Abstract:
A shisha head comprises an air inlet, an air outlet suitable for connection to a shisha, at least one vapourizer and an air flow sensor arranged to detect air flow through the shisha head. The vapourizer is arranged to produce vapour in response to the air flow sensor detecting a flow of air through the shisha head.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit of GB Application Serial No. 1315101.4 filed Aug. 23, 2013, titled “IMPROVED SHISHA”. This application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an improved shisha, and in particular to an improved shisha head. 
         [0003]    A cut away view of a traditional shisha is shown in  FIG. 14 . The shisha  100  comprises a bowl  102  containing tobacco  103  beneath a screen  104  of perforated aluminium foil, metal or glass. Optionally, the top of the bowl  102  may be closed by a windscreen or cover. The bowl  102  is mounted on top of a hollow body  106  containing a chamber  107  partially filled with water  108 . The bottom of the bowl  102  is connected to a first hollow tube  109  which extends into the body  106  and has a lower end  109   a  opening beneath the surface of the water  108 . A user mouthpiece  110  is connected through a second hollow tube  111 , which is generally flexible, to the air space  112  within the hollow body  106  above the surface of the water  108 . 
         [0004]    In use, lit coals  113  are placed on top of the screen  104  to heat the tobacco  103  and generate smoke. When a user sucks on the mouthpiece  110 , producing a partial vacuum within the chamber  107 , smoke is pulled from within the bowl  102  down the first tube  109 , and bubbles through the water  108  into the air space  112  within the chamber  107 . The smoke is then sucked along the second tube  111  to the mouthpiece  110  and can be inhaled by the user. 
         [0005]    Shishas of this type are well known, having been widely used for many years. 
         [0006]    The inhaling of tobacco smoke using a shisha is believed to be less harmful than some other methods of smoking, but there is still concern that shisha use may have long term negative health effects. 
         [0007]    Further, many countries have introduced, or have proposed, legislation making smoking illegal in some locations, and such legislation generally applies to shishas as well as other types of smoking. 
         [0008]    The problem addressed by the present invention is how to provide an improved shisha which is less likely to have negative health effects and will not be affected by legislation controlling or limiting smoking. 
         [0009]    The present invention was made in order to solve these problems, at least in part. 
         [0010]    A first aspect of the invention provides a shisha head comprising an air inlet, an air outlet suitable for connection to a shisha, at least one vapourizer and an air flow sensor arranged to detect air flow through the shisha head, wherein the vapourizer is arranged to produce vapour in response to the air flow sensor detecting a flow of air through the shisha head. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the vapourizer contains e-liquid. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the vapourizer is arranged to produce a vapour mixture of e-liquid that contains nicotine. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the vapourizer contains a liquid solution of nicotine. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the vapourizer is arranged to produce a mixture of vapour and at least one flavouring substance. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the vapourizer contains a liquid solution of the at least one flavouring substance 
         [0016]    Preferably, the shisha head comprises a plurality of vapourizers. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the shisha head comprises six vapourizers. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the air flow sensor is arranged to detect air flow through the air outlet. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the shisha head further comprising a power supply. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the power supply is at least one battery. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the power supply is three batteries. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the shisha head further comprises an outer casing. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the casing is circular in cross section and comprises a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the first and second sections are linked by an intermediate tapered section. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the first diameter is 4.5 cm and the second diameter is 8.5 cm. 
         [0026]    Preferably, the shisha head has a height of 11 cm. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the air outlet is located at the centre of the second section. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the end of the first section remote from the second section comprises a pair of inner and outer concentric circular walls extending outwardly and defining an annular space between them, wherein the inner circular wall surrounds the air outlet. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the outer wall is contiguous with the outer casing. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the inner wall has a diameter of 2.2 cm and the outer wall has a diameter of 4.5 cm. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the inner and outer walls define an annular space having a depth of 2 cm. 
         [0032]    A second aspect of the invention provides a shisha comprising a shisha head according to any preceding claim. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the shisha further comprises a water reservoir and a tube arranged to communicate with the air outlet of the shisha head, the tube having an opening beneath the surface of the water in the reservoir. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the water in the reservoir comprises at least one flavouring substance dissolved in the water. 
         [0035]    Preferably, the flavouring substance has been added to the water in the form of a dissolvable flavouring material. 
         [0036]    Preferably, the flavouring substance has been added to the water in the form of a dissolvable flavouring capsule. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an improved shisha head according to the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom plan view of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the interior of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  shows another perspective view of the interior of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom plan view of the interior of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  shows the arrangement of batteries within the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  shows the wiring arrangement of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  shows an external view of a vapouriser capsule part of the shisha head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  shows a partial view of internal components of the vapouriser capsule of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 12  shows an example of the shisha head of  FIG. 1  mounted on a conventional shisha; 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  shows a further example of the shisha head of  FIG. 1  mounted on a conventional shisha; and 
           [0051]      FIG. 14  shows a cut away view of a known shisha. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0052]      FIG. 1  shows an external upper perspective view of an improved shisha head  10  according to the present invention. The shisha head  10  is hollow and comprises a circular upper bowl section  11  having a larger diameter and a lower circular tubular section  12  having a smaller diameter. The upper and lower sections  11  and  12  are connected by a tapered section  13  of the lower section  12 . The upper end of the upper section  11  is substantially closed by a plate  14  located inside the upper edge of the upper section  11 . A circumferential slot or slots  15  is defined between the edge of the plate  14  and the inner surface of the upper section  11 . These slots  15  allow air to pass into the interior of the shisha head  10 . 
         [0053]    In the illustrated example the upper section  11  has a diameter of about 8.5 cm and a height of about 2 cm, and the lower section  12  has a diameter of about 4.5 cm and a height of about 9 cm. 
         [0054]      FIG. 2  shows a lower perspective view of the shisha head  10 . In  FIG. 2  some parts are shown as transparent in order to allow the structure of the shisha head  10  to be readily understood. 
         [0055]    As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the lower section  12  has a plate  16  substantially closing the lower section  12  towards the lower end  12   a  of the lower section  12 . The plate  16  is located about 2 cm from the lower edge  12   a  of the lower section  12 , and a outwardly extending part  12   b  of an outer surface of the shisha head  10  extends between the plate  16  and the lower edge  12   a . A circular cylindrical wall  17  extends downwardly from the plate  16 . The wall  17  is concentric with the lower circular tubular section  12  and has a diameter of about 2.2 cm. The wall  17  extends downwardly about 2 cm so that a bottom edge  17   a  of the wall  17  is level with the bottom edge  12   a  of the lower section  12 . A small hole  18  passes through the lower plate  16  approximately in the centre of the plate  16 . The hole  18  allows air to pass out of the interior of the shisha head  10 . 
         [0056]    The shisha head  10  has dimensions selected so that it can be placed on top of a typical conventional shisha body in place of the conventional bowl. 
         [0057]    hen the shisha head  10  is in place on a conventional shisha body, for example the shisha body  106 , an upper edge of the shisha body  106  will be located between the wall  17  and the outwardly extending part  12   b . A seal may be formed between the upper edge of the shisha body  106  and the plate  16 . In some examples a grommet or other sealing element may be located on the upper edge of the shisha body  106 , or between the wall  17  and the inner surface of the lower section  12 , to improve the quality of this seal. 
         [0058]    In the illustrated example, when the shisha head  10  is in place on a conventional shisha body  106 , an upper end of the tube  109  will be located inside the wall  17 , so that the hole  18  will form an air passage allowing air to pass from the interior of the shisha head  10  and down the tube  109 . A seal may be formed between the upper end of the tube  109  and the plate  16 . In some examples a grommet or other sealing element may be located on the upper edge of the tube  109 , or within the wall  17 , to improve the quality of this seal. 
         [0059]    The dimensions of the illustrated example will allow the shisha head  10  to be used together with many conventional shisha bodies. In alternative examples different dimensions may be used. In any specific example the dimensions may be selected to cooperate with specific designs of shisha bodies. 
         [0060]    perspective views from above and below of the shisha head  10 , with parts of the shisha head  10  shown as transparent so that the interior components of the shisha head  10  are visible.  FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the shisha head  10  from below, again with parts shown as transparent so that the interior components of the shisha head  10  are visible.  FIG. 7  shows a partially exploded view of the shisha head  10 . 
         [0061]    The shisha head  10  contains six vapour generation capsules  20  and three batteries  21 , which are arranged to supply power to the vapour generation capsules  20 . Each vapour generation capsule  20  is cylindrical and about 7 cm long. The vapour generation capsules  20  are oriented substantially vertically within the shisha head  10  and arranged with one capsule  20  in the centre of the shisha head, with the other capsules  20  arranged equidistantly in a circle around this central capsule. 
         [0062]    An inner plate  40  is located inside the lower section  12  extending parallel and spaced apart from the plate  16 , so that the plates  16  and  40  define a mixing chamber  41  between them. 
         [0063]    The lower ends of the vapour generation capsules  20  are located within cylindrical tubular walls  22  extending upwardly from the upper, interior, surface of the inner plate  40  in order to support the capsules  20  and hold them in place. There is an aperture passing through the inner plate  40  inside each of the tubular walls  22  to allow air to pass into the mixing chamber  41  from a respective capsule  20 . 
         [0064]    The components of the shisha head  10  define a number of air flow paths through the shisha head. Each air flow path passes through a slot  15  in the plate  14 , through a capsule  20  into the mixing chamber  41 , and through the hole  18 . All of the air flow paths pass through the mixing chamber  41  and the hole  18 . 
         [0065]    The vapour generation capsules  20  may be electrically powered atomizers or clearomizers. 
         [0066]    The batteries  21  are arranged in a battery compartment  23  located on the lower, interior, surface of the plate  14 . 
         [0067]    The batteries  21  and the vapour generation capsules  20  are connected by wiring  24 . The wiring  24  is shown schematically in the attached figures. The wiring  24  connects the batteries  21  to the capsules  20  so that each capsule  20  is connected to both a positive and a negative terminal of one of the batteries  21 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0068]    In the illustrated example each battery is electrically connected to two of the capsules  20  by the wiring  24 , and each capsule  20  is electrically connected to a single battery  21  by the wiring  24 , so that each battery  21  supplies two of the capsules  20  with power. In alternative examples the batteries  21  may be electrically connected together in parallel and the capsules  20  may also be electrically connected in parallel. 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , each capsule  20  comprises an outer hollow tube  26  and an inner hollow tube  27  arranged concentrically. The space between the inner and outer tubes  26  and  27  contains a layer  28  of cotton threads soaked in an e-liquid. The e-liquid typically comprises propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine or polyethylene glycol  400 , or a mixture thereof as a base, with active ingredients dissolved in or mixed with this base. The active ingredients may comprise nicotine and/or flavourings, as discussed in more detail below. A plurality of resistance heater wires pass through the layer  28 . In the illustrated example the heater wires are arranged to form a plurality of coils  29  distributed within the layer  28 , with each coil  29  surrounding a group of cotton threads. 
         [0070]    An airflow sensor  25  is positioned at the top of each capsule  20 . Each airflow sensor  25  is located adjacent the top of the outer hollow tube  26  of the respective capsule  20  and is arranged to detect any flow of air through the capsule  20  and into the mixing chamber  41 . When each airflow sensor  25  detects an air flow through a respective capsule  20  the airflow sensor  25  switches on the supply of electrical power from a battery  21  to the respective capsule  20 . 
         [0071]    When electrical power is supplied to the heater wires the coils  29  heat the cotton threads, producing e-liquid vapour. 
         [0072]    The e-liquid within the capsules  20  which is used to produce the vapour may comprise a solution of e-liquid which contains nicotine so that the vapour comprises a mixture of e-liquid with nicotine vapour. The e-liquid within the capsules  20  may additionally, or alternatively, comprise one or more vaporisable flavourings so that the vapour is flavoured. 
         [0073]    In the illustrated example the cotton threads of the layer  28  are soaked in water, with the amount of water contained in the capsule  20  being sufficient for the intended usage life of the capsule  20 . In other examples the capsules may include a water reservoir to supply water to the cotton threads to replace the water which is vapourised. 
         [0074]    In one example of use of the shisha head  10 , the shisha head  10  is placed on top of a shisha body  30 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The shisha body  30  is a conventional shisha body as shown in  FIG. 12 , and the usual bowl used with the shisha body  30  is replaced by the shisha head  10  of the present invention. The shisha head  10  is arranged so that the first tube  109  of the shisha body  30  is in communication with the hole  18  in the bottom of the shisha head  10 . 
         [0075]    When a user sucks at the mouthpiece  110 , producing a partial vacuum within the chamber  107 , air is pulled from the shisha head  10  and into the first tube  109  along the air flow paths passing through the capsules  20 . This air flow is detected by the airflow sensors  25 , which each switch on the flow of electrical power from the batteries  21  to a respective one of the capsules  20 . 
         [0076]    When supplied with electrical power the capsules  20  generate vapour, which may also comprise nicotine and/or flavour vapour when nicotine and/or flavours. The vapour from each of the capsules  20  passes into the mixing chamber  41  where the vapour and airflows from the different capsules  20  intermingle. 
         [0077]    The vapour generated by the capsules  20  then leaves the mixing chamber  41  and the shisha head  10 , and passes through the hole  18  in the bottom of the shisha head  10  into the first tube  109  of the shisha body  30 . The vapour then bubbles through the water  108  into the air space  112  within the chamber  107 . The vapour is then sucked along the second tube  111  to the mouthpiece  110  and can be inhaled by the user. 
         [0078]    Accordingly, the shisha head according to the present invention may allow a user to inhale vapour from the shisha, providing a similar experience to a conventional shisha without the potential health risks of inhaling tobacco smoke. Further, the shisha head according to the present invention may allow a user to enjoy a similar experience to a conventional shisha without breaking legal restrictions on smoking. 
         [0079]    In examples where e-liquid and nicotine is in the capsules the shisha head according to the present invention may also allow a user to ingest nicotine by inhaling the vapour. 
         [0080]    In examples where there are one or more e liquid flavourings in the capsules the shisha head according to the present invention may provide an enhanced user experience. 
         [0081]    In another example of use of the shisha head  20 , the shisha head  20  is placed on top of a shisha body  30 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . The shisha body  30  is a conventional shisha body, as shown in previous example. 
         [0082]    In the example of  FIG. 13  flavour substances are added to the water  108  by dissolving a soluble flavour capsule  31  in the water  108 . This flavouring may flavour the water resulting in an increased flavoured vapour provided to the user. 
         [0083]    In this example the flavouring dissolved in the water in the shisha body according to the present invention may provide an enhanced user experience. 
         [0084]    In other examples the flavouring material may be added to the water  108  in a different manner. For example, the flavouring material may be added in the form of a soluble tablet or powder, or a concentrated solution. 
         [0085]    In the illustrated example each vapour generating capsule is associated with a separate dedicated air flow sensor which controls the supply of power to that capsule. This arrangement may provide improved reliability through redundancy because even if one or more of the air flow sensors fails to operate in response to an air flow, the remaining air flow sensors will still activate their respective capsules and generate vapour. 
         [0086]    In alternative examples one or more air flow sensors may be used to control the supply of power to all of the capsules. These air flow sensors may not be associated with capsules. In one alternative example a single air flow sensor may be arranged to sense air flow through the hole  18  and arranged to control the supply of power to all of the capsules. In another alternative embodiment the central capsule may be replaced by a single air flow sensor arranged to control the supply of power to all of the remaining capsules. 
         [0087]    In the illustrated examples the shisha head is intended to only be used for a single shisha session, that is a single “smoking” session, and then discarded. In other examples the shisha head may be designed for a longer useable life. In general the useable active life of the shisha head is determined by the amount of vapourisable water contained in the vapourizer capsules and the amount of power in the batteries. In some examples the shisha head may be designed to be refurbished to allow repeated use. 
         [0088]    In some examples the shisha may further comprise a display to indicate information regarding usage to the user. 
         [0089]    In some examples the display may indicate the number of vapourization operations carried out, or the number of vapourization operations remaining before the shisha is exhausted. In some examples the display may indicate the remaining charge level of the battery or batteries. 
         [0090]    In the illustrated examples the shisha contains batteries as a power source. In other examples other power sources may be used. 
         [0091]    The numbers of vapourizer capsules and batteries in the described examples are not essential. Different numbers may be used in other examples. 
         [0092]    The use of batteries as a power supply is not essential. In other examples other forms of power supply may be used. 
         [0093]    The description above uses directional terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, vertical; and the like. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative and not absolute, and only apply when the shisha head is in the illustrated orientation. 
         [0094]    The dimensions of the illustrated examples are not essential. Other dimensions may be used in other examples. 
         [0095]    The above description relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention. The skilled person will be able to envisage alternatives within the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims.