U.S. patent application number 11/250478 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-27 for apparatus with electric heating device for water-pipe smoking.
Invention is credited to Chun-Liang Liu.
Application Number | 20060086365 11/250478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35502386 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060086365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Chun-Liang |
April 27, 2006 |
Apparatus with electric heating device for water-pipe smoking
Abstract
An apparatus for water-pipe smoking includes a water-pipe and an
electric heating device. The water-pipe has a bowl body for holding
combustible smoking material therein. The electric heating device
includes a shroud that confines a heating space, a handle that is
connected to the shroud and that is disposed outwardly of the
heating space, and an electric heating unit that includes at least
one heating element mounted in the shroud, disposed in the heating
space, and operable so as to generate heat for causing the smoking
material in the bowl body to combust when the shroud is moved
relative to the water-pipe to bring the heating element close to
the smoking material in the bowl body.
Inventors: |
Liu; Chun-Liang; (Yungkang
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARL COHEN ZEDEK, LLP
1500 BROADWAY 12TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
35502386 |
Appl. No.: |
11/250478 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 1/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/173 |
International
Class: |
A24F 1/30 20060101
A24F001/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2004 |
TW |
093217005 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for water-pipe smoking, comprising: a water-pipe
having a bowl body adapted for holding combustible smoking material
therein; and an electric heating device including a shroud that
confines a heating space, a handle that is connected to said shroud
and that is disposed outwardly of said heating space, and an
electric heating unit that includes at least one heating element
mounted in said shroud, disposed in said heating space, and
operable so as to generate heat for causing the smoking material in
said bowl body to combust when said shroud is moved relative to
said water-pipe to bring said at least one heating element close to
the smoking material in said bowl body.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shroud is
extendible into said bowl body.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bowl body is
extendible into said heating space of said shroud.
4. An electric heating device adapted for use with a water-pipe,
the water-pipe including a bowl body for holding combustible
smoking material therein, said electric heating device comprising:
a shroud including a surrounding wall that confines a heating
space; a handle disposed outwardly of said heating space, and
having a connecting part that is connected to said shroud, and a
grip part that is connected to said connecting part; and an
electric heating unit that includes at least one heating element
mounted in said shroud, disposed in said heating space, and
operable so as to generate heat for causing the smoking material in
the bowl body to combust when said shroud is moved relative to the
water-pipe to bring said at least one heating element close to the
smoking material in the bowl body.
5. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
surrounding wall of said shroud is formed with a plurality of vent
holes therethrough.
6. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
shroud further includes: a mounting wall that is disposed in said
surrounding wall, that separates an interior of said surrounding
wall into said heating space and a wiring space, and that has said
at least one heating element mounted thereon; and a cover that is
mounted on said surrounding wall to close said wiring space.
7. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
electric heating unit further includes: a heating controller
disposed outside said shroud; and a power coupling cable that
interconnects electrically said heating controller and said at
least one heating element.
8. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
power coupling cable extends into said wiring space to connect
electrically with said at least one heating element, and further
extends through said connecting part and said grip part of said
handle to connect electrically with said heating controller.
9. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
electric heating unit further includes a power supply cable
connected electrically to said heating controller and adapted to be
connected electrically to a power source.
10. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
grip part of said handle has first and second segments respectively
proximate to and distal from said connecting part, said first
segment of said grip part being disposed closer to said surrounding
wall of said shroud than said second segment of said grip part.
11. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
shroud is extendible into the bowl body.
12. An electric heating device adapted for use with a water-pipe,
the water-pipe including a bowl body for holding combustible
smoking material therein, said electric heating device comprising:
a shroud including a surrounding wall that confines a heating space
and that has a distal edge; a tubular extension having one end
coupled removably to said distal edge of said shroud; a handle
disposed outwardly of said heating space, and having a connecting
part that is connected to said shroud, and a grip part that is
connected to said connecting part; and an electric heating unit
that includes at least one heating element mounted in said shroud,
disposed in said heating space, and operable so as to generate heat
for causing the smoking material in the bowl body to combust when
the bowl body is extended into said heating space via said tubular
extension to bring said at least one heating element close to the
smoking material in the bowl body.
13. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 12, wherein
said shroud further includes: a mounting wall that is disposed in
said surrounding wall, that separates an interior of said
surrounding wall into said heating space and a wiring space, and
that has said at least one heating element mounted thereon; and a
cover that is mounted on said surrounding wall to close said wiring
space.
14. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 13, wherein
said electric heating unit further includes: a heating controller
disposed outside said shroud; and a power coupling cable that
interconnects electrically said heating controller and said at
least one heating element.
15. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 14, wherein
said power coupling cable extends into said wiring space to connect
electrically with said at least one heating element, and further
extends through said cover to connect electrically with said
heating controller.
16. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 15, wherein
said electric heating unit further includes a power supply cable
connected electrically to said heating controller and adapted to be
connected electrically to a power source.
17. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 13, wherein
said connecting part of said handle is connected to said cover of
said shroud.
18. The electric heating device as claimed in claim 12, wherein
said tubular extension flares in a direction away from said shroud.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Taiwanese application
no. 093217005, filed on Oct. 26, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an apparatus for water-pipe
smoking, more particularly to an apparatus with an electric heating
device for water-pipe smoking.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional water-pipe 1 is shown to
comprise an upright pipe body 11, a smoke guide duct 12 extended
into the pipe body 11, a bowl body 13 mounted on top of the pipe
body 11, a cover plate 14 disposed in the bowl body 13, and a
mouthpiece unit 15 coupled to the pipe body 11. The pipe body 11
has a lower portion formed with a reservoir 111 to be partially
filled with a liquid body (such as water). The pipe body 11 further
has a spout 112 in fluid communication with the reservoir 111 above
the liquid body. The smoke guide duct 12 has a lower end that
extends into the liquid body in the reservoir 111, and an upper end
that extends into a smoke passageway 131 of the bowl body 13. The
cover plate 14 spans the smoke passageway 131, and prevents
combustible smoking material (such as tobacco) in the bowl body 13
from falling into the smoke passageway 131.
[0006] In use, the combustible smoking material is placed in the
bowl body 13 on top of the cover plate 14, and is subsequently
covered with a tin foil 16. Burning charcoal 17 is then placed on
top of the tin foil 16 for causing the smoking material to combust.
Smoke that results from combustion of the smoking material flows
through a clearance between the cover plate 14 and the bowl body
13, into the smoke passageway 131 of the bowl body 13, through the
smoke guide duct 12, and into the liquid body in the reservoir 111.
The liquid body can filter out ash and other impurities in the
smoke. The filtered smoke subsequently bubbles through the liquid
body, and can be inhaled by the smoker through the mouthpiece unit
15 that is connected to the spout 112.
[0007] In the aforesaid conventional water-pipe 1, the charcoal 17
is in a burning state when placed in the bowl body 13. Therefore,
as the temperature of the charcoal 17 drops over time, the flavor
of the smoke being inhaled by the smoker deteriorates (i.e., the
flavor becomes weaker and less concentrated), which necessitates
more charcoal 17 to be placed in the bowl body 13. In addition, the
burning charcoal 17 must be removed before more smoking material
can be added into the bowl body 13. These result in inconvenience
and safety issues when the conventional water-pipe 1 is in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus with an electric heating device for water-pipe smoking
that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the prior
art.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
electric heating device suitable for use with a water-pipe.
[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for
water-pipe smoking comprises a water-pipe and an electric heating
device.
[0011] The water-pipe has a bowl body adapted for holding
combustible smoking material therein.
[0012] The electric heating device includes a shroud that confines
a heating space, a handle that is connected to the shroud and that
is disposed outwardly of the heating space, and an electric heating
unit that includes at least one heating element mounted in the
shroud, disposed in the heating space, and operable so as to
generate heat for causing the smoking material in the bowl body to
combust when the shroud is moved relative to the water-pipe to
bring the heating element close to the smoking material in the bowl
body.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electric heating device that is adapted for use with a
water-pipe. The water-pipe includes a bowl body for holding
combustible smoking material therein. The electric heating device
comprises:
[0014] a shroud including a surrounding wall that confines a
heating space;
[0015] a handle disposed outwardly of the heating space, and having
a connecting part that is connected to the shroud, and a grip part
that is connected to the connecting part; and
[0016] an electric heating unit that includes at least one heating
element mounted in the shroud, disposed in the heating space, and
operable so as to generate heat for causing the smoking material in
the bowl body to combust when the shroud is moved relative to the
water-pipe to bring the heating element close to the smoking
material in the bowl body.
[0017] According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electric heating device that is adapted for use with a
water-pipe. The water-pipe includes a bowl body for holding
combustible smoking material therein. The electric heating device
comprises:
[0018] a shroud including a surrounding wall that confines a
heating space and that has a distal edge;
[0019] a tubular extension having one end coupled removably to the
distal edge of the shroud;
[0020] a handle disposed outwardly of the heating space, and having
a connecting part that is connected to the shroud, and a grip part
that is connected to the connecting part; and
[0021] an electric heating unit that includes at least one heating
element mounted in the shroud, disposed in the heating space, and
operable so as to generate heat for causing the smoking material in
the bowl body to combust when the bowl body is extended into the
heating space via the tubular extension to bring the heating
element close to the smoking material in the bowl body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic partly sectional view of a
conventional water-pipe;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment
of an apparatus for water-pipe smoking according to the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic partly sectional view of
the first preferred embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a partly exploded perspective view of an electric
heating device of the first preferred embodiment; and
[0027] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic partly sectional view of
the second preferred embodiment of an apparatus for water-pipe
smoking according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Before the present invention is described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should
be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment
of an apparatus for water-pipe smoking according to the present
invention is shown to include a water-pipe 2 and an electric
heating device 6.
[0030] The water-pipe 2 includes an upright pipe body 21, a smoke
guide duct 20 extended into the pipe body 21, a bowl body 22
mounted on top of the pipe body 21, a mouthpiece unit 23 coupled to
the pipe body 21, a cover plate 24 disposed in the bowl body 22,
and a partition plate 25 larger than and disposed above the cover
plate 24. The pipe body 21 has a lower portion formed with a
reservoir 211 to be partially filled with a liquid body (such as
water). The pipe body 21 further has a spout 212 in fluid
communication with the reservoir 211 above the liquid body for
connection to the mouthpiece unit 23. The smoke guide duct 20 has a
lower end that extends into the liquid body in the reservoir 211,
and an upper end that extends toward the bowl body 22. The bowl
body 22 has a base wall 221 with an outer peripheral edge, a
peripheral wall 222 extending upwardly from the outer peripheral
edge of the base wall 221 and cooperating with the base wall 221 to
confine a holding space 220 adapted for holding combustible smoking
material (such as tobacco) therein, a coupling part 224 extending
downwardly from the base wall 221, and a smoke passageway 223
formed through the coupling part 224 and the base wall 221 to
communicate fluidly the holding space 220 and the upper end of the
smoke guide duct 20. The cover plate 24 spans the smoke passageway
223, and prevents the combustible smoking material in the bowl body
22 from falling into the smoke passageway 223. The cover plate 24
maintains a clearance with the base wall 221 to enable smoke
resulting from combustion of the smoking material to flow into the
smoke passageway 223. The partition plate 25 is used to cover the
smoking material on the cover plate 24, and is formed with a
plurality of holes 251.
[0031] In this embodiment, the electric heating device 6 is
extendible into the bowl body 22, and is operable so as to generate
heat for causing the smoking material in the bowl body 22 to
combust. The electric heating device 6 includes a metal shroud 3, a
handle 4 connected to the shroud 3, and an electric heating unit
5.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the shroud 3 includes a
surrounding wall 31, a mounting wall 32 that is disposed in the
surrounding wall 31 and that separates an interior of the
surrounding wall 31 into a lower heating space 33 and an upper
wiring space 34, and a cover 35 that is mounted on the surrounding
wall 31 to close the upper wiring space 34. The surrounding wall 31
has an open end part 314 that is opposite to the cover 35 and that
is extendible into the bowl body 22, and is formed with a plurality
of vent holes 313 therethrough. It is noted that the surrounding
wall 31 is not limited to a circular shape, and can actually have
other shapes to complement that of the bowl body 22.
[0033] The handle 4 is disposed outside the shroud 3, and includes
a connecting part 41 made of metal and welded to the surrounding
wall 31, and a grip part 42 made of plastic and connected to the
connecting part 41. The grip part 42 has first and second segments
421, 422 respectively proximate to and distal from the connecting
part 41. The first segment 421 is disposed closer to the
surrounding wall 31 of the shroud 3 than the second segment 422. In
this embodiment, the grip part 42 inclines from the connecting part
41 in a direction away from the surrounding wall 31 such that the
hand of the user can be prevented from coming into contact with the
metal surrounding wall 31 of the shroud 3 when the grip part 42 is
gripped.
[0034] The electric heating unit 5 includes a set of electric
heating elements 51 in the form of coils, a heating controller 53
disposed outside the shroud 3, a power coupling cable 52 that
interconnects electrically the heating elements 51 and the heating
controller 53, and a power supply cable 54 that is connected
electrically to the heating controller 53 and that is terminated by
a plug 541.
[0035] In this embodiment, there are three electric heating
elements 51 each having a pair of terminating ends 511 mounted on
the mounting wall 32 such that the electric heating elements 51 are
suspended in the lower heating space 33 in a vertically spaced
apart relation. One end of the power coupling cable 52 extends into
the upper wiring space 34 to connect electrically with the
terminating ends 511 of the electric heating elements 51. The other
end of the power coupling cable 52 extends through the connecting
part 41 and the grip part 42 of the handle 4 to connect
electrically with the heating controller 53. The heating controller
53 is provided with a switch 531 to control activated and
deactivated states of the heating elements 51, and a control knob
532 to control the heating time and/or temperature of the heating
elements 51 in accordance with the smoker's needs. The power supply
cable 54 is adapted for connecting electrically to an AC power
outlet (not shown).
[0036] In other embodiments of this invention, the electric heating
unit 5 can include only one electric heating element 51. Moreover,
the power supply cable may be configured for connection to an
automobile lighter socket (not shown) or to taps of a car battery
(not shown).
[0037] Before the apparatus of this invention is put to use, the
reservoir 211 of the pipe body 21 of the water-pipe 2 is partially
filled with the liquid body, and the mouthpiece unit 23 is
connected to the spout 212 of the pipe body 21. The cover plate 24
is then disposed in the holding space 220 of the bowl body 22.
After placing combustible smoking material in the holding space 220
above the cover plate 24, the smoking material is covered with the
partition plate 25. Thereafter, the open end part 314 of the
surrounding wall 31 of the shroud 3 of the electric heating device
6 is extended into the bowl body 22 such that the partition plate
25 is disposed in the lower heating space 33, thereby bringing the
heating elements 51 close to the smoking material in the bowl body
22. Subsequently, when the heating elements 51 are activated
through the heating controller 53, heat generated by the heating
elements 51 passes through the holes 251 in the partition plate 25
to result in combustion of the smoking material in the bowl body
22. The smoke that results from combustion of the smoking material
flows through the clearance between the cover plate 24 and the base
wall 221 of the bowl body 22, into the smoke passageway 223,
through the smoke guide duct 20, and into the liquid body in the
reservoir 211 of the pipe body 21. The liquid body can filter out
ash and other impurities in the smoke. The filtered smoke bubbles
through the liquid body, and exits the pipe body 21 via the spout
212 so as to be inhaled by the smoker through the mouthpiece unit
23. Therefore, this invention not only facilitates temperature
control for the smoking material, but is also more convenient and
safer to use when compared to the conventional water-pipe 1 that
uses charcoal.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of an
apparatus for water-pipe smoking according to the present
invention. Unlike the previous embodiment, which includes an
electric heating device 6 that is used with a water-pipe 2 having a
relatively large bowl body 22, the apparatus of this embodiment
includes an electric heating device 6' that is used with a
water-pipe 2 having a relatively small bowl body 22.
[0039] Like the water-pipe 2 of the previous embodiment, the
water-pipe 2 in FIG. 5 also includes a pipe body 21 and a bowl body
22 mounted on top of the pipe body 21. The water-pipe 2 of this
embodiment further includes a tray 213 that extends in radial
outward directions from the pipe body 21 and that is disposed below
the bowl body 22.
[0040] Like the previous embodiment, the electric heating device 6'
also includes a shroud 3, a handle 4', and an electric heating unit
5. In this embodiment, the electric heating device 6' further
includes a tubular extension 61 that has one end 611 coupled
removably to a distal edge 310 of the surrounding wall 31 of the
shroud 3 and that flares in a direction away from the shroud 3. The
tubular extension 61 defines a passage 62 that enables extension of
the bowl body 22 into the lower heating space 33 to bring heating
elements 51 of the electric heating unit 5 in the heating space 33
close to the smoking material in the bowl body 22. The tubular
extension 61 further has a rim 612 to be seated removably on the
tray 213.
[0041] Moreover, like the previous embodiment, the shroud 3
includes a mounting wall 32 that is disposed in the surrounding
wall 31 and that has the heating elements 51 mounted thereon, and a
cover 35' that is mounted on the surrounding wall 31. However, the
cover 35' of this embodiment is configured to permit extension of
the power coupling cable 52 of the electric heating unit 5
therethrough. Furthermore, the handle 4' is disposed outwardly of
the shroud 3, and has a connecting part 41 connected to the cover
35', and a grip part 42 connected to the connecting part 41. The
cover 35' and the handle 4' are made from bakelite in this
embodiment. The electric heating unit 5 is similar to that of the
previous embodiment and will not be described further for the sake
of brevity.
[0042] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *