Patent Publication Number: US-2019191762-A1

Title: Hookah system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 14/974,199 filed on Dec. 18, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Traditional hookahs, also referred to as arguilers, narguilers, and shishas, generate smoke from burning tobacco. A user sucks from a hose to pass the smoke from the tobacco, down a tube, and into a reservoir having water and air. The smoke is passed through the water, mixes with the air, and then is inhaled by the user through a hose. Hookah smoking is a social event that brings people together to pass time while enjoying a gathering and for smoking relaxation. Typically hookah smoking lasts hours during which time users replenish the tobacco on several occasions and sometimes with different flavors. 
     Typical hookahs, however, are not personalized, lack features to optimize smoking, and provide no interaction with the user. There is a need for a hookah system, for example, that can be personalized, facilitates even burning of smoking products, and provides visual and audio feedback. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the claims are not limited to a specific illustration, an appreciation of the various aspects is best gained through a discussion of various examples thereof. Referring now to the drawings, exemplary illustrations are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent the illustrations, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain an innovative aspect of an example. Further, the exemplary illustrations described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limiting or restricted to the precise form and configuration shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description. Exemplary illustrations are described in detail by referring to the drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary hookah system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary head assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the head assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-section view of the head assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary capsule of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates an isometric view of an alternative exemplary capsule of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top isometric view of an exemplary cavity member of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom isometric view of the cavity member of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary bowl of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary ring of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an isometric view of a board assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top isometric view of a capsule assembly of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a bottom isometric view of the capsule assembly of  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary method of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A hookah system for a smoking product may comprise a head assembly and a base assembly. The base assembly may include a tray, a tube, a reservoir with a release, and a hose with a pipe. The head assembly may include a capsule with the smoking product, a cavity member, a bowl, and a ring. The capsule may include a capsule base, a capsule sidewall defining an outer periphery of the capsule base and with a capsule interlock extending therefrom, and a capsule shelf extending outwardly from the capsule sidewall. The cavity member may include a cavity base with a shaft downwardly extending therefrom and about a cavity or shaft axis, a cavity sidewall extending upwardly from the cavity base and with a cavity interlock, and a cavity shelf extending outwardly from the cavity sidewall. The cavity interlock may be configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a corresponding member, e.g., the capsule interlock. The ring may be positioned between the cavity member and the bowl. The bowl may include a bowl base with an aperture configured to engage the shaft and a bowl sidewall extending from the bowl base to engage the ring. 
     The hookah system may be configured for any smoking product. An exemplary smoking product may include any substance that emits smoke in response to being burned, e.g., by heat from a heat source such as charcoal placed over the smoking product. An exemplary heat source may produce heat in the range of 350 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. The smoking product may include a hookah or shisha tobacco. The smoking product may be made from plants, e.g., tobacco from leaves of a tobacco plant. Alternatively, the smoking product may include tobacco-less substances such as a vapor electronic-liquid. Smoking products may include a mixture of various flavors such as fruit flavors. Vapor electronic-liquids may include electronic-juice flavors. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary hookah system  100  of the present disclosure. The system  100  may comprise a head assembly  102  and a base assembly  103 . The head assembly  102  may be configured to receive and burn a smoking product. The head assembly  102  or any of its components may be of any shape or size and may be configured for use in a commercial, home or hookah lounge use. The head assembly  102  may include heat resistant, fire retardant, and water resistant materials, e.g., to prevent deterioration in response to heat and facilitate cleaning, respectively. Exemplary materials may include any material with a melt temperature over about 350 to 450° degrees Fahrenheit, e.g., a ceramic, glass, metal, or plastic. Exemplary metals may include aluminum, stainless steel, iron, tin, or a combination thereof. Exemplary plastics may include acrylics or polyethylene. The head assembly  102  may include materials or coatings to reduce cracking and breaking. The head assembly  102  may be configured to receive product branding such as logos or personalization such as engraving, e.g., the name of a manufacturer, the business such as a hookah lounge, or the user. The head assembly  102  may include various colors, shapes, and textures or any combination of transparent, semi-transparent, or reflective materials. The head assembly  102  may include lights, as described in further detail below, and may be configured to allow the light therefrom to pass through certain surfaces of the head assembly  102  and reflect from others. An exemplary transparent or semi-transparent material may include a plastic. An exemplary reflective material may include polished metal, chrome, or a mirror. The base assembly  103  may be configured to releasably receive and selectively release the head assembly  102 . 
     The base assembly  103  may include a tray  104 , a tube  105 , a hose  106 , a pipe  107 , a release  108 , and a reservoir  110 . The tray  104  may be configured as a disk, e.g., to catch ash from the heat source and smoking product as it burns. The tube  105  may include a passage fluidly connecting the head assembly  102  and the reservoir  110  that is filled with water and air. The tube  105  may extend from the base assembly  103  to the water in the reservoir  110 . The hose  106  is connected to the reservoir  110  to pass smoke from the reservoir  110  to the user while the user sucks from the hose  106  using the pipe  107 . The release  108  may include a smoke release, e.g., to clear stagnant smoke from the reservoir  110 . Thus, the system  100  may be configured to pass smoke from a heated smoking product through the tube  105 , through water in the reservoir  110 , and then to the user through the pipe  107 . 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate an exemplary head assembly  102 . The head assembly  102  may be configured to attach to the base assembly  103 , e.g., to provide a fluid connection thereby facilitating airflow therebetween. As shown assembled in  FIG. 2 , the head assembly  102  may be removable from the base assembly  103 , e.g., to facilitate replacement of the smoking product. The head assembly  102  may include a capsule  112  with the smoking product (not shown), a cavity member  114 , a ring  116 , and a bowl  118 . As shown exploded in  FIG. 3 , the head assembly  102  may further include an electronic based (e.g., circuit) board assembly  120 , as discussed in further detail below, and a seal  122  to fluidly seal the head assembly  102  to the base assembly  103 . Thus, smoke may be burned in the capsule  112  and passed through the cavity member  114 , bowl  118 , and seal  122 , and to the user through the base assembly  103 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the capsule  112  may be configured to be positioned on and at least partially in the cavity member  114 . The cavity member  114  may include a shaft  130  extending downwardly from a lower surface of the cavity member  114  and about a cavity or shaft axis. The shaft  130  may include a passage  131  from an upper portion of the shaft  130  to a shaft base  132  of the shaft  130 . The shaft base  132  of the shaft  130  may be configured to fit through a central passage of the ring  116  and a central passage of the board assembly  120 . An outer surface of the shaft base  132  may be configured to engage an inner surface of an aperture in a bowl base  134  of the bowl  118 , e.g., providing a threaded connection therebetween. The ring  116  may include upper and lower surfaces configured to respectively engage a lower surface of the cavity member  114  and an upper surface of the bowl  118 . The bowl  118  may include an upper surface configured to engage the ring  116 . Alternatively, the upper surface of the bowl  118  may engage the lower surface of the cavity member  114  without a ring  116 . The seal  122  may include an upper end and a lower end with a tapered passage  123  therethrough. The tapered passage  123  may be configured to seal against an upper surface of the tube  105  of the base assembly  103 . The tapered passage  123  of the seal  122  may be configured to radially constrain the head assembly  102  relative to the tube  105  of the base assembly  103  while allowing smoke to pass into the base assembly  103 . The tapered passage  123  may also be configured to allow movement in an axial direction to facilitate removal of the head assembly  102  to replenish the smoking product or power source, as discussed in further detail below. Thus, smoke may be burned in the capsule  112  and passed through the cavity member  114 , bowl  118 , and seal  122 , and to the user through the base assembly  103 . 
     The board assembly  120  may include a power source  128  configured to power the board assembly  120 . An exemplary power source  128  may include a battery. The battery may be rechargeable or disposable. In an exemplary approach, the power source  128  may be in the head assembly  102 . This may facilitate replacement or recharging of the power source  128 , e.g., during exchange or removal of the head assembly  102 . 
     The head assembly  102  may include one or more sensors  124 . The sensors  124  may include a base portion in operational communication with the board assembly  120  and a sensing portion configured to extend through the cavity member  114  and into the capsule  112 . The sensors  124  may be configured to measure capsule and environmental parameters, as described in further detail below. 
     The head assembly  102  may further include a gap  126 . The gap  126  may be defined between a lower surface of capsule  112  and an upper surface of cavity member  114 . The gap  126  may be configured to provide airflow between the capsule  112  and the cavity member  114 , e.g., to cool the capsule  112 . The gap  126  may span from an outer periphery of the cavity member  114  or capsule  112  to a contact region between the cavity member  114  and capsule  112 . 
     The components of the head assembly  102  may be positioned relative to each other by any type of connection. The connection may include a threaded connection as mentioned above, e.g., with external threads on the shaft base  132  of shaft  130  and internal threads on the bowl base  134  of bowl  118 . The connection may include also a conical connection  133 , e.g., between seal  122  and shaft  130 . The conical connection  133  may guide the seal  122  into the passage  131  of shaft  130 . The conical connection  133  may be configured to radially constrain the shaft  130  by the contact between the seal  122  and shaft  130  while allowing movement along the axis of the shaft  130 , e.g., to allow removal of the head assembly  102  from the base assembly  103 . The connection may be a releasable connection such as a contact fit, an interference fit, a snap fit, or a press fit connection. Alternatively, the connection may be permanent, e.g., by use of an adhesive with the threaded or conical connection. 
       FIGS. 5A-B  illustrate an exemplary capsule  112 . The capsule  112  may include a capsule base  138 , a capsule sidewall  140 , and a capsule shelf  142 . The capsule base  138  may include upper and lower surfaces terminating at an outer periphery, e.g., defined about a capsule axis. The lower surface of the capsule base  138  may be configured to engage one or more surfaces of the cavity member  114 . The capsule sidewall  140  may extend outwardly from the outer periphery of the capsule base  138  to the capsule shelf  142 . The capsule sidewall  140  may include an angled or curved portion  141 , e.g., to facilitate airflow between a lower surface of the capsule  112  and an upper surface of the cavity member  114 . The capsule sidewall  140  may include the capsule interlock  144  protruding inwardly (as shown) or outwardly therefrom. The capsule shelf  142  may extend outwardly from an outer periphery of the capsule sidewall  140 . The capsule  112  may be made of a capsule material, e.g., a metal such as aluminum, that allows the transfer of heat to the smoking product while resisting degradation of the capsule  112 . The capsule  112  may be configured to be disposable for single use or reusable after replenishment of the smoking product. The capsule  112  may be configured to universally fit all hookahs or may have a customized fit for a particular brand or style of hookah. 
     The capsule  112  may include features to optimize control over the burning of smoking products. The capsule base  138  may be configured to hold the smoking product while the capsule sidewall  140  is configured to retain the smoking product on the capsule base  138 . As discussed in further detail below, the capsule  112  may include a foil cover connected to the capsule shelf  142  and positioned over the smoking products thereby holding the smoking products in the capsule base  138 . The capsule shelf  142  may also be configured as a holding surface for the heat source, e.g., to reduce the heat applied to the smoking product. As such, the heat source may be moved over the capsule base  138  to increase the heat applied to the smoking product or moved to the capsule shelf  142  to decrease the heat applied to the smoking product. The capsule may thus be configured for selective positioning of the heat source, thereby reducing overheating or unwanted burning of the smoking product. 
     The capsule  112  may include a capsule interlock  144 . The interlock  144  may extend inwardly (as shown) or outwardly from the capsule sidewall  140 . The capsule interlock  144  may be configured to receive a corresponding member, e.g., a cavity interlock of cavity member  114 , as discussed in further detail below. 
     Furthermore, the capsule  112  may include one or more apertures  146 . The apertures  146  may be configured to receive a respective one or more sensors  124  therethrough. The apertures  146  may be configured to facilitate the positioning of the sensors  124  into the capsule  112 . 
     The capsule  112  may also include a capsule dome  147 . The capsule dome  147  may be configured to retain smoking products while allowing airflow to the cavity member  114 . The capsule dome  147  may extend upwardly from an upper surface of the capsule base  138 . The capsule dome  147  may include capsule dome holes  148  to allow passage of smoke therethrough and to the cavity member  114 . The capsule dome  147  may include a lower surface configured to engage an upper surface of the cavity member  114 . The capsule dome holes  148  may be configured to fluidly connect with the cavity member  114  and to optimize airflow thereto, e.g., by aligning the capsule dome holes  148  with dome holes of the cavity member  114 , as discussed in further detail below. 
     A lip  150  may extend upwardly from the capsule base  138 . The lip  150  may be configured to be raised above the capsule base  138 . This may limit the passage of liquid moisture from the smoking product into the capsule dome  147 . 
     The capsule  112  may include one or more internal breakers  152  that may be positioned in a radial direction with about the capsule axis. As shown in  FIG. 5A , the internal breakers  152  may be positioned below the capsule shelf  142  on the capsule sidewall  140 , extend radially and inwardly from the capsule sidewall  140  and along the angled or curved portion  141 , and terminate axially before (as shown) or on the capsule base  138 . As also shown in  FIG. 5A , the internal breakers to may be positioned along the capsule base  138  and extend radially and inwardly from the capsule base  138  to and over the lip  150  and along the capsule dome  147 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the internal breakers may be positioned on the capsule sidewall  140  and extend radially and inwardly from the capsules sidewall  140 , along the angled or curved portion  141 , along the capsule base  138 , and terminate axially before (as shown), against, or on the capsule dome  147 . The internal breakers  152  may be configured to break apart and distribute the smoking product along the capsule base. The internal breakers  152  may be configured to spread and fluff the smoking product in response to shaking the capsule  112 , e.g., to facilitate even burning of the smoking product. The capsule  112  may also include one or more walls or compartments (not shown) extending radially from the capsule axis to hold different types of smoking products, e.g., having different flavors. 
       FIGS. 6-7  illustrate an exemplary cavity member  114 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cavity member  114  may include a shaft  130 , a cavity base  154 , one or more protrusions  155 , a cavity sidewall  156 , a cavity shelf  158 , a cavity interlock  160 , and a cavity dome  162  with cavity dome holes  164 , a lip  166 , one or more apertures  168 , rim  169 , one or more power source holders  170 , and one or more board holders  172 . The cavity member  114  may include upper and lower surfaces about a shaft or cavity axis and terminating at an outer periphery. The upper surface of the cavity member  114  may be configured to engage one or more features of the capsule  112 . The cavity base  154  may include one or more protrusions  155  extending radially from the cavity axis, along the cavity base  154 , and to the cavity sidewall  156  and may be configured to support the capsule base  138 . The cavity sidewall  156  may be configured to retain the capsule sidewall  140 . The cavity sidewall  156  may define the outer periphery of the cavity base  154  and may include an angled or curved portion  157  having the protrusions  155 , e.g., to facilitate airflow between a lower surface of the capsule  112  and an upper surface of the cavity member  114 . The cavity shelf  158  may extend outward from the cavity sidewall  156  and may include an upper surface configured to support a lower surface of the capsule shelf  142 . The cavity member  114  may include a cavity interlock  160  extending inwardly (as shown) or outwardly from the cavity sidewall  156  and may be configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a corresponding member, e.g., the capsule interlock  144  of the capsule  112 . The cavity dome  162  may extend upwardly from the cavity base  154  and may include cavity dome holes  164  configured to allow the passage of smoke therethrough and into the shaft  130 . The cavity dome  162  may be configured to engage capsule dome  147 . The cavity dome holes  164  may be configured to align with and allow passage of smoke to the capsule dome holes  148 . The lip  166  may extend upwardly from the cavity base  154  and may be configured to seal against a lower surface of the capsule  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the cavity member  114  may be configured to engage other components of the head assembly  102 . The shaft  130  may include a passage  131  to pass smoke to the base assembly  103  and may include a shaft base  132  with external threads to engage with the bowl  118 . The cavity member  114  may include one or more power source holders  170  extending from a lower surface of the cavity member  114  to receive and hold respective power sources  128 . The cavity member  114  may also include one or more board holders  172  extending from a lower surface of the cavity member  114  and configured to be positioned into or against the board assembly  120 , e.g., to secure the board assembly  120  relative to the cavity member  114 . The board holders  172  may include one or more snap fit connectors (as shown) to be received and snapped into respective apertures  188  of the board assembly  120 . Alternatively, the board holders  172  may include one or more fastener connectors having internal threads to receive fasteners such as screws positioned through the respective apertures  188  of the board assembly  120 . The rim  169  may extend from the cavity shelf  158  and may be configured to engage an upper surface of the ring  116  or the bowl  118 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary bowl  118 . The bowl  118  may include a bowl base  134  with an aperture therethrough and a bowl sidewall extending therefrom. The aperture of the bowl  118  may include bowl base  134  with internal threads to engage external threads of shaft  130 . Alternatively, the bowl  118  may include a contact fit, an interference fit, a snap fit or press fit connection with shaft  130 . The bowl  118  may include stop lip  174 , e.g., to provide a seal relative to the shaft base  132 . The bowl  118  may also include one or more holes  176  with pins to engage a charger or charging station to charge the power source  128 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary ring  116 . The ring  116  may include an upper surface with an upwardly extending rib  180  and a lower surface with a downwardly extending rib  182 . The rib  180  may be configured to engage and retain the cavity member  114 . The rib  182  may be configured to engage and retain the bowl  118 . Alternatively or in addition, the ribs  180 ,  182  may be configured for a contact fit, an interference fit, a snap fit or a press fit. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary board assembly  120 . The board assembly  120  may include, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB). The board assembly  120  may include an aperture  184  and one or more apertures  188 . The aperture  184  may be in a central area of the board assembly  120 , e.g., for the shaft  130  to be positioned therethrough. The apertures  188  may be configured to receive the board holders  172  of cavity member  114 , e.g., to secure the board assembly  120  relative to the cavity member  114 . 
     The board assembly  120  may also include and may be in operational communication with one or more sensors  124 , one or more lights  186 , and one or more speakers (not shown), which may be operationally powered by the power source  128 . The lights  186  may be positioned circumferentially about the board assembly  120  (as shown) or on an inner or outer surface of the cavity member  114 , shaft  130 , ring  116 , or bowl  118 . The one or more lights  186  may include light emitting diodes (LEDs). The lights  186  may be configured to emit light through transparent or semi-transparent portions of the head assembly  102 , e.g., the ring  116  or bowl  118 , or to emit light that is reflected from reflective portions of the head assembly  102 . The speakers may be positioned on the board assembly  120 , cavity member  114 , or bowl  118 . 
     The board assembly  120  may be configured to provide visual and audio feedback in response to capsule identification, capsule parameters, and environmental parameters. Board assembly  120  may include a radiofrequency identification sensor (RFID) (not shown) that is configured to detect an RFID tag of the capsule  112  and in response activate one or more sensors  124 . The sensors  124  may be configured to measure capsule parameters in the capsule  112  such as heat, temperature, pressure, oxygen or carbon dioxide level, noise, vibration, puff rate, puff duration, and capsule end-of-life. The sensors  124  may also be configured to measure one or more environmental parameters around capsule  112  or system  100  such as light, sound, vibration, and music. As such, the board assembly  120  may be configured to emit light and sounds in response to capsule parameters, environmental parameters, or a combination thereof. 
       FIGS. 11-12  illustrate an exemplary capsule assembly  200 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , assembly  200  may include the capsule  112  with the capsule interlock  144 , as described above. Assembly  200  may have an upper label  202  that may depict the type or flavor of smoking product and that may include a tab  203  to facilitate removal. As shown in  FIG. 12 , assembly  200  may include a lower label  210  with capsule information such as manufacturing and expiration dates and may include a tab  211  to facilitate removal. Upper label  202  may be removable and lower label  210  may be removable or permanent. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 11 , the assembly  200  may have a foil cover  206 . The foil cover  206  may be configured to retain the smoking product in the capsule  112  and transfer of heat from the heat source to the smoking product. The foil cover  206  may be made of aluminum. The foil cover  206  may include perforations, e.g., to allow oxygen to enter the capsule  112  to facilitate burning of the smoking product. The foil cover  206  may be configured to form an air gap between the foil cover  206  and the smoking product, e.g., to space the smoking product from the heat source to reduce overheating or unwanted burning of the smoking product. 
     The assembly  200  may include capsule identification. The assembly  200  may include a machine readable code  204  (e.g., a serialized barcode) as shown in  FIG. 11 . Alternatively or in addition, the assembly  200  may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag  208  as identified in  FIG. 12  and that may be detected by an RFID sensor, as discussed below. The capsule information may include a smoking product type, a manufacturer, and an expiration date associated with the particular smoking product in the capsule  112 . 
     Capsule  112  may also include an angled or curved profile  212 , e.g., to facilitate airflow between the capsule  112  and the cavity member  114 . Capsule  112  may also include brackets  214  to provide a gap  216  between the brackets  214  and relative to an upper surface of the cavity member  114 . These may facilitate airflow relative to and ease removal from the cavity member  114 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a method  300  of using a hookah system  100 . At block  302 , the method  300  may include providing the head assembly  102  with the capsule  112 , the cavity member  114 , the ring  116 , the bowl  118 , and the sensor  124 . At block  304 , the method may include shaking the capsule  112 , before positioning the capsule  112  in the cavity member  114 , to distribute the smoking product along the capsule base  138  with the internal breaker  152  on at least one of the capsule base  138  and the capsule sidewall  140 . At block  306 , the method may further include positioning the capsule  112  into at least a portion of the cavity member  114  and positioning the capsule dome  147  relative to a cavity dome  162  of the cavity member  114  to provide a fluid connection therebetween. The method may also include positioning the sensor  124  through at least one aperture of the capsule base  138  at block  308  and measuring a capsule parameter with the sensor  124  at block  310 . At block  312 , the method may include transmitting light through at least one of the ring  116  and the bowl  118 , e.g., after detecting the capsule identification and in response to at least one of capsule and environmental parameters, as discussed above. 
     It will be appreciated that the aforementioned method and devices may be modified to have some components and steps removed, or may have additional components and steps added, all of which are deemed to be within the spirit of the present disclosure. None of the components or steps herein are essential elements nor is their interdependency required. Even though the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the various modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims. The specification and the drawings are to be regarded as an illustrative thought instead of merely restrictive thought.