U.S. patent application number 11/384806 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for disposable hookah bowl.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mya Saray LLC. Invention is credited to Nizar Youssef Mehio.
Application Number | 20070215164 11/384806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38516493 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070215164 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mehio; Nizar Youssef |
September 20, 2007 |
Disposable hookah bowl
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a disposable hookah bowl
and hookah bowl product that are moisture-sealed. The hookah bowl
includes a tobacco compartment, an ignitable product shelf, a heat
inlet seal, and a particulate outlet seal. The hookah bowl product
includes the hookah bowl and a combustible product, such as
massell.
Inventors: |
Mehio; Nizar Youssef;
(Tallet El Khayet, LB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANKENSHIP LAW, PLLC
2815 HARTLAND ROAD
SUITE 120
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22043
US
|
Assignee: |
Mya Saray LLC
Sterling
VA
20166
|
Family ID: |
38516493 |
Appl. No.: |
11/384806 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/173 ;
131/178 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 1/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/173 ;
131/178 |
International
Class: |
A24F 1/30 20060101
A24F001/30; A24F 13/12 20060101 A24F013/12 |
Claims
1. A disposable hookah bowl comprising: a tobacco compartment with
a heat inlet for accepting a downward passage of heat into said
tobacco compartment, and a particulate outlet; an ignitable product
shelf, disposed within said tobacco compartment having a
particulate passage, for retaining a smokable product; a heat inlet
seal, obstructively engaging said heat inlet, for retaining
moisture within said tobacco compartment; and a particulate outlet
seal, obstructively engaging said particulate outlet, for retaining
moisture within said tobacco compartment.
2. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said heat inlet
seal is dimensioned to frictionally engage said heat inlet.
3. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said heat inlet
seal includes an adhesive for removably affixing said heat inlet
seal to said tobacco compartment.
4. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 3 further comprising a
combustion platform, in thermal communication with said heat inlet,
with a combustion passage and a combustion platform perimeter.
5. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 4 wherein both said
combustion platform and said tobacco compartment include threading,
whereby said threading of said combustion platform and said
threading of said tobacco compartment are dimensioned to mate.
6. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 4 further comprising a
containment ridge about said combustion platform perimeter.
7. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 5 further comprising an
outlet cap configured to at least partially obstruct said
particulate outlet.
8. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said particulate
outlet seal includes an adhesive.
9. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said particulate
outlet seal frictionally engages said particulate outlet.
10. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 9 wherein said particulate
outlet lid further comprises a handle dimensioned to facilitate
particulate outlet lid removal.
11. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 9 wherein said particulate
outlet seal is an elastic impediment.
12. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 1 wherein said tobacco
compartment is fabricated of a substantially translucent
material.
13. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 1 further comprising an
array of a combustible product, loosely disposed between said heat
inlet seal and said ignitable product shelf.
14. A disposable hookah bowl comprising: a tobacco compartment
having both a heat inlet and a tapered particulate outlet; an
ignition shelf disposed within said tobacco compartment having an
ignition passage; a heat inlet seal, obstructively engaging said
heat inlet, for retaining moisture within said tobacco compartment;
and an outlet impediment, obstructively engaging said particulate
outlet, for retaining moisture within said tobacco compartment.
15. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 14 wherein said tapered
particulate outlet includes threading.
16. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 15 further comprising a
threaded outlet cap at least partially obstructing said threaded
particulate outlet.
17. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 14 further comprising a
combustion platform, disposed between said heat inlet seal and said
ignitable product shelf, with a combustion passage.
18. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 17 further comprising a
threaded outlet cap configured to at least partially obstruct said
tapered particulate outlet.
19. The disposable hookah bowl of claim 18 further wherein said
heat inlet seal includes an adhesive for removably affixing said
heat inlet seal to said combustion platform.
20. A disposable hookah bowl product comprising: a tobacco
compartment with a heat inlet for accepting a downward passage of
heat into said tobacco compartment, and a particulate outlet; an
ignitable product shelf disposed within said tobacco compartment
having a particulate passage; a heat inlet seal, obstructively
engaging said heat inlet, for retaining moisture within said
tobacco compartment; a particulate outlet seal, obstructively
engaging said particulate outlet, for retaining moisture within
said tobacco compartment; and an array of a smokable product,
loosely disposed within said tobacco compartment between said heat
inlet seal and said ignition shelf.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of smoking
implements and more specifically to the field of hookah
components.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Of the many proud traditions of Ottoman culture, few have
achieved the world-wide frame of hookah smoking. Once confined to
the Middle East and Near East regions, the hookah's notoriety was
invigorated by Napolean's invasion of Egypt and the stream of
curious Westerners which followed thereafter. Painters, such as
Eugene Delacroix and Jean-Leon Gerome, when depicting Oriental
styles typically included a hookah as a symbol of the depicted
culture. The hookah was elevated from a regional curiosity to a
universal symbol of sophistication.
[0003] The hookah, which has maintained a constant popularity in
the Middle East, presently enjoys in American culture a unique,
niched function. Hookah smoking combines community and relaxation
into a single event. Rarely does one witness a group smokers
crowded about a single cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Though hookahs
are often designed with a single smoke outlet; the presence of
multiple hoses, each capable of simultaneous use, emanating from a
single smoking instrument is unique to the hookah. Multiple hose
hookahs form the centerpieces of hookah clubs in which hookah
smokers gather to unwind and converse with other community members.
A hookah combines fashion, art, and function into a single
device.
[0004] A basic hookah includes a base, a pipe, at least one hose
with a mouthpiece, and a bowl. The hookah bowl holds the hookah
tobacco, frequently "massell." Massell is a mixture of tobacco,
molasses, and often a flavor or fruit extract. The molasses and
fruit extract add a substantial amount of moisture to the massell
that is missing in conventional tobacco. This added moisture makes
massell more sensitive to the elements relative to conventional
tobacco; prolonged exposure to air evaporates much of the moisture
of massell and reduces its flavor. When properly protected, massell
allows a smoker a more recreational, flavored smoke than the
tobacco of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and the like. An experienced
hookah smoker will know to loosely distribute massell into a pile
within the hookah bowl to allow heat to evenly circulate through
the pile.
[0005] The heat that ignites the massell derives from coals
positioned above the hookah bowl. The coals and massell preferably
never contact one to the other. A common method of placing coals
proximate to the massell involves spreading a foil upon the top of
a hookah bowl, punching holes in the foil, and then placing the
coals onto the foil. The heat from the lighted coals travels
through the holes in the foil to ignite portions of the massell.
Particulates from the massell travel in the smoke created by the
ignition down through the hookah bowl into the hookah pipe.
[0006] The hookah pipe is the body of a hookah and is usually
fabricated from brass, tin, or stainless steel. The pipe transports
the massell smoke from the bowl to the hookah base, which is a
cavern containing water. The base of the hookah is typically
fabricated of glass or plastic and tend to be the most expressive
portion of the hookah, ranging from translucent to wildly-colored.
Within the cavern of the hookah base, the massell smoke is cooled
by the water within. The cooled massell smoke then returns to the
back to the pipe, though not through the same entrance by which the
massell smoke enters the base. From the pipe, the massell smoke
travels through the hose and out of the mouthpiece.
[0007] There are presently two prominent versions of hookah
structures: the Lebanese style and the Egyptian style. Although the
afficianado will explain that there are many differences between
the two styles, the practical layman would quickly note the obvious
difference: the connection point between the pipe and the hookah
bowl. The Egyptian style hookah pipe tapers upward into a what is
generally referred to as a male connection. The Egyptian style
hookah bowl includes a female connection which receives the pipe's
male connection. In the Lebanese style hookah the bowl has the
tapered male connection and the pipe has the female connection to
accept the Lebanese style hookah bowl. In both styles, to allow a
more airtight connection a collar is generally added to fit around
the male connection.
[0008] As hookah use increases in prominence, the need to make
hookah smoking more amenable to a larger market increases in
importance. Hookah preparation, measured in either time or work, is
simply not comparable to cigar, cigarette, or pipe preparation.
Presently a hookah must often be completely assembled from its base
components, any tobacco product placed within a hookah must be
manually placed within the bowl, water must be placed within the
hookah, and the hookah must be checked for air leaks before a user
begins to smoke from the hookah. Therefore there is a need for
innovation that minimizes hookah preparation time and work.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention is directed to a disposable hookah
bowl and hookah bowl product. The hookah bowl includes a tobacco
compartment, an ignitable product shelf, a heat inlet seal, and a
particulate outlet seal.
[0010] The tobacco compartment includes a heat inlet, a particulate
outlet, and the ignitable product shelf. The ignitable product
shelf is a support within the tobacco compartment upon which a
tobacco product rests. The heat inlet allows the downward passage
of heat into the tobacco compartment to ignite any product upon the
ignitable product shelf. The ignitable product shelf includes a
particulate passage for allowing smoke generated from tobacco
ignition to travel down into the particulate outlet. The
particulate outlet is the portion of the tobacco compartment that
allows the passage of particulates from the hookah bowl into a
hookah pipe or similar object.
[0011] In order to retain moisture within the tobacco compartment,
the heat inlet and particulate outlet are sealed with a heat inlet
seal and a particulate outlet seal, respectively. The preferred
heat inlet seal is an adhesive patch which can positioned to shield
the heat inlet from an exterior environment and prevent substantial
diminishment of the inherent moisture within hookah tobacco. The
preferred particulate outlet seal is an adhesive patch oriented to
shield the tobacco compartment by blocking the particulate
outlet.
[0012] The hookah bowl product includes the hookah bowl with hookah
tobacco disposed within the tobacco compartment.
[0013] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to
introduce a hookah bowl requiring minimal preparation time.
[0014] It is a further aspect of the present invention to introduce
a hookah bowl that retains moisture.
[0015] It is a still further aspect of the present invention to
introduce a hookah bowl capable of disposable use
[0016] It is a still further aspect of the present invention to
introduce a hookah bowl product that includes hookah-amenable
tobacco that possesses a relatively long shelf life.
[0017] These aspects of the invention are not meant to be
exclusive. Additionally, some aspects may apply to particular
versions or embodiments, but not other versions or embodiments.
Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention
will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when
read in conjunction with the following description, and
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hookah
bowl, showing the interior thereof.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hookah
bowl illustrating the removal of a heat inlet seal.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of
the hookah bowl.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hookah
bowl, showing the interior thereof.
[0022] FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the hookah bowl
highlighting the use of a plug seal.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the hookah bowl
product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring first to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the disposable
hookah bowl is shown. The hookah bowl includes a tobacco
compartment 112, an ignitable product shelf 114, a heat inlet seal
116, and a particulate outlet seal 118.
[0025] The tobacco compartment 112 is the container of the hookah
bowl and includes a heat inlet 120, a particulate outlet 122 (in
the Egyptian style), and the ignitable product shelf 114. The
tobacco compartment is manufactured of a self-supporting, durable
material that is resistant to both moisture and heat. Materials
commonly used to manufacture hookah bowl tobacco compartments may
be used in the present invention; such materials include clay,
metal, pyrex, plastic, ceramic, and acrylic. In a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the tobacco compartment is
manufactured of a substantially translucent material, e.g.
pyrex.
[0026] The ignitable product shelf 114 is tray in the interior of
the tobacco compartment 112 that is dimensioned to support an
ignitable product. Preferred ignitable products contemplated for
use in the present invention include tobacco combined with
moisture-bearing additives, e.g. massell. However, simply because
the present invention was designed with the massell containment in
mind does not limit the hookah bowl to massell. The tobacco
compartment is not limited to any particular type of tobacco,
tobacco derivative, or smokable product; rather, any smokable
product capable of use within the tobacco compartment will
suffice.
[0027] The ignitable product shelf 114 includes a particulate
passage 124. The particulate passage may include one or more holes
within the ignitable product shelf 114. The purpose of the
particulate passage is to allow fluid communication from the heat
inlet 120 and the particulate outlet 122. The heat inlet 120 is the
portion of the tobacco compartment 112 that allows a downward
passage of heat into the tobacco compartment 112, which ignites any
product upon the ignitable product shelf 114. The particulate
outlet 122 includes one or more holes in the bottom the tobacco
compartment that allows the passage of particulates from the hookah
bowl into a hookah pipe or similar object.
[0028] The heat inlet seal 116 and the particulate outlet seal 118
are obstructions that block moisture egress. The seals
substantially retard the flow of gases between the interior gases
of the tobacco container and the exterior gases of whatever
environment the hookah bowl 110 finds itself. In preventing this
environmental equilibrium, the seal should be composed of a
material substantially impervious to moisture passage, if not
gaseous passage. These qualities need to be present for a
reasonable shelf-life time. There are many devices and structures
having varied compositions that will fulfill the purpose of the
seal of the present invention. Because sealing devices are too
numerous to discuss within this disclosure, this description will
focus on preferred sealing devices.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows the preferred seal for both the heat inlet seal
116 and the particulate outlet seal 118, an adhesive patch covering
both the heat inlet 120 and particulate outlet 122 respectively.
The adhesive patch can be at the least, a simple sticker made of a
moisture containment material. When an adhesive patch is used, it
is preferred that there be structure to assist a user in removing
the adhesive patch. Patch tabs 126 that abut the perimeter of the
seal serve such a purpose admirably. The patch tab 126 is a seal
protrusion that does not include an adhesive material. As FIG. 2
illustrates, the lack of adhesive allows a user to easily
manipulate the patch tab 126, which allows the user to more easily
dislocate the adhesive patch 116. The preferred adhesive patch is
made of a weatherproof vinyl.
[0030] FIG. 2 further illustrates an embodiment of the hookah bowl
110 that includes a combustion platform 128. The combustion
platform 128 is a platform having a combustion passage 132 of one
or more holes that lead into the heat inlet. The combustion
platform 132 allows a user to place a combustible material thereon
rather than labor through conventional methods for generating heat
in the hookah bowl, e.g. using perforated foil to support coals.
The preferred combustion platform is manufactured of a
self-supporting, durable material that is resistant to both
moisture and heat. The shape and configuration of the combustion
platform 128 can be any that allows the combustion platform to
fulfill its purpose: support coal and separate the coal from any
tobacco product upon the ignitable product tray. The preferred
material of the combustion tray is a hard plastic. In embodiments
with a combustion platform 128 and an adhesive patch 116, the
adhesive patch 116 is preferably positioned on the portion of the
combustion platform proximate to the outside environment.
[0031] Although the combustion cap 128 can be form-fitted onto the
tobacco compartment 112, as FIG. 3 shows, the present invention can
additionally includes threading 134 on the combustion cap 128
(threading not shown) and the tobacco container 112. In the
embodiment pictured, the threading 134 is on the exterior of the
tobacco compartment 112 and the interior of the combustion cap 128;
however, embodiments having combustion caps 128 with exterior
threading and tobacco compartments 112 with interior threading may
be preferred.
[0032] The hookah bowl embodiment 110 of FIG. 3 further includes an
elastic impediment 136 that frictionally engages the particulate
outlet 122. As this hookah bowl embodiment 110 illustrates, sealing
devices need not be always included on exterior portions of the
hookah bowl 110. The elastic impediment 136 is a device used to
seal the particulate outlet 122 against moisture egress. Unlike the
adhesive patch, the elastic impediment uses friction to block
moisture; the elastic impediment 136 is made of a collapsible
material that adjusts to the interior structure of the particulate
outlet 122. Upon use, a user need only remove the elastic
impediment 136 from the particulate outlet 122.
[0033] The hookah bowl embodiment of FIG. 3 further illustrates the
outlet cap 130 of the present invention. The outlet cap 130 at
least partially covers the particulate outlet 122 and allows a
hookah bowl 110 to stand freely on a surface. Although versions of
the outlet cap 130 include outlet cap holes 138 to allow the
passage of smoke, other versions of the outlet cap may not have
holes and thereby serve as a seal. Although an outlet cap 130 can
be size-fitted onto the tobacco compartment 112, an additionally
joining means includes threading 134 on both the outlet cap 130 and
the tobacco compartment 112.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a Lebanese style hookah bowl embodiment
110 that includes a combustion cap 128 having a containment ridge
140 about its perimeter. A purpose of the combustion cap is to
allow a user to place charcoal thereon; the containment ridge 140
is a protrusion that prevents the large portions of combustion
material from falling from the combustion cap 128. An additional
benefit of the containment ridge is that it shields combustion
material from the wind drafts at angles substantially parallel to
the upper surface of the combustion cap 128.
[0035] Of further note in FIG. 4 is the cap seal 142, which shares
structural similarities to the outlet cap 130 of FIG. 3. The cap
seal 142 of FIG. 4 differs from the outlet cap of FIG. 3 in that
the cap seal 142 of FIG. 4 does not include any holes through which
air and moisture may escape the tobacco compartment 112. The cap
seal 142 screws onto to tobacco compartment 134. Although the cap
seal 142 of FIG. 4 is shown engaging the particulate outlet 122 of
the hookah bowl, the cap seal 142 could also be dimensioned to
engage the tobacco compartment 112 in a manner that obstructs the
heat inlet 120.
[0036] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a Lebanese style hookah bowl embodiment
that features a plug seal 144. The plug seal 144 frictionally
engages the interior of the particulate outlet so that moisture and
air cannot escape the tobacco compartment 112. The plug seal 144
includes a seal handle 146 that allows a user to easily remove the
plug seal with the user's fingers. FIG. 5A depicts the plug seal
144 when frictionally engaging the interior of the particulate
outlet 122; FIG. 5B depicts the structural arrangement of a
preferred plug seal that has been removed from the interior of a
hookah bowl 110. The hookah bowl further includes a threaded
particulate outlet, which would allow the hookah bowl 110 to mate
with a hookah pipe (not shown) having threading.
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a hookah bowl product 210. The hookah
bowl product 210 includes the hookah bowl 110 having a combustible
product 900 disposed therein. Though the present invention is
configured to work best with massell, any combustible product
capable of use with the present invention is sufficient.
[0038] Although the disposable hookah bowl has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions
thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the
appended claims should not be limited to the description of the
preferred versions contained herein.
* * * * *