Patent Publication Number: US-2018042291-A1

Title: Smoking apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to smoking apparatuses and, more particularly to a smoking apparatus for enabling smokeless and odorless smoking. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Smoking is a practice involving inhalation of smoke produced by burning or heating substances, such as tobacco, herbs etc. Various types of smoking devices are currently available in the market for enabling smoking activity, such as for example, cigarettes, water pipes, vaporizer pens etc. Some of these smoking devices, such as water pipes for example, are required to be ignited or lit by the user at one end to initiate the smoking process, while other devices, such as vaporizer pens, require the user to just press a button to initiate the smoking process. 
     In most conventional smoking devices, the smoke resulting from igniting the substance or the smoke released during exhaling or even the particulates produced by vaporizing the substance are released into the immediate environment of the person involved in smoking of the substance. Other people in vicinity of the person involved in smoking may not want to indulge in passive smoking (i.e. the act of inhaling second hand. smoke/vapor particulates) and may object to the smoking activity. This concern may be exacerbated if the smoking activity is carried out in an indoor environment. Furthermore, in many scenarios, smoking indoors may result in a bad odor and long-term indoor smoking may also tar the walls and the furniture disposed in the indoor environment. 
     Some recently launched solutions to the aforementioned problems involve the use of personal air filters to eliminate the odor and the smoke generated during the smoking activity. However, such solutions necessitate a smoker to carry multiple devices, i.e. the smoking device and a personal air filter. Further, such solutions only treat the exhaled smoke and do not treat the smoke generated at the time of ignition of the substance. 
     Hence it would be advantageous to provide smokers, with a smoking device to help treat the smoke generated during ignition of the substance and during exhaling, without the need to carry an additional device. Such a mechanism would allow smokers to smoke without having to worry about the smoke or the odor affecting other people and their surrounding environment. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide smoking apparatuses for smokeless and odorless smoking. 
     In an embodiment, a smoking apparatus for facilitating smokeless and odorless smoking is disclosed. The smoking apparatus includes an ignition unit, an elongated covering unit and a mouthpiece unit. The ignition unit includes a chamber, a bowl and a heating element. The chamber includes at least one air inlet and an ignition switch disposed on a body of the chamber. The at least one air inlet is capable of enabling surrounding air to enter the chamber. The ignition switch is configured to receive user input for switching ON or switching OFF of an electrical power supply. The bowl is disposed on a top portion of the body of the chamber. The bowl is configured to receive and hold a smoking substance. The heating element is disposed substantially under the bowl and is electrically connected to the ignition switch. The heating element is configured to generate heat upon receiving electrical power sub sequent to the switching ON of the electrical power supply. The heat generated by the heating element is configured to facilitate burning of the smoking substance held in the bowl to generate smoke. The elongated covering unit includes an open end portion capable of being removably attached to the top portion of the body of the chamber. The elongated covering unit is capable of housing the bowl to configure a burning chamber. The mouthpiece unit is attached to the elongated covering unit at an end opposite to the open end portion of the elongated covering unit. The mouthpiece unit includes an elongated body having a closed bottom portion at one end and an opening at an opposite end. The closed bottom portion is associated with an aperture for receiving the smoke generated by burning of the smoking substance in the burning chamber. The opening is configured to enable a user to place a mouth portion thereon and inhale the smoke generated from the burning of the smoking substance. The opening is further configured to receive smoke exhaled by the user by placing the mouth portion thereto. The mouthpiece unit further includes a filtering element configured to filter the exhaled smoke. The smoking apparatus is configured to release the filtered exhaled smoke into surrounding environment. 
     In an embodiment, another smoking apparatus for facilitating smokeless and odorless smoking is disclosed. The smoking apparatus includes an ignition unit, an elongated covering unit, a water chamber and a mouthpiece unit. The ignition unit includes a power supply chamber, a bowl and a heating element. The power supply chamber includes an ignition switch disposed on a body of the power supply chamber. The ignition switch is configured to receive user input for switching ON or switching OFF of an electrical power supply. The bowl is disposed on a top portion of the body of the power supply chamber. The bowl is configured to receive and hold a smoking substance. The heating element is disposed substantially under the bowl. The heating element is electrically connected to the ignition switch and configured to generate heat upon receiving electrical power from the electrical power supply subsequent to the switching ON of the electrical power supply. The heat generated by the heating element is configured to facilitate burning of the smoking substance held in the bowl to generate smoke. The elongated covering unit includes an open end portion capable of being removably attached to the top portion of the body of the power supply chamber. The elongated covering unit is capable of housing the bowl to configure a burning chamber. The elongated covering unit includes at least one air inlet configured to enable surrounding air to enter the burning chamber. The water chamber is attached to the elongated covering unit at an end opposite to the open end portion of the elongated covering unit. The water chamber includes an opening to enable an entry of the smoke generated in the burning chamber into the water chamber. The water chamber also includes water configured to treat the smoke. The mouthpiece unit is attached to the water chamber and is configured to receive the treated smoke from the water chamber. The mouthpiece unit includes a mouthpiece opening configured to enable a user to place a mouth portion thereon and inhale the treated smoke. The mouthpiece opening is further configured to receive smoke exhaled by the user by placing the mouth portion thereto. The mouthpiece unit further includes a filtering element configured to filter the exhaled smoke. The smoking apparatus is configured to release the filtered exhaled smoke into surrounding environment. 
     Other aspects and example embodiments are provided in the drawings and the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present technology, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a representation of an example scenario depicting a person involved in a smoking activity; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a smoking apparatus, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a representation showing the ignition unit detached from the elongated covering unit, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the bottom portion of the body of the chamber of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a top portion of the ignition unit is shown, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  shows a simplified block diagram of the ignition unit for illustrating the passage of surrounding air into the bowl, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  shows a diagrammatic representation of a mouthpiece unit, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the closed bottom portion of the mouthpiece unit, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the filter chamber, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective top view of the filter chamber housed with the body of the mouthpiece unit, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  shows a simplified diagrammatic representation of the smoking apparatus for illustrating inhaling of smoke using the smoking apparatus, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  shows a simplified diagrammatic representation of the smoking apparatus for illustrating exhaling of smoke using the smoking apparatus, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic representation of a smoking apparatus, in accordance with another example embodiment; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a working of the smoking apparatus of  FIG. 13 , in accordance with an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings are only exemplary in nature. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments. 
     It is noted that though the term ‘smoking’ is explained throughout the specification as the act of inhaling and exhaling smoke, in at least some embodiments smoking may also involve inhaling vapor generated from vaporizing the smoking substance. As such, the term ‘smoke’ as used throughout the description and claims refers to both smoke and vapor generated from burning or vaporizing a smoking substance as the case may be. 
     Moreover, although the following description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and/or alterations to said details are within the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, although many of the features of the present disclosure are described in terms of each other, or in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many of these features can be provided independently of other features. Accordingly, this description of the present disclosure is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  shows a representation  100  of an example scenario depicting a person  102  involved in a smoking activity. The smoking activity is exemplarily depicted to be carried out in an indoor environment  104 . However, it is understood that the smoking activity may not be restricted to the indoor environment and may be performed in an open environment or any external environment as well. 
     The person  102  is depicted to use a smoking device  106  for smoking purposes. It is understood that the smoking device  106  may include a smoking substance, such as for example tobacco, herbs etc., which can be burnt or vaporized to indulge in the smoking activity. The smoke resulting from the smoking activity is exemplarily labeled as smoke  108  in the representation  100 . The smoke  108  may be caused from igniting the substance in the smoking device  106  or may be caused as a result of exhaling by the person  102  upon smoking the substance. 
     As can be seen from the representation  100 , the smoke  108  is released into the immediate environment of the person  102 . Other people in the vicinity of the person  102 , such as an individual  110 , may inhale the smoke  108 . In many scenarios, people may not want to indulge in passive smoking (i.e. inhaling second hand smoke) and may object to the released smoke  108 . The smoke  108  may also be associated with bad odor, which may not be acceptable to the person  102  or to people around the person  102 . In some example scenarios, the smoke  108  may also cause darkening of indoor walls (as exemplarily depicted by dark patches  112 ) or furniture disposed in the indoor environment  104 . 
     Various embodiments of the present invention provide smoking apparatuses that are capable of overcoming these and other obstacles and providing additional benefits. More specifically, a smoking apparatus is provided that allows people to smoke with discretion in their home/apartment or other restricted places without worrying about the odor and the long-term tar buildup on walls/ceiling. The smoking apparatus accomplishes this through a series of chambers and valves that completely contain the smoke. When the user initiates the smoking apparatus, a heating element in the smoking apparatus heats a substance (for example, tobacco or herbs) and either burns or vaporizes the substance depending on the temperature set. As the user inhales, a one-way valve lets air in near the heating element (containing the tobacco or herbs) and routes the smoke to the user&#39;s mouth. The user then exhales back into the smoking apparatus and the smoke is routed through a smoke filter that eliminates the smoke and odor. This smoke is then routed through another one-way valve that only lets air out. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a smoking apparatus  200 , in accordance with an example embodiment. The smoking apparatus  200  includes an ignition unit  202 , an elongated covering unit  204  and a mouthpiece unit  206 . The components of the smoking apparatus  200  such as the ignition unit  202 , the elongated covering unit  204  and the mouthpiece unit  206  are depicted to vertically stacked to configure a substantially cylindrical shape for the smoking apparatus  200 . In at least some embodiments, the substantially cylindrical shape facilitates ease of handling the smoking apparatus  200  for the user. However, it is noted that the vertically stacked arrangement of components and the substantially cylindrical shape of the smoking apparatus  200  is shown herein for illustration purposes and that the overall arrangement of the components and the structure of the smoking apparatus  200  may vary in some embodiments. 
     A user of the smoking apparatus  200  may initiate the smoking activity by switching ON the electrical power supply by using an ignition switch  208  and inhaling through an opening  210  in the mouthpiece unit  206 . The user may also exhale smoke into the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206 . The inhaled and the exhaled smoke are trapped and filtered inside the smoking apparatus  200 , thereby eliminating the release of smoke and odor into the environment. The various components of the smoking apparatus  200  are explained next with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a representation showing the ignition unit  202  detached from the elongated covering unit  204 , in accordance with an example embodiment. In at least one embodiment, the ignition unit  202  is configured to be detachably coupled with the elongated covering unit  204 . The elongated covering unit  204  includes an open end  302 . The open end  302  may be associated with screw rails (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) to facilitate coupling with a complementary screw rail arrangement on the ignition unit  202 . The ignition unit  202  may be unscrewed from the elongated covering unit  204  to facilitate detachment of the ignition unit  202 . 
     The ignition unit  202  includes a chamber  304 , a bowl  306  and a heating element (shown in  FIG. 6 ). As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , a body  308  of the chamber  304  configures a housing enclosure. In one embodiment, the body  308  of the chamber  304  is configured to house a power supply cord for connecting to an external electrical power supply source (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). The external power supply source may provide the electrical power to the heating element subsequent to the user input on the ignition switch  208  for switching ON the electrical power supply. In one embodiment, the body  308  of the chamber  304  is configured to house one or more batteries capable of providing the electrical power to the heating element subsequent to the user input on the ignition switch  208  for switching ON the electrical power supply. In some embodiments, the body  308  of the chamber  304  may include one or more rechargeable batteries and a power supply cord for recharging the batteries. 
     The ignition switch  208  is depicted to be disposed substantially centrally on the body  308  of the chamber. However, it is noted that such positioning of the ignition switch  208  is shown for illustration purposes. The ignition switch  208  may be disposed in any location on the body  308  of the chamber  304 . In some embodiments, the ignition switch  208  may also be located on the elongated covering unit  204  or on the mouthpiece unit  206  as long as the ignition switch  208  maintains the electrical connection with the heating element and the electrical power supply source. Moreover, the ignition switch  208  is depicted to be a push button for illustration purposes. The ignition switch  208  is depicted to be a physical button (for example, a push button or a toggle switch) for illustration purposes and in at least some alternate embodiments, the ignition switch  208  may be capable of receiving a touch or a gesture input to switch ON or switch OFF the electrical power supply. In some example embodiments, the chamber  304  may be configured to preclude the ignition switch  208  and may be configured to initiate the supply of electrical power to the heating element based on the signals generated by an air pressure sensor (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) which detects the change in air pressure when a user of the smoking apparatus  200  inhales and automatically turns on the smoking apparatus  200 . 
     The chamber  304  further includes at least one air inlet for enabling the surrounding air to enter the housing enclosure configured by the body  308  of the chamber  304 . In an embodiment, one or more air inlets are situated on a bottom portion  312  of the body  308 . The air inlets disposed on the bottom portion  312  of the body  308  are depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a front view of the bottom portion  312  of the body  308  of the chamber  304  of  FIG. 3  is shown, in accordance with an example embodiment. It is understood that the round shape of the bottom portion  312  is depicted herein as the body  308  of the chamber  304  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) has a substantially cylindrical shape. However, it is noted that the body  308  of the chamber  304  may be configured in different shapes and accordingly the periphery of the bottom portion  312  may assume different shapes. 
     The bottom portion  312  is depicted to include air inlets, such as the air inlet  402 ,  404  and  406 . The air inlets enable entry of the surrounding air into the housing enclosure configured by the body  308  of the chamber  304 . It is noted that in some embodiments the air inlets may be situated on the main surface of the body  308  bearing the ignition switch  208 . 
     The bottom portion  312  is further depicted to include an opening  408  for the power supply cord (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). In at least one embodiment, the bottom portion  312  is configured to be substantially flat thereby facilitating placement of the smoking apparatus  200  on any flat surface (such as a table, for instance) when the smoking apparatus  200  is not in use. More specifically, the bottom portion  314  serves as the grounding surface for holding the smoking apparatus  200  in an upright position when not in use. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the bowl  306  is depicted to be disposed on a top portion  310  of the body  308  of the chamber  304 . In some embodiments, the bowl  306  may be associated with a lid capable of being detachably coupled with a bowl opening portion. The bowl  306  with a detached lid is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of a top portion of the ignition unit  202  is shown, in accordance with an example embodiment. As explained with reference to  FIG. 3 , the ignition unit  202  includes a chamber  304  and a bowl  306 . Further, as explained with reference to  FIG. 4 , the bowl  306  disposed on the top portion  310  of the chamber  304  may be associated with a lid, such as a lid  502 , which can be detached to enable access to the interior portion of the bowl  306 . The coupling of the lid  502  with a bowl opening portion  504  may be achieved using a suction arrangement or a screw-based arrangement. In at least one example embodiment, the user may place a smoking substance in the bowl  306  subsequent to detaching the lid  502  from the bowl opening portion  504 . The bowl  306  is configured to receive and hold the smoking substance. In an embodiment, the smoking substance may be one of herbs, tobacco, flower essence, and the like. In at least one example embodiment, the user may deposit herbs, tobacco or any such substance in natural or crushed form into the bowl  306  and thereafter seal the bowl opening portion  504  with the lid  502 . 
     In at least one example embodiments, both the bowl  306  and the lid  502  may include apertures (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). The aperture in the bowl  306  may facilitate entry of air present in the chamber  304  to enter the bowl  306  thereby facilitating combustion of the smoking substance during heating of the smoking substance by the heating element. The aperture in the lid  502  may facilitate exit of the smoke generated by burning of the smoking substance held in the bowl. The passage of the air to the bowl  306  and the heating element is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a simplified block diagram of the ignition unit  202  is shown for illustrating the passage of surrounding air into the bowl  306 , in accordance with an example embodiment. The block diagram shows the various components of the ignition unit  202 . As explained with reference to  FIG. 3 , the ignition unit  202  includes the chamber  304 , the bowl  306  and a heating element, such as the heating element  602 . The heating element  602  is disposed substantially under the bowl  306  within the body of the chamber  304 . The heating element  602  is electrically connected to the ignition switch  208  (not shown in the block diagram) and configured to generate heat upon receiving electrical power subsequent to the switching ON of the electrical power supply. In at least one example embodiment, the heat generated by the heating element  602  is configured to facilitate burning of the smoking substance disposed in the bowl  306  to generate smoke. In some embodiments, the heating element  602  is embodied as a heating coil capable of producing heat upon receiving supply of electrical power from an electrical power supply source. In some embodiments, the heating coil may be a metallic element or a metallic alloy/composite filament. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom portion  312  of the chamber  304  includes air vents, exemplarily shown as a dotted line  604  in  FIG. 6 . The air vents allow entry of the surrounding air into the housing enclosure, configured by the body  308  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the chamber  304 . The body of the chamber  304  is further depicted to house a check valve  606 , which is configured to allow one-way entry of the surrounding air into the bowl  306 . The passage of the air from the surrounding environment into the chamber  304  through the air vents  604  and from the chamber  304  to the bowl  306  through the check valve  606  is shown using a directed arrow  650 . 
     The entry of the surrounding air into the bowl  306  enables combustion of the smoking substance when heated using the heating element  602 . As explained with reference to  FIG. 2 , the elongated covering unit  204  includes an open end portion (shown as  302  in  FIG. 3 ) which is capable of being removably attached to the top portion  310  of the body of the chamber  304 . In at least one example embodiment, the elongated coveting unit  204 , when attached to the top portion  310  of the chamber  304  houses the bowl  306 , or more specifically configures a closed enclosure, referred to herein as a burning chamber. The smoking substance upon being heated by the heating element  602  may combust in presence of the air present in the burning chamber to generate smoke. The smoke may rise upwards and enter the mouthpiece unit  206 . Example configuration of the mouthpiece unit and the passage of the smoke through the mouthpiece unit are explained next with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a diagrammatic representation of a mouthpiece unit  206  is shown, in accordance with an example embodiment. As explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mouthpiece unit  206  is attached to the elongated covering unit  204  at an end opposite to the open end portion of the elongated covering unit  204 . More specifically, one end portion of the elongated covering unit  204  is removably attached to the ignition unit  202  and the other end portion (or the opposite end portion) is connected with the mouthpiece unit  206 . The elongated covering unit  204  is fixedly attached to the mouthpiece unit  206 . However, in some embodiments, the elongated covering unit  204  may be detachably coupled with the mouthpiece unit  206 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the mouthpiece unit  206  is associated with an elongated body having a closed bottom portion  702  at one end and an opening  210  at an opposite end. In at least one example embodiment, the closed bottom portion  702  is includes an aperture for receiving the smoke generated by burning of the smoking substance in the burning chamber. The aperture in the closed bottom portion is shown in  FIG. 8   
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit  206 , in accordance with an example embodiment. The closed bottom portion  702  includes an aperture  802 . The aperture  802  enables the smoke that is generated in the burning chamber to pass through and enter into the mouthpiece unit  206 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206  is configured to enable a user to place a mouth portion thereon and inhale the smoke generated from the burning of the smoking substance. The user may also exhale the smoke into the opening  210  by placing the mouth portion thereto. More specifically, the user may place a mouth portion on the opening  210  and exhale into the smoking apparatus  200 . 
     The mouthpiece unit  206  is further depicted to include a filter chamber  750  disposed within a body of the mouthpiece unit  206 . As can be seen, the filter chamber  750  is disposed between the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206  and closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit  206 . The filter chamber  750  includes a filtering element  740 . The filtering element  740  is configured to filter the smoke exhaled by the user through the opening  210 . 
     The filter chamber  750  also includes a check valve  752  (also shown in  FIG. 10 ). The check valve  752  is disposed substantially below the filtering element  740  and is configured to enable the filtered exhaled smoke (or more specifically, air) to exit the filtering element towards the closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit  206 . 
     The mouthpiece unit  206  is further configured to include vents, such as the vents  754  disposed substantially near the closed bottom portion  702 . The vents  754  are configured to serve as an outlet for the filtered exhaled smoke (i.e. air) to escape into the surrounding environment. More specifically, the smoke exhaled by the user into the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206  travels through the filtering element  740  in the filter chamber  750  and is filtered. The filtered exhaled smoke passes through the check valve  752  disposed below the filtering element and provides a one-way exit to the filtered smoke into the closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit  206 . The vents  754  disposed on the body of the mouthpiece unit  206  substantially near the closed bottom portion  702  serves as path for the air to be released into the surrounding environment. 
     The filter chamber  750  also includes a concluding part  770  of a channel  760  extending from the aperture  802  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) in the closed bottom portion  702 . The concluding part  770  of the channel  760  is disposed within the body of the filter chamber  750  and opens into the space between the inner wall of the body of the mouthpiece unit  206  and the outer wall of the filter chamber  750  as shown in a perspective view and a top view of the filter chamber  750  in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , respectively. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of the filter chamber  750  is shown, in accordance with an example embodiment. As explained with reference to  FIG. 7 , the filter chamber  750  is configured to be housed within the body of the mouthpiece unit  206 . The body of the mouthpiece unit  206  housing the filter chamber  750  is not shown in  FIG. 9 . The filter chamber  750  includes a concluding part  770  of the channel  760 , which opens into the space between the inner wall of the body of the mouthpiece unit  206  and the outer wall of the filter chamber  750 . The space between the walls is depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective top view of the filter chamber  750  housed with the body of the mouthpiece unit  760 , in accordance with an example embodiment. It is noted that the filtering element  740  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) included with the filter chamber  750  is not shown in  FIG. 10  so as to depict the concluding part  770  of the channel  760  and the check valve  752 . As explained with reference to  FIG. 7 , the channel  760  serves to direct the smoke generated in the burning chamber through the aperture  802  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) into the space between the filter chamber wall and the inner wall of the body of the mouthpiece unit  206 , thereby bypassing the filtering element  740 . The space between the walls is shown as  780  in  FIG. 10 . The smoke travels the through the channel  760  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) and exits the channel  760  through the concluding part  770  in the filter chamber  750  to enter into the space  780  between the walls, thereby bypassing the filtering element disposed in the filter chamber  750 . The smoke may then proceed towards the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206  when the user inhales through the opening  210  by placing a mouth portion onto the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206 . The passage of smoke during inhaling and exhaling is explained next with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a simplified diagrammatic representation of the smoking apparatus  200  for illustrating inhaling of smoke by a user  1100  using the smoking apparatus  200 , in accordance with an example embodiment. The smoking apparatus  200  as explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 10  includes an ignition unit  202 , an elongated covering unit  204  and a mouthpiece unit  206 . To initiate the inhaling process, the user may first detach the elongated covering unit  204  from the ignition unit  204  to access the bowl  306 . The user may then remove the lid  502  associated with the bowl  306  and deposit a smoking substance, such as herbs for instance, in the bowl  306 . The user may then close the lid  502  and re-attach the elongated covering unit  204  on top portion of the chamber  304 . 
     The user may thereafter select the ignition switch  208  to start the provisioning of electrical power to the heating element  602  disposed below the bowl  306 . The user may further inhale through the opening  210  in the mouthpiece unit  206 . The air from the surrounding environment may enter the chamber  304  through the air vents  604  in the chamber  304  and pass through the check valve  606  into the bowl  306  containing the smoking substance. The passage of air from surrounding environment to the bowl  306  through the check value is exemplarily depicted using dotted arrow  1102 . 
     The heat from the heating element may cause combustion of the smoking substance in presence of air received through the check valve  606  to generate smoke. The smoke may rise through the burning chamber  1120  and enter the mouthpiece unit  206  through the aperture  802  in the closed bottom portion  702 . The smoke may pass through the channel  760  to enter the space  780  between the filter chamber  750  and the inner wall of the mouthpiece unit, thereby bypassing the filtering element included within the filter chamber  750 . The passage of air from the burning chamber to the space  780  between the walls in the mouthpiece unit  206  is exemplarily depicted using dotted arrow  1104 . 
     The smoke may then be inhaled by the user through the opening  210 . The passage of smoke from the space  780  between the walls in the mouthpiece unit  206  into a mouth portion of the user is exemplarily depicted using dotted arrow  1106 . 
     The working of the smoking apparatus  200  during exhaling is explained next with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a simplified diagrammatic representation of the smoking apparatus  200  for illustrating exhaling of smoke by a user  1200  using the smoking apparatus  200 , in accordance with an example embodiment. In at least one example embodiment, the user  1200  may exhale the smoke into the opening  210  of the mouthpiece unit  206 . The smoke may enter the filter chamber  750 . The passage of the exhaled smoke from a mouth portion of the user into the filter chamber  750  is shown using directed arrow  1202 . The filtering element  740  present within the filter chamber  750  is configured to filter the exhaled smoke. The exhaled smoke may pass through the check valve  752  in the filter chamber  750  to enter the closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit. The passage of the filtered smoke through the filtering element  740  into the closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit through the check valve  752  is shown using dotted arrow  1204 . As explained with reference to  FIG. 7 , one or more vents are provided substantially near to the closed bottom portion  702  of the mouthpiece unit. The filtered exhaled smoke may then be released to the surrounding environment through the vents as exemplarily depicted using dotted arrows  1206 . 
     As explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 12 , the smoking apparatus  200  provides a single device for performing the smoking activity. Moreover, the smoke released to the environment is filtered and odorless, or more specifically, air is released into the surrounding environment. 
     In some embodiments, the smoking apparatus  200  may also include a. water chamber disposed in-between the closed bottom portion  702  associated with the mouthpiece unit  206  and the burning chamber. The water in the water chamber may temper and treat the smoke prior to the inhaling of the smoke by the user. Another example smoking apparatus including a water chamber is explained with reference to  FIGS. 13 to 15 . 
       FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic representation of a smoking apparatus  1300 , in accordance with another example embodiment of the invention. The smoking apparatus  1300  can be used by smokers for smoking substances, like herbs, tobacco etc. The smoking apparatus  1300  is depicted to include an ignition unit  1302 , an elongated covering unit  1304 , a water chamber  1306  and a mouthpiece unit  1308 . 
     The ignition unit  1302  includes a power supply chamber  1310 , a bowl  1312  and a heating element  1314 . An ignition switch  1316  is depicted to be disposed on a body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310 . The ignition switch  1316  is configured to receive user input for switching ON or switching OFF of an electrical power supply. The ignition switch  1316  is depicted to be a physical button (for example, a push button or a toggle switch) for illustration purposes and in at least some alternate embodiments, the ignition switch  1316  may be capable of receiving a touch or a gesture input to switch ON or switch OFF the electrical power supply. In some example embodiments, the power supply chamber  1310  may be configured to preclude the ignition switch  1316  and may be configured to initiate the supply of electrical power to the heating element  1314  based on the signals generated by an air pressure sensor (not shown in  FIG. 13 ) which detects the change in air pressure when a user of the smoking apparatus  1300  inhales and automatically turns on the smoking apparatus  1300 . 
     In an embodiment, a body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310  is configured to house a power supply cord, such as the cord  1320 , for connecting to an external electrical power supply source (not shown in  FIG. 13 ). The external power supply source is capable of providing the electrical power to the heating element  1314  subsequent to the user input on the ignition switch  1316  for switching ON the electrical power supply. In an embodiment, the body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310  is configured to house one or more batteries capable of providing the electrical power to the heating element  1314  subsequent to the user input on the ignition switch  1316  for switching ON the electrical power supply. 
     A bowl  1312  is disposed on a top portion of the body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310 . The bowl  1312  is configured to receive and hold a smoking substance. Some examples of the smoking substance include herbs, tobacco, flower essence, or any such substance capable of producing smoke typically inhaled by smokers. The bowl  1312  is similar to the bowl  306  explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 13 , the heating element  1314  is disposed substantially under the bowl  1312  within the body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310 . The heating element  1314  is electrically connected to the ignition switch  1316  and configured to generate heat upon receiving electrical power from the electrical power supply source subsequent to the switching ON of the electrical power supply. The heat generated by the heating element  1314  is configured to facilitate burning of the smoking substance held in the bowl  1312  to generate smoke. In some embodiments, the heating element  1314  is embodied as a heating coil capable of capable of producing heat upon receiving supply of electrical power from an electrical power supply source. In some embodiments, the heating coil may be a metallic element or a metallic alloy/composite filament. 
     In at least one example embodiment, the elongated covering unit  1304  includes an open end portion such as the open end portion of the elongated covering unit  204  explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . The open end portion is exemplarily depicted using the edge  1322  and is referred to hereinafter as open end portion  1322 . The elongated covering unit  1304  is capable of being removably attached to the top portion of the body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310 . In an embodiment, the open end portion  1322  of the elongated covering unit  1304  is configured to be rotatably screwed to the top portion of the body  1318  of the power supply chamber  1310 . 
     The elongated covering unit  1304  is configured to house the bowl  1312  to configure a burning chamber  1324 . The elongated covering unit  1304  further includes at least one air inlet, such as the air inlet  1326  configured to enable surrounding air to enter into the burning chamber  1324 . In some embodiments, the elongated covering unit  1304  further includes a first check valve  1328  configured to provide an one-way entry for the surrounding air into the burning chamber  1324  to facilitate combustion of the smoking substance during heating of the smoking substance. 
     In at least one embodiment, a user of the smoking apparatus  1300  may decouple the ignition unit  1302  from the elongated covering unit  1304  to access the bowl  1312 . Further, the user may deposit herbs, tobacco or any such substance in natural or crushed form into the bowl  1312  and thereafter couple the ignition unit  1302  to the elongated covering unit  1304 . The switching ON of the electrical power supply using the ignition switch  1316  may cause the heating element  1314  to produce heat to burn the substance. 
     In at least one embodiment, the ignition unit  1302  can be decoupled from the elongated covering unit  1304  by rotational movement of the power supply chamber  1310  in a direction opposite to the lock-inducing direction associated with the screw based arrangement. It is understood that the ignition unit  1302  may be decoupled from the elongated covering unit  1304  for replacing the smoking substance (for example, tobacco/herbs etc.) in the bowl  1312 . in some embodiments, the ignition unit  1302  may also be decoupled for maintenance purposes and/or for replacement or charging of the power source (for example, for charging batteries) etc. 
     The water chamber  1306  is depicted to be attached to the elongated covering unit  1304  at an end opposite to the open end portion  1322  of the elongated covering unit  1304 . The water chamber  1306  is configured to receive the smoke generated in the burning chamber  1324 . To that effect, the water chamber  1306  includes an opening  1330  associated with a check valve  1332  to enable the entry of the smoke generated in the burning chamber  1324  into the water chamber  1306 . The water chamber  1306  includes water  1334  configured to treat the smoke. For example, the water  1334  in the water chamber  1306  is configured to cool as well clean the smoke (for example, reduce or eliminate toxins in the smoke). In an embodiment, the check valve  1332  may be embodied as a water trap unit. The water trap unit may be configured to prevent the flow of water  1334  from the water chamber  1306  to burning chamber  1324 . 
     The mouthpiece unit  1308  is coupled with the water chamber  1306  using an airtight seal  1336  with an opening  1338  therein. In at least one embodiment, the airtight seal  1336  is configured to decouple the water chamber  1306  from the mouthpiece unit  1308  to enable refilling of the water  1334  in the water chamber  1306 . The mouthpiece unit  1308  is configured to receive the treated smoke from the water chamber  1306  through an aperture  1338 . 
     The mouthpiece unit  1308  further includes a mouthpiece opening  1340  configured to enable a user to place a mouth portion thereon and inhale the treated smoke. The mouthpiece opening  1340  is further configured to receive smoke exhaled by the user by placing the mouth portion thereto. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece unit  1308  may include an air trap unit, such as the air trap unit  1342 , configured to trap the smoke inside the mouthpiece unit  1308  and prevent flow of excess smoke into the immediate surrounding environment. 
     The mouthpiece unit  1308  further includes a filter unit  1344 . The filter unit  1344  includes a filtering element  1346  and a second check valve  1348 . The filter unit  1344  is configured to receive the exhaled smoke from the mouthpiece unit  1308  through the opening  1350  and filter the exhaled smoke. The second check valve  1348  may be configured to only let out filtered air from the smoking apparatus  1300  when the user exhales the smoke through the mouthpiece unit  1308 . In one embodiment, the filtering element  1346  is configured to eliminate the exhaled smoke and the odor associated with the exhaled smoke. In some embodiments, the filter unit  1344  may be decoupled from the mouthpiece unit  1308  for cleaning or maintenance purposes. In one embodiment, the filtering element  1346  is a replaceable filter. 
     It is noted that the smoking apparatus  1300  may include more or fewer components than those depicted in  FIG. 13 . For example, in at least some embodiments, the smoking apparatus  1300  may preclude the water chamber unit  1306 . In such a scenario, the smoke generated in the burning chamber  1324  may be directly funneled to the mouthpiece unit  1308 . 
     The working of the smoking apparatus  1300  is explained in further detail with reference to  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a working of the smoking apparatus  1300  of  FIG. 13 , in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 14  depicts a user  1400  engaged in a smoking activity using the smoking apparatus  1300 . Further, an air/smoke inflow path (hereinafter referred as inflow path  1402 ) and a smoke/air outflow path (hereinafter referred to as an outflow path  1404 ) are shown to illustrate the working of the smoking apparatus  1300 . 
     The user  1400  may initiate the smoking activity by switching ON the smoking apparatus  1300  by turning on the ignition switch  1316 . The switching of the electrical power supply supplies the required electrical power to the heating element  1314 . The heating element  1314  starts heating the smoking substance (for example, tobacco, herbs etc.) disposed in the bowl  1312 . Upon switching ON the ignition switch  1316 , the user  1400  may inhale, using the mouthpiece opening  1340  in the mouthpiece unit  1308 . 
     As a result of the inhaling, air flows inside the smoking apparatus  1400  through the first check valve  1328  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) which is a one-way valve and lets the air to flow along the direction exemplarily depicted using a segment stretching from point A to point B of the inflow path  1402 . 
     The incoming air along with the heat from the heating element  1314  provides necessary elements for burning/vaporizing the smoking substance, resulting in Generation of smoke. The smoke generated as a result of the heating of the smoking substance arises through the opening  1330  and travels along the direction exemplarily depicted using a segment stretching from point B to point C of the inflow path  1402  and enters into the water chamber  1306 . 
     The generated smoke then passes through the water trap unit  1332  and into the water  1334  in the water chamber  1306  and finally to the opening  1338  travelling along the direction exemplarily depicted using a segment stretching from point C to point D of the inflow path  1402 . 
     The cooled and/or cleaned smoke then travels along the direction exemplarily depicted using a segment stretching from point D to point E of the inflow path  1402  and where the smoke is inhaled by the user  1400 . 
     During the exhalation part of the smoking process the user  1400  exhales the smoke generated during the act of smoking into the mouthpiece opening  1340  of the mouthpiece unit  1308 . The smoke travels along the direction exemplarily depicted using the outflow path  1404  for letting the smoke out of the smoking apparatus  1300 . More specifically, the exhaled smoke is first routed from the mouthpiece opening  1340  in the mouthpiece unit  1308  and reaches the opening  1350  along the direction exemplarily depicted using segment stretching from point X to point Y of the outflow path  1404 . The smoke then enters the filter unit  1344  where the smoke is filtered using the filtering element  1346  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) and travels to the check valve  1348  along the direction exemplarily depicted using the segment stretching from point Y to point Z of the outflow path  1404 . The check valve  1348  is a one-way valve, which lets the filtered smoke (i.e. air) out of the smoking apparatus  1300 . 
     The smoking apparatus  1300  as depicted and explained with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14  can be manufactured in various shapes and sizes. In at least one example embodiment, the smoking apparatus  1300  can be made of a size of a vaporizer pen, e-cigarette, e-cigar or similar sized conventional devices available in the market, so as to ensure ease of use and portability. 
     It is noted that the smoking apparatus may not be limited to a structural form as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 13  and operated as explained with reference to  FIGS. 11, 12 and 14 . Indeed, the smoking apparatus may be designed/structured and/or operated in various possible ways while retaining the essence of the techniques disclosed herein. For example, in some embodiments, the smoking apparatus may be designed to preclude stacking of chambers or include a protruding filter unit and instead include concentric chambers, with one chamber associated with air/smoke inflow path and the other chamber associated with smoke/air outflow path. It is understood that various equivalent configurations can be contemplated without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention. 
     Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a smoking apparatus that is capable of facilitating smokeless and odorless smoking. The smoking apparatus as disclosed herein is configured to treat both—the smoke generated during ignition of the substance as well as the exhaled smoke, thereby providing a complete solution to the user. Using the smoking apparatus, the smokers can smoke with discretion in indoor environments without having to worry about odor or tar buildup on ceilings and/or on walls/furniture in the rooms. In general, the smoking apparatus may also enable users to smoke indoors and other places where the second hand smoke/odor might not be tolerated. Further, the smoking apparatus is a multi-purpose smoking and filtration portable device that does not require a user to carry multiple devices for smoking and filtration purposes. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it is noted that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein in a language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claims.