GRINDING AND HEATING DEVICE

A smoking apparatus is provided. The smoking apparatus includes an outer casing, a grinder housed within the outer casing, configured to grind a raw material into a ground material, an oven housed within the outer casing, configured to heat the ground material, releasing smoke, and a ventilation compartment housed within the outer casing, configured to transport the smoke to an opening on the outer casing, enabling the smoke to exit the outer casing.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

This invention relates to a smoking apparatus and, in particular, to an all-in-one smoking apparatus incorporating a grinder, heater, and inhalation components.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

When preparing to smoke various types of plant material, there are multiple devices that may be required before the material can be smoked. These materials may include a grinder for grinding the plant material, a heater for heating the plant material to produce smoke, and inhalation devices for inhaling the smoke.

Having to use these multiple devices causes the smokers to carry excess materials and also increases the complexities involved in smoking. For at least these reasons, an apparatus is needed that incorporates these devices into a single apparatus that is easy to store, transport, and use.

Examples of related art are described below:

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0319009 generally describes devices and methods for grinding, storing, and dispensing plant materials such as herbs, flowers, plants, seeds, and leaves, including legalcannabis, coffee, tea, and tobacco, and methods of manufacturing such devices. A modular grinder that can be assembled into multiple configurations and grinds, stores, and dispenses ground plant material is provided. Methods of grinding, storing, and dispensing plant material that employ the modular grinder are provided.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0368554 generally describes an integrated grinding and storage system for optimizing and enhancing plant performance for plant-based medical therapies and related uses ofcannabisincluding an apparatus for grinding that includes a head operable to be removably attached to a receptacle or container. The head includes a magnet, an upper, inner grinding element, a lower grinding element, a shaft, and a neck sleeve. The upper, inner grinding element is in communication with the lower grinding element within the head. The grinding elements are operable to rotate relative to each other. The shaft extends between the upper and lower sections and magnetically couples with the grinding elements and orients them in relation to one another. The head may be manually or electrically activated.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0014576 generally describes pellet substrates configured for use with a vapor delivery device to vaporize and deliver an aerosol to a user that include porous, substantially inert activated carbon and activated alumina pellets that have generally spherical, semi-spherical and/or rounded shapes. The pellet substrates are formed by mixing the pellets together with a liquid solution of an aerosol former admixed with flavoring and/or nicotine, tobacco powder, or tobacco extract such that the liquid solution is absorbed into and/or adsorbed onto the porous structure of the pellets with or without the addition of heat. The pellets may be coated with an inert dry powder, such as calcium carbonate, to better adhere the liquid solution to the porous surfaces of the pellets. Alternatively, or in addition, the pellets may be coated with a liquid solution of a cellulose gum, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and distilled water to reduce fracturing, cracking, chipping and dusting of the pellet substrates.

International Patent Publication No. WO2018/029536 generally describes systems, methods and apparatuses for vaporizing all or substantially all plant matter, liquid and/or other material to be vaporized are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention comprise a vaporization chamber sealed except for at least two conduits, heating element, a first conduit coupled to a source of fully or almost fully oxygenated gas, a heating element capable of heating the vaporization chamber to a temperature above a combustion temperature, a second conduit configured to transport vaporization gases and vaporized elements out of the vaporization chamber and at least one valve positioned in the second conduit preventing the flow of atmospheric air into the vaporization chamber. In some instances, the first gas substantially clears the vaporization chamber of atmospheric air prior to reaching combustion temperature. A second gas containing oxygen may be intermixed with the vaporization gases and vaporized elements proximal to the combustion chamber.

None of the art described above addresses all of the issues that the present invention does.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to an aspect of the present invention, a smoking apparatus is provided. The smoking apparatus includes an outer casing, a grinder housed within the outer casing, configured to grind a raw material into a ground material, an oven housed within the outer casing, configured to heat the ground material, releasing smoke, and a ventilation compartment housed within the outer casing, configured to transport the smoke to an opening on the outer casing, enabling the smoke to exit the outer casing. It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the smoking apparatus further includes a removable covering coupled to the outer casing, configured to enclose the raw material within the grinder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the smoking apparatus further includes one or more securing mechanisms configured to secure the removable covering to the outer casing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms includes one or more magnets. It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the grinder is an herb grinder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the smoking apparatus further includes a power supply. It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the power supply is a battery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the power supply is configured to power the grinder and the oven.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the smoking apparatus further includes a power switch configured to power on the smoking apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the smoking apparatus further includes a display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the display is an LED display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the display is configured to display one or more status updates on the smoking apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the raw materials are plant materials.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the grinder is coupled to the oven.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the grinder includes one or more openings configured to enable the ground material to pass from the grinder to the oven.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the oven includes one or more heating elements.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the smoking apparatus, wherein the smoking apparatus further includes a mouthpiece coupled to the ventilation compartment, configured to assist a user in inhaling the smoke.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS.1-4, a top perspective view (FIG.1), an x-ray view (FIG.2), an exploded view (FIG.3), and a bottom perspective view (FIG.4) of an all-in-one inhalation or smoking apparatus100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment, the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100includes an outer casing105, a grinder110, an oven115, a power switch120, a power supply125, and an internal ventilation compartment130for the transport of gaseous materials from the oven115. According to an embodiment, outer casing105includes an opening140configured to enable a user to insert one or more materials (e.g., plant or plant-based materials for smoking such as, but not limited to, tobacco, marijuana, etc.) into the grinder110. According to an embodiment, the opening140is covered by a removable covering145, enabling the grinder110to be sealed after insertion of the one or more materials and opened for removal of excess or discarded materials. According to an embodiment, the removable covering145is connected to the outer casing105via a hinged connection. According to an embodiment, the removable covering145is coupled to the outer casing105via one or more securing mechanisms165. According to an embodiment, the one or more securing mechanisms165may be magnets, clips, buttons, snaps, and/or any other suitable form of securing mechanism165. According to an embodiment, the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100further includes a display170. The display170may be configured to display170to a user status updates pertaining to the usage of the all in-one inhalation apparatus100(e.g., whether the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100is powered on, what function the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100is currently performing, etc.). According to an embodiment, the display170is an LED display.

According to an embodiment, the grinder110is an herb grinder and is configured to grind the one or more materials into smaller materials that are easier to burn in the oven110. The grinder110may have internal protrusions for grinding the one or more materials and/or may include any suitable components for grinding the one or more materials.

According to an embodiment, once the one or more materials are ground in the grinder110, the ground material is released into the oven115. According to an embodiment, the grinder110is coupled to the oven115. According to an embodiment, the grinder110and the oven115are connected via a barrier including a plurality of openings150wherein the plurality of openings150enable the ground material to pass from the grinder110to the oven115.

According to an embodiment, once in the oven115, the ground material is heated using a heating element155coupled to the oven115, releasing smoke. According to an embodiment, the oven115includes an opening160between the oven115and the internal ventilation compartment130, enabling the release of the smoke from the oven115. According to an embodiment, the outer casing105further includes an opening135connected to the internal ventilation compartment130, enabling the smoke (or other gaseous materials) to exit the outer casing105to be inhaled by a user. According to an embodiment, the opening135takes the form of a mouthpiece175, enabling the user to easily inhale the gaseous material escaping from the embodiment, the mouthpiece175is flush with the outer casing105. According to an embodiment, the mouthpiece175protrudes from the outer casing105.

In an embodiment, the heating element155is an electric heating element. The electric heating element may have a battery associated with it that provides the electricity for the heating element. In an embodiment, the battery may be rechargeable. In a variation, the rechargeable battery can be charged with a charger that comes from a USB port, or alternatively, can be charged by solar power, or alternatively, can be charged by a regular 120 V outlet. In a variation, the heating element may have a button that can be pushed that produces heat via a small arc of high voltage electrical current. In an embodiment, the heat generated from the electric heating element is hotter than a traditional striker heater and hotter than the heat generated from a match. In a variation, the electric heating element may be attached to a power supply125that also supplies power to one or more grinders. Alternatively, the electric heating element may have its own power supply.

In an embodiment, the electric heating element may be one of two heaters that are associated with the all-in-one inhalation apparatus with the other heating element being a butane based heating element. The smoker may have the option of using either heating element, and if the battery for the electric heating element is dead or the battery power is low, the butane heating element may be used. Alternatively, if the butane level is empty or low, the electric heating element may be used.

According to an embodiment, the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100is configured such that the grinder110can be removed from the oven115, enabling access to the oven for the removal of any waste products. According to an embodiment, the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100includes a power supply125. The power supply125may be an internal power supply (e.g., a battery) and/or may be an external power supply (e.g., a plug connected to an outlet). According to an embodiment, the power supply125may supply energy to power one or more of the grinder110and/or the oven115. According to an embodiment, the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100powers on when the power switch120is engaged. It is noted that the components of the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100within the outer casing105may be positioned in any suitable manner within the outer casing105. For example, in the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100shown inFIG.1, the grinder110is shown at an upper portion of the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100. However, the grinder110may be located at any suitable location on the all-in-one inhalation apparatus100.

In an embodiment, the grinder may be adjustable in size so that it can accept varying amounts of one or more materials. In a variation, the grinder may expand or contract based upon the desires of the smoker. In a variation, the mechanism that is used to expand or contract the grinder may comprise spring loading or a screw type of expansion or contraction. In an embodiment, the oven may also be adjustable in size.

In an embodiment, the apparatus may also optionally comprise a filter that is used to filter particulate matter. The filter may also be used in some embodiments to reduce the smell of the smoke or gaseous material emanating from the apparatus. In an embodiment, the filter may comprise cellulosic acetate, paper, rayon, activated carbon, ceramic, plant leaves or parts (such as corn husks) or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the grinder may have a means of compression of the material which is added to the grinder so as to reduce the amount of material that is unground, thereby reducing the waste. One example of this compression means can be seen inFIG.5. It should be noted that the shape of the apparatus of the present invention can be of any shape that will work. As shown inFIG.5, the apparatus of the invention is cylindrical in shape (as compared to the substantially rectangular shape that is seen inFIGS.1-4.

FIG.5shows an x-ray view of how this compression means may work. Material is added to grinder510by way of the arrow shown at the top of grinder510a. The user can depress plunger501through outer casing505in a direction shown by plunger arrow502, which is operationally attached to crown503and has the effect of pushing crown503in a direction of crown arrow504into the top of grinder510aand depressing the material contained therein towards bottom of grinder510b. Grinder510grinds the material (as described infra) until it is of a size that it is able to pass through holes550and drop through the grinder in the direction of material dropping arrow506. The ground material drops through to oven115(shown for example, inFIGS.2and3) whereupon the material is ignited by the means discussed herein. The smoke generated passes through mouthpiece508in the direction of mouthpiece arrows507and can be inhaled by a user at mouthpiece opening535.

It should be understood that while the compression means is shown by plunger501inFIG.5, any of a plurality of methods may be used to achieve the same purpose. For example, a spring may be placed in the space between crown503and top of outer casing505. The spring should be of a size and shape that allows crown503to be depressed into grinder510so as to compress the material contained therein. Also, although the plunger501is shown at the top of the outer casing505, it should be understood that it may be positioned on the side of the outer casing505. In a variation, if the plunger is positioned on the side of the outer casing, the plunger may be a sliding button along the side of the outer casing. InFIG.5, the crown is shown as a substantially flat surface, but it should be understood that the crown may comprise a plurality of small indentations and/or protrusions (e.g., dimples) that allow the raw material to be more effectively compressed into the grinder. In a variation, the crown may be made of wrought iron so as to have a less smooth surface.

In an embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention may also have a carb that allows a user to regulate airflow. The carb may be positioned anywhere in the apparatus so as to allow effective ignition of the material and also sufficient movement of the smoke generated by the ignition of the material so that the user can get an enjoyable smoke.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. It should be understood and it is within the scope of the present invention that any feature that is disclosed herein can be combined with any other feature disclosed herein as long as the features are not incompatible, and as long as the features are enabled for the purposes described herein.