SLIDE IN BOWL FOR A WATER PIPE SMOKING DEVICE

A bowl device for a water pipe includes a metallic main body member that is defined by a combustion chamber, a throat and an exhaust chamber. The combustion chamber includes an open top end, an open bottom end, and a funnel-shaped inside wall. The inside wall includes a rough textured surface that functions to retain residue from burned smoking materials to form a patina over time. The throat comprises a hollow channel that extends downward from the bottom of the combustion chamber to the open top end of the exhaust chamber. The exhaust chamber includes an open bottom end, and an inside wall having a funnel-shaped portion that is oriented opposite to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber, exhaust chamber and throat forming a venturi chamber for moving smoke into the downstem of a glass water pipe, and an O-ring provides an airtight seal between the device and the downstem.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to smoking articles, and more particularly to a slide in bowl device for a Hookah or water pipe.

BACKGROUND

Water filtered smoking devices commonly referred to as a “hookah” have been around for many decades. The devices are popular because of the large volume of smoke that is possible to intake in a single breath of air, allowing for more potent draws of a smoking material with less time.

Traditional water pipe smoking devices consist of a main pipe having a volume of water in the bottom portion thereof. A mouthpiece is located along the top of the main pipe, and a downstem/socket pipe passes angularly through the side of the main pipe having a bottom end that is positioned at or below the surface of the volume of water.

A bowl is attached to the top of the downstem and functions to receive a material to be burned and smoked such as tobacco, for example. When a user draws a breath on the mouthpiece, the smoke from the burning material is drawn through the downstem and into the volume of water. The smoke then passes through the water, and into the interior of the main pipe. The smoke then rises and passes through the mouthpiece and into the user's mouth as they continue to inhale.

Traditionally, the bowls for use in such water pipes are constructed from glass which is specifically chosen due to its smooth surface characteristics which prevent buildup of tar and other residues from the smoking material. However, current manufacturing processes are not able to mass produce these types of bowls to include throat sections that are uniformly shaped and sized to an exact tolerance. As a result, users experience differences in how thoroughly the smoking material burns with the same amount of inhalation force when switching between bowls, which is a common practice.

Moreover, because these bowls are specifically designed and constructed from smooth nonstick materials, they are designed to be cleaned after each use and are not able to develop patina which can increase the flavor profile of the smoking material and helps to reduce waste.

The present invention, directed to a slide in bowl for a water pipe smoking device differs from the conventional art in a number of aspects. The manner by which will become more apparent in the description which follows, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a bowl device for a water pipe. One embodiment of the present invention can include a main body member that is defined by a combustion chamber, a throat and an exhaust chamber. The combustion chamber can include an open top end, an open bottom end, and a funnel-shaped inside wall that extends continuously from the top end to the bottom end while steadily reducing in diameter. The device can be constructed from metal, and the inside wall of the combustion chamber can include a rough textured surface that functions to retain residue from burned smoking material to form a patina over time.

The exhaust chamber can include an open bottom end, an open top end and an inside wall having a cylindrical-shaped portion and a funnel-shaped portion. The exhaust chamber can include an outside wall that is configured to be positioned within the downstem of a glass water pipe, and the inside wall includes a smooth surface for discharging smoke into the downstem.

A hollow cylindrical throat can extend between the bottom opening of the combustion chamber and the top opening of the exhaust chamber. The combustion chamber, throat and exhaust chamber form a venturi chamber that accelerates smoke moving through the device. In one embodiment, an elastomeric gasket can be provided along the exterior of the device to form an airtight seal with the glass downstem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

As described herein, a “unit” means a series of identified physical components which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified function.

As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another identified component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

FIGS.1-5illustrate one embodiment of a slide in bowl device10for use with a water pipe that are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. In each of the drawings, identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented inFIG.1.

As shown best atFIG.1, one embodiment of the device10can include a main body having a generally hourglass shape that defines a combustion chamber20, a throat30and an exhaust chamber40. The main body may be formed from any number of heat conductive materials that are capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of about 200° F. without deforming or releasing harmful contaminants. Several nonlimiting examples include, but are not limited to various metals or metal alloys (e.g., steel, cast iron, copper, aluminum, titanium, or alloys thereof), however other materials are contemplated.

In the preferred embodiment, the device10will preferably be constructed as a unitary component; however other embodiments are contemplated wherein one or more of the identified components are constructed from a different material, and wherein the components are permanently or removably joined together to achieve the functionality described herein.

In one embodiment, an O-ring15or other such gasket can be positioned around the upper portion of the outside surface of the exhaust chamber40. As noted above, the device10is preferably constructed from metal, and thus will expand and contract at different temperatures than the—typically glass—smoking pipe to which it is attached. As such, the O-ring will preferably be constructed from a resilient and elastomeric material such as rubber, for example, and can function to provide an airtight seal between the device10and a water pipe when positioned within the opening of the downstem. Of course, the gasket can also include any number of other shapes, sizes and construction materials.

As shown best atFIGS.2and3, the combustion chamber20can include an open top end21, and an open bottom end22that forms the top portion of the throat30. The chamber can also include an outside wall23and a generally funnel-shaped inside wall24that extends continuously from the top end to the bottom end while steadily reducing in diameter. The inside wall of the combustion chamber can function to receive and store a smoking material such as tobacco, for example, and the outside surface is configured to be engaged by a lighter or other heat source so as to burn the material deposited within the chamber.

In the preferred embodiment, the inside wall24of the combustion chamber can be manufactured to include a rough25(e.g., non-smooth) textured surface that can be formed from ridges or abrasions in the metal, among other known manufacturing processes. The rough surface is advantageous and specifically provided to actively assist the buildup of tar and other such residue from the smoking materials along the inside surface of the combustion chamber.

Such a feature advantageously creates patina along the surface so as to increase the flavor profile of each subsequent smoking material and to increase traction between the bowl and the smoking material in order to prevent smaller pieces from sliding downward through the throat and being subsequently wasted. To this end, the specific combination of the metallic construction material, the small throat and the shape of the chambers results in a bowl device that does not need to be cleaned after each use, and actually functions better without being cleaned, as will be described below.

The throat30can comprise a hollow cylindrical channel that extends between the open bottom end22of the combustion chamber and the open top end42of the exhaust chamber40. The throat functions to permit smoke from the combustion chamber to pass downward into the Exhaust chamber while restricting the passage of the actual smoking material itself. In the preferred embodiment, the throat can include a length (e.g., distance between ends22and42) of between about 0.5 mm to 5 mm, for example) and a diameter of between about 0.1 mm to 3 mm, for example.

The dimensions of the throat portion30of the present device10are much smaller than the throat portions of traditional bowls and are specifically chosen to prevent interference with the buildup of patina on the roughened surface of the combustion chamber. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the throat includes a different length or diameter.

As shown best atFIG.4, wherein the device10is positioned upside down relative to the other figures, the exhaust chamber40can include an open bottom end41, and an open top end42that forms the bottom portion of the throat30. The chamber can also include a cylindrically shaped outside wall43having an outside diameter that is preferably sized at 10 mm, 14 mm or 18 mm so as to be suitable for insertion within the open end of the downstem portion of a commercially available water pipe. Of course, any number of other shapes and sizes are also contemplated.

In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust chamber can include an inside wall having a generally uniform and cylindrical-shaped portion44athat is located adjacent to the bottom end41, and a generally funnel-shaped portion44bthat extends from the cylindrical-shaped portion toward the top end42while steadily reducing in diameter.

As shown, the funnel-shaped wall portion44bof the exhaust chamber can be in an inverted orientation relative to the inside wall24of the combustion chamber. It is also preferred that the funnel shaped portion of the exhaust chamber include a length (e.g., distance between top end41and the cylindrical wall portion44a) and cross-sectional angle (e.g., the pitch of the funnel toward the throat) that is between about 10% and 30% smaller than the length and cross-sectional angle of the funnel shaped inside wall24of the combustion chamber. This resulting size and orientation of the components is specifically chosen to form a venturi chamber which increases the speed and flow of the smoke from the smoking article being burned through the device and into the pipe.

In the preferred embodiment, the inside walls44aand44bof the exhaust chamber can include a smooth (e.g., non-rough) surface so as to specifically reduce or prevent buildup of burnt smoking material and tar, and to aid in the eventual cleaning of the exhaust chamber.

Although described above with regard to a single bowl device having a particular shape or size, this is for illustrative purposes only. To this end, other embodiments are contemplated wherein a plurality of individual bowl devices can be provided each having the same or a different sized throat or other such component, so as to allow a user to pick and choose a different bowl device for each smoking experience.

In various embodiments, one or more throat picks50can be provided with the bowl device10. As shown best atFIG.5, the throat pick50can include an elongated member having a pointed distal end51and a middle section52that is specifically manufactured to include a specific outer diameter such as 0.5 mm, for example. As noted above, because the bowl device10is specifically designed to accrue patina caused by the residue of smoking material, it is preferred that the device not be cleaned using traditional methods (e.g., soaking in an abrasive chemical) which would remove the patina.

In this regard, the pick can be used periodically by a user whereby the distal end51is positioned through the combustion chamber20and the throat30so as to remove any material that has accumulated therein. Moreover, the use of a pick in this manner results in a pathway through the throat that is known and uniform each time the device is used. As shown, the proximal end53of the pick can include protrusions to aid the user in gripping the device during use.

Although illustrated with regard to a single pick, this is for illustrative purposes only, as the device can include any number of different pick devices each having a different outside diameter so as to permit a user to decide what sized pathway they prefer as the utilize the device with a water pipe.

As described herein, one or more elements of the bowl device10can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.