Patent Description:
Conventional heating cups for hookahs are cylindrical and disposed in the heaters. <CIT> and <CIT>, for example, disclose the structure of a heating cup. When not in use, the smoke or vapor condenses and blocks the air channels of the heaters, and the condensate is difficult to clean. Conventionally, the heating cup is formed integrally with the heater, which leads to difficulties in loading tobacco materials, in replacing the heating cup assembly, and in cleaning the hookah. Furthermore, the integrally-formed hookah is bulky, and inconvenient to carry. The present invention solves the above problems by providing a heating cup assembly according to claim <NUM> and a hookah comprising said heating cup assembly, according to claim <NUM>.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a heating cup assembly comprising a first cup; the first cup comprises a first cavity, a first side wall, and a second side wall; the first cavity is surrounded by the first side wall; the first side wall comprises a first end and a second end; the second side wall comprises a third end and a fourth end; the second end and the third end are disposed in one horizontal plane; the second side wall is in the shape of a truncated cone, and a diameter of the third end is less than that of the fourth end.

The heating cup assembly further comprises a connecting wall extending between the second end and the third end. The second end of the first side wall extends radially towards the third end of the second side wall to form the connecting wall.

In a class of this embodiment, one end of the first end comprises a first bottom wall; the first side wall and/or the first bottom wall comprises a heating layer; and the first cavity is configured to hold the tobacco materials.

In a class of this embodiment, the heating layer is disposed in a cavity of the first side wall, and/or is attached to an inner surface of the first side wall and/or an outer surface of the first side wall.

In a class of this embodiment, the heating layer comprises metal, carbon nanomaterial, or graphene.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the heating cup assembly further comprises a second cup disposed in the first cavity; and the second cup comprises a third side wall and a second cavity surrounded by the third side wall.

The second cup is detachably disposed in the first cup.

The second cup exceeds the first side wall in length.

In a class of this embodiment, one end of the third side wall comprises a second bottom wall; the third side wall and/or the second bottom wall comprises a heating layer.

In a class of this embodiment, the heating layer is disposed in a cavity of the third side wall, and/or is attached to an inner surface of the third side wall and/or an outer surface of the third side wall; and the heating layer comprises metal, carbon nanomaterial, or graphene.

In a class of this embodiment, the third side wall is matched with the first side wall in size and shape and the third side wall is disposed in the first cavity; and one end of the second cup extends radially towards the first cup to form a flange.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hookah; the hookah comprises the heating cup assembly according to the first aspect of the invention and a heater; and the heating cup assembly is detachably disposed on the heater.

In a class of this embodiment, the heater comprises a fourth side wall and a top concave portion surrounded by the fourth side wall; the hookah further comprises a coil wrapped around the fourth side wall; and the heating cup assembly is detachably connected to the top concave portion.

In a class of this embodiment, the hookah further comprises a water jar detachably connected to the heating cup assembly.

The following advantages are associated with the heating cup assembly and the hookah of the disclosure: the heating cup assembly comprises a first cup provided with a second side wall; the condensate flows along the second side wall and re-enters the first cup, which prevents the condensate from overflowing in the hookah. Furthermore, the heating cup assembly is detachable, portable, and easy to clean.

In the drawings, the following reference numbers are used: <NUM>. Second cup; <NUM>. Heating cup assembly; <NUM>. Heater; <NUM>. First cup; <NUM>. Top concave portion; <NUM>. Second cavity; <NUM>. Third side wall; <NUM>. Flange; <NUM>. Second bottom wall; <NUM>. First side wall; <NUM>. First cavity; <NUM>. Second side wall; <NUM>. First end; <NUM>. Second end; <NUM>. Third end; <NUM>. Fourth end; and <NUM>. First bottom wall.

To further illustrate the disclosure, embodiments detailing a heating cup assembly and a hookah of the disclosure are described below. It should be noted that the following embodiments are intended to describe and not to limit the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a hookah comprises a heating cup assembly <NUM>, a water jar (not shown), and a heater <NUM>. The heating cup assembly <NUM> is detachably disposed on the heater <NUM>. Examples of such detachable means include screw threads, snap fasteners, interference fits, buckles, magnets, adhesives, and plugs.

In certain examples, the heater <NUM> comprises a top concave portion <NUM> surrounded by a fourth side wall. The hookah further comprises a coil wrapped around the fourth side wall. The heating cup assembly <NUM> is detachably connected to the concave portion <NUM> to allow for convenient assembly, disassembly, and cleaning of the hookah. Furthermore, the heating cup assembly need not be limited to the top concave portion <NUM>. When energized, the coil produces an electromagnetic field which can heat the heating cup assembly <NUM> and transfer the heat to the tobacco materials. The tobacco materials produce smoke through high-frequency electromagnetic induction.

The water jar is detachably connected to the heating cup assembly <NUM> to allow convenient assembly, disassembly, and cleaning of the hookah.

Referring to <FIG>, the heating cup assembly <NUM> comprises a first cup <NUM>. The first cup <NUM> comprises a first cavity <NUM>, a first side wall <NUM>, and a second side wall <NUM>. The first cavity <NUM> is surrounded by the first side wall <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> comprises a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. The second side wall <NUM> comprises a third end <NUM> and a fourth end <NUM>. The second end <NUM> and the third end <NUM> are disposed in one horizontal plane. The second side wall <NUM> is in the shape of a truncated cone, and a diameter of the third end <NUM> is less than that of the fourth end <NUM>. Vapor condenses into liquid and flows along the second side wall to re-enter the first cavity, which prevents the condensate overflow from happening in the hookah. Furthermore, the heating cup assembly <NUM> is detachable, portable, and easy to clean.

In one example of the disclosure, the second end <NUM> is secured to the third end <NUM> by any suitable connection means such as integral formation or welding. The heating cup assembly <NUM> further comprises a connecting wall extending between the second end <NUM> and the third end <NUM>; and the connecting wall prevents the condensate overflow from happening.

One end of the first end <NUM> comprises a first bottom wall <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> and/or the first bottom wall <NUM> comprises a heating layer. Preferably, the heating layer is disposed on the first side wall <NUM> to increase heating area and provide uniform heating. The first cup <NUM> is used to hold the tobacco materials after being provided with a heating layer.

The first cavity <NUM> is used to hold the tobacco materials when the heating layer is disposed in the cavity of the first side wall <NUM>, and/or on an inner and/or outer surface of the first side wall <NUM>. Preferably, the heating layer is disposed in the cavity of the first side wall <NUM> to prevent oxidation and avoid direct contact with the tobacco materials, thus preserving the taste of the tobacco smoke.

The first side wall <NUM>, the second side wall <NUM>, and the first bottom wall <NUM> comprise heat-resistant materials such as glass, quartz, ceramics, and agate. The heating layer comprises metals, carbon nanomaterials, or graphene. Preferably, the heating layer comprises metals, thus achieving higher heating efficiency. The heating layer is in the shape of a plane or a mesh. In one example of the disclosure, the first side wall <NUM>, the second side wall <NUM>, and the first bottom wall <NUM> comprise metals, carbon nanomaterials, or graphene. The metals or the metal layer includes, but is not limited to, copper, silver, tungsten, aluminum, nickel, cadmium, and gold.

Referring to <FIG>, the heating cup assembly <NUM> further comprises a second cup <NUM> disposed in the first cavity <NUM>. The second cup <NUM> is used to hold the tobacco materials after being provided with the heating layer. The first cup <NUM> functions as a garbage can configured to collect the tobacco materials and the condensate from the second cup <NUM>.

The second cup <NUM> comprises a third side wall <NUM> and a second cavity <NUM> surrounded by the third side wall <NUM>. The second cavity <NUM> is configured to hold the tobacco materials.

The second cup <NUM> is detachably disposed in the first cup <NUM>, so it is convenient for the user to replace, clean, and carry.

The second cup <NUM> exceeds the first side wall <NUM> in length, so that the second cup <NUM> can be taken out the first cup <NUM>. The first cup <NUM> is used to collect the condensate or the tobacco materials from the second cup <NUM>.

One end of the third side wall <NUM> comprises a second bottom wall <NUM>. The third side wall <NUM> and/or the second bottom wall <NUM> comprises a heating layer. Preferably, the heating layer is disposed on the third side wall <NUM> to increase heating area, thus achieving uniform heating.

The heating layer is disposed in a cavity of the third side wall <NUM>, and/or on an inner and/or outer surface of the third side wall <NUM>. Preferably, the heating layer is disposed in the cavity of the first side wall <NUM> to prevent oxidation and avoid direct contact with the tobacco materials, thus preserving the taste of the tobacco smoke.

The third side wall <NUM> and the second bottom wall <NUM> comprises heat-resistant materials such as glass, quartz, ceramics, and agate. The heating layer comprises metals, carbon nanomaterials, or graphene. Preferably, the heating layer comprises metals, thus achieving higher heating efficiency. The heating layer is in the shape of a plane or a mesh. In one example of the disclosure, the third side wall <NUM> and the second bottom wall <NUM> comprise metals, carbon nanomaterials, or graphene. The metals or the metal layer includes, but is not limited to, copper, silver, tungsten, aluminum, nickel, cadmium, and gold.

The third side wall <NUM> is matched with the first side wall <NUM> in size and shape so that the third side wall <NUM> can be disposed into the first cavity <NUM>. One end of the third side wall <NUM> extends radially towards the first cup to form a flange <NUM>. The flange is configured to guide the tobacco materials or the condensate to flow from the second cup <NUM> to the first cup <NUM>, and the flange abuts against the heater.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a hookah comprises the first cup <NUM>, the water jar, and the heater <NUM>. The second side wall <NUM> corresponds to the position of the water jar. The first cup <NUM> is detachably disposed in the top concave portion <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> comprises a metal layer and configured to hold the tobacco materials. When the heater <NUM> is energized, the metal layer produces heat to burn the tobacco materials. The smoke generated from the first cup <NUM> first flows into the water jar for filtering and cooling and is then inhaled by a user.

Claim 1:
A heating cup assembly (<NUM>) for a hookah, comprising a first cup (<NUM>); wherein:
the first cup (<NUM>) comprises a first cavity (<NUM>), a first side wall (<NUM>), and a second side wall (<NUM>); the first cavity (<NUM>) is surrounded by the first side wall (<NUM>); the first side wall (<NUM>) comprises a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>); the second side wall (<NUM>) comprises a third end (<NUM>) and a fourth end (<NUM>); the second end (<NUM>) and the third end (<NUM>) are disposed in one horizontal plane; the second side wall (<NUM>) is in the shape of a truncated cone, and a diameter of the third end (<NUM>) is less than that of the fourth end (<NUM>);
the heating cup assembly (<NUM>) further comprises a second cup (<NUM>) detachably disposed in the first cavity (<NUM>); and the second cup (<NUM>) comprises a third side wall (<NUM>) and a second cavity (<NUM>) surrounded by the third side wall (<NUM>); and
the second cup (<NUM>) exceeds the first side wall (<NUM>) in length;
characterised in that the second end (<NUM>) of the first side wall (<NUM>) extends radially towards the third end (<NUM>) of the second side wall (<NUM>) to form a connecting wall (<NUM>).