Patent Publication Number: US-11647796-B2

Title: Device for smoking tobacco and other inhalation materials

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This present application is a continuation in part application that claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/584,846 filed on Sep. 26, 2019 and incorporated herewith by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vaporizers/inhalator having a cooling chamber that provides minimal pressure drop by creating laminar flow of smoke (inhalation material). 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The history of smoking pipes, mouthpieces, and other smoking devices is as old as the modern human history itself. There is tremendous variety of smoking devices exists across the world including those that were created specifically with the purpose of solving the problem of reducing the temperature of the smoking fumes. It is fair to say that each generation of engineers on the modern era at each new phase of progress has contributed solutions for the above stated problem. Present invention is one more step in this direction. 
     According to the prior art, a smoking pipe typically includes a bowl attached to a stem. A bore extends through the stem and connects to the bottom of the bowl. The stem may separate from a shank that extends laterally from the bowl and through which the bore extends. Often times the bowl and shank are formed as a single piece and the stem inserts into the shank and is held in this manner by a mortise and tenon connection. The interior of the bowl forms a combustion chamber into which a dried or substantially dry material, tobacco or the like, is packed and then ignited. Smoke is drawn through the bore by the smoker. The difficulty of creating the balance between the natural ability of human lungs to create the pressure drop and desired dosage of smoke intake while inhaling has always been the biggest problem of smoking. 
     Alluding to the above, many people smoke electronic cigarettes or pipes (hereafter referred to as “e-cig vaporizers”), which are designed to produce mere vapor combustion and aerosol inhalant, which are types of imitation smoke because no ash byproduct is produced. Some users turn to other smoking cessation devices and nicotine alternatives: like chewing tobacco, smokeless nicotine patches, nicotine gums, etc., to satisfy their craving to smoke. There are both, holistic (pipe like) vaporizers and e-cig vaporizers available that can do the same thing as each other, produce mere combustion vapor (i.e., imitation smoke that does not produce ash, or in some cases, vapor, sometimes called combustion smoke, from only slightly burning the plant matter to a point short of incinerating the plant matter to ash). However, there are no self-contained electronic smoking devices that incinerate matter into ash and smoke. 
     The main factor that is causing just said problem is the temperature of the smoke. From the point of view of Physics, the peculiarity of the smoking process is evident: the same suction effort of smoker that provides a flux of ambient air used for burning the certain amount of smoke-producing material is continuing to carry the produced hot smoke directly into the person&#39;s lungs. Delivery of hot gases into the lungs does not only cause a very unpleasant burning sensation and sometimes coughing, but also, according to the majority of modern medical studies, is the main cause of destructive effect that smoking imposes to the human&#39;s mouth and lungs. Therefore, the problem of decreasing of the temperature of the hot smoke right at the moment of smoking is the very important goal and the technical challenge. 
     This is a problem for many former and current smokers of cigarettes and tobacco pipes. Instead of chewing gum or inhaling air from conventional non-incineration electric devices, some people would like to enjoy actual smoke and smoked flavor and aroma. Furthermore, some people prefer not to use external heating sources, which may be difficult to aim and even operate in turbulent conditions and are flat out dangerous. 
     To date, however, the only options a person has for smoking with actual smoke and ash includes traditional tobacco smoke products that are externally heated products or internally heated with gas. All other electronic self-contained smoking devices and e-cig vaporizers are not designed to incinerate plant matter thus they are not designed to create actual smoke and ash, but rather, are designed to create types of imitation smoke. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a self-contained electronic smoking device with an internal heating source (which essentially functions as a cordless, flame-less lighter) and an open interface in which the smoker can fill and refill, like a pipe, and incinerate the packed pipe matter, producing actual smoke and ash, instead of mere combustion vapor or aerosol. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a vaporizer/inhalation device which maximizes pressure drop while intensifying heat exchange effect. Furthermore, there is also a need to be a way of operating the vaporizer/inhalator device without using any buttons, touch screens, or motion detectors thereby offering wide range of heating methods, enabling the content to be vaporized at lower temperatures, burned and mid temperatures, or again vaporized at high temperatures. 
     Alluding to the above, there is also a need for a multifunctional device to provide storage for required inhalation material to offer full portability and ability to be fully disassembled for cleaning. Finally, there is a need for the multifunctional device adaptable to provide data of its usage over internet as well as able to be operated via internet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A smoking vaporization/inhalation device includes several parts such as a bottom portion, a core portion, and a slide portion. The device also includes a bowl. The slide portion presents a rectangular plate having a first end, a second end, and side edges. A pair of openings are formed at the first end, wherein the opening is used to receive the bowl. The bottom portion presents a generally rectangular configuration without limiting the scope of the present invention. The bottom portion includes a bottom surface and a top surface wherein the width of the top surface is wider than the width of the bottom surface whereby the side walls are concave. 
     The top surface further presents a pool defined therein to form a depth and a bottom of the pool. The pool presents a meshed surface comprised of a multitude of cavities. The pool extends to an outlet defined at a first end of the bottom portion. The outlet presents a semicircular configuration without limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     The core portion includes a bottom surface and a top surface wherein the width of the top surface is shorter than the width of the bottom surface whereby side walls are straight as they extend from the bottom surface and then incline as they extend to the top surface. The core portion includes a first end and a second end. The core portion includes an opening adjacent the first end of the core portion defined therein to fixedly secure a metallic mesh. The top surface includes a peripheral rail extending about the top surface except the part at the first end to allow the slide portion to be inserted therein and slide about the top surface wherein the openings are aligned with one another to receive the bowl secured thereby. The bottom surface presents a meshed surface comprised of a second multitude of cavities. A channel is defined at the second end. The channel presents a collector and a passage extending from the collector to complement with the outlet of the bottom portion. 
     The core portion includes a bottom surface and a top surface. The core portion includes side walls are straight as they extend from the bottom surface and then incline as they extend to the top surface. The core portion includes a first end and a second end. The core portion includes an opening adjacent the first end to receive the bowl. When assembled, the bottom surface of the core portion covers the top surface of the bottom portion to cover the pool. A second pool is formed in the top surface. The second pool extends to the opening. 
     The housing is used to hold the central processing unit, the transmitter, the memory module, and the battery, wherein all these components are operably connected with one another. The central processing unit includes a software that is configured to control dosage, temperature, length of inhaling, etc. The central processing unit is operably connected to the transmitter adaptable to receive wireless signals. The memory module is operably communicated with the transmitter and the central processing unit and the battery. The housing includes a first button and a second button is located in the core portion. The first button and the second button are operably communicated with the central processing unit, the transmitter, the memory module, and the battery. 
     A first alternative embodiment of the bowl includes a bottom portion, having a central part and a rim extending outwardly from the central part to define a radial notch to secure the slide portion. A concave side extends to a central opening extending to a central channel defined in the central part. Oils to be heated in the central opening will fill the channel to allow fumes to enter the device to be inhaled by the user. When in use, the oils are not combusted but rather vaporized at high temperature thus not producing much ash. The bowl is formed from metal but can be formed from other material without limiting the scope of the present invention. The bowl may have a circular configuration as well and the rectangular and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The bowl may include magnets to magnetically connect with respective metal or any other nonmagnetic elements defined in the slide portion to form secure connection between the slide portion and the bowl. 
     A second alternative embodiment of the bowl device includes a bottom part presenting a sleeve and disposed in the openings defined in the bottom portion and the core portion of the device. A funnel element includes a cup extending to an extension presenting a channel fluidly communicating with the sleeve. The extension is disposed inside the sleeve. Oils to be heated in the cup fill the channel to allow fumes to enter the device to be inhaled by the user. When in use, the oils are not combusted but rather vaporized at high temperature thus not producing much ash. The bowl device is formed from metal but can be formed from other material without limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     It is the object of present invention to teach the means of using Vortical Boiling Phenomenon of heat exchange at the convective cooling for cooling of smoke inside the smoking pipe up to full recuperation with the temperature of the human body before this smoke has reached the person&#39;s lungs. 
     The invented smoking pipe offers the means for making a full draw of the desired dosage of smoke into the lungs using minimal suction effort. Indeed, when trying to reach the maximum smoking effect a person needs to inhale as much smoke as possible. 
     The present invention depicts the smoking apparatus which eliminates the need for restrictive airflow by cooling the hot smoke to the human body temperature thus allowing bigger draw of smoke into the lungs and holding it in for longer period of time, therefore increasing the smoking effect. 
     The present invention offers a self-contained electronic smoking device with an internal heating source (which essentially functions as a cordless, flame-less lighter) and an open interface in which the smoker can fill and refill, like a pipe, and incinerate the packed pipe matter, producing actual smoke and ash, instead of mere combustion vapor or aerosol. 
     The present invention offers a vaporizer/inhalation device which maximizes pressure drop while intensifying heat exchange effect and allowing the vaporizer/inhalator device to function without using any buttons, touch screens, or motion detectors thereby offering wide range of heating methods, enabling the content to be vaporized at lower temperatures, burned and mid temperatures, or again vaporized at high temperatures. 
     The present invention offers a multifunctional device to provide storage for required inhalation material to offer full portability and ability to be fully disassembled for cleaning. Finally, there is a need for the multifunctional device adaptable to provide data of its usage over internet as well as able to be operated via internet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG.  1    shows a partially cross sectional view a pipe device, such as vaporizers/inhalator, including a housing to keep a CPU unit, a transmitter, a memory unit, and a battery; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the pipe device as shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    shows a top view of a core portion; 
         FIG.  4    shows a perspective view of the core portion shown in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    shows a perspective and exploded view of the pipe device; 
         FIG.  6    shows a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a bowl; and 
         FIG.  7    shows a cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a bowl. 
     
    
    
     Advantages and features of the present invention are better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts,  FIGS.  1  and  2   , for example, illustrate a smoking device, such as vaporizers/inhalator, of the present invention, generally shown at  10 . It will be apparent that multiple embodiments of this disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present embodiments. The following description of embodiments includes references to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural, logical and operational changes can be made without departing from the scope of what is claimed. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Alluding to the above, for purposes of this patent document, the terms “or” and “and” shall mean “and/or” unless stated otherwise or clearly intended otherwise by the context of their use. The term “a” shall mean “one or more” unless stated otherwise or where the use of “one or more” is clearly inappropriate. The terms “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” and “including” are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. For example, the term “including” shall be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the smoking pipe, such as vaporizers/inhalator, (here and after as the device) is generally shown at  10 . The device  10  includes several parts such as a bottom portion, generally indicated at  12 , a core portion, generally indicated at  14 , and a housing  18  for holding a mother board  19 , a central processing unit  20 , a transmitter  22 , a circuit operably connecting and extending between the core portion  14  and the housing  18 , a memory  24 , and a battery  26 , wherein all these components are operably connected with one another. 
     The device  10  also includes a bowl device adaptable for vaporizing (here and after as “bowl” or “bowl element”), generally indicated at  28 , and to be described further below. The bottom portion  12  includes a first end  40 , a second end  42 , side edges  44 ,  46 , and side walls  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 . The bottom portion  12  presents a generally rectangular configuration without limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the bottom portion  12  includes a bottom surface  56  and 
     a top surface  58 . The top surface  58  further presents a pool, generally indicated at  60 , defined therein to form a depth  62  and a bottom, generally indicated at  64  of the pool  60 . The pool  60  present a meshed surface, generally indicated at  64 , comprised on a multitude of cavities  66 . The pool  60  extends to an outlet  68  defined at the first end  40  of the bottom portion  12 . The outlet  68  presents a semicircular configuration without limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     As best shown in  FIGS.  3  through  5   , the core portion  14  includes an insert  16  presenting a rectangular plate having a first end  30 , a second end  32 , side edges  34 ,  36 . An opening  38  is formed at the first end  30 , wherein the opening  38  is used to receive the bowl  28 . a bottom surface  80  and a top surface  82 . The core portion  14  includes side walls  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  are straight as they extend from the bottom surface  80  and then incline as they extend to the top surface  82 . The core portion  14  includes a first end  92  and a second end  94 . The core portion  14  includes an opening  96  adjacent the first end  92  to receive the bowl  28 . There several openings  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 , and  106  defined at the first end  92  and the second end  94 . 
     Alluding to the above, these several openings  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 , and  106  are used for magnets to hold the insert  16  in place. The top surface  82  includes a peripheral rail  110  extending about the top surface  82  expect the part at the first end  92  to allow the slide portion  16  to be inserted therein and slide about the top surface  82  wherein the opening  96  and the opening  38  are aligned with one another to receive the bowl  28  secured thereby. The bottom surface  80  presents a meshed surface comprised of a multitude of cavities (not shown). 
     A channel  112  is defined at the second end  94 . When assembled, the bottom surface  80  of the core portion  14  covers the top surface  58  of the bottom portion  12  to cover the pool  60 . A second pool  114  is formed in the top surface  82 . The second pool  114  extends to the opening  96 . The second pool  114  is used for keeping different elements like consumable material or battery, without limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     As best shown in  FIG.  1   , the housing  18  is used to hold a mother board  19  the central processing unit  20 , the transmitter  22 , the memory  24 , and the battery  26 , wherein all these components are operably connected with one another. The central processing unit  20  includes a software that is configured to control dosage, temperature, length of inhaling, etc. The central processing unit  20  is operably connected to the transmitter  22  adaptable to receive wireless signals. The memory  24  is operably communicated with the transmitter  22  and the central processing unit  20  and the battery  26 . In one aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a first element, i.e. a wire  120  and a second element, i.e. the wire  122  is located in the core portion  14 , without limiting the scope of invention. The first element  120  is operably communicated with the mother board, the central processing unit  20 , the transmitter  22 , the memory  24 , and the battery  26 . The system allows to record usage dosage, give user the information, vaporize material, etc. When user touches the elements  120  and  122  at the same time, the circuit  23  gives signal to the mother board  19  and the mother board sends signal to the central processing unit  20 . The signals initiated, transmitted, stored, processed, and managed in this way may include, without limitation, commands to start or stop vaporization process or give notifications through vibration, sound, or light emitting devices (not included in the embodiment). 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the bowl  28  includes a bottom portion, generally indicated at  402 , having a central part  404  and a rim  406  extending outwardly from the central part  404  to define a radial notch  408  to secure the slide portion  16 . A concave side  410  extends to a central opening  412  extending to a central channel  414  defined in the central part  404 . 
     Oils and other smoking substances to be heated in the central opening  412  will 
     fill the channel  414  to allow fumes to enter the device  10  to be inhaled by the user. When in use, the oils are not combusted but rather vaporized at high temperature thus not producing much ash. The bowl  28  is formed from metal but can be formed from other material without limiting the scope of the present invention. The bowl  28  may have a circular configuration as well and the rectangular and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The bowl  28  may include magnets  416  to magnetically connect with respective metal or any other nonmagnetic elements  418  defined in the slide portion  16  to form secure connection between the slide portion  16  and the bowl  28 . The bowl  28  may include magnets  416  or ferric metal  444  to magnetically connect to magnets within the pipe  16 . Further, the bowl stem  508  can be inserted into the channel  414  in the same way it is secured onto channel  502 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , a second alternative embodiment of the bowl device is generally shown at  500 . The bowl device  500  includes a bottom part presenting a sleeve  502  and disposed in the openings defined in the bottom portion and the core portion of the device  10 . A funnel element  504  includes a cup  506  extending to an extension  508  presenting a channel  510  fluidly communicating with the sleeve  502 . The extension  508  is disposed inside the sleeve  502 . 
     Alluding to the above, oils to be heated in the cup  506  will fill the channel  510  to allow fumes to enter the device  10  to be inhaled by the user. When in use, the oils are not combusted but rather vaporized at high temperature thus not producing much ash. The bowl device  500  is formed from metal but can be formed from other material without limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. 
     Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.