Abstract:
A portable multifunctional smoking utensil holder and kit is disclosed that may include a holder for smoking utensils that includes a lower portion; and an upper portion that is pivotably attached to the lower portion, wherein the lower portion includes a first compartment that is configured to slidably and removably receive a pipe therein for storing the pipe; a second compartment that is configured to store a leafy substance therein; and a third compartment that is open to the second compartment, the third compartment including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion configured to slidably receive the pipe therein, the second portion including a grinding mechanism that is configured to transfer and grind substances from the second compartment into the third compartment when the grinding mechanism is actuated.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to paraphernalia and utensils for facilitating smoking, and more particularly to a portable smoking utensil holder and a kit including the holder and utensils that facilitate a variety of functions related to storing and using smoking utensils. 
         [0003]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Preparing a homemade cigarette that includes tobacco or another leafy combustible substance (e.g., legal medical marijuana) is typically something that cannot be done when on the move. For example, loose leaves, rolling paper, lighters, etc. are cumbersome and not easily transported in a smoker&#39;s pocket. 
         [0005]    As a result, smokers typically buy ready-made cigarettes or prepare cigarettes or the like prior to traveling. It would be advantageous if there existed portable devices that would facilitate smoking homemade cigarettes without requiring a lot of preparation. 
         [0006]    Consequently, there is a continuing need for portable equipment that would facilitate smoking. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Disclosed herein is a holder for smoking utensils, which may include a lower portion; and an upper portion that is pivotably attached to the lower portion. The lower portion may include a first compartment that is configured to slidably and removably receive a pipe therein for storing the pipe; a second compartment that is configured to store a leafy substance therein; and a third compartment that is open to the second compartment. The third compartment may include a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion may be configured to slidably receive the pipe therein. The second portion may include a grinding mechanism that is configured to transfer and grind substances from the second compartment into the third compartment when the grinding mechanism is actuated. The grinding mechanism may be rotatable about an axis extending lengthwise through the third compartment, and rotation of the grinding mechanism may be configured to cause substances within the second compartment to be ground and transferred to the first portion of the third compartment. The second compartment may be configured to receive a lighter therein. One or more apertures for receiving picks may be formed in the lower portion. 
         [0008]    A biasing member (e.g., a spring) may bias the upper and lower portions toward one another or away from one another such that the upper portion is spring-loaded. A locking mechanism (e.g., a latch) may maintain the upper and lower portions in a closed position relative to one another, and upon release of the locking mechanism, the upper portion may automatically pivot toward an open position relative to the lower member. At least one of the upper and lower portions may include a mirrored portion. The pipe may include one or more segments that are separable from one another to facilitate cleaning. Moreover, the pipe may include a filter element. One or more of the segments of the pipe may include a filter. A magnet may releasably couple the pipe to an aperture within the lower portion for convenient and secure storage of the pipe within the aperture such that a sufficient and predetermined force is needed to decouple the pipe from the aperture in which it is placed. Alternatively or additionally, the pipe may frictionally engage the aperture such that a sufficient and predetermined force is needed to slide the pipe out from the aperture in which it is placed. 
         [0009]    The second compartment may include a funnel that is configured to facilitate loading the leafy substance within the second compartment. The funnel may be transitionable between a stored condition in which it is fully placed within the second compartment and a deployed condition in which it is partially placed outside of the second compartment. An interior of the second compartment is viewable from an exterior of the holder, thereby providing an indicator window through which the amount of product contained within the second compartment is readily ascertainable. 
         [0010]    A kit for smoking may include the holder for smoking utensils described above, and may further include a pipe that is configured to be received within the first compartment, and a lighter that is configured to be removably coupled and received within the second compartment. The lower portion may includes one or more apertures for receiving picks formed in the lower portion, and the kit may further include one or more picks that are configured to be received in respective ones of the one or more apertures for receiving picks. 
         [0011]    Tactile sensations and sounds may be provided during the operation of the holder and kit. For example, opening and closing the upper and lower portions relative to one another may provide a clicking sound or the like. Similarly, removal of the pipe may also provide a clicking sound or the like. Such sounds may provide an audible confirmation, for example, that the upper portion is in an open position relative to the lower portion or that the upper and lower portions are in a closed position. Advantageously, this may reduce the likelihood that a user may, for example accidentally place the holder within the user&#39;s pocket when the upper and lower portions are in an open position relative to one another. 
         [0012]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a smoking device in accordance with the present disclosure shown in a closed condition; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the smoking device of  FIG. 1  shown in an open condition; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the smoking device of  FIG. 1  shown with a variety of utensils; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the smoking device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional, see-through view of the smoking device of  FIG. 1  taken along sectional line A-A, and shown with a grinding mechanism; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a pipe; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the pipe of  FIG. 6  shown with parts separated; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front view of picks in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional, see-through view of the smoking device of  FIG. 1  taken along sectional line A-A, and shown with a grinding mechanism and a lighter; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional, see-through view of the smoking device in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a front view of a funnel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto. The term ‘proximal’ refers to a side or end that would be close to the user during use and the term ‘distal’ refers to a side or end that would be farther from the user during use. 
         [0025]    Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. 
         [0026]    Various embodiments of a smoking device are described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 . 
         [0027]    One embodiment of a smoking device will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0028]    Smoking device  100  may include a smoking utensil holder  101  a lower portion  110  and an upper portion  120 , which may include a mirror  121  on a surface thereof. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the mirror  121  may be disposed on an inner surface of the upper portion  120 . The lower portion  110  and the upper portion  120  may be pivotably connected to each other via a hinge H. Mating locking parts  110 L on the lower portion  110  and  120 L on the upper portion may engage one another to maintain the lower and upper portions  110 ,  120  in a locked configuration, and may be opened by depressing a button  111  that releases the locking parts  110 L,  120 L. The lower portion  110  includes an outer housing  110   h  that may include a generally cylindrical aperture  112  which may be configured to receive a pipe  150  along its length. 
         [0029]    The outer housing  110   h  may also include one or more cylindrical apertures  113   a ,  113   b  that may each receive a pick  302 ,  304  ( FIG. 8 ) that are configured to facilitate cleaning of the pipe  200 . Windows (not shown) may be formed in the outer housing  110   h , near a proximal end of the outer housing  110   h , to facilitate removal of the picks  302 ,  304  therefrom. Any or all of the picks  302 ,  304  and pipe  200  may be releasably secured within respective apertures  113   a ,  113   b ,  112  via a magnetic or friction fit connection. Alternatively, the picks  302 ,  304  and pipe  200  may be releasably secured via a spring fit. 
         [0030]    The outer housing  110   h  may include a compartment  114  that is configured to receive therein an inner housing  115  that includes a compartment  116  in which a leafy, combustible material or substances (e.g., tobacco or the like) may be placed. A door  117  may provide access to the compartment  116  for inserting, removing, or cleaning substances from the compartment  116 . The door  117  may be slidable along or against directional arrow X to open or close the compartment  116 , respectively. The inner housing  115  may also include a cylindrical aperture  118  which may include a grinding mechanism  130  that may include a screw  132  that is configured to direct substances from the compartment  116  in an upward direction, a cutter  133  that is configured to cut or grind the substance, and a filter/cutter  134  that is configured to allow particles of a particle size into the proximal area of the cylindrical aperture  118 , and a rotatable wheel  135 . The grinding mechanism  130  may be removed and replaced with another grinding mechanism  130  that is substantially the same but that is configured to grind product (e.g., leafy substance such as tobacco or the like) into a different coarseness (e.g., more fine or less fine). 
         [0031]    An indicator window W including an aperture formed in the outer housing  110   h  and a clear or transparent material (e.g., glass or plastic) which is fitted within the aperture may facilitate viewing the inner housing  115 . The inner housing  115  may be formed at least partially from a clear or transparent material such that product contained within the compartment  116  is viewable via the window W to provide an indication of how much product is contained therein. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , to facilitate cleaning of the pipe  200 , the pipe  200  may be formed from a plurality of inter-lockable or connectable tubes  202 ,  204 ,  206 , which may be releasably locked together via a screw threading  202   a ,  204   a , which are configured to engage corresponding threading (not shown) of adjacent tubes  204 ,  206 , respectively. Washers  207  may be fitted between adjacent ones of the tubes  202 ,  204 ,  206 . One or more of the tubes  202 ,  204 ,  206  may include a filter (e.g., element  208  may serve as a filter), which may be removable and disposed within respective ones of the tubes  202 ,  204 ,  206 . The element  208 , which is secured at an end of the tube  206 , may be configured to include a sharp, coarse or rough surface such that it may function as a minder to cut or break up product, e.g., a leafy substance such as tobacco or the like. The most proximal tube  202  may be fitted with a filter. The filter(s) may be a metal mesh-like material or may be formed from any suitable fibrous material that is configured to filter out fine particles in the smoke, and may be removable and/or replaceable after use. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the picks  302 ,  304 , which may have different lengths and/or thicknesses, may have a generally tapered distal end  302   a ,  304 , respectively, that may be used to clean ashes and the like from the pipe  200 . A latch  302   b ,  304   b  may serve to releasably secure the picks  302 ,  304 , respectively, within a corresponding locking structure (not shown) within the apertures  113   a ,  113   b . The ends  302   c ,  304   c  of respective ones of the picks  302 ,  304  may be magnetically attracted to the apertures  113   a ,  113   b  within which they are placed or may instead or additionally be frictionally secured within the respective apertures  113   a ,  113   b . A spring (not shown) may be within respective ones of the apertures  113   a ,  113   b  such that when pushing the picks  302 ,  304  further into the apertures  113   a ,  113   b  the latches  302   b ,  304   b  decouple from the respective latching structures within the apertures  113   a ,  113   b , whereupon the spring would push the picks  302 ,  304  outward from their respective apertures  113   a ,  113   b.    
         [0034]    During operation, the smoking device  100  may have audio effects corresponding with the particular action being performed. For example, when rotating the wheel  135  of the grinding mechanism  130 , there may be a corresponding clicking sound. Also, for example, when opening the upper portion  120  relative to the lower portion  110 , there may be a pleasing opening sound, which may be caused by actuating a biasing mechanism (e.g., a spring) (not shown), which may be operatively coupled to the hinge H pivotably connecting the upper and lower portions  120 ,  110 . 
         [0035]    A smoking kit may include various implements or utensils (e.g., picks  302 ,  304 , pipe  200 ) that are stored within the utensil holder  101 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a lighter  160  may be removably or permanently press-fit into a proximal end of the compartment  116 . With the lighter  160  placed within the compartment  116 , access to the compartment  116  may still be gained via the door  117 . 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, a smoking device  100 A that is substantially similar to the smoking device  100  may include a dividing wall  210  that separates the compartment into an upper or proximal compartment and a lower or distal compartment  116   p ,  116   d , respectively, such that two different substances may be stored within the compartments  116   p ,  116   d  without being mixed. A plurality if apertures  212  may extend between a wall that divides the cylindrical apertures  116 ,  118  to facilitate insertion of the pipe  200  through the aperture  118 , for example, by reducing the likelihood that air pressure from the piston-like action of the insertion of the pipe into the aperture  118  would inhibit such insertion. 
         [0037]    During use, a leafy substance (e.g., tobacco, legal medical marijuana or the like) may be stored within the compartment  116 . The rotatable wheel  135  may be turned, which causes the screw  132  to upwardly translate the substance from the compartment up towards the cutter  133  and through the filter  134 . The pipe  200  may then be removed from the cylindrical aperture  112  and inserted into the cylindrical aperture  118  to jam or pack the grounded substance into the pipe  200 . As more substance is desired to be loaded into the pipe  200 , the wheel  135  may be rotated directing more ground substance into the aperture  118  where the pipe  200  loads the ground substance by pressing the pipe  200  into the aperture  118 . Thereafter, the substance may be heated or set afire by using the provided lighter  160 . After use, the pipe  200  may be cleaned using the provided picks  302 ,  304  and/or may be disassembled. After use, the pipe  200  may once again be stored within the aperture  112 . 
         [0038]    Loading of product (e.g., a leafy substance such as tobacco, legal medical marijuana, or the like) within the compartment  116  may be facilitated via a funnel  116   f , as shown in  FIG. 11 , which has a tapered shape in an inlet end  116   i  is wider than an outlet end  116   o . The funnel  116   f  may be removably or fixedly placed within the compartment via a force-fit or interference fit relationship. The funnel  116   f  may be formed from a compressible material having shape memory properties (e.g., a rubber or a polymer). The outlet end  116   o  of the funnel  116  may be placed deeper within the compartment  116  than its inlet end  116   i , and the funnel  116  may be placed at or near the bottom of the compartment  116  that is covered by cover  117 . When the cover  117  moved to open the compartment  116 , the outlet end  116   o  of the funnel  116   f  may transition to an expanded condition out from the compartment  116 , and when the cover  117  is moved to seal or close the compartment  116 , the outlet end  1160  of the funnel  116   f  may be pushed inwardly into the interior of the compartment  116 . Slits, seams, or areas of stress concentration  116   s  may be formed within the funnel  116   f  such that folding or pushing of the funnel  116   f  into the compartment  116  may be more easily achieved. 
         [0039]    Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.