U.S. patent application number 16/024664 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-03 for one hitter smoking apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steven Marc Levine. Invention is credited to Steven Marc Levine.
Application Number | 20190000139 16/024664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64734911 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-03 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190000139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Levine; Steven Marc |
January 3, 2019 |
ONE HITTER SMOKING APPARATUS
Abstract
A smoking apparatus includes a tubular member having a loading
end, and a rear end, wherein an axial throughbore is formed along a
longitudinal axis from the rear end to the loading end of the
tubular member defining an axial smoke passage. A plurality of
annular grooves are formed in an outer surface of the tubular
member that are configured to increase an available surface area
for heat transfer. In some embodiments, the tubular member includes
a threaded joint connector at the rear end and an annular beveled
surface at the loading end having an outer diameter smaller than an
outer diameter of the tubular member. A cutting surface is formed
at an intersection of the beveled surface and an inner
circumferential surface of the loading end of the tubular
member.
Inventors: |
Levine; Steven Marc;
(Madison, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Levine; Steven Marc |
Madison |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
64734911 |
Appl. No.: |
16/024664 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62527491 |
Jun 30, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 1/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 1/28 20060101
A24F001/28 |
Claims
1. A smoking apparatus, comprising: a tubular member having a
loading end, and a rear end, wherein an axial throughbore is formed
along a longitudinal axis from the rear end to the loading end of
the tubular member defining an axial smoke passage; and further
wherein a plurality of annular grooves are formed in an outer
surface of the tubular member that are configured to increase an
available surface area for heat transfer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a
threaded joint connector at the rear end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises
an annular beveled surface at the loading end having an outer
diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the tubular member.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a cutting surface is formed at
an intersection of the beveled surface and an inner circumferential
surface of the loading end of the tubular member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/527,491 (Attorney Docket No. SLEV001USP),
entitled "ONE HITTER SMOKING APPARATUS" and filed on Jun. 30, 2017,
the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Smoking apparatuses include, for example, bongs in which
smoke from a substance being combusted (e.g., tobacco, hashish, or
another type of herb) is filtered by a liquid before it is inhaled
by a user. These smoking apparatuses often include a smoking bowl
for receiving the substance being combusted. Smoke from the
substance being combusted is directed through an opening that
discharges into a container, such as a water base or a vase, below
the surface of the liquid to provide the function of liquid-based
cooling and cleansing of ash, tars and other contaminants in the
smoke. Subsequently, the liquid-filtered smoke passes from a smoke
chamber formed above the surface of the liquid to the user via an
outlet from the smoking apparatus. The bowl of the smoking
apparatuses often requires refilling between repeated usages of the
smoking apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The present disclosure may be better understood by, and its
numerous features and advantages made apparent to, those skilled in
the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the
same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or
identical items.
[0004] FIGS. 1A-1F are various diagrams illustrating views of an
example bat in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0005] FIGS. 2A-2F are various diagrams illustrating views of
another example bat in accordance with at least one embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0006] FIGS. 3A-3D are various diagrams illustrating views of an
example bowl in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exploded side view of an
assembled smoking apparatus using the bat and bowl of FIGS. 1A-3D
in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exploded perspective
view of a smoking apparatus using the bat and bowl of FIGS. 1A-3D
in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIGS. 6A-6D are various diagrams illustrating views of an
example assembled smoking apparatus in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a side view of another
example assembled smoking apparatus in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Present day smoking systems include bongs designed to hold a
stem and bowl. It is generally cumbersome to load such bowls with
smoking material by hand, and do not provide a quick and efficient
method to re-fill the bowl with smoking material. Additionally, the
dosage (e.g., volume) of smoking material to be loaded into the
bowls is often imprecise and varies from one load to another.
Further, the large volume of bowls does not lend itself to a single
usage dose. Accordingly, it is common to encounter wastage of
smoking material due to residual burning of the smoking material
inbetween active combustions during smoking. Such residual burning
of the smoking material additionally results in the creation of
nuisance smoke and odor.
[0012] FIGS. 1A-7 illustrate various illustrations for a one hitter
smoking apparatus. In some embodiments, the smoking apparatus
includes a tubular member having a loading end, and a rear end,
wherein an axial throughbore is formed along a longitudinal axis
from the rear end to the loading end of the tubular member defining
an axial smoke passage. A plurality of annular grooves are formed
in an outer surface of the tubular member that are configured to
increase an available surface area for heat transfer. In some
embodiments, the tubular member includes a threaded joint connector
at the rear end and an annular beveled surface at the loading end
having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the
tubular member. A cutting surface is formed at an intersection of
the beveled surface and an inner circumferential surface of the
loading end of the tubular member.
[0013] FIGS. 1A-1F are various diagrams illustrating views of a bat
100 (which can also be referred to as a pipe) in accordance with at
least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 1A-1B are
diagrams showing side perspective views of the bat 100. In
particular, FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a side perspective
view from a rearward end portion of the bat 100. FIG. 1B is a
diagram illustrating a side perspective view from a forward end
portion of the bat 100. FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating a rear
elevational view of the bat 100. FIG. 1D is a diagram illustrating
a top elevational view of the bat 100. FIG. 1E is a diagram
illustrating a cross sectional view of the bat. FIG. 1F is a
diagram illustrating a front elevational view of the bat 100.
[0014] In some embodiments, the bat 100 includes a tubular member,
which can be made of a material such as a metal alloy, that defines
an axial throughbore 102 which extends longitudinally through the
body of the tubular member that allows the passage of smoke.
Although described here in the context of fabricated from a metal
alloy, any other suitable materials may be utilized, including, but
not limited to, various glasses, ceramics, borosilicate glass,
wood, soapstone, meerschaum, metals, anodized aluminum, and the
like. The bat 100 includes a forward or loading end portion 104 and
a rearward end portion 106. The axial throughbore 102 extends
through the bat 100 from the forward end portion 104 to the
rearward end portion 106 along an inner circumferential surface 108
of the bat 100. In the example embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1F, the axial
throughbore 102 is concentric with the outer surface 112 of the bat
100 (such as illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1F). However, in other
embodiments, the axial throughbore 102 may be formed as an
eccentric bore that provides an opening between the rearward end
portion 106 and the forward end portion 104 of the bat 100. The
eccentric bore may share a common longitudinal axis with the body
of the bat 100, but does not necessarily have to share the same
lateral and/or vertical axis.
[0015] The loading end portion 104 of the bat 100 includes an
annular beveled surface 110 that extends between the outer surface
112 of the bat 100 and a reduced outer diameter portion 114 of the
loading end portion 104. The annular beveled surface 110 extends,
in one embodiment, at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the
longitudinal axis of the bat 100. A cutting surface 116 is formed
at the intersection of the beveled surface 110 and an inner
circumferential surface 118 of the loading end portion 104 of the
bat 100. Further, a concavity is formed at the loading end portion
104 so as to form a loading chamber 120 (which may also be referred
to as a bowl). In some embodiments, the cutting surface 116 is
configured for insertion into a supply of smoking material to be
combusted. A rotary twist and/or pressing of the cutting surface
116 against the supply of substance to be combusted performs a
cutting action such that a loading chamber 120 of the bat 100 will
be filled with a smoking material (e.g., a ground combustible such
as tobacco, marijuana, or other substance to be combusted). In the
examples of FIGS. 1A-1F, the loading chamber 120 has a diameter
greater than that of the axial throughbore 102. In other
embodiments, the loading chamber 120 have a diameter smaller than
that of the axial throughbore 102 or a diameter equal to that of
the axial through bore 102 (i.e., a unitary bore from the loading
end portion 104 to the rearward end portion 106).
[0016] In some embodiments, the bat 100 includes a plurality of
heat sinks 122 formed as annular grooves (e.g., generally inward
indentations) in the outer surface 112 of the bat 100. The annular
grooves are configured to increase the outer surface area of the
bat 100 for heat transfer and serve to operate as heat sinks. As
illustrated, the heat sinks 122 are positioned distal from the
intersection of the beveled surface 110 and the outer surface 112
of the bat 100. For example, in some embodiments, the heat sinks
122 begin at a distance of half an inch away from the intersection
of the beveled surface 110 and the outer surface 112 of the bat
100. This offset distance prevents smoking material intended for
the loading chamber 120 from being unintentionally lodged within
the annular grooves of the heat sink. In various embodiments, the
offset distance may be varied to provide the benefit of heat
dissipation from the heat sinks 122 that are positioned far enough
away such that when the loading end portion 104 of the bat 100 is
inserted into a container containing smoking material, the smoking
material does not reach and become lodged within the annular
grooves.
[0017] Although the heat sinks 122, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1F,
include annular grooves extending radially around the bat 100,
other configurations can be used without departing from the scope
of this disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the heat
sinks can be formed as grooves axially aligned along the length of
the bat 100. In other embodiments, the heat sinks can be formed as
half-spherical indentations along the outer surface 112.
Alternatively, in various other embodiments, the heat sinks can be
formed in any other manner that increases available surface area
for heat transfer as is generally known to those skilled in the
art. Further, in other embodiments, the bat 100 may alternatively
be formed without any heat sinks along the external circumferential
surface of the bat 100.
[0018] In some embodiments, the bat 100 includes a suitable
connection mechanism, such as the threaded configuration as
illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1F, to connect the bat 100 to adjacent
components of a smoking apparatus. For example, bat 100 as
illustrated includes a threaded joint connection 124. In an example
embodiment, the bat 100 is approximately three and one-quarter
inches long and has an outer diameter of approximately
three-eighths of an inch. A one-eighth inch opening is centered at
the rearward end portion 106 of the bat 100, extends through the
entirety of the bat 100, and exits at the forward end portion 104
to form the axial throughbore 102. A concavity is formed at the
forward end portion 104 so as to form the loading chamber 120.
Generally, the loading chamber 120 has a diameter between that of
the outer diameter of the bat 100 and the diameter of the axial
throughbore 102. In one embodiment, the inside diameter of the
loading chamber 120 can be approximately three-sixteenths of an
inch with an axial depth of one-fifth of an inch. The threaded
joint connection 124 is a male 1/8 iron pipe straight (IPS) thread.
Further, the threaded joint connection 124 has dimensions of
approximately 27 threads per inch (TPI). The heat sinks 122 are
both 0.06 inches wide and deep for each annular groove. However,
those skilled in the art will recognize that various connection
mechanisms and apparatus dimensions can be used without departing
from the scope of this disclosure.
[0019] It is to be recognized that bat 100 is merely exemplary in
nature and various additional components can be present that have
not necessarily been depicted in FIGS. 1A-1F in the interest of
clarity. Non-limiting additional components that can be present
include, but are not limited to bowls, down-stems, slides,
diffusers, coolers, pre-coolers, ash catchers, carbon filters,
clips, percolators, keck clips, seals, stems, vases, tubes,
filters, baffles, dampers, other smoking devices or components, and
the like. Any of these components can be included in a smoking
apparatus incorporation the bat 100 generally described above and
depicted in FIGS. 1A-1F; however, the bat 100 is not limited to the
example implementations discussed herein.
[0020] FIGS. 2A-2F are various diagrams illustrating views of a bat
200 (which can also be referred to as a pipe) in accordance with at
least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 2A-2B are
diagrams showing side perspective views of the bat 200. In
particular, FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a side perspective
view from a rearward end portion of the bat 200. FIG. 2B is a
diagram illustrating a side perspective view from a forward end
portion of the bat 200. FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a rear
elevational view of the bat 200. FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating
a top elevational view of the bat 200. FIG. 2E is a diagram
illustrating a cross sectional view of the bat. FIG. 2F is a
diagram illustrating a front elevational view of the bat 200.
[0021] In some embodiments, the bat 200 includes a tubular member,
which can be made of a material such as a metal alloy, that defines
an axial throughbore 202 which extends longitudinally through the
body of the tubular member that allows the passage of smoke.
Although described here in the context of fabricated from a metal
alloy, any other suitable materials may be utilized, including, but
not limited to, various glasses, ceramics, borosilicate glass,
wood, soapstone, meerschaum, metals, anodized aluminum, and the
like. The bat 200 includes a forward or loading end portion 204 and
a rearward end portion 206. The axial throughbore 202 extends
through the bat 200 from the forward end portion 204 to the
rearward end portion 206 along an inner circumferential surface 208
of the bat 200. In the example embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2F, the axial
throughbore 202 is concentric with the outer surface 212 of the bat
200 (such as illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 2F). However, in other
embodiments, the axial throughbore 202 may be formed as an
eccentric bore that provides an opening between the rearward end
portion 206 and the forward end portion 204 of the bat 200. The
eccentric bore may share a common longitudinal axis with the body
of the bat 200, but does not necessarily have to share the same
lateral and/or vertical axis.
[0022] The loading end portion 204 of the bat 200 includes an
annular beveled surface 210 that extends between the outer surface
212 of the bat 200 and a reduced outer diameter portion 214 of the
loading end portion 204. The annular beveled surface 210 extends,
in one embodiment, at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the
longitudinal axis of the bat 200. A cutting surface 216 is formed
at the intersection of the beveled surface 210 and an inner
circumferential surface 218 of the loading end portion 204 of the
bat 200. Further, a concavity is formed at the loading end portion
204 so as to form a loading chamber 220 therein. In some
embodiments, the cutting surface 216 is configured for insertion
into a supply of smoking material to be combusted. A rotary twist
and/or pressing of the cutting surface 216 against the supply of
substance to be combusted performs a cutting action such that a
loading chamber 220 of the bat 200 will be filled with a smoking
material (e.g., tobacco, marijuana, or other substance to be
combusted). In the examples of FIGS. 2A-2F, the loading chamber 220
has a diameter greater than that of the axial throughbore 202. In
other embodiments, the loading chamber 220 have a diameter smaller
than that of the axial throughbore 202 or a diameter equal to that
of the axial through bore 202 (i.e., a unitary bore from the
loading end portion 204 to the rearward end portion 206).
[0023] In some embodiments, the bat 200 includes a plurality of
heat sinks 222 formed as annular grooves (e.g., generally inward
indentations) in the outer surface 212 of the bat 200. The annular
grooves are configured to increase the outer surface area of the
bat 200 for heat transfer and serve to operate as heat sinks.
Although the heat sinks 222, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2F, include
annular grooves extending radially around the bat 200, other
configurations can be used without departing from the scope of this
disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the heat sinks can be
formed as grooves axially aligned along the length of the bat 200.
In other embodiments, the heat sinks can be formed as
half-spherical indentations along the outer surface 212.
Alternatively, in various other embodiments, the heat sinks can be
formed in any other manner that increases available surface area
for heat transfer as is generally known to those skilled in the
art.
[0024] In some embodiments, the bat 200 includes a suitable
connection mechanism, such as the threaded configuration as
illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2F, to connect the bat 200 to adjacent
components of a smoking apparatus. For example, bat 200 as
illustrated includes a threaded joint connection 224. In an example
embodiment, the bat 200 is approximately three and one-quarter
inches long and has an outer diameter of approximately
three-eighths of an inch. A one-eighth inch opening is centered at
the rearward end portion 206 of, extends through the entirety of
the bat 200, and exits at the forward end portion 204 to form the
axial throughbore 202. A concavity is formed at the forward end
portion 204 so as to form the loading chamber 220. Generally, the
loading chamber 220 has a diameter between that of the outer
diameter of the bat 200 and the diameter of the axial throughbore
202. In one embodiment, the inside diameter of the loading chamber
220 can be approximately three-sixteenths of an inch with an axial
depth of one-fifth of an inch. The threaded joint connection 224 is
a male 1/8 iron pipe straight (IPS) thread. Further, the threaded
joint connection 224 has dimensions of approximately 27 threads per
inch (TPI). The heat sinks 222 are both 0.06 inches wide and deep
for each annular groove. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that various connection mechanisms and apparatus
dimensions can be used without departing from the scope of this
disclosure.
[0025] It is to be recognized that bat 200 is merely exemplary in
nature and various additional components can be present that have
not necessarily been depicted in FIGS. 2A-2F in the interest of
clarity. Non-limiting additional components that can be present
include, but are not limited to bowls, down-stems, slides,
diffusers, coolers, pre-coolers, ash catchers, carbon filters,
clips, percolators, keck clips, seals, stems, vases, tubes,
filters, other smoking devices or components, and the like. Any of
these components can be included in a smoking apparatus
incorporation the bat 200 generally described above and depicted in
FIGS. 2A-2F; however, the bat 200 is not limited to the example
implementations discussed herein.
[0026] FIGS. 3A-3D are various diagrams illustrating views of a
bowl 300 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a side perspective
view of the bowl 300. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a top
elevational view of the bowl 300. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating
a cross sectional view of the bowl 300. FIG. 3D is a diagram
illustrating a bottom elevational view of the bowl 300.
[0027] In some embodiments, the bowl 300 at least partially
includes a tubular member, which can be made of a material such as
a metal alloy, having an axial throughbore 302 which extends
longitudinally through at least a portion of the body of the
tubular member to allow the passage of smoke. Although described
here in the context of fabricated from a metal alloy, any other
suitable materials may be utilized, including, but not limited to,
various glasses, borosilicate glass, wood, soapstone, meerschaum,
metals, anodized aluminum, and the like. The bowl 300 includes a
top end 304 and a bottom end 306. The axial throughbore 302 extends
through the bowl from the top end 304 to the bottom end 306.
Further, in various embodiments, a concavity is formed in at least
a portion of the top end 304 so as to form a bore area 308 as
defined by an inner threaded circumferential surface 310 having a
diameter greater than that of the axial throughbore 302. The bore
area 308, the inner threaded circumferential surface 310, and an
outer surface 312 define an annular portion 314 of the bowl
300.
[0028] In the example embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3D, both the axial
throughbore 302 and bore area 308 are concentric with the outer
surface 312 of the bowl 300 (such as illustrated in FIGS. 3B-3C).
However, in other embodiments, any of the axial throughbore 302 and
bore area 308 may be formed as eccentric bores that provides an
opening between the top end 304 and the bottom end 306 of the bowl
300. The eccentric bore may share a common longitudinal axis with
the body of the bowl 300, but does not necessarily have to share
the same lateral and/or vertical axis.
[0029] As illustrated, the axial throughbore 302 extends through
the bowl 300 from the bowl from the bottom end 306 to the bore area
308 along an inner circumferential surface 316 of the bowl 300. In
some embodiments, the diameter of the axial throughbore 302 is
smaller than the diameter of the bore area 308 (e.g., the axial
throughbore 302 and bore area 308 are concentric relative to each
other). Accordingly, the interior portion of the bowl 300 includes
an annular beveled interior surface 318 that extends between the
inner threaded circumferential surface 310 of the bore area 308 and
the inner circumferential surface 316 of the axial throughbore 302.
The annular beveled interior surface 318 extends, in one
embodiment, at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the
longitudinal axis of the bowl 300. Although the examples of FIGS.
3A-3D depict an embodiment in which the diameter of the axial
throughbore 302 is smaller than the diameter of the bore area 308,
the diameter of the axial throughbore 302 may alternatively have a
diameter larger than that of the bore area 308 or a diameter equal
to that of the bore area 308. Accordingly, the annular beveled
interior surface 318 would not be present in embodiments for which
the diameter of the axial throughbore 302 has a diameter equal to
that of the bore area 308.
[0030] In various embodiments, the bowl 300 also includes one or
more suitable connection mechanisms, such as the threaded
configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3C, and 3D, to connect
the bowl 300 to adjacent components of a smoking apparatus (e.g.,
pipe stem such as discussed below relative to FIG. 4). For example,
the bottom end 306 of bowl 300 as illustrated includes a threaded
joint connection 320. In an example embodiment, the threaded joint
connection 320 has an outer diameter of approximately three-eighths
of an inch. A one-eighth inch opening is centered at the threaded
joint connection 320 of the bottom end 306 that extends through the
entirety of the bowl 300, and exits at the top end 304 to form the
axial throughbore 302. The threaded joint connection 320 is a male
1/8 iron pipe straight (IPS) thread. Further, the threaded joint
connection 320 has dimensions of approximately 27 threads per inch
(TPI). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that
various connection mechanisms and apparatus dimensions can be used
without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exploded side view of a
smoking apparatus 400 in accordance with at least one embodiment of
the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an
exploded perspective view 500 of the smoking apparatus 400 in
accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
As illustrated, the assembled smoking apparatus 400 includes the
bat 100 (or alternatively, the bat 200 of FIG. 2) coupleable at its
rearward end portion 106 to bowl 300 via a reducer 402. As shown,
the reducer 402 includes a first end with a female, threaded joint
connection 404 configured to be coupled to the male, threaded joint
connection 124 of the bat 100. Additionally, the reducer 402
includes a second end with a male, threaded joint connection 406
configured to be coupled to the female, inner threaded
circumferential surface 310 of the bore area 308 of the bowl 300.
It will be appreciated that the reducer 402 allows for the bat 100
having a smaller diameter to be connected to the bowl 300, which
generally has a larger diameter than the bat 100.
[0032] Further, the assembled smoking apparatus 400 includes a
filter screen 408 configured to be positioned within the bore area
308 of the bowl 300, which provides for the filtering of
particulates from smoke produced by the combustion of smoking
material at the loading end portion 104 of the bat 100. In some
embodiments, the filter screen 408 is a screen mesh (e.g., a 3/4''
screen) with variable dimensions for accommodating to user
preference. For example, the filter screen 408 may have opening
dimensions of 60.times.60, 100.times.100, 150.times.150
(representing openings per square inch), or any other opening
dimension to account for varying user preference for taste and
particulate capture.
[0033] Additionally, the assembled smoking apparatus 400 includes
the bowl 300 coupled to, for example, a pipe stem 412 (also known
as a down stem). For example, in various embodiments, the male,
threaded joint connection 320 of the bat 300 may be coupled to a
female, threaded joint connection 414 of the pipe stem 412. The
pipe stem 412 is a tubular member, which can be made of a material
such as a metal alloy, that defines an axial throughbore which
extends longitudinally through the body of the tubular member that
allows the passage of smoke. Although described here in the context
of fabricated from a metal alloy, any other suitable materials may
be utilized, including, but not limited to, various glasses,
ceramics, borosilicate glass, wood, soapstone, meerschaum, metals,
anodized aluminum, and the like. The axial throughbore extends
through the pipe stem 412 from the forward end portion 416 to the
rearward end portion 418 along an inner circumferential surface of
the pipe stem 412. In various embodiments, the axial throughbore of
the pipe stem 412 is concentric with the outer surface 420 of the
pipe stem 412. However, in other embodiments, the axial throughbore
of the pipe stem 412 may be formed as an eccentric bore that
provides an opening between the rearward end portion 418 and the
forward end portion 416. The eccentric bore may share a common
longitudinal axis with the body of the pipe stem 412, but does not
necessarily have to share the same lateral and/or vertical
axis.
[0034] Accordingly, when the bat 100, the reducer 402, the bowl
300, and the pipe stem 412 are coupled together, the smoking
apparatus 400 includes an axial throughbore that extends from the
rearward end portion 418 of the pipe stem 412 to the loading end
portion 104 of the bat 100. In various embodiments, the smoking
apparatus 400 may be inserted into, for example, a bong (not shown)
as is generally known in the art. It will be appreciated that the
variable dimensions of the bottom end 306 of the bowl 300 forms a
variable size seal to the bong when pipe stem 412 is inserted into
the stem of the bong. That is, any of the varying diameters of
different portions of the outer circumferential surfaces of the
bowl 300 and the forward end portion 416 of the pipe stem 412 can
match the internal circumferential surface of the bong stem to
provide a substantially air-tight seal to minimize wastage due to
smoke loss. Additionally, as described herein, the smoking
apparatus 400 includes a concavity (e.g., loading chamber 120 of
FIG. 1) formed at the loading end portion 104 that allows for a
repeatable, pre-determined dosage of smoking material to be loaded
for combustion. Further, the smaller volume of the loading chamber
120 relative to, for example, the concavity of bowls (e.g., bore
area 308) enables decreases in waste of smoking material lost to
residual burning inbetween active usages of the smoking apparatus
400 during smoking operations.
[0035] FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a side view of an
assembled smoking apparatus 600 in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6B is a side perspective
view of the assembled smoking apparatus 600 in accordance with at
least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the
assembled smoking apparatus 600 includes the bat 100 (or
alternatively, the bat 200 of FIG. 2) coupleable at its rearward
end portion 106 to adapter 602 via the reducer 402 (such as
previously described relative to FIG. 4). The reducer 402 includes
a first end with a female, threaded joint connection (not shown)
configured to be coupled to the male, threaded joint connection
(not shown) of the bat 100. Additionally, the reducer 402 includes
a second end with a male, threaded joint connection (not shown)
configured to be coupled to the female, inner threaded
circumferential surface (not shown) of the bore area of the adapter
602. It will be appreciated that the reducer 402 allows for the bat
100 having a smaller diameter to be connected to the adapter 602,
which generally has a larger diameter than the bat 100.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the assembled smoking apparatus
600 optionally includes a mouth piece 604 coupled to the adapter
602 that allows for smoking use of the assembled smoking apparatus
600 without insertion into, for example, a bong.
[0036] FIG. 6C is a side view of the adapter 602 in accordance with
at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In various
embodiments, the male threaded joint connection 406 of the reducer
402 (such as illustrated and described above relative to FIG. 4) is
configured to be coupled to a female, inner threaded
circumferential surface (not shown) of the bore area (not shown) of
the adapter 602 (in a manner similar to that of bowl 300 as
illustrated and described above relative to FIG. 4). The adapter
602 is a tubular member, which can be made of a material such as a
metal alloy, that defines an axial throughbore 606 which extends
longitudinally through the body of the tubular member that allows
the passage of smoke. Although described here in the context of
fabricated from a metal alloy, any other suitable materials may be
utilized, including, but not limited to, various glasses, ceramics,
borosilicate glass, wood, soapstone, meerschaum, metals, anodized
aluminum, and the like. The axial throughbore 606 extends through
the adapter 602 from the forward end portion 608 to the rearward
end portion 610 along an inner circumferential surface 612 of the
adapter 602. In various embodiments, the axial throughbore 606 of
the adapter 602 is concentric with the outer surface(s) of the
adapter 602. However, in other embodiments, the axial throughbore
606 of the adapter 602 may be formed as an eccentric bore that
provides an opening between the rearward end portion 610 and the
forward end portion 608. The eccentric bore may share a common
longitudinal axis with the body of the adapter 602, but does not
necessarily have to share the same lateral and/or vertical
axis.
[0037] As illustrated, the adapter 602 includes a plurality of
outer surface portions 614 (e.g., outer surface portions 614a,
614b, 614c, and 614d) in which each outer surface portion has
different outer diameters relative to the other outer surface
portions 614. For example, the outer surface portion 614a, which is
closest to the forward end portion 608 of the adapter 602, extends
for a first portion of the longitudinal length 616 of the adapter
602 and has an outer diameter greater than the adjacent outer
surface portion 614b. Similarly, the outer surface portion 614b
extends along a second portion of the longitudinal length 616 of
the adapter 602 and has an outer diameter greater than the adjacent
outer surface portion 614c. The outer surface portion 614d, which
is closest to the rearward end portion 610 of the adapter 602,
extends for a fourth portion of the longitudinal length 616 of the
adapter 602 and has an outer diameter lesser than the adjacent
outer surface portion 614c.
[0038] Accordingly, when the bat 100, the reducer 402, and the
adapter 602, are coupled together, the smoking apparatus 600
includes an axial throughbore that extends from the rearward end
portion 610 of the adapter 602 to the loading end portion 104 of
the bat 100. In various embodiments, the smoking apparatus 600 may
be inserted into, for example, a bong (not shown) as is generally
known in the art. It will be appreciated that the variable
dimensions of the plurality of outer surface portions 614 of the
adapter 602 provide a variable size seal to the bong when adapter
602 of the smoking apparatus 600 is inserted into the stem of the
bong. That is, any of the varying diameters of the different outer
surface portions 614 of the adapter 602 (e.g., outer
circumferential surfaces of the adapter 602) can match the internal
circumferential surface of the bong stem to provide a substantially
air-tight seal to reduce wastage due to smoke loss.
[0039] Optionally, such as illustrated in FIG. 6D, a mouthpiece 604
is coupleable to the rearward end portion 610 of the adapter 602 to
allow for smoking use of the assembled smoking apparatus 600 (as
illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B) without insertion into, for example, a
bong. In some embodiments, an internal circumferential surface (not
shown) of the mouth piece 604 is slidably fitted over a portion of
the outer surface of the adapter 602 to couple the mouth piece 604
to the adapter 602. As illustrated, in FIGS. 6A-6B, the internal
circumferential surface (not shown) of the mouth piece 604 slidably
fits over the outer surface portion 614d and thus forms an axial
throughbore that extends from the rearward end portion 614 of the
mouth piece 604 to the loading end portion 104 of the bat 100. In
other embodiments, a portion of the rearward end portion 610 of the
adapter 602 includes another suitable connection mechanism, such as
the various threaded configurations discussed herein, to the couple
the mouth piece 604 to the adapter 602.
[0040] In some embodiments, the assembled smoking apparatus 600
includes a filter screen (such as filter screen 408 of FIG. 4)
configured to be positioned within the bore area of the adapter
602, which provides for the filtering of particulates from smoke
produced by the combustion of smoking material at the loading end
portion 104 of the bat 100. In some embodiments, the filter screen
is a screen mesh (e.g., a 3/4'' screen) with variable dimensions
for accommodating to user preference. For example, the filter
screen may have opening dimensions of 60.times.60, 100.times.100,
150.times.150 (representing openings per square inch), or any other
opening dimension to account for varying user preference for taste
and particulate capture.
[0041] Although described here in the context of a adapter 602 have
four outer surface portions 614 of differing diameters, those
skilled in the art will recognize that a adapter 602 having any
number of outer surface portions of differing diameters may be used
without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example,
in some embodiments, the adapter 602 includes three or fewer outer
surface portions of differing diameters. In other embodiments, the
adapter 602 includes five or more outer surface portions of
differing diameters. In yet another embodiment, such as discussed
below relative to FIG. 7, the bowl includes an outer surface that
gradually changes in outer diameter dimensions along its
longitudinal length.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a side view of an assembled
smoking apparatus 700 in accordance with at least one embodiment of
the present disclosure. As illustrated, the assembled smoking
apparatus 700 includes the bat 100 (or alternatively, the bat 200
of FIG. 2) coupleable at its rearward end portion 106 to adapter
702 via a reducer 402 (such as previously described relative to
FIG. 4). The reducer 402 includes a first end with a female,
threaded joint connection (not shown) configured to be coupled to
the male, threaded joint connection (not shown) of the bat 100.
Additionally, the reducer 402 includes a second end with a male,
threaded joint connection (not shown) configured to be coupled to
the female, inner threaded circumferential surface (not shown) of
the bore area of the adapter 702. It will be appreciated that the
reducer 402 allows for the bat 100 having a smaller diameter to be
connected to the adapter 702, which generally has a larger diameter
than the bat 100.
[0043] In various embodiments, the male threaded joint connection
(not shown) of the reducer 402 (such as illustrated and described
above relative to FIG. 4) is configured to be coupled to a female,
inner threaded circumferential surface (not shown) of the bore area
(not shown) of the adapter 702 (in a manner similar to that of bowl
300 as illustrated and described above relative to FIG. 4). The
adapter 702 is a tubular member, which can be made of a material
such as a metal alloy, that defines an axial throughbore which
extends longitudinally through the body of the tubular member that
allows the passage of smoke. Although described here in the context
of fabricated from a metal alloy, any other suitable materials may
be utilized, including, but not limited to, various glasses,
ceramics, borosilicate glass, wood, soapstone, meerschaum, metals,
anodized aluminum, and the like. The axial throughbore extends
through the adapter 702 from the forward end portion 704 to the
rearward end portion 706 along an inner circumferential surface
(not shown) of the adapter 702. In various embodiments, the axial
throughbore of the adapter 702 is concentric with the outer
surface(s) of the adapter 702. However, in other embodiments, the
axial throughbore of the adapter 702 may be formed as an eccentric
bore that provides an opening between the rearward end portion 706
and the forward end portion 704. The eccentric bore may share a
common longitudinal axis with the body of the adapter 702, but does
not necessarily have to share the same lateral and/or vertical
axis.
[0044] As illustrated, the adapter 702 includes an outer surface
708 that tapers in outer diameter such that the adapter 702
gradually changes in outer diameter dimensions along its
longitudinal length 710. As shown, portions of the outer surface
708 proximate to the forward end portion 704 of the adapter 702
generally have dimensions larger than portions of the outer surface
708 proximate to the rearward end portion 706 of the adapter 702.
Accordingly, when the bat 100, the reducer 402, and the adapter
702, are coupled together, the smoking apparatus 700 includes an
axial throughbore that extends from the rearward end portion 706 of
the adapter 702 to the loading end portion 104 of the bat 100. In
various embodiments, the smoking apparatus 700 may be inserted
into, for example, a bong (not shown) as is generally known in the
art. It will be appreciated that the variable dimensions of the
plurality of outer surface 708 of the adapter 702 provide a
variable size seal to the bong when adapter 702 of the smoking
apparatus 700 is inserted into the stem of the bong. That is, any
of the varying diameters of the different outer surface portions of
the adapter 702 (e.g., outer surface 708) can match the internal
circumferential surface of the bong stem to provide a substantially
air-tight seal to reduce wastage due to smoke loss. Further, due to
the decreased outer diameter at the rearward end portion 706 of the
adapter 702, the assembled smoking apparatus 700 allows for smoking
use without insertion into, for example, a bong.
[0045] In some embodiments, the assembled smoking apparatus 700
includes a filter screen (such as filter screen 408 of FIG. 4)
configured to be positioned within the bore area of the adapter
702, which provides for the filtering of particulates from smoke
produced by the combustion of smoking material at the loading end
portion 104 of the bat 100. In some embodiments, the filter screen
is a screen mesh (e.g., a 3/4'' screen) with variable dimensions
for accommodating to user preference. For example, the filter
screen may have opening dimensions of 60.times.60, 100.times.100,
150.times.150 (representing openings per square inch), or any other
opening dimension to account for varying user preference for taste
and particulate capture.
[0046] In this document, relational terms such as first and second,
and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or
action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring
or implying any actual such relationship or order between such
entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any
other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive
inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that
comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements
but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to
such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by
"comprises . . . a" does not, without more constraints, preclude
the existence of additional identical elements in the process,
method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. The term
"another", as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more.
The terms "including" and/or "having", as used herein, are defined
as comprising. The term "coupled", as used herein with reference to
electro-optical technology, is defined as connected, although not
necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term
"program", as used herein, is defined as a sequence of instructions
designed for execution on a computer system. A "program", or
"computer program", may include a subroutine, a function, a
procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an
executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an
object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other
sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer
system.
[0047] The specification and drawings should be considered as
examples only, and the scope of the disclosure is accordingly
intended to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents
thereof. Note that not all of the activities or elements described
above in the general description are required, that a portion of a
specific activity or device may not be required, and that one or
more further activities may be performed, or elements included, in
addition to those described. Still further, the order in which
activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they
are performed. The steps of the flowcharts depicted above can be in
any order unless specified otherwise, and steps may be eliminated,
repeated, and/or added, depending on the implementation. Also, the
concepts have been described with reference to specific
embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates
that various modifications and changes can be made without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in
the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to
be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of the present disclosure.
[0048] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However,
the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s)
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or
become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical,
required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.
* * * * *