U.S. patent application number 15/775150 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-08 for water pipe.
The applicant listed for this patent is ConsumerNext GmbH. Invention is credited to Klaus Hagen.
Application Number | 20180317544 15/775150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58584411 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180317544 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hagen; Klaus |
November 8, 2018 |
Water Pipe
Abstract
A water pipe has a housing 2 into which a container 3 to be
filled with a liquid medium and having at least one suction
connection 5 and a heating chamber 4 connected with this serving as
receptacle for a smoke medium and having an air inlet 6 are
integrated. The heating chamber 4 has a receptacle 34 for a capsule
13 serving for the provision of a smoke medium.
Inventors: |
Hagen; Klaus; (Haren,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ConsumerNext GmbH |
Haren |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
58584411 |
Appl. No.: |
15/775150 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
November 10, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE2016/100530 |
371 Date: |
May 10, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 1/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 1/30 20060101
A24F001/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 119 348.5 |
Dec 9, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 121 435.0 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. Water pipe (1) with a housing (2), into which a container (3)
to be filled with a liquid medium and having at least one suction
connection (5) and a heating chamber (4) connected with this
serving as receptacle for a smoke medium and having an air inlet
(6) are integrated whereas the heating chamber (4) has a receptacle
(34) suitable for a capsule (13) for holding a smoke medium whereas
the receptacle (34) has a wall (35) surrounding the capsule (13) at
the side and an opening (52) on its side towards the container (3)
and the receptacle (34) is formed at the same time as heating
element for the capsule (13).
15. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the heating
chamber (4) can be sealed with a base plate (17), whereby the air
inlet (6, 19) is integrated into the heating chamber (4).
16. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the capsule
(13) can be inserted into the heating chamber (4) from below when
the base plate (17) is removed.
17. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the base plate
(17) is formed corresponding to a capsule (13) for holding a smoke
medium, that the capsule (13) takes up its function position when
the base plate (17) is fixed, screwed or inserted into the heating
chamber (4).
18. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein an accumulator
(8) that serves to supply power to the heating chamber (4) is
integrated in the housing (2) above the heating chamber (4).
19. Water pipe in accordance with claim 18, wherein an electronic
measuring, controlling and/or regulating unit (9) is positioned
between the container (3) or the heating chamber (4) and the
accumulator (8), which serves to monitor, control and/or regulate
the heating function in the heating chamber (4).
20. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the water pipe
(1) is fitted with a communication interface.
21. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the container
(3) and the heating chamber (4) are connected by at least one
suction tube (11).
22. Water pipe in accordance with claim 21, wherein a
unidirectional valve (12) that prevents penetration of liquid
medium from the container (3) into the suction tube (11) is
provided between suction tube (11) and container (3).
23. Water pipe in accordance with claim 21, wherein the suction
tube (11) serves at the same time as mandrel.
24. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the container
(3) and the housing (2) are connected detachably to each other.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a water pipe with a housing into
which a tank that is to be filled with a liquid medium and having
at least one suction connection and a heating chamber connected
with this for holding a smoke medium and fitted with an air inlet
are integrated.
[0002] Water pipes of this type, which originate from the Orient
and are also known as shishas, have become increasingly popular in
recent years as an alternative to cigarettes, in particular among
young people and adolescents. A water pipe has a container that is
to be filled partly with water or another liquid medium. Sucking on
a mouthpiece leads to negative pressure in this container. In
addition, a smoke shaft projects to an extent into the water having
a head piece at the upper end to hold tobacco that is heated with
coal on the upper side. The mixture of air, vapour and smoke
particles that is generated through heating the tobacco is then
inhaled by the smoker. It is obvious that heating with glowing coal
may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, burns injuries or in extreme
cases even to fire breaking out. Because of manual filling,
qualitative equipping of the shishas that is also in conformity
with the law is not guaranteed. For this reason, shishas that are
familiar today should only be operated in the open air or in rooms
with a guaranteed supply of fresh air. In addition, shishas
according to the state of the art are quite heavy and voluminous,
must be put together from several parts and are inconvenient to
transport in their individual parts. Their cleaning is complicated
as well and frequently does not satisfy hygiene standards.
Electronic shishas are familiar from U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,318 or US
2012/0199572 with which some of the above-mentioned problems could
be reduced but in a not yet satisfactory manner.
[0003] For this reason, the present invention approaches the task
of creating a water pipe that is characterised through particular
compactness and safe use.
[0004] This task is solved in that the heating chamber has a
receptacle for a capsule for holding a smoke medium.
[0005] This means that the conception for such a water pipe is
completely new. It consists of a compact appliance with a tank-like
container that is to be filled with water or another liquid medium
and having at least one suction device through which the user draws
in the mixture. There is a heating chamber for receiving a smoke
medium, for example tobacco, that is located at the opposite end of
the housing and has an air inlet. This principle enables a
completely new, simple, direct and genuine smoking feeling thanks
to compact modules and a particularly direct, effective and low
loss connection between heating chamber and water tank.
[0006] In the end, the smoker draws in air at the mouthpiece, which
is connected to the lid of the water tank by a tube. Ambient air
flows in through the air inlet at the end of the housing opposite
to the water tank. Here, the air passes through the heater-type
heatable chamber and the smoke medium that is kept there and
regulated to a temperature ideal for smoking. Because the heating
chamber and the water tank are connected, the mixture is then drawn
into the container and finally drawn in by the user through the
water, the tube and the mouthpiece. It is therefore particularly
expedient that the heating chamber is situated underneath the
container.
[0007] One significant advantage of the shisha according to the
invention is its simple, quick and also hygienically advantageous
ease of use. For this purpose, the invention provides that the
heating chamber has a receptacle for a capsule intended to hold a
smoke medium. A capsule is thereby inserted for example from below
into the oven-type heating chamber in which the smoke medium is
heated up. Such capsules can contain tobacco or non-tobacco smoke
media in greatly differing variants, for example as a solid, dry,
fermented or moist medium with or without tar or nicotine, with
differing intensity and flavours or with additives. The capsule is
simply inserted into the heating chamber and after use can be just
as easily removed without residue and disposed of
appropriately.
[0008] The medium in the capsule is heated naturally in the heating
chamber, whereby one embodiment of the invention provides that a
heating element is used as the heating device in the heating
chamber, preferably a heating spiral made from a flexible material,
which is supplied with power by the accumulator insulated from the
housing.
[0009] As an alternative it is recommended that the heating element
is designed adapted to the shape of a capsule, preferably a conical
shape, which in addition simplifies inserting and removing after
use, in particular if the receptacle has a side wall tapering in
the direction of the container and surrounding the capsule or an
opening on its side towards the container. The receptacle takes
over the function of a type of heating cover here. The heat input
takes place advantageously in a lateral direction to the direction
of the smoke.
[0010] The fact that the receptacle is designed at the same time as
a heating element for the capsule proves to be an advantage in that
an assembly can be saved. This receptacle forms as it were the
external housing for the capsule, corresponds with the latter after
insertion into the heating chamber in such a way that an
unrestricted extraction effect can be achieved. Thanks to the
design of the heating chamber in this section, there is no
possibility that smoke medium will penetrate into the suction tube
in the direction of the container.
[0011] It has already been said that the capsules are positioned in
the heating chamber. With respect to this there is a suggestion
according to which the heating chamber can be closed by means of a
base plate, whereby the air inlet is integrated into the heating
chamber, either into the base plate or the chamber wall. When the
base plate, and therefore the chamber, is closed, the capsule
according to the invention finds its function position itself, i.e.
the end position of an inserted, latched or screwed-in base plate
corresponds to the capsule in its function position, so that
smoking can start.
[0012] A particularly suitable variant of the invention stipulates
that, if the base plate is removed, the capsule can be inserted
into the heating chamber from below. The capsule is then enclosed
completely by the shisha's housing. This means that for the purpose
of replacing the used cartridges with smoke medium, the base plate
is detached from the heating chamber; conceivable here is a
connection by means of a thread, a latch, magnet, etc. The used
cartridge is then removed from the chamber and replaced by one
filled with new medium and the base plate is then fixed in place
again.
[0013] Put another way, the base plate is designed corresponding to
a capsule for holding a smoke medium in such a way that when the
base plate is fixed, inserted, screwed or latched into the housing,
the capsule takes up its function position in which the smoke
medium can come into contact with the drawn in air.
[0014] A particularly intensive heating effect can be achieved if
an accumulator that serves to supply the heating chamber with power
is integrated into the housing above the heating chamber. It is
important to heat up the lower chamber, and thus the smoke medium
contained there, in an effective manner with the help of the
accumulator and to maintain the optimum smoke temperature.
[0015] The compactness and the high safety level when handling the
shisha according to the invention is also achieved in that heating
the smoke medium is not done by burning coal, as is the case with
previously known shishas. Instead, electronics are used, through
which the heat development can be controlled naturally much more
effectively, safely and selectively. The suggestion according to
which an electronic control unit is positioned between the
container or the heating chamber and the accumulator is to be
understood in this sense.
[0016] It is also conceivable that an electronic measuring, control
and/or regulating unit is positioned between the container or the
heating chamber and the accumulator that serves to monitor, control
and/or regulate the heating function in the heating chamber and the
temperature in the heating chamber. Therefore, if appropriate
sensors are employed, the control unit can also influence the
heating function in the bottom chamber, i.e. in the first place
started and closed down and regulated. This is also associated with
a completely new enjoyment factor when smoking with the shisha,
because input values such as the temperature in the chamber, and
thus in the end the quality of the tobacco product, can be varied
by the user and/or automatically through the control unit when
given limit values are reached. Alternatively, or in supplement, it
is conceivable that the control unit is used to switch the shisha
on and off and for standby switching. This means that automatism is
possible through the air flow. For example, a sensor can be used
for monitoring, which then forwards the appropriate signals to the
control unit.
[0017] A further embodiment of the invention provides that the
water pipe is equipped with a communication interface, so that the
control unit serves communication with the user and/or external
appliances, for example via NFC or Bluetooth technology. Influence
on the controller can then be exercised through an interface of
this type via an external control unit, for example a smartphone or
a Tablet PC. This means it is possible to draw up a user profile or
to communicate the smoking experience, for example via Facebook or
other social media. Reordering tobacco capsules in this way is also
conceivable.
[0018] The connection between the water tank and the heating
chamber is necessary in order to draw the smoke medium through
suction initially into the heating chamber and then into or through
the tank. The most expedient is an embodiment in which the heating
chamber and the container are connected by means of at least one
suction tube. For this purpose it is necessary that the suction
tube passes through the accumulator and/or the electronic control
unit or that the suction tube is led past the accumulator and/or
control unit.
[0019] It is understood that in the housing according to the
invention the mixture is intended to stream or flow in one
direction only, i.e. through the air inlet into the lower heating
chamber and from there through the intake tube into the tank, in
order to be inhaled there finally by the smoker. For this reason,
it is recommended that a unidirectional valve is provided between
the suction tube and the container that prevents the penetration of
liquid medium from the container into the suction tube.
[0020] An essential aspect of the invention is that air is drawn
from outside into the heating chamber and the air then actually
comes into contact with the smoke medium provided in the capsules
as intensively as possible and with an optimum mixing together of
air and smoke medium. For this purpose, a capsule must have one or
more holes at least at one end or even be perforated. The opening
of the smaller upper hole is produced expediently in that the
suction tube serves at the same time as a mandrel, that is, when
the capsule is inserted into the lower chamber the suction tube
penetrates into the capsule and in this way enables the smoke
medium to enter the suction tube and thus in the end the water tank
and can be released there.
[0021] To simplify disposing of the waste water from the container
and filling it with fresh water it is planned that the container
and the housing are connected detachably, for example by means of a
plug-in, a latched or a magnetic connector. This creates a modular
structure with the components capsule, heating chamber,
power/electronics, water tank, lid, tube and mouthpiece.
[0022] The invention is characterised in particular in that a water
pipe or shisha is created that is noticeable through special
compactness, safety, user-friendliness, easy cleaning and numerous
possible variations. The user sucks air through an inlet on the
underside of the housing first of all into a heating chamber, in
which the tobacco or non-tobacco smoke medium is located,
expediently in a capsule that is to be inserted into the heating
chamber like an oven. The capsule therefore lies in the air flow,
which the user generates at the upper end of the housing by
breathing in, i.e. by creating negative pressure. At the same time,
the smoke medium is heated up in the capsule by means of a heating
mechanism supplied through an accumulator. From the heating
chamber, or more exactly from the capsule inserted there, the
mixture of air and smoke medium passes through a suction tube into
the upper container, also to be referred to as water tank, where it
passes through the water and can then be inhaled via a suction
device. The capsule for holding the medium is here an integral
component of the heat and air stream with no loss of aroma with
regard to the smoke medium. Thanks to its electronic controller,
the shisha according to the invention opens up completely new
possibilities, because the heating processes can be monitored,
controlled and/or regulated. In any case, the air flow is defined
through the prefabricated openings/holes on the top and underside,
heating takes place preferably on the side surface in the heating
chamber. The use of capsules creates further possibilities in the
form of variants for the smoke medium, its composition and
intensity.
[0023] Further details and advantages of the subject of the
invention can be seen in the following description of the
associated drawing, in which an example of a preferred embodiment
is shown with the necessary details and individual parts.
Respectively:
[0024] FIG. 1 Shows a side view of a water pipe,
[0025] FIG. 2 Shows a water pipe in an exploded view and
[0026] FIG. 3 in the longitudinal section,
[0027] FIG. 4 in a view at an angle from above and
[0028] FIG. 5 in a view at an angle from below.
[0029] FIG. 6 Shows an exploded view of a capsule,
[0030] FIG. 7 shows the capsule in the heating chamber,
[0031] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of FIG. 9 and
[0032] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the capsule in the heating
chamber.
[0033] FIG. 1 already makes the particular compactness of the water
pipe 1 clear with its lengthways housing 2 and the modular
structure. The container 3 is closed above through the cover 15. A
suction tube 28 is connected with its integral end with the
connecting pieces 5 as part of the cover 15 and is fitted at the
other end with an interchangeable mouthpiece 16. The connection of
several tubes 28, 29 is conceivable. By means of a magnetic
connector the mouthpiece 16 of the tube 28 can be fixed detachably
to the outer wall of the housing or the cover 15. The water level
for the water in reserve in the container 3 is designated 20,
because only partial filling of the container 3 is expedient.
Heating chamber and accumulator and control unit are concealed by a
casing 27, which along with many other details characterises the
design of a water pipe 1 of this type, among other things through
the possible impression or engraving 26 for advertising purposes.
The on and off and standby switch for controlling the shisha is
designated 32. Two capsules with perforations 33 holding smoke
medium are indicated with 13, 13'. The air inlet in the form of
several air slots 19 has the reference number 6.
[0034] In an exploded drawing, FIG. 2 then shows a shisha 1
according to the invention. With the air inlet in the form of slits
19 indicated with the reference number 6 the user sucks air from
outside into the heating chamber 4, where smoke medium is kept in
an exchangeable capsule 13. A heating spiral 14 whose conical shape
is adapted to that of the capsule 13--or vice versa--is provided as
heating medium in the lower chamber 4. An adapter disc that
guarantees the correct fixing of the capsule 13 is marked 25. The
lower chamber 4 in the form of a small oven is connected through
the suction tube 11 with the container 3, which itself is covered
on the top by the cover 15 and has a connection 5 for a tube 28, 29
with mouthpiece 16 at the other end. The walls of the container 3
that serves as a tank consist preferably of acrylic glass. The
cover 15, panelling 27 and heating chamber 4 or its walls consist
preferably of brushed or sandblasted stainless steel, aluminium or
ceramics. The intake tube 11 guarantees that the mixture of air and
smoke medium can pass from the lower chamber 4 into the container
3. An additional seal or separator is provided by means of a
unidirectional valve 12, an O-ring 21 and a cover plate 22. The
suction tube 11 is sealed by means of Teflon discs 24, 23 on the
one hand as against the lower chamber 4 and on the other as against
the accumulator 8 or its chamber 7. A measuring, regulating and/or
control unit is shown with 9 that, for example in interplay with a
sensor, serves for monitoring, controlling and regulating the
heating chamber 4. The capsule 13 for holding the medium here an
integral component of the heat and air flow, by which means the
aroma of the smoke medium is retained in full.
[0035] In the longitudinal section FIG. 3 shows a shisha 1
according to the invention, whose container 3 is filled with water
up to the water level 20. The unidirectional valve 12 that is
integrated in the bottom of the container 3 can be seen clearly
here as well. In addition, the longitudinal section shows the
electrics shaft with the measuring, regulating and/or control unit
9 and the suction tube 11, with is led in the middle through the
accumulators 8 and finally ends in the heating chamber 4. If a
capsule is now inserted into the heating chamber 4, the suction
tube 11 penetrates into the capsule 13 with its lower end 18 and
releases the mixture. The capsule 13 is fixed in the heating
chamber 4 through the base plate 17, the air supply is guaranteed
through the air slits 30 found in the heating chamber 4.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a simplified representation of the housing 3
with the upper container 3 for the water and the unidirectional
valve 12 in the direction of the suction tube 11.
[0037] In the drawing in FIG. 5 the focus is on the view of the
housing 2 from below with the air slit 19 in the heating chamber 4
for sucking in ambient air into the inside of the housing 2.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a exploded representation of a capsule 13 with
two end plates 36, 39 at the inlet 50 and outlet 51 respectively.
The capsule 13 has a taper 37 that passes into the front end plate
36. An aroma protection foil 41 with a handle 43 serves to seal the
holes 45 in the end plate 36 and must be removed directly before
use. In supplement, the capsule 13 comprises an additional aroma
protection foil 40 with handle 42 that corresponds to the rear end
plate 39 and therefore to the holes 46 etc. The collar 38 serves to
fasten the aroma protection foil 40 and capsule 13 in place.
[0039] As an alternative to FIG. 3, FIG. 7 shows a capsule 13 in
the heating chamber 4 of the smoking appliance that is otherwise
not shown here. The heatable receptacle 34 approx. 2 mm thick for
the capsule 13 with its wall 35 has a taper 37; capsule 13 and
receptacle 34 are formed to correspond with each other, capsule 13
sits firmly in the receptacle 34. Because the receptacle 34 ends on
connection to the taper 37 or has an opening 52, an advantageous
free space 48 remains for the extraction process.
[0040] This is also made clear in the section in accordance with
FIG. 8 that shows the opening 52 in the area of the receptacle 34.
The base plate for sealing the heating chamber 4 has the number 17.
A drill hole 47 serves to lead power to the receptacle 34, which
also serves as a heating element.
[0041] Finally, FIG. 9 illustrates the view from above onto the
receptacle 34 and the capsule 13 with its front end plate 36. This
also illustrates the centre 49 of connection plate 36, which has a
particularly high number of holes, one of which is numbered 55 by
way of an example, in order to guarantee the intended optimal
extraction without the risk that smoke medium could penetrate into
the suction tube.
* * * * *