoke-air is pulled up into the third chamber or into the exhaust transfer tube310by the exhaust fan212, through the first air filter218, through the third chamber or transfer tube310, through the second filter224, whereafter it enters the liquid cleaning chamber. Here, the smoke-air passes through the area holding the scented oil217and the rotating mill wheel215. As it passes through this area the previous smoke-air is now smoke-free air, free of pollutants from the smoke because of the one or two filters, and, as it exits the liquid cleaning chamber, it is also now scented due to passing through the scented oil217. As noted, there need not actually be scented oil. There could be no oil and no scented cleaning section or there could be another means of cleaning and scenting the air. It could be scented oils, scented filters, spray scents, wood chips, or any other type of product that could scent the air as it passes through.

After moving through the liquid cleaning chamber the air exits the smoking apparatus either directly into the external air, or through the external exhaust tube219. This tube ejects the air either out into the surrounding atmosphere or, in the alternative, the tube is run out through a window so that the air is ejected to the outside environment. This external exhaust tube219can be a tube alone, or it can have a final exhaust air filter330. In addition, there can be yet another fan, an exhaust air filter fan343that is either alone in the external exhaust tube219or that is attached either before or after the final exhaust air filter330. This filter can be placed within the third chamber or it can be placed inside the external exhaust tube219. In any case, this final filter330and exhaust air filter fan343are a final air cleanser and air mover prior to the air exiting the smoking apparatus100. This external exhaust tube219can be in any shape or size. It could be in the shape of a chimney or anything else that adds to the overall look, feel and design of the smoking apparatus.

In an alternative design, instead of a wheel there is a passageway where the oil or scented liquid is pumped to the top of the passageway. After it reaches the top of the passageway the oils either run down through a filter or they just drip down into the retaining receptacle at the bottom. The air passes through either the filter or the oil drip and is purified and scented as it passes through. This eliminates the requirement of the moving wheel and yet provides a way to continually aerate the oil or scented liquid. This filter, as with all the other filters, is easily removeable from the apparatus to be either changed or cleaned. Alternatively, this filter is placed either in front of or behind the mill wheel and the mill wheel is configured so that it can deposit the oil to the top of the filter. Again, this keeps the filter moist and continuously refreshed with clean oil.

The primary function of the invention is to clean, purify and scent the air prior to ejecting the air into the atmosphere outside the smoking apparatus. A secondary function of the invention is to provide an enjoyable smoking experience for the user. This can be accomplished through a number of additional elements. A first add-on is a grinder. Users use the grinder to prepare their smoking materials. This grinder can be affixed to the smoking apparatus at some location and can be either manually controlled or it can be electronically powered. The same power supply that powers the fans, ignitors and electric motor for the wheel on the smoking apparatus can likewise power the grinder. Also, there can be a rolling apparatus attached at some location on the apparatus. The rolling apparatus is to assist the user in preparing rolled smoking materials where the smoking materials are placed inside the rolling paper. One or both of these add-ons can be affixed to the smoking apparatus.

In order to make the smoking experience more enjoyable the smoking apparatus can be configured in a variety of forms and shapes. As described above, the entire smoke house can be designed to look like a traditional house. It can be from any culture. That is, it could be in the shape of an Alaskan igloo, an Eritrean Hidmo, a Japanese minka, or any other structure. The design can be large or more compact and can look like a traditional house, as just described. It should be noted that the design is not restricted to traditional homes but could be of any structural design. It is also noted that the design does not need to be a house but could be of any form as long as all the elements described are included.

The smoking apparatus can also be of a much smaller configuration. In one embodiment it can be a large apparatus that provides all of the above elements, but it could be a much smaller apparatus having fewer elements but still providing the same results. It could be as small as a handheld device where the fans are smaller, the oil wheel could be self-contained, or the apparatus could use a removeable scented oil filter rather than the wheel mechanism. This handheld apparatus is battery powered and is extremely portable. It is much more compact and simplified, having as few as one fan near the exhaust port that draws the air from the smoking chamber, into the exhaust chamber, through the scented filter and out through the exhaust tube.

In another embodiment on a top of the smoking chamber is a see-through member or window that can be made from glass, plexiglass, plastic or any other clear material. This window can be clear or colored and allows the user to see inside of the smoking apparatus to assist in loading the storage chamber and allows the user to view the smoke inside the chamber. Alternatively, a large portion or the entire house can be made from a clear material so that the entire insides are visible from outside. There can also be a variety of lights inside the chamber that illuminate the inside and provide a pleasing affect when the smoke moves around inside the chamber. In addition to the lights the box can have one or more speakers to provide music to the user while smoking in order to enhance the smoking experience. The speakers could be connected to a music source located on or within the smoking apparatus or, in the alternative, they could be connected to an external music player via cable, Bluetooth, or whatever other system is available.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.