U.S. patent application number 12/431955 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-26 for electric heating for hookah.
Invention is credited to Edwar Bishara.
Application Number | 20100212679 12/431955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42629845 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100212679 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bishara; Edwar |
August 26, 2010 |
ELECTRIC HEATING FOR HOOKAH
Abstract
Electric heat for generating smoke from tobacco or the like in a
hookah type smoking pipe. Electric heat is obtained from an
electrically powered heating element which may be placed proximate
the tobacco. The heating element may be contained within a housing
which in turn may be placed above the smoking chamber of the
hookah. The housing may have adjustably damped holes disposed to
pass air over the heating element. Electrical circuitry serving the
heating element may comprise a step down transformer and a voltage
adjusting switch. The heating element may be integral with the
hookah, may take the form of a separate component which is
mountable over the smoking chamber of the hookah, or may comprise a
free standing assembly which may be placed to stand adjacent to the
hookah.
Inventors: |
Bishara; Edwar; (Pasadena,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ITALIA IP
3500 WEST OLIVE AVE., SUITE 300
BURBANK
CA
91505
US
|
Family ID: |
42629845 |
Appl. No.: |
12/431955 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12393286 |
Feb 26, 2009 |
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12431955 |
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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 |
Claims
1. A hookah type water pipe having an electrical heat source for
generating smoke, comprising: a hookah comprising a liquid chamber,
a smoking chamber for receiving a combustible substance and
generating smoke by subjecting the combustible substance to heat, a
smoke supply conduit disposed to conduct gasses from the smoking
chamber to the liquid chamber, at least one smoking conduit
disposed to conduct cooled gasses from the smoking chamber to a
person smoking using the hookah type water pipe; and an electric
heater disposed in heat exchange relation to the smoking chamber,
comprising an electric supply circuit and an electrical resistive
heating element connected to the electric supply circuit, wherein
the electric supply circuit is disposed to obtain electrical power
at a first voltage and to supply electrical power to the resistive
heating element at a second reduced voltage.
2. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, wherein the electric
heater is integral with the smoking chamber.
3. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, wherein the electric
heater comprises a support element disposed to hold the heating
element at a predetermined constant orientation relative to the
smoking chamber, and a mounting element disposed to mount the
support element and the heating element to the smoking chamber and
to enable manual removal of the support element and the heating
element from the smoking chamber.
4. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, wherein the hookah is a
free standing assembly and the electric heater is a second free
standing assembly having a base, a rigid generally vertical post
disposed to project upwardly from the base when the base is placed
on a generally horizontal supporting environmental surface, and an
electrical conductor which projects from the vertical post and
extends to the heater so as to conduct electrical power to the
heater and to enable the heater to be placed over the smoking
chamber while the base of the heater rests on the generally
horizontal supporting environmental surface beside the hookah.
5. The hookah type water pipe of claim 4, wherein the electrical
conductor projects from the vertical post at a height about equal
to that of the smoking chamber, whereby length of the electrical
conductor is minimized while enabling operation when the hookah and
the electric heater are placed on the same generally horizontal
supporting environmental surface.
6. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, wherein the electric
supply circuit comprises a voltage adjuster.
7. The hookah type water pipe of claim 6, wherein the voltage
adjuster comprises a step down transformer located within the base
and a plug and cord assembly connected to the transformer, whereby
electrical power at one hundred twenty volts may be obtained from
an electrical receptacle, and electrical power at reduced voltage
is supplied to the heating element.
8. The hookah type water pipe of claim 6, wherein the voltage
adjuster comprises a dimming switch.
9. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, further comprising a
selectively variable damper arrangement disposed to regulate volume
of air flow over the heating element.
10. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, further comprising a
heater position adjuster disposed to selectively vary proximity of
the heating element from the floor of the smoking chamber.
11. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, wherein the heating
element comprises an incandescent light bulb.
12. The hookah type water pipe of claim 1, wherein, when the hookah
type water pipe is in an operable position resting on a generally
horizontal supporting environmental surface, the liquid chamber is
the lowermost component and the smoking chamber is located above
the liquid chamber in vertical registry therewith; the hookah type
water pipe further comprises a gasket disposed to close the top of
the liquid chamber and to pass the smoke supply conduit and each
one of the at least one smoking conduit from the liquid chamber to
the exterior thereof while sealing the smoking chamber against loss
of smoke residing therein; and the liquid chamber, the gasket, the
smoke supply conduit, and the smoking chamber are generally coaxial
and disposed in vertical registry with one another, whereby the
hookah type water pipe displays conventional configuration of
traditional combustion based hookahs.
13. The hookah type smoking pipe of claim 12, further comprising a
plate which further comprises a flange radiating outwardly between
the smoking chamber and the gasket.
14. The hookah type smoking pipe of claim 1, wherein the smoking
conduit comprises a flexible hose.
15. The hookah type smoking pipe of claim 1, wherein the heating
element comprises a ceramic heater.
16. An electric heater for a hookah type smoking pipe having a
smoking chamber for receiving a combustible substance and
subjecting the combustible substance to heat to generate smoke for
smoking, comprising: an electrical heating element and an electric
supply circuit disposed to conduct electrical power to the
electrical heating element; a heater housing disposed to partially
envelop the electrical heating element, having a plurality of holes
formed therein and disposed to communicate between the electrical
heating element and the exterior of the heater housing, for passing
air over the electrical heating element, and an adjustable damper
arrangement disposed selectively to vary the area of the plurality
of holes and to close the holes; and a heater support element for
holding the heater housing in a predetermined position relative to
the smoking chamber wherein heat generated by the electric
resistive heating element can impinge upon the combustible
substance which has been placed in the smoking chamber.
17. The electric heater of claim 16, wherein the housing has a top
wall, and some of the holes are located on the top wall.
18. The electric heater of claim 16, wherein the housing has a side
wall, and some of the holes are located on the side wall.
19. The electric heater of claim 18, wherein the housing has a top
wall, and some of the holes are located on the top wall.
20. The electric heater of claim 16, wherein the electrical supply
circuit comprises a voltage adjuster.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S.
Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/393,286 filed Feb. 26,
2009, and claims the benefit of priority thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to water pipes for smoking
combusted materials, of the type known as hookahs, and more
particularly to an electric heating source for hookah type smoking
pipes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hookah water pipes have long been used in smoking using
combusted materials such as tobacco. As traditionally practiced, a
hookah provides a water receptacle having an inlet conduit and at
least one and often several outlet conduits. Smoke enters the water
receptacle through the inlet conduit and is distributed to
individual smokers through the outlet conduits, which are typically
connected to hoses. Smoke is generated in a bowl in which a
combustible substance such as tobacco is placed. A heat source is
placed over the tobacco. In traditional practice, ignited charcoal
may be used as the heat source.
[0004] Heating the tobacco generates smoke, which is drawn into the
water receptacle through a supply conduit. The supply conduit is
arranged to terminate below the level of the water within the water
receptacle to assure filtration of raw smoke obtained from the
bowl. The act of breathing air from the head space of the water
receptacle induces partial vacuum in the head space, which in turn
draws in smoke from the bowl through the supply conduit.
[0005] This arrangement requires that a fuel such as charcoal be
provided and suitably ignited. This heat source must be maintained
during smoking so that the combustible material is suitably
roasted. It is possible for products of combustion, such as
volatile gasses and ash to be conducted into the water receptacle
along with smoke which intentionally generated by heating the
tobacco or other combustible material.
[0006] It is difficult at best to regulate the output of a
combustion based heat source. Also, smoke and other products of
combustion may be objectionable within a closed room or
building.
[0007] Use of electric heating sources has been proposed. There
remain issues of control of heat output and limitation of
potentially hazardous voltages in an electric heating source for a
hookah style water pipe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention replaces combustion of fuel as the
heat source in a hookah type water pipe in favor of electric heat.
The electric power source and optional controller for the electric
heater may take any one of several forms. In one form, the power
source may be removably placed in the bowl or otherwise suspended
from or supported on the hookah. A second form is to make the
electric power source integral with the bowl or other part of the
hookah. A third form is to provide the electric power source as a
free standing assembly which is separate from the hookah, although
operably disposed to heat a combustible such as tobacco and to
conduct smoke from the heated combustible to the water receptacle
of the hookah.
[0009] The electric supply may be controlled such that the wattage
consumed is variable. Optionally, a thermostatic control may be
provided to control wattage and heat output. In another option, a
manual variable switch may be used to control wattage and heat
output.
[0010] The heating element may comprise an exposed resistive
element, or may comprise a covered resistive element, such as a
light bulb.
[0011] Another heating control is regulation of air flowing past
the heat source to tobacco or the like which is to be smoked.
Regardless of the nature of the power supply and its controller,
the electric heater may have a damper to control air flow through
holes formed in the top of the heater and holes formed in the side
of the heater.
[0012] It is an object of the invention to eliminate burning a fuel
in a hookah as a heat source for roasting a combustible material
such as tobacco.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to utilize electrical
power at inherently safe voltages.
[0014] A further object of the invention is to control the amount
of heat which is produced by an electric heater.
[0015] Still another object of the invention is to regulate air
flow through the heater.
[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a hookah using an electrical heat
source for generating smoke according to at least one aspect of the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of a hookah using an electrical heat
source according to at least a second aspect of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of an alternative to the
component seen at the top of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of an alternative to the
component seen at the bottom of FIG. 2.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a side view of a hookah and a separate, free
standing electric heater, according to a further aspect of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heater which may be used
with a hookah according to at least one aspect of the
invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative form of a
heater such as the heater of FIG. 6.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view of another heater
which may be used with a hookah according to at least one aspect of
the invention.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a side view of another heater which may be used
with a hookah according to a further aspect of the invention,
partially in section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a hookah type water pipe 100 having an
electrical heat source for generating smoke. The hookah type water
pipe 100 may comprise a conventional hookah 10 which comprises a
liquid chamber 12, a smoking chamber 14 for receiving a combustible
substance such as tobacco 16 and for generating smoke (not shown)
by subjecting the tobacco 16 to heat. As employed herein, the term
"chamber" will be understood to encompass both an enclosed space
for performing a specified function and also surrounding structure
such as walls, floor, etc., as may be necessary to define and
maintain structural integrity of the enclosed space.
[0030] In conventional hookahs, heat is generated by placing
charcoal (not shown) above or within the smoking chamber 14. The
charcoal may be contained in a partially open cage (not shown)
which is placed on the tobacco 16 or otherwise in heat exchange
relation thereto. The charcoal is ignited. Heat from the burning
charcoal is exposed to the tobacco 16. The tobacco 16 is partially
combusted, thereby generating smoke. As employed herein, the term
"heat exchange relation" will be understood to define any location
in which an electric heater may expose a combustible substance to
enough heat that the combustible substance partially combusts,
thereby generating smoke (for example, in direct contact with,
separated by a barrier, above, or below the combustible
substance).
[0031] Smoke is drawn through a smoke supply conduit 18 disposed to
conduct gasses and smoke from the smoking chamber 14 to the liquid
chamber 12. Smoke is discharged into the liquid chamber by partial
vacuum induced when a person (not shown) using the hookah 10
inhales through a smoking conduit 20 disposed to conduct cooled
gasses and smoke from the smoking chamber 12 to the person smoking
using the hookah 10. A hookah such as the hookah 10 may have more
than one smoking conduit 20, including for example the smoking
conduit 22. This enables the hookah 10 to be used for smoking
simultaneously by more than one person. The smoking conduits 20, 22
may comprise flexible hoses.
[0032] It will be seen in FIG. 1 that the liquid chamber 12 is
partially filled with water W. The water W is sufficient in volume
to cover the lower open end 24 of the smoke supply conduit 18. When
a person inhales through a smoking conduit 20 or 22, a partial
vacuum is induced in the headspace H of the liquid chamber 12.
Smoke and gasses such as air drawn from the smoking chamber 14 pass
through the water W and are cooled thereby prior to passing to the
headspace H. Inhalation continues until the person inhales cooled
smoke from the headspace H. Vacuum levels within the liquid chamber
12 may be moderated by an air valve 26 which incorporates a check
valve (not separately shown) adapted to allow air to pass from the
exterior of the hookah 10 to the headspace H. The unidirectional
nature of the check valve prevents smoke and gasses from exiting
the liquid chamber 12 through the air valve 26.
[0033] The smoking conduits 20, 22, the conduit 28 serving the air
valve 26, and the smoke supply conduit 18 pass through a gasket 30
which is arranged to close the top of the liquid chamber 12 and to
pass the smoke supply conduit 17, the conduit 28, and each one of
the smoking conduits 20, 22 from the liquid chamber 12 to the
exterior thereof while sealing the smoking chamber 12 against loss
of smoke residing therein.
[0034] In a traditional hookah such as the hookah 10, a plate 32
projects or radiates outwardly from the smoke supply conduit 18
between the smoking chamber 14 and the gasket 30. Also in a
traditional hookah such as the hookah 10, the tobacco 16 is
contained in a bowl 34, which bowl 34 may serve as the lower
portion of the smoking chamber 14. The upper portion of the smoking
chamber 14 may have a covering member (not shown), may comprise the
previously mentioned cage for containing burning charcoal, or may
be open to the atmosphere.
[0035] It should be noted at this point that orientational terms
such as upper and lower refer to the orientations depicted in the
referenced drawing figures. In turn, the drawing figures depict
their subject matter in orientations of normal use, such as
supported on a horizontal tabletop or desktop. Therefore,
orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis
for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its
component parts in any particular way.
[0036] To further characterize conventional configuration of
traditional combustion based hookahs, when the hookah type water
pipe 100 is in an operable position resting on a generally
horizontal supporting environmental surface, as shown in FIG. 1,
the liquid chamber 12 is the lowermost component and the smoking
chamber 14 is located above the liquid chamber 12 in vertical
registry therewith. Also, the liquid chamber, 12, the gasket 30,
the smoke supply conduit 18, and the smoking chamber 14 are
generally coaxial and disposed in vertical registry with one
another.
[0037] An electric heater 36 may be disposed in heat exchange
relation to the smoking chamber 14. The electric heater 36 may
comprise an electric supply circuit (not shown in its entirety, but
seen in the view of FIG. 1 to include a supply conductor 38 and an
electrical resistive heating element 40 which is connected to the
supply conductor 38). As employed herein, the terms "circuit" and
"circuitry" will be understood to encompass all conductors,
components, and connections necessary to accomplish the described
functions regardless of whether all such conductors, components,
and connections are explicitly shown or described. Similarly,
conductors shown or described in the singular will be understood to
comprise more than one conductor where necessary to make function
operational.
[0038] The electric supply circuit may be disposed to obtain
electrical power at a first voltage and to supply electrical power
to the resistive heating element 40 at a second reduced voltage, as
will be further explained hereinafter.
[0039] The electric heater 36 may comprise a support element which
holds the heating element 40 at a predetermined constant
orientation relative to the smoking chamber 14 when the user is
smoking, and a mounting element disposed to mount the support
element and the heating element 40 to the smoking chamber 14. The
mounting element may enable manual removal of the support element
and the heating element 40 from the smoking chamber.
[0040] In FIG. 1, the support element may be that part of the
housing 42 which grips the heating element 40. The mounting element
may be that part of the housing 42 comprising a depending skirt 44
which, when the electric heater 36 is lowered into engagement with
the bowl 34, is retained by gravity or by friction or by both.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a hookah type water pipe 200 wherein structure
corresponding to the electric heater 36 is integral with the
smoking chamber 214. The smoking chamber 214 may be the structural
and functional equivalent of the smoking chamber 14 of FIG. 1. The
same holds true for smoking conduits 220, 222, an air valve 226,
and a gasket 230.
[0042] The smoking chamber 214 provides a place to hold a
combustible substance such as tobacco 16. An electric heating
element 240 is held to the upper wall of the smoking chamber 214
such that heat radiated therefrom impinges upon the tobacco 16. The
side wall of the smoking chamber 214 may have openings 246 for
passage of air into the smoking chamber 214.
[0043] The hookah type water pipe 200 may comprise a base
comprising an electrical chamber 248 for containing a voltage
adjuster such as a step down transformer 250 and a plug and cord
assembly 252 which is connected to the transformer 250 and which
projects from the electrical chamber 248 so as to reach a standard
120 volt electrical receptacle (not shown) of a building (not
shown). The circuitry which connects the plug and cord assembly 252
to the electric heating element 240, not shown in its entirety,
thereby supplies electrical power to the electrical heating element
240 at reduced power from the 120 volt source. The circuitry may
include a switch 254.
[0044] Voltage reduced from that of conventional 120 volts may be
derived not only by use of the transformer 250. For example, a
hookah such as the hookah 200 may comprise instead a conventional
battery charger (not shown) which in addition to rectifying
household AC power to DC power, also reduces the voltage. Reduced
voltage may be obtained by incorporating a voltage divider (not
shown) into the circuitry, by introducing resistors (not shown)
into the circuitry, or in any other suitable way.
[0045] Referring momentarily to FIG. 3, the voltage adjuster
contained within the electrical chamber 248 may comprise a
conventional dimming switch 350 which is adjusted by a dial
operator 354.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows an arrangement wherein a heating element may
comprise one or more incandescent lamps 440A, 440B. Incandescent
lamps 440A, 440B may be fabricated from materials which withstand
fair high temperatures, so that despite their usual usage as light
sources, the incandescent lamps 440A, 440B may be employed as heat
sources. The housing 442 of the heater 436 may be ceramic and may
house those portions of electrical supply circuitry which is
omitted from view in FIG. 4. The heater 436 may in other ways be
the structural and functional equivalent of the heater 36 of FIG.
1, for example.
[0047] Turning now to FIG. 5, a hookah type water pipe arrangement
includes a hookah 500 which may be for example similar to the
hookah 10. The hookah 500 may be a free standing assembly which is
served by an electric heater 536 comprising a free standing base
502, a rigid generally vertical post 504 disposed to project
upwardly from the base 502 when the base 502 is placed on a
generally horizontal supporting environmental surface (not shown),
and an electrical conductor 506 which projects from the vertical
post 504 and extends to a heater head. The electrical conductor 506
may be flexible. The heater head comprises a housing 542 which
encloses a heating element 540. The electrical conductor 506 is
part of a circuit which is disposed to conduct electrical power to
the heating element 540, and to enable the heater head to be placed
over the smoking chamber 514 of the hookah 500 while the base 502
of the heater 536 rests on the generally horizontal supporting
environmental surface beside the hookah 500. This is similar to how
the heater 36 of FIG. 1 is placed over the smoking chamber 14 of
its respective hookah 10. It will be seen that the electrical
conductor 506 projects from the vertical post 504 at a height about
equal to that of the smoking chamber 514, whereby length of the
electrical conductor 506 is minimized while enabling operation when
the hookah 500 and the electric heater 536 are placed on the same
generally horizontal supporting environmental surface.
[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a heater for a hookah type
water pipe, such as the heater 36, may comprise a selectively
variable damper arrangement disposed to regulate volume of air flow
over the heating element, such as the heating element 40. A heater
636 may comprise a housing 642 which further comprises a top wall
643 and a perforated closure 645 having a top wall 655. The top
wall 643 may have one or more openings 647 (concealed in FIG. 6,
but shown in FIG. 7). The top wall 655 of the closure 645 may have
corresponding openings 649. The closure is movably mounted on the
tope wall 643, being rotatable about an axis A in FIG. 6 when
grasped and manipulated by a projecting handle 651. As the closure
645 is rotated, the openings 649 come into registry with and move
out of registry with the openings 647 of the top wall 643. The
openings 647 and 649 are disposed to communicate between the
electrical heating element and the exterior of the heater housing
642, thereby enabling air to pass over the electrical heating
element. This arrangement of adjustably positioned overlying
openings selectively damps or throttles air flow into the heater
636 and over the heating element (not shown) by varying the
effective area of the holes 647 and 649 which overlie one another.
Of course, the holes 647 and 649 may be moved entirely out of
registry to close the holes 647 and 649 to air flow.
[0049] The heater 636 may be similar to the heater 36 of FIG. 1,
having supporting structure (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) and
electrical circuitry serving the electric heating element (not
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). This circuitry may include any of the
features of the circuitry described with respect to the previously
presented drawing figures and their respective subject matter. The
housing 642 may partially envelop the electrical heating element in
that the heating element may be covered at the top and at the
sides, as depicted for the heater 36 in FIG. 1. The heating element
is left uncovered at the bottom so that heat emanating from the
heating element will heat combustible substances such as tobacco 16
which has been placed in the smoking chamber of the associated
hookah, such as the hookah 10 of FIG. 1. The heater 636 may have a
depending skirt 644 which serves to retain the heater on the bowl
or corresponding structure of an associated hookah such as the
hookah 10 when the heater 636 is mounted on the associated
hookah.
[0050] FIG. 8 shows a heater 736 which is similar in function to
the heater 636. However, in the heater 736, air passage openings
747 and 749 are formed on the respective side walls 755 and 753 of
the heater housing 742 and the adjustable closure 745. The closure
745 may be rotatable about an axis A by grasping and manipulating a
projecting handle 751.
[0051] A heater such as the heaters 636 and 736 may have air
passage openings formed on both side walls such as the side walls
753 and 755 and also on the top walls such as the top walls 643 and
655 if desired.
[0052] FIG. 9 shows a heater position adjustment feature which may
be introduced to a heater such as the heater 36. The heater
adjustment feature may selectively vary proximity of the heating
element from the floor of the smoking chamber, with the effect of
varying proximity of a combustible substance such as tobacco 16 to
the heating element of the heater.
[0053] A heater 836 may comprise an upper member 860 and a lower
member 862 which slidably interfit. The lower member 862 may have a
side wall 864 and a depending skirt 844. The depending skirt may be
dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the bowl or smoking
chamber of an associated hookah, such as the hookah 10 of FIG. 1.
The lower member 862 may have a shoulder 866 which limits vertical
motion of the upper member 860 by interference.
[0054] The upper member 860 may comprise a top wall 843 to which is
mounted a heating element 840. A side wall 868 may be dimensioned
and configured to fit closely to the side wall 864 of the lower
member 862. The side walls may have dimensions and surfaces
arranged such that friction between the outer surface 870 of the
side wall 868 and the inner surface 872 of the side wall 864 will
resist spontaneous or unintended movement therebetween, while still
enabling manual force to reposition the upper member 860 and the
lower member 864 as desired. Such adjustment, indicated by an arrow
B in FIG. 9, varies proximity of the heating element 840 to for
example tobacco 16 contained within the smoking chamber of a hookah
to which the heater 836 has been mounted. The tobacco 16 is shown
representatively, and may be supported in the position shown in
FIG. 9 but not by the heater 836. For example, the tobacco 16 may
be supported by the floor of a bowl, such as the bowl 34 of FIG. 1,
of the hookah, or may be contained in a cage (not shown) supported
by the bowl.
[0055] FIG. 10 shows a ceramic heater 936 which may be seen as a
direct replacement for the charcoal which is traditionally used in
conventional hookahs. The ceramic heater 936 may be contained in a
partially open cage above or within the smoking chamber, similar to
the smoking chamber 14 of FIG. 1. The ceramic heater 936 may be
placed either directly on the tobacco or otherwise in heat exchange
relation thereto.
[0056] The ceramic heater 936 may be similar to the one
manufactured by Hotwatt, Inc., and constructed in like fashion. The
ceramic heater 936 may comprise a ceramic body 901, terminated at
both ends by the ceramic end seals 904. The ceramic heater 936 may
encase a resistance wire element 902, packed within a heating
element 903, such as magnesium oxide, that effectively converts the
electricity received through the wire element 902 into heat. Either
end seal 904 of the ceramic heater 936 may be terminated with
flexible insulated lead wires 905. The flexible insulated lead
wires 905 may lead into a voltage adjuster, similar to the voltage
adjuster shown in FIG. 3, and may ultimately terminate with a plug
and cord assembly, such as the plug and cord assembly 252 of FIG.
3.
[0057] While the ceramic heater may utilize a simple plug and cord
assembly to be plugged directly into a traditional 120 volt outlet,
the voltage adjuster will provide means for a user to vary and
control the heat output of the ceramic heater 936 at the user's
impulse. The circuitry of the ceramic heater 936 and voltage
adjuster may include any of the features of the circuitry described
with respect to the previously presented drawings and figures and
their respective subject matter. It should be appreciated that the
ceramic heater 936 may be used in conjunction with the selectively
variable damper arrangement, such as the arrangement shown in FIGS.
6 and 7.
[0058] The present invention is susceptible to modifications and
variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from
the inventive concepts. For example, although the invention has
been described as obtaining electrical power using cord and plug
assemblies such as the cord and plug assembly 252, it would be
possible to provide electrical storage devices such as an
electrochemical cell, a battery of such cells, a capacitor, a super
capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or any combination
of these devices.
[0059] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is
not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to
cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and
scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended
claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent
arrangements which are possible.
* * * * *