Hookah Bowl System

Abstract

The present invention includes a hookah tobacco bowl with a tobacco-holding platform that is releasably cradled within a flaring chimney. Based on size-fit dynamics the platform is lowered into the chimney until achieving a close fit between the platform and the chimney. Preferred versions of the platform include protrusions, or the creation of geometric cross-section mismatch between the chimney and the platform that results in stable retention that creates an air gap between the chimney and platform.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of smoking and more specifically to the field of water-based tobacco implements.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Of the many proud traditions of Ottoman culture, few have achieved the world-wide fame of hookah smoking. Once confined to the Middle East and Near East regions, the hookah's notoriety was invigorated by Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and the stream of curious Westerners that followed thereafter. Painters, such as Eugene Delacroix and Jean-Leon Gerome, when depicting Oriental styles typically included a hookah as a symbol of the depicted culture. The hookah was elevated from a regional curiosity to a universal symbol of sophistication.

[0003] The hookah, which has maintained a constant popularity in the Middle East, presently enjoys in American culture a unique, niched function. Hookah smoking combines community and relaxation into a single event. Rarely does one witness a group smokers crowded about a single cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Though hookahs are often designed with a single smoke outlet; the presence of multiple hoses, each capable of simultaneous use, emanating from a single smoking instrument is unique to the hookah. Multiple hose hookahs form the centerpieces of hookah clubs in which hookah smokers gather to unwind and converse with other community members. A hookah combines fashion, art, and function into a single device.

[0004] A basic hookah includes a bottle, a stem, at least one hose with a mouthpiece, and a bowl. The hookah bowl holds the hookah tobacco, frequently "massell." Massell is a mixture of tobacco, molasses, and often a flavor or fruit extract. The molasses and fruit extract add a substantial amount of moisture to the massell that is missing in conventional tobacco. This added moisture makes massell more sensitive to the elements relative to conventional tobacco; prolonged exposure to air evaporates much of the moisture of massell and reduces its flavor. When properly protected, massell allows a smoker a more recreational, flavored smoke than the tobacco of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and the like. An experienced hookah smoker will know to loosely distribute massell into a pile within the hookah bowl to allow heat to evenly circulate through the pile.

[0005] The heat that ignites the massell derives from coals positioned above the hookah bowl. The coals and massell preferably never contact one to the other. A common method of placing coals proximate to the massell involves spreading a foil upon the top of a hookah bowl, punching holes in the foil, and then placing the coals onto the foil. The heat from the lighted coals travels through the holes in the foil to ignite portions of the massell. Particulates from the massell travel in the smoke created by the ignition down through the hookah bowl into the hookah pipe.

[0006] The hookah stem is the body of a hookah and is usually fabricated from brass, tin, or stainless steel. The stem transports the massell smoke from the bowl to the hookah bottle, which is a cavern containing water. The bottle of the hookah is typically fabricated of glass or plastic and tends to be the most expressive portion of the hookah, ranging from translucent to wildly-colored. Within the cavern of the hookah bottle, the massell smoke is cooled by the water within. The cooled massell smoke then returns to the stem, though not through the same entrance by which the massell smoke enters the bottle. From the stem, the massell smoke travels through the hose and out of the mouthpiece.

[0007] There are presently two prominent versions of hookah structures: the Lebanese style and the Egyptian style. Although the aficionado will explain that there are many differences between the two styles, the practical layman would quickly note the obvious difference: the connection point between the stem and the hookah bowl. The Egyptian style hookah pipe tapers upward into what is generally referred to as a male connection. The Egyptian style hookah bowl includes a female connection which receives the pipe's male connection. In the Lebanese style hookah the bowl has the tapered male connection and the pipe has the female connection to accept the Lebanese style hookah bowl. In both styles, to allow a more airtight connection a collar is generally added to fit around the male connection.

[0008] To permit universality of smoking, irrespective of Egyptian or Lebanese styles, it may be helpful to utilize a means of tobacco placement and smoking that works in multiple fashions. Furthermore, tobacco should be held steadily by any hookah, and subsequent to use, should be capable of simplified cleaning.

SUMMARY

[0009] The present invention is directed to a system that includes a tobacco bowl system used with a hookah. The bowl chimney includes a hookah stem affixation port, and a chimney upper sidewall having a chimney inner surface flaring apically. The platform includes a support platform having a platform upper surface, a platform periphery, and a platform lower surface having multiple protrusions dimensioned to physically support the platform within the chimney whereby the protrusions contact the chimney inner surface so as to distance the platform periphery from the chimney inner surface.

[0010] Another embodiment of the system of the present invention includes a hookah bowl chimney having a hookah stem affixation port, and a chimney upper sidewall having a chimney inner surface flaring apically and having a support geometric cross-section. The support platform includes a platform upper surface, a platform periphery, and a platform lower surface having a platform periphery with a geometric cross section dimensioned to physically rest upon the chimney inner surface to result in a contact perimeter wherein a minority of the platform periphery directly abuts the chimney upper sidewall.

[0011] The system of the present invention also may include tobacco purposefully constructed to suit the system. In a preferred system, a hookah bowl chimney includes a hookah stem affixation port and a chimney upper sidewall having a chimney inner surface flaring apically. A support platform includes a concave platform upper surface, a platform periphery, and a platform lower surface having multiple protrusions dimensioned to physically support the platform within the chimney whereby the protrusions contact the chimney inner surface so as to distance the platform periphery from the chimney inner surface. A substantially rigid tobacco disc composed of tobacco and a binding agent resulting in a self-supporting geometry can be positioned on the platform upper surface within the chimney upper sidewall.

[0012] These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive. Furthermore, some features may apply to certain versions of the invention, but not others. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side, plan view of the hookah bowl of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side, exposed view of the system of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the hookah system of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the system of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side, perspective view of the platform of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a side, revealed, perspective view of the platform of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 7 is an upper, perspective view of the platform of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a lower, perspective view of the platform of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a side, exploded view of the platform of the present invention, emphasizing a tobacco disk of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a side, revealed, perspective view of the platform of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a side, revealed, exploded view of the platform of the present invention, emphasizing a tobacco disk of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 12 is a side plan view of a hookah system of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 13 is a side, revealed plan view of a hookah system of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 14 is a side, exploded, plan view of a hookah system of the present invention.

[0027] FIGS. 15A-15D are upper, plan views of the system of the present invention.

[0028] FIGS. 16A-16B are upper, plan views of the system of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 17 is a side, perspective view of the platform of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 18 is revealed, plan view of the bowl of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, a basic embodiment of the hookah bowl system 100 is shown. The present invention is directed to a system 100 that includes a tobacco bowl 120 used with a hookah (not shown). The present invention can be realized in many embodiments and component versions, and accordingly the phrases `bowl` or `system` are used interchangeably to mean the bowl and its affiliated components (e.g., sometimes a purpose-designed tobacco disc). The bowl 100 includes a hookah stem affixation port 122, and a chimney upper sidewall 124 having a chimney inner surface 126 flaring apically. The bowl 100 includes a support platform 110 having a platform upper surface 114, a platform periphery 128, and a platform lower surface 116 having multiple protrusions 112 dimensioned to physically support the platform 110 within the chimney 120 whereby the protrusions 112 contact the chimney inner surface 126 so as to distance the platform periphery 128 from the chimney inner surface 126.

[0032] The present invention is a significant departure from prior hookah systems for multiple reasons. The prior art tended to work in the use of a static platform permanently affixed to a hookah bowl that bears tobacco, and when burned, the tobacco smoke would travel downward through the hookah stem via perforations in the platform. The platform of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5-9 need not utilize any perforations. In the preferred version of the platform, the platform lacks any apertures that extend from the upper surface 114 to the lower surface 116. Furthermore, the platform may be `free-floating` in that the platform is not immutably integrated to other portions of the hookah bowl. Accordingly, the platform 110 may be completely removed from the hookah bowl 100 and hookah bowl chimney 120. Rather than having tobacco smoke travel directly downwards, which also permits undesirable particulates to fall through a hookah stem (and tarnish the hookah stem or affect the user's smoking experience), the tobacco travels upwards, outwards, and then downwards in the volume between the platform 110 and the chimney 120. To facilitate the free travel of smoke, it is preferred that as little contact between the platform 110 and the chimney 120 as is necessary for the stable retention of the platform within the chimney is achieved. There should be at least three stable points of contact, if distinct, and approximately 5% of the geometry if continuous (discussed later).

[0033] The preferred version of the platform that achieves a stable fit while allowing significant passage of smoke between the platform/chimney complex takes two preferred forms. The first form utilizes protrusions 112 stemming from the platform that contact the inner surface 126, or other inner-facing component, of the chimney 120. The chimney 120 can be a discrete component or simply the uppermost part of a traditional hookah stem. Preferred embodiments of the hookah stem chimney includes a substantially smooth inner surface 126. With protrusions positioned on the lower surface 116 of the platform 110 in a stable orientation, the platform 110 can be rotated within the chimney 120. Other versions of the present invention may include a series of protrusions and depressions within the chimney/platform such that protrusions fit into holes prepurposed for stable retention of the platform. Embodiments of the present invention with such an arrangement may include three cavities within the chimney inner surface 126 with three protrusions of equivalent dimensions and equivalent orientation that fit into the cavities for highly-secured placement therein. The smooth sidewall is generally sufficient to fulfill the stability requirements of the present invention, but also permits a significant degree of cleanliness (as lacking corners for grime to infest).

[0034] The quantity and size of the protrusions by themselves are less significant than the overall quantity/size arrangement of the protrusions. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12-13, two protrusions may be significant so long as they have dimensions substantial enough to retain the platform while discouraging tipping. When only two protrusions are present on the platform, the bulk of the protrusions should be substantial. With enough protrusions present, as shown in FIG. 17, the platform 110 of the present invention may utilize "fin" type protrusions 112 that have practically minimal girth. A triangle arrangement of knobs is a preferred orientation for protrusions for the same reasons that a three-legged chair often possesses greater stability than a four-legged chair. In the three-protrusion embodiment, each protrusion is necessary for the retention of the platform and accordingly balances without interference from a potentially-extraneous protrusion. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 11, the protrusions should be of minimal reach such that the space between the platform and chimney (at the point of affixation) is itself minimal. If one were to look at the cross-section surface area of the platform-to-chimney so that the platform cross-section area were to be compared with the chimney cross section area (at the point of affixation), it would be preferred that there is less than a 20% difference between the compared areas of platform to chimney. In all instances, the differential should strive to be less than 50%, such that the embodiment of FIG. 15C is less preferred than the embodiment of FIG. 16A. Comparisons of less than 50% are preferred, 20% will be common and embodiments with a less than 10% differential can be achieved with adequate machining. As shown in FIG. 11, it is preferred that to the extent that protrusions are utilized, that they would not extend beyond a projection 129 of the platform extent 128. These are recessed projections. Other projections may extend beyond the extent projection 129 such that they are visible when viewed from above.

[0035] Geometric differential can be accommodated based on the percent of the platform that contacts the chimney. In a preferred embodiment the protrusions have a surface area meant to contact the chimney sidewall that it less than 50% of said platform periphery. In other systems it is less than 25% of said platform periphery. In other systems it is less than 10% of said platform periphery.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 15A-17, the present invention need not utilize protrusions 112 at all. Here, as is shown in FIGS. 15A-16B, a geometric mismatch, known herein as a "support geometric cross-section," is utilized to create point-retention of the platforms 110 within the chimney 120 rather than dedicated protrusions. As shown in FIG. 15, the platform 110 can utilize a continuous periphery, such as a circle or oval, as mismatched with a polygonal platform shape. For purposes of the present invention, a polygonal shape includes such shapes as have at least one corner. Here, because a cornered-shape is paired with a continuous shape, upon contact the platform will be cradled by contact between points of the platform and portions of the inner sidewall of the chimney 120. The rectangle of FIG. 15A which has four points is secured at those four points by the contact between the flaring inner sidewall of the chimney. As can be further seen in FIG. 18, because of the flaring of the chimney there is a particular height at which the platform will be cradled as determined by the mass of the chimney/platform. As seen in FIG. 18, the retention point for a square-in-circle geometric cross section would result in a squared platform held via contact between the midpoints of the square-sides and their correlating points on the circular chimney. The air gap, would feature the orientation roughly as shown in FIG. 15A. Accordingly, the present invention may feature multiple platforms meant to be utilized with a single chimney so that there is a first cross-section of a first platform created to be less than the cross-section of a second platform; whereby accordingly the first (i.e., smaller) platform is meant to be placed underneath the second (i.e., larger) platform. Any number of platforms may be utilized sequentially.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 15C-15D, the present invention may utilize extreme polygonal shapes, e.g. triangles to ensure a low-pressure draw of fluid from above the platform to the interior of the chimney. As shown in FIGS. 15D and 17, protrusions when used may have negligible width, but side contouring that permits the protrusions 112 to follow the contour of the inner sidewall of the chimney 120.

[0038] Returning to FIGS. 1-4, the platform 110 is placed upon the inner sidewall 126 of the chimney while protrusions, geometric mismatch, or some other related contact means, to create an air gap between the perimeter 128 of the platform 110 and the inner periphery of the chimney. The position of the platform 110 within the chimney 120 is meant to be in a sunken position; which as can best be seen in FIG. 2 permits no part of the platform 110 to extend above the apex of the chimney. Furthermore, the relative positioning of the platform to the chimney can be in a partially-sunken state whereby a portion of the platform extends above the chimney. A sunken arrangement allows tobacco 140 placed upon the platform to be positioned beneath the apex of the chimney 120. As can be seen in FIGS. 12-13, this arrangement permits a foil or other support material to be placed above the chimney 120 in a way that does not or minimally contacts the tobacco within the chimney. The foil can be perforated and a user can place coals atop the foil and begin smoking seamlessly. Furthermore, a durable cap can be provided atop the chimney that permits re-usability.

[0039] The platform of the present invention retains tobacco. Accordingly the materials, size, shape etc may be any that fulfill the objects of the present invention. A preferred configuration forms a cup so as to allow massel additives to pool in the platform without running down the sides. Part of the significance of the present invention is that perforations are obviated. Although the present invention may feature apertures extending from the upper surface 114 to the lower surface 116, they are no longer necessary. Instead, tobacco-rich smoke travels sideward through the air gap rather than downwards through floor-apertures. Tray-shaped platforms, i.e. those that are roughly planar and do not form a recess, may also be utilized with the present invention. To the extent that there is a recess, it is significant to note that the recess should be more dramatic than the flaring of the chimney sidewall, otherwise the exterior of the recessed portion will contact the inner sidewall of the chimney.

[0040] The present invention can inject a degree of portability and disposability in what is otherwise generally regarded as a cumbersome means of smoking. As shown in FIGS. 5-9, a disposable smoking system is shown that comprises the platform 110 of the present invention in combination with a purpose-provided tobacco 140 and a seal 130. These platforms (as the system) can be manufactured as a single commercial unit whereby the platform 110 is created, loaded with tobacco 140, sealed and then provided in a sealed-state. It is presently envisioned that the tobacco be provided as substantially-rigid disk in that the geometrically is static and self supporting. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the disk includes a geometry that allows the tobacco 140 to support itself over the upper surface 114 of the platform 110 to allow underdraft of heat below the disk 140. The embodiment of FIGS. 10-11 utilize tobacco that is either molded to conform to the shape of the platform or is otherwise pliant to the degree that allows the tobacco to settle to the geometry of the platform supporting it.

[0041] Returning to FIGS. 1-4, and with further reference to FIGS. 12-14, the present invention allows a hookah 200 to be constructed with the hookah bowl 100 described herein. The platform 110 is placed within the chimney, preferably in a sunken position below the apex of the chimney. Tobacco is positioned on the platform. Foil can be placed atop the chimney 120 with coals placed thereon. At this point, a conventional orientation of coal-to-tobacco has been reached wherein there is merely a matter of centimeters between the coals and tobacco. When a user draws smoke from the hookah, user suction pulls fluid from the approximate area of the platform upper surface 114 urging it between the air gap of the platform/chimney complex. The air gap can be manipulated based on construction differentials between the chimney and the platform, or otherwise alterations of orientation between the two components upon placement. Furthermore, users can acquire different shaped platforms based on the degree of draw that the user finds most satisfying.

[0042] At this point, flavored dry tobacco smoke is now being channeled between the platform lower surface 116 and the sidewall of the chimney 120 so that dry tobacco smoke is now passing through the bowl port 122 (where applicable) and into the stem-proper 220 of the hookah 200. Although the present invention discusses a bowl port 122, because the nature of a hookah stem is that it principally focuses a delivery conduit for dry smoke (and often wetted smoke--through a different aperture), the present invention as a hookah bowl could simply be elongated to be a hookah stem itself. Accordingly, wherein the present invention affixes to a dedicated hookah stem the port is the point of attachment between the bowl and the stem, but in embodiments wherein the hookah bowl is itself the stem (perhaps because an embodiment utilizes wetted smoke delivery channels in the bowl/base or wetted smoke delivery channels have been added to, say, a more elaborate version of the present invention), the port 122 can be thought of as merely the portion wherein the system affixes to whatever portion of the hookah is next in line to receive dry smoke therefrom. In the embodiments of FIGS. 12-13, then there is a distinct dedicated stem 220 as well as a stem plenum 230 which houses wetted smoke apertures, and accepts wetted smoke from a base 240. However, the present invention would nonetheless persist is the "stem" of 220 were severed and the bowl 110 were directly attached to the plenum 230--or if the plenum 230 were removed, the bowl 100 directly attached to the base 240, and apertures drilled into the base 240 to permit the draw of wetted smoke directly from the base 240. When the tobacco is exhausted, the platform 110 can simply be lifted out of the hookah bowl and disposed (or retained for later use). Unlike conventional hookah bowls, the component supporting the tobacco can be removed to permit cleaning of the remainder of the tobacco bowl.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A hookah bowl system comprising: a hookah bowl chimney having (i) a hookah stem affixation port, (ii) a chimney upper sidewall having a chimney inner surface flaring apically; and a support platform having a platform upper surface, a platform periphery, and a platform lower surface having multiple protrusions dimensioned to physically support said platform within said chimney whereby said protrusions contact said chimney inner surface so as to distance said platform periphery from said chimney inner surface.

2. The hookah bowl system of claim 1 wherein platform includes at least three protrusions.

3. The hookah bowl system of claim 1 wherein said protrusions comprise less than 50% of said platform periphery.

4. The hookah bowl system of claim 3 wherein said protrusions comprise less than 25% of said platform periphery.

5. The hookah bowl system of claim 4 wherein said protrusions comprise less than 10% of said platform periphery.

6. The hookah bowl system of claim 1 wherein said protrusions do not extend beyond said periphery.

7. The hookah bowl system of claim 1 wherein said platform upper surface is supported wholly submerged under an upper extant of said chimney sidewall.

8. The hookah bowl system of claim 1 wherein said platform upper surface includes a concave upper surface.

9. A hookah bowl system comprising: a hookah bowl chimney having (i) a hookah stem affixation port, (ii) a chimney upper sidewall having a chimney inner surface flaring apically; a support platform having a concave platform upper surface, a platform periphery, and a platform lower surface having multiple protrusions dimensioned to physically support said platform within said chimney whereby said protrusions contact said chimney inner surface so as to distance said platform periphery from said chimney inner surface; and a substantially rigid tobacco disc composed of tobacco and a binding agent resulting in a self-supporting geometry positioned on said platform upper surface within said chimney upper sidewall.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a seal spanning said peripherally over said platform upper surface

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said tobacco disc includes a lower geometry adapted to dimensionally complement a central portion of said platform upper surface.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said tobacco disc includes a side geometry adapted to dimensionally complement with a side portion of said platform upper surface.

13. A hookah system comprising: a hookah bowl chimney having (i) a hookah stem affixation port, (ii) a chimney upper sidewall having a chimney inner surface flaring apically and having a support geometric cross-section; and a support platform having a platform upper surface, a platform periphery, and a platform lower surface having a platform periphery with a geometric cross section dimensioned to physically rest upon said chimney inner surface to result in a contact perimeter wherein a minority of said platform periphery directly abuts said chimney upper sidewall.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said platform geometric cross section includes a continuous shape and said chimney support geometric cross section includes a polygon.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said platform geometric cross section includes a polygon, and said chimney support geometric cross section includes a continuous shape.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said platform lower surface lacks lower physical contact.