U.S. patent application number 15/839695 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-13 for botanic solid vapor generation apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Marshal Glenn Heingartner, Bradley Aaron Neuhaus. Invention is credited to Marshal Glenn Heingartner, Bradley Aaron Neuhaus.
Application Number | 20190174825 15/839695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66734315 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-13 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190174825 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neuhaus; Bradley Aaron ; et
al. |
June 13, 2019 |
Botanic Solid Vapor Generation Apparatus
Abstract
A vapor generator for generating vapors from a solid fuel is
described. The vapor generator may comprise a fuel chamber for
containing the fuel, an electrical heating element, associated
controls, and a battery. The fuel is heated by ambient air drawn
past the heating element, and is subsequently conducted into the
fuel chamber. A screen may interpose a barrier between the fuel and
the heating element, so that fuel is heated only convectively by
air and not by direct contact with the heating element. The fuel
chamber is modularly detachable from the heating element. Modules
including the heating element and the fuel chamber may be joined by
a ball and socket arrangement, thereby enabling ready assembly into
a unitized assembly, and disassembled to enable the heating
elements and related components to be utilized with a pre-existing
smoking pipe or cigarette.
Inventors: |
Neuhaus; Bradley Aaron;
(North Hollywood, CA) ; Heingartner; Marshal Glenn;
(North Hollywood, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Neuhaus; Bradley Aaron
Heingartner; Marshal Glenn |
North Hollywood
North Hollywood |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66734315 |
Appl. No.: |
15/839695 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 47/008
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Claims
1. A vapor generator for generating vapors from a solid fuel under
controllable temperature conditions, the vapor generator
comprising: a heating module comprising an enclosure, an electrical
heating element, a battery, and an electrical circuit configured to
conduct electrical power from the battery to the electrical heating
element; a vapor generating module manually detachable from the
heating module, the vapor generating module including a fuel
chamber for containing the fuel and subjecting the fuel to heat;
and a connector manually connecting the heating module to and
manually disconnecting the heating module from the vapor generating
module.
2. The connector comprises a member having a tapered surface formed
in and facing away from the heating module, whereby the connector
may be placed over and sealingly engage a bowl of a smoking
pipe.
3. The vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises
a partially spherical member in one of the heating module and the
vapor generating module, and a socket dimensioned and configured to
receive and retain the partially spherical member in the other one
of the heating module and the vapor generating module.
4. The vapor generator of claim 3, wherein the partially spherical
member comprises an internal passage therethrough, and the internal
passage is configured to conduct heated air from the heating module
to the vapor generating module.
5. The vapor generator of claim 4, wherein the partially spherical
member comprises a stem projecting therefrom, the internal passage
passes through the stem, and the electrical heating element
occupies the internal passage.
6. The vapor generator of claim 5, wherein the stem comprises an
opening fluidly connecting the internal passage to ambient air.
7. The vapor generator of claim 3, wherein the socket comprises a
plurality of fingers configured to resiliently grip the partially
spherical member.
8. The vapor generator of claim 3, wherein the partially spherical
member comprises a ceramic material impervious to temperatures high
enough to induce vapor formation from fuel contained within the
fuel chamber.
9. The vapor generator of claim 1, further comprising a barrier
permeable to gases and vapors separating the fuel from the
electrical heating element, whereby fuel is exposed to heat by air
heated by the electrical heating element and is prevented from
direct contact with the heating element.
10. The vapor generator of claim 9, further comprising a fuel
holder dimensioned and configured to be received within the fuel
chamber, and wherein the fuel holder is separate and removable from
the fuel body, the fuel holder comprising a lateral wall and an
open end, and the barrier comprises a perforate end wall of the
fuel holder opposite the open end.
11. The vapor generator of claim 10, further comprising a screen
closing the open end of the fuel chamber, wherein the screen is
separate and removable from the fuel body.
12. The vapor generator of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece
attachable to and detachable from the vapor generating module, the
mouthpiece having an internal passage in fluid communication with
the fuel chamber.
13. The vapor generator of claim 12, wherein the mouthpiece
includes threads and the vapor generating module includes threads
compatible with the threads of the mouthpiece, wherein the
mouthpiece is removably attached to and detached from the vapor
generating module by a threaded connection.
14. The vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit
includes manual controls enabling increase and decrease in
electrical power supplied to the heating element.
15. The vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit
includes a first on-off control accessible from an exterior of the
heating module.
16. The vapor generator of claim 15, further comprising a second
on-control accessible from the exterior of the heating module,
wherein the second on-off control is spaced apart from the primary
on-off control.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus for selectively
generating a vapor or smoke from a botanic solid, and more
particularly, to a modular apparatus limiting heat used to generate
the vapor or smoke, and usable in as a self-contained or
stand-alone device, or alternatively, with a conventional smoking
pipe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] People enjoy generating smoke from botanic solids, and
inhaling this smoke. Pipes and hookahs for smoking have been
developed for this purpose. However, pipes and hookahs can combust
the latter, thereby altering smoke characteristics and rapidly and
unnecessarily depleting the botanic solid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention contemplates improved apparatus for
generating vapors and smoke from herbiferous solids. Notably, the
apparatus can be utilized selectively with smoking pipes and also
with its own separable or detachable vapor generating module. The
apparatus includes a vapor generating module and a detachable
heating module. The heating module may include an electrical
heating element. The vapor generating module may include a fuel
body including a fuel chamber for containing a solid fuel and a
socket for connections. The heating source may be used with its
specific detachable vapor generating module to vaporize fuel, or
alternatively, with a conventional smoking pipe to both vaporize or
combust fuel. The vapor generating module may comprise an interface
member having capacity to store sufficient heat to vaporize the
fuel. The interface member of the heating module may be configured
substantially as a sphere that can be used to sealingly engage a
traditional smoking pipe, or alternatively, to allow for the ball
and socket engagement of the vapor generating module. The vapor
generating apparatus may include a mouthpiece attachable to and
detachable from the vapor generating module.
[0004] The present disclosure describes a vapor generator for
generating vapors from a solid fuel under controllable temperature
conditions, the vapor generator comprising: a fuel body including a
fuel chamber for containing the fuel and subjecting the fuel to
heat; a heating module comprising an enclosure, an electrical
heating element, a battery, and an electrical circuit configured to
conduct electrical power from the battery to the electrical heating
element; and an airflow path enabling ambient air to be drawn first
past the electrical heating element, then to the fuel chamber
passage to generate a vapor from the fuel.
[0005] The present disclosure further describes a vapor generator
for generating vapors from a solid fuel under controllable
temperature conditions, the vapor generator comprising: a heating
module comprising an enclosure, an electrical heating element, a
battery, and an electrical circuit configured to conduct electrical
power from the battery to the electrical heating element; a vapor
generating module manually detachable from the heating module, the
vapor generating module including a fuel chamber for containing the
fuel and subjecting the fuel to heat; and a connector manually
connecting the heating module to and manually disconnecting the
heating module from the vapor generating module.
[0006] The present invention provides improved elements and
arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which
is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing
its intended purposes.
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
[0007] 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:
[0008] FIG. 1A is a side environmental view of a vapor generator
according to at least one aspect of the invention, illustrating use
as a stand-alone device;
[0009] FIG. 1B is a side environmental view of a vapor generator
according to at least one aspect of the invention, illustrating use
in conjunction with a smoking pipe;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded side cross sectional detail view of an
element shown at the left of FIG. 1A;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional detail view similar to FIG.
2, but showing the element assembled;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the vapor generator of FIG. 1
in an assembled condition, including a mouthpiece shown in FIG. 1A;
and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of a heating element of
the vapor generator of FIG. 1, and associated support elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1A shows a vapor generator 100 according to at least
one aspect of the invention. Vapor generator 100 may include a
heating module 102 for supplying heat to a botanic solid (not
shown), and a vapor generating module 104 for holding and
generating vapors from the botanic solid. Hereinafter, the botanic
solid will be referred to as a fuel because the latter can combust,
even though in many cases, vaporization is by pyrolysis with
minimal actual combustion if any. The fuel may be tobacco,
marijuana, or other botanic solids used for smoking. It will be
seen from FIG. 1A that a vapor generating module 104 may be
utilized with heating module 102 when it is desired to operate
vapor generator as a self-contained unit. In FIG. 1B, optionally,
heating module 102 is utilized with a conventional smoking pipe
106. Vapor generator 100 is considered to be in self-contained form
when utilized as shown in FIG. 1A. In the self-contained form,
vapor generator 100 is utilized with dedicated fuel holding
apparatus (i.e., vapor generating module 104) not required when
utilized with pipe 106, and preferably with a mouthpiece 138.
[0015] Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, vapor generator 100 may
comprise heating module 102 including an electric heating element
108 (FIG. 1), an interface member 118 including a first internal
passage 120 in fluid communication with electric heating element
108 and with ambient air at ambient air temperatures, and a tapered
engagement surface 122 sealingly compatible with a bowl 124 of a
smoking pipe 106.
[0016] Vapor generator 100 also comprises vapor generating module
104 manually attachable to and detachable from heating module 102.
Vapor generating module 104 may include a fuel body 112 including a
fuel chamber 114 for containing the solid fuel, a second internal
passage 136 in fluid communication with fuel chamber 114 and with
first internal passage 120 of interface member 118, and a socket
116 for engaging tapered engagement surface 122 of heating module
102. It must be borne in mind that interface member 118, although
modularly removable from heating module 102, operates as part of
the heating module 102, serving as a connector manually connecting
heating module 102 to and manually disconnecting heating module 102
from vapor generating module 104.
[0017] As seen particularly in FIG. 2, interface member 118
includes a stem 126 bearing a flange 128. Stem 126 penetrates
interface member 118 such that flange 128 engages a corresponding
groove or connector 110 formed in an enclosure 174 of heating
module 102 by resilient or snap fit. As seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B,
electrical heating element 108 projects from heating module 102,
occupies internal passage 120 of interface member 118 when
interface member 118 is assembled to heating module, and extends
into the spherical portion of interface member 118.
[0018] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first", "second",
etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to
impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the
items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a
"second" item does not either require or preclude the existence of,
e.g., a "first" or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a "third" or
higher-numbered item.
[0019] First internal passage 120 may be utilized to ignite a
cigarette (not shown) or like device. The cigarette is inserted
into first internal passage 120 after interface member 118 is
heated sufficiently for ignition.
[0020] Ambient air passing into fuel chamber 114 is drawn through
an opening 170 (FIGS. 1B, 2, 3, and 4) in stem 126. An airflow path
enabling ambient air to be drawn first past electrical heating
element 108, then to fuel chamber 114 to generate a vapor from the
fuel is thus established. This is a significant feature of vapor
generator 100, since it enables close control over temperatures
acting on the fuel. Firstly, because heat may be applied in
incremental steps, it is important to route air past heating
element 108 prior to impinging on the fuel. Secondly, the user can
draw more or less air into opening 170 and through interface member
118 and into fuel chamber 114. Varying volume of air flow will
influence temperatures of that air.
[0021] Varying temperatures can result firstly, in selectively
vaporizing or combusting the fuel. Also, it can be utilized to
compensate for variations in fuel, such as moisture content,
density with which fuel was packed into fuel chamber 114, type of
fuel, and other factors. Hence it is significant to introduce air
first past heating element 108 and subsequently into fuel chamber
114, and to separate heating element 108 from fuel chamber 114.
[0022] Socket 116 is defined within cooperatingly configured
individual fingers 130 of fuel body 112. Socket 116 of vapor
generating module 104 may comprise at least two fingers 130
resiliently cooperating with and capable of gripping and retaining
interface member 118. Thus socket 116 can releasably close over
interface member 118 of vapor generating module 102.
[0023] Three fingers 130 of five fingers provided in the
illustrated embodiment are seen in FIG. 2, although any desired
number of fingers 130 may be provided. Tapered engagement surface
122 corresponds to surrounding and close fitting surfaces of
fingers 130, thereby establishing cooperation between socket 116
and fuel body 112.
[0024] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, an interface
surface 132 of socket 116 of vapor generating module 104 comprises
a generally spherical surface, thereby cooperating with generally
spherical tapered engagement surface 122 of fuel body 112. As
employed herein, tapered engagement surface 122 is generally
spherical in that an otherwise entirely spherical shape is
necessarily altered by opening 134 (FIG. 2) and stem 126 of
interface member 118. Alternatively stated, interface member 118
may have a generally spherical outer surface cooperating and
engageable with a generally spherical surface of interface surface
132 (FIG. 2) of socket 116.
[0025] Spherical nature of socket 116 and interface member 118
provides one convenient way of securing vapor generating module 104
to heating module 102. Specifically, it enables a convenient snap
fit which also holds vapor generating module 104 in a fixed
orientation relative heating module 102. Therefore, detachable
vapor generating module is readily attached and detached, and when
attached, vapor generator 100 can be held by one hand by the user
while smoking or vaping.
[0026] Interface surface 122 is tapered along an axis 146 (FIG. 2)
of air flow. This provides a tapered surface formed in and facing
away from heating module 102, whereby interface member 118 serves
as a connector and also may be placed over and sealingly engage
bowl 124 of pipe 106, as shown in FIG. 1B. This affords another
mode of use, wherein a fuel is acted on by heat, but is not
constrained to use only with vapor generating module 104.
[0027] In FIG. 1B, vapor generating module 102 encompasses
interface member 118, the latter including an internal passage 120
in fluid communication with fuel chamber 114 and tapered engagement
surface 122 sealingly compatible with bowl 124 of smoking pipe 106
and configured to cooperate with socket 116 of fuel body 112.
Internal passage 120 is in fluid communication with ambient air and
also with electric heating element 108 of heating module 102 when
vapor generating module 104 is attached to heating module 102.
[0028] The connector provided by a partially spherical member may
be in either one of heating module 102 and vapor generating module
104, as long as there is provided a socket 116 dimensioned and
configured to receive and retain the partially spherical member in
the other one of heating module 102 and vapor generating module
104. However, location of the partially spherical member as part of
heating module 102 enables the use of the latter as an igniter for
pipe 106.
[0029] Referring particularly to FIG. 2, vapor generator 100 may
further comprise mouthpiece 138 attachable to and detachable from
vapor generating module 104. Mouthpiece 138 may have a third
internal passage 140 in fluid communication with fuel chamber 114
when vapor generating module 104 is assembled as seen in FIG. 3,
and therefore, with second internal passage 136. Mouthpiece 138 may
include threads 142. Vapor generating module 104 may include
threads 144 compatible with threads 142 of mouthpiece 138. Thereby,
mouthpiece 138 is removably attached to and detached from vapor
generating module 104 by a threaded connection between mouthpiece
138 and fuel body 112.
[0030] Interface member 118 of vapor generating module 104 may be
fabricated from a material impervious to temperatures high enough
to induce vapor formation from fuel contained within fuel chamber
114. For example, interface member 118 of vapor generating module
104 may be fabricated from a ceramic material.
[0031] Vapor generator 100 may further comprise a fuel holder 148
(FIG. 2) dimensioned and configured to be received within fuel
chamber 114. Fuel holder 148 is separate and removable from fuel
body 112. Fuel holder 148 may comprise a lateral wall 150, a
perforate end wall 152, and an open end 154 opposite perforate end
wall 152. Perforate end wall 152 enables fuel to be exposed to heat
by air heated by electrical heating element 108, and prevented
direct contact of the fuel with heating element 108.
[0032] Vapor generator 100 may further comprise a screen 156 (FIG.
2) closing open end 154 of fuel holder 148. Screen 156 may be
separate and removable from fuel holder 148. Screen 156 passes air
and vapors from fuel chamber 114 to mouthpiece 138, but retains
fuel within fuel holder 148.
[0033] Referring also now to FIG. 5, heating module 102 (FIG. 4)
may include a battery 158 and an electrical circuit 160 controlling
current between battery 158 and electric heating element 108.
Electrical circuit 160 may include controls 162 shown generically
in FIG. 5. More specifically, electrical circuit 160 may include a
first on-off control 164 (FIG. 4) accessible from an exterior 166
of heating module 102. Electrical circuit 160 may include manual
controls 168 enabling increase and decrease in electrical power
supplied to the heating element. Power may be increased and
decreased in discrete steps (e.g., an additional increment of heat
is applied or removed by repeated pressing of one of the manual
controls 168). These steps may be annunciated by LED indicator
lights (not shown) on enclosure 174 of heating module 102. A second
on-off control 176 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) may be provided. Redundancy of
first and second on-off controls 164 and 176 helps prevent
unintended operation of heating element 108.
[0034] Thus there has been presented a versatile vapor generator
100 usable in three ways. First, vapor generator 100 may be
utilized as a smoking or vaping pipe in its self-contained form.
Secondly, heating module 102 may be utilized with a separate
smoking pipe 106, where the user prefers to use his or her own
pipe. Finally, under full or high heat output, the heating module
102 of vapor generator 100 may be utilized to ignite a cigarette or
the like.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *