Smoking Pipe

Abstract

A smoking pipe is described having a condensing chamber for collecting and trapping tar, nicotine, water and other condensate resulting from the products of combustion. The condensing chamber is formed inside of the tubular stem of the pipe. A mouthpiece is detachably connected to the stem with a fluid-tight connection to prevent the condensate from leaking out of the condensing chamber. An extension of the mouthpiece projects inside the condensing chamber to prevent the bitter condensate from passing through the smoke bore inside the mouthpiece and into the mouth of a smoker. Condensate in the smoking chamber is prevented from leaking into the tobacco-receiving bowl by means of a center-bored screw which extends from the bowl of a substantial distance inside the condensing chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pipes for smoking tobacco, and more particularly, to an improved pipe having means to collect and trap the condensate resulting from the products of combustion and prevent them from reaching the mouth of the smoker.

In the smoking of tobacco by the implement of a pipe, moisture, tar, nicotine, juices and other condensate result from the combustion of the tobacco. Such condensate is well-known to smokers who have resorted to various means to filter or to trap it. After even a brief period of normal smoking of a pipe, say on the order of three or four days, the condensate forms a sticky mass which clogs the smoking passages and clogs the parts of the pipe such as the joint between the mouthpiece and the stem.

One of the undesirable features about most pipes is that the condensate which has an extremely bitter taste collects in the smoke passages of the pipe and leaks into the mouth of the smoker. Such condensate often leaks through the bowl and through the mouthpiece when the pipe is not being smoked. For example, the smoker may carry his pipe in his pocket and the moisture and other condensate may leak out into his pocket and stain his clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved smoking pipe having a condensing chamber arrangement for the products of combustion. Only a simple number of component parts are used to construct the pipe so that it is inexpensive to manufacture and is convenient to maintain and keep clean. The improved pipe uses no filters or other parts which require replacement or cleaning. The invention permits a pipe to be carried in a smoker's pocket when it is not being smoked without the possibility of drainage of condensate which might stain his clothing.

As an additional feature, the pipe which embodies the present invention can be smoked in an inclined position as when the smoker is lying in bed or in a reclining chair without the drainage of the bitter juices into the smoker's mouth.

One specific form of a pipe embodying the present invention is characterized by a tobacco-receiving bowl which is secured to the side of a tubular stem. A smoke conduit extends from the bowl into the stem and projects beyond the inside wall of the stem. The stem is preferably constructed of a material such as metal which is capable of radiating heat so that the stem is able to act as a condensing chamber for the moisture and other condensate. The condensing chamber formed by the stem is provided with an assembly which acts as a trap for such condensate to prevent it from leaking out. The forward end of the tubular stem is closed by an end cap and the rearward end is closed by the mouthpiece which is formed to prevent leakage of the condensate through the smoke passage of the mouthpiece into the mouth of the smoker. The mouthpiece is provided with a shoulder which abuts against the rearward end of the tubular stem. The central core of the mouthpiece which fits snugly inside the tubular stem is provided with a resilient rim on its forward end. Such resilient rim provides for a fluid-tight connection to prevent the leakage of condensate outside of the tubular stem. Condensate is prevented from passing into the mouth of the smoker by means of a projection on the central core of the mouthpiece which extends into the condensing chamber. A smoke passage is defined by an axial bore which extends through the mouthpiece into the central projection. Condensate which is collected inside of the condensing chamber is trapped around the base of the central projection and is not able to flow inside the smoke passage of the mouthpiece. The end cap at the forward end of the tubular stem is also preferably provided with a radially outer, resilient lip which provides a fluid-tight seal to prevent the leakage of condensate.

By means of the combination of the end cap and the sealing arrangement with the mouthpiece, together with the projection of the conduit from the bowl, condensate is trapped inside the tubular stem which forms the condensing chamber. However, the condensate is easily removed from the pipe by removal of the mouthpiece to permit the condensate to drain. When there is a large collection of solid materials in the condensing chamber, the pipe can be readily cleaned by the removal of both the end cap and the mouthpiece and the running of a plunger with a cleaning element through the tubular stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further explained by way of a specific example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross sectional view taken along lines 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross sectional view of an end portion of the tubular stem and an end portion of the mouthpiece assembly in the disassembled position; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the mouthpiece and stem juncture showing how the mouthpiece prevents the leakage of condensate into the smoke passage of the mouthpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a pipe having a tobacco-receiving bowl 10, a stem 12 and a mouthpiece 14. In the form illustrated, the stem 12 is a tubular metal element which is adapted to form a condensing chamber 13 for the products of combustion. The condensing chamber can, of course, take other shapes and be constructed of materials other than metal. The condensing chamber 13 is closed at the forward end by a cap 16 and at the rearward end by the closure element of the mouthpiece 14.

The smoke conduit from the bowl 10 is shown in the form of a threaded screw 18 having a center bore 20. Screw 18 has a threaded shank 22 which is received in corresponding threading in the upper wall of the stem 12. The screw 18 serves the dual purpose of securing the bowl 10 to the stem 12 and also defining the smoke passage from the bowl through the center bore 20 into condensing chamber 13. The screw 18 is provided at its head with cross slots 24 which are designed to prevent clogging of the smoke passage by shreds of tobacco. Thus, even if the center bore 20 becomes clogged by shreds of tobacco, smoke can enter laterally through the slots 24 and down through the bore 20. The bottom or base portion of the bowl 10 is provided with a notch to receive the stem 12 and provide a pleasantly appearing, wrap-around effect.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the mouthpiece assembly includes a cylindrical core 28 which fits inside of the tubular stem 12 with a friction or press fit. A shoulder 30 on the mouthpiece assembly abuts against the rearward end of the tubular stem 12 to provide a wiggle-free fit. The outer end of the core 28 includes a resilient rim 32 which has a diameter slightly larger than the inner portion of core 28. The resilient rim 32 provides for a fluid-tight coupling between the mouthpiece 14 and the tubular stem 12, and also permits the manufacturing tolerance between the inside diameter of the tubular stem 12 and the core 28 to be less rigorous.

The mouthpiece assembly includes a central projection 36, which extends forwardly beyond the end of the resilient rim 32 inside the condensing chamber 13. Central projection 36 prevents the leakage of condensate from the condensing chamber 13 through the smoke passage 37 in the mouthpiece 14 and into the mouth of the smoker. FIG. 5 illustrates the trapping of condensate 40 around the central projection 36 when the pipe is in an inclined position. The combination of the central projection 36 and the fluid tight seal provided by the resilient lip 32 prevents leakage of condensate either through the smoke passage into the mouth of the smoker or around the fitting between the mouthpiece 14 and the stem 12.

The end cap 16 is preferably provided with a resilient sealing lip 42 which is similar in construction to the sealing lip 32 on the mouthpiece 14. Thus the end cap 16 forms a fluid-tight connection at the forward end of the condensing chamber 13. A shoulder 44 on the end cap 16 abuts the forward end of the tubular stem 12 to enable a rigid coupling.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the condensing chamber formed by the tubular stem and associated elements provides for a trap of condensate. Should the pipe be turned in an inverted position the condensate will collect around the shank of the screw 18 and will not pass through the axial bore 20 into the bowl 10. At the same time, however, the condensate is easily discharged by removal of the mouthpiece 14.

As a modification of the invention, the condensing chamber 13 can be filled with an absorbent material or filter such as silica gel granules or paper tissue. In this manner, the smoke passing through the condensing chamber can be dehydrated and filtered to produce a clear, dry, smoke pleasing to a smoker.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A smoking pipe comprising:

a tobacco-receiving bowl;

a tubular stem formed of a material conducive to the radiation of heat, said stem having an inside wall defining a condensing chamber therein, said stem having a forward end and a rearward end, said stem being secured in smoke-feeding relation to said bowl near the forward end;

a conduit extending from said bowl into said stem for flow of smoke therethrough, said conduit extending beyond the inside wall of said stem;

a mouthpiece assembly detachably fitted to the rearward end of said stem, said mouthpiece assembly including a central core having a smooth outer surface, said stem having a constant inside diameter over a portion adapted to frictionally engage said central core; said central core having an inward conical taper extending rearwardly from its forward end and toward its longitudinal axis, the outer surface of said central core having a resilient annular lip flaring smoothly radially outwardly to a diameter larger than the inside diameter of said stem when said central core is disengaged from said stem, said resilient annular lip being adapted to be distorted to fit the inside diameter of said stem when said central core is engaged with said stem, said resilient annular lip being formed adjacent said conical taper,

an extension of said mouthpiece projecting into said condensing chamber beyond the forward end of said resilient annular lip along the longitudinal axis of said central core,

said mouthpiece assembly having an axial bore extending through said extension and said central core to provide a passageway for smoke.

2. A smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a closure for the forward end of said stem, said closure having a shoulder which abuts the end of said stem and a cylindrical, smooth outer surface, the forward end of said stem having a smooth inner surface adapted to frictionally engage said closure, the outward extremity of said outer surface of said closure forming a resilient lip which flares smoothly to a diameter larger than the inner surface of said stem when said closure is disengaged.

3. A smoking pipe comprising:

a tubular stem having a forward end and a rearward end;

a tobacco-receiving bowl secured in smoke-feeding relation to the side of said stem near the forward end thereof;

a mouthpiece assembly fitted to the rearward end of said stem, said mouthpiece assembly having an axial bore for the passage of smoke therethrough; and

a closure for the forward end of said stem, said closure having a shoulder which abuts the forward end of said stem and a substantially cylindrical portion having a diameter that is less than that of said shoulder and which fits snugly inside said stem, the radially outward extremity of said cylindrical portion of reduced diameter having a resilient lip of slightly larger diameter than the inner portion thereof.