Pipe Tobacco Smoking System

Abstract

A tobacco pipe smoking system wherein a pipe and tobacco capsule are mutually designed to yield a slim-line smoking combination that can be manufactured from relatively low temperature thermo-plastic materials. The pipe includes a bowl and stem. The bowl is designed to support the capsule spaced from the inner walls and includes a tunnel extending across the bottom thereof. One end of this tunnel opens upwardly into the tobacco capsule and the other end communicates directly with the pipe stem. The capsule comprises a charge of particulate smoking tobacco within a sheath of imperforate incombustible sheet material, having a passage through the bottom thereof. The capsule may include a filter surmounted by a wafer located between the charge and the bottom passage in one embodiment, and a circuitous air space in place of the wafer, in another.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a pipe tobacco smoking system; more particularly, it relates to a pipe tobacco smoking system using a novel pipe structure and unique prepackaged tobacco capsules.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The majority of the pipe smoking population at the present time utilize wooden or clay pipes having a bowl at one end into which loose tobacco is packed. As these smokers well appreciate, the tobacco must be properly packed into the pipe bowl in order to assure a steady and smooth-burning smoke. This packing is generally accomplished with the finger of the smoker and accordingly the pipe bowl must be sufficient large to permit tamping of the tobacco with a finger. Unfortunately, the necessary size of these pipe bowls then results in the pipe itself being quite bulky for carrying in clothing pockets or elsewhere.

The general habits of the present pipe smoking population also require the carrying of loose tobacco in pouches which may be both bulky and insecure so that the tobacco is unduly exposed to air and will often be found "floating" in the pockets of clothing.

The conventional pipes used at the present time may or may not have a filter in the stem portion thereof. In any event, acrid tobacco juices pass into and through the bowl of the pipe and the pipe stem during each smoking operation and may cause both bad tastes and eventual stem clogging. Eventually, the pipe bowl becomes caked with a carbon residue and must be scraped out regularly.

To date, a number of proposals have been put forth for the utilization of prepackaged tobacco capsules which can be inserted into the bowl of a pipe. Quite evidently, by the utilization of such capsules, one is immediately able to provide tobacco of the proper density and is also able to eliminate the aforementioned problems inherent in the utilization of loose tobacco. It has been found, however, that these proposed capsule systems are not fully acceptable to the pipe smoking public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome both the difficulties encountered in the conventional pipe smoking arrangement and the infirmities discovered with prior capsule systems.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there may be provided a disposable tobacco capsule that is prepacked by machine. Each capsule may, if desired, have its own built-in filter. The tobacco may be corectly packaged for steady burning and the density of the tobacco may be controlled in the factory packaging techniques. Each capsule may be encased in an aluminum foil sheath, or the like, and is formed to a standard size which will fit all pipes manufactured for the system. A typical capsule, for example, might be 1 3/8 inches long, 1 1/8 inches high, and 3/8 inches wide. The capsule is adapted for insertion into a specially designed pipe bowl and may have the top opened by pulling a zip-off tab. On termination of smoking, the foil sheath and its filter with the trapped residue may be readily lifted from the bowl and disposed of, leaving the pipe in clean condition. A plurality of such capsules may be packaged in a single convenient slim pack, which could, in turn, be stored without "bulkiness" in clothing pockets.

By utilizing capsules of the nature described herein, special pipes may be manufactured. In particular, it is possible to produce a wide range of pipe styles of extremely narrow profile which can be readily carried in clothes pockets or purses.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new pipe smoking system wherein the disadvantages of present pipe smoking are either avoided or greatly reduced.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pipe wherein the tobacco is supported in a spaced position relative to the walls of the pipe bowl.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pipe wherein the tobacco is supported in a spaced relationship relative to both the walls and the bottom of the pipe and air vents are provided through the pipe walls into this space.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pipe wherein the smoking aperture leading to the pipe stem has its entry at the center of the pipe bowl.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved tobacco pipe smoking system employing prepackaged capsules of tabacco.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tobacco pipe smoking system utilizing prepackaged capsules of tobacco having a filter portion disposed across the entire bottom thereof and adapted to cooperate with a pipe having an aperture from the pipe stem at the center of the bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pipe in combination with a tobacco capsule.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pipe having a bowl and stem. The bottom of the bowl includes a raised portion with an aperture in the center forming an enclosed connection to the pipe stem; such that all smoke from burning tobacco within the pipe bowl passes through this center aperture to the stem. The pipe bowl also includes means for supporting the tobacco in spaced relation from the walls of the pipe and aeration means through the pipe walls giving access to this space for the surrounding air.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a prepackaged tobacco capsule specifically designed for cooperation with the aforementioned pipe. This capsule may include a lower filter portion and a surrounding sheath of non-combustible material. The top portion of this sheath is removable and the lower portion includes an aperture positioned for cooperation with the aperture in the pipe bowl in order to provide an outlet for smoke drawn through the filter into the pipe stem.

A more complete appreciation and understanding of this invention and the above objects and features thereof, will become available from the following more detailed description. This description is made in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded illustration partly in cross-section, showing the pipe tobacco smoking system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along lines 2--2 in FIG. 3 and illustrating a pipe embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a pipe embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a pipe constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention showing the positioning of a capsule mounting insert;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in cross-section, along lines 5--5 in FIG. 4, showing a side view of the pipe illustrated therein;

FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic of a capsule mounting insert of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tobacco capsule incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section taken along the long axis of a tobacco capsule used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section taken along the long axis of another tobacco capsule used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-section taken along the short axis of a tobacco capsule used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-section taken along the short axis of another tobacco capsule used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the smoking system of the present invention comprises the principal components of a pipe 10 and tobacco capsule 11. The pipe 10 has a bowl 12 and stem 13, and within bowl 12, means 14 are provided for supporting the tobacco capsule in the manner described hereinafter. The means 14 are arranged so that the tobacco capsule is acutally held with its walls spaced from the internal face of bowl 12. This creates an air space through which air is circulated to keep the bowl cool and provide a cooler smoke. When in position, the tobacco capsule 11 is held above the bottom of the bowl by a platform arrangement which includes a smoke tunnel 16. An aperture 15 at the center of the bowl connects the tunnel to the bowl such that as the tobacco burns, the smoke is drawn through aperture 15 into the stem of the pipe.

The pipe embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrates the basic configuration of a typical pipe structure and the manner in which the smoking tunnel 16 is disposed at the bottom of the bowl. As illustrated clearly in FIG. 2, the smoking tunnel 16 extends from the end of the pipe stem to a point slightly beyond the central aperture 15. Aperture 15 has an upwardly projecting edge 17 whose function is to secure an inserted tobacco capsule against lateral movement and also to provide a substantially air-tight coupling with the base of such a capsule. The end of tunnel 16 is closed by depending member 18 and by sidewalls illustrated, for example, by dotted lines 19 in FIG. 3. This produces a chimney, or smoking flue, through which the smoke may be directly drawn into the stem of the pipe.

FIG. 3 also illustrates air vents 20 and 21, disposed at opposite sides of the tunnel 16, and a further larger air vent 22 beyond the closing panel 18 of the tunnel. It will be appreciated that each of these air vents provide access from outside the pipe to the space between a mounted capsule and the inner peripheral walls of the pipe. This space provides for fresh air flow around the capsule at all times and assures a cooler environment for the pipe and capsules.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 shows the utilization of shallow, vertical ribs as the means 14 for maintaining the capsule spaced from the internal walls of bowl 12. As explained hereinafter, these ribs may, in fact, be developed by the utilization of a cage-like structure as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. These projecting ribs provide securing means whereby the capsule is slightly pressed inwardly in order to insure its retention in the bowl. More importantly, however, these ribs provide for the air spacing mentioned above.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the spacing means and smoke tunnel member are provided in the form of a capsule mounting insert which may be integrally molded with the pipe, or "press" assembled after the pipe is molded. Such an insert may be a die-casting, or a sheet metal stamping, for example. The pipe shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is generally similar to the previously discussed embodiment and has the same general components as indicated by the primed numerals designating individual elements. Reference may also be made to FIG. 6 wherein a typical insert 30 is shown in perspective.

The view of the bowl appearing in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 illustrates that the vertical members 31 of the mounting insert 30 are offset inwardly from the circumferentially extending member 32. Each vertical member or strut 31 is connected via a member 33 across the bottom of the insert and the entire unit is spaced above the base of the bowl by the lower projecting leg portions 34. Circumferentially extending member 32 has an overhang 35, forming a shoulder which butts against the top of the pipe bowl. Thus, when a tobacco capsule is placed within this insert, it is suspended above the base of the bowl and away from the side walls thereof.

The smoke tunnel of the insert has an upper portion formed as an integral part of the longitudinal base strut 36, and a chimney portion 37 terminating in an actue angle for penetration into the tobacco capsules. The sides 38 of the smoke tunnel extend down to the base of the pipe bowl, when installed therein, and the outboard end is sealed with wall 39.

At a position beyond the smoke tunnel, an aperture 29 is located at the center of the mounting insert. This aperture may be in alignment with the front air vent 22 through the pipe bowl and may be used, if desired, to insert a probe to remove a tobacco capsule.

As suggested in FIG. 5, the interior portion of a pipe bowl in accordance with the invention, or the interior surface of the capsule mounting insert member 30, if provided, may also include inwardly projecting elements 28. These elements serve the purpose of retaining the tobacco capsule in position and thus compensate for any looseness of fit that may occur. It will be noted that these projecting elements are designed to permit the tobacco capsule to slip over them when inserting the capsule into the bowl and to provide for retaining the capsule if it should be withdrawn before part, or all, of the tobacco has been smoked. In general, it will be appreciated that when utilizing capsules, upon combustion of the tobacco the ash no longer occupies the original volume and they can be easily collapsed for withdrawal.

Attention may now be directed to FIGS. 7 -- 11 wherein the design of several typical tobacco capsules is illustrated. FIG. 7 shows that the tobacco capsule may be in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid with a slight draft angle provided to assist in the insertion of the capsule into the pipe bowl. The corners of the capsule may be more or less rounded as desired. On the other hand, it has been found that a variety of shapes may be employed and the provision of a draft angle is not necessary in view of the fact that tobacco is compressible and the withdrawal is not a problem since the ash, following use, occupies less volume that the original tobacco. The capsule 40 will be seen to include an outer sheath 41 which completely surrounds the tobacco. This covering is preferably made of aluminum foil, but other metal foils, such as copper and magnesium, may be used. Furthermore, any imperforate, flexible, or semi-flexible incombustible material, or even thin semi-flexible impact extrusion-formed metal or molded synthetic resins having suitable chemical and physical properties, may be employed.

If aluminum foil is used, the strip-off cover 42 may advantageously be of the same material. It may be a separate piece joined to the rest of the cover by a strip of adhesive, or it may be integral with the cover with a scored, or otherwise weakened, junction. Such adhesive joint or scored weakening, would appear, for example, in the area illustrated by the dashed lines surrounding the periphery of cover 42 in FIG. 7. The cover 42, serves to keep the tobacco fresh so that it retains its original moisture content during storage. Furthermore, it will prevent loss of tobacco by crumbling and spillage during handling. An important characteristic of the external covering is that the top be easily removable by a simple movement and without the use of special tools. The illustrated tab 43 facilitates this convenience of removal.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a typical capsule in accordance with the invention, may include a filter element 44, disposed across the entire base of the capsule. Thus, the tobacco 45 rests entirely upon the filter element. At the center of the capsule, in the bottom, there is a perforation 46 through the sheath in order to accept the projection 37 appearing in the base of the cooperatively designed pipe bowl.

While viewing FIG. 8, it should be noted that as a smoker inhales, the smoke is drawn through the aperture 46 from all portions of the capsule. Thus, there is distribution of smoke from the upper burning surface of the tobacco throughout the filter medium and all smoke is directed to the center portion. This should be distinguished from those situations where the smoke outlet appears at one end of the capsule, necessitating greatly varying lengths of travel from the upper burning surface of the tobacco through the various portions of the capsule.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of mini-capsules 48, are positioned within a basic capsule 50. When a capsule of this type is employed, it is advantageous to utiize three apertures 47 in the sheath and pipe bowl so that smoke from each mini-capsule is drawn independently through the filter medium within that element.

Inasmuch as the tobacco in the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9 is assumed to lie in contact with the filter medium, the filter medium should be non-combustible in order to avoid burning. Quite clearly, the tobacco will self-extinguish when it burns down to the filter level.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate modified capsules wherein the filter material 51 or 55 may be either combustible or non-combustible. In FIG. 10 there is a circuitous air space 52 between the tobacco 53 and the filter 51, formed by bending the side walls as shown. Such an air space could obviously take different shapes and could be a simple pocket as long as there are means to restrain the tobacco from touching the filter medium 51. In the modification of FIG. 11, the filter medium 55 is separated from the tobacco 57 by a thin wafer 56 of air-permeable and incombustible material, such as steel wool, porous ceramic, or asbestos. Obviously, various combinations of filters, air gaps, and tobacco arrangements, may be provided. In fact, the filter may be eliminated if cleanliness of the pipe stem is not a factor. Of course, one may also employ the conventional pipe stem filters if this is desired.

When a filter is provided in the capsule, it must be of sufficient size and density to retain all of the residue materials that would normally pass, from that quantity of tobacco, into the pipe bowl and stem. This will maintain the pipe with optimal cleanliness after repeated smoking. When the tobacco within a capsule is consumed, the capsule is removed from the bowl, carrying with it the tobacco ash, the filter, and any absorbed material therein. Since the capsule is not combustible, it is not ashed and its removal is complete, leaving the pipe bowl in its presmoking condition. Poking through the hole 22 will provide means to remove the expended capsule.

In use, the smoker places the capsule into a pipe bowl and presses it gently into position. The upper portion of the capsule cover is then removed and flame applied to the exposed top surface of the tobacco. The smoker draws a current of air and smoke down through tobacco, through the filter, through the smoking tunnel, and out of the stem duct. While this is taking place, the air ducts in the base of the pipe bowl permit complete aeration of the capsule and air will continuously circulate between the bowl and the capsule outer wall without in any way interfering with the smoke inhalation. This insures a cooler bowl and permits the utilization of pipe material made, not only of the conventional briar, cherry wood, clay, meerschaum, or the like, but also of more modern synthetic polymeric materials such as polycarbonate ("Lexan"), nylon ("Zytel"), acetal ("Delrin"), and melamine resins.

In addition to providing a pipe and smoking system that can be easily, economically, and efficiently manufactured, there has also been provided a smoking system that is convenient to the user because his pipe can be designed for non-bulky insertion into pockets or purse; this pipe always being in a clean, tobacco-free, and relatively odor-free condition. Still further, the system provides a pipe smoker with a prepackaged, proper density tobacco capsule that need not be tamped down with the finger and which can be prepacked with any particular tobacco blend desired.

Modifications in the pipe smoking system described hereinabove, will be immediately apparent. It is within the contemplation of the inventor to include all such modifications as come within the spirit and teachings of this disclosure. All such modifications are intended to be embraced by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tobacco pipe smoking system comprising:

a pipe having a vertically disposed bowl having a plurality of walls and a stem; a tobacco capsule with flexible walls enclosing side and bottom portions thereof with an impenetrable sheath and having exterior dimensions slightly greater than the interior dimensions of said bowl; projecting means within said bowl in contact with said tobacco capsule and supporting it in spaced relationship with respect to the remaining major internal wall surfaces of the bowl; means providing air channels penetrating the walls of said bowl providing communication between the outside and the space between said capsule and said major internal wall surfaces; passage means through said capsule sheath at the bottom; and tunnel means extending across the bottom of said bowl and opening at one end thereof into the pipe stem, the other end of said tunnel means being open and extending upwardly from the center of the bottom of said bowl and penetrating the bottom of said capsule via said passage means.

2. A tobacco pipe smoking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said projecting means are an integral portion of said pipe and extend orthogonally from the opening of said bowl.

3. A tobacco pipe smoking system as defined in claim 2, wherein said projecting means form a cage-like basket and support said capsule above said tunnel means.

4. A tobacco pipe adapted for use with pre-packaged tobacco capsules, comprising a pipe having a vertically disposed bowl and stem, means within said bowl to maintain the peripheral portions of said capsule spaced from the inner walls of said bowl, means providing ducts through said bowl into the space between said walls, and tunnel means within said bowl extending across the bottom thereof and opening at one end thereof into the pipe stem, the other end of said tunnel means being open and extending upwardly from the center of the bottom of said bowl and adapted for penetration into the bottom of said capsule.

5. A tobacco pipe according to claim 4, wherein said duct means are disposed in the bottom of the bowl.

6. A tobacco pipe according to claim 4, wherein said bowl is positioned along the longitudinal axis of said stem and the length of the longitudinal axis of said bowl exceeds the length of its transverse axis by a ratio greater than 2:1.

7. A tobacco pipe according to claim 4, wherein said bowl is formed of materials subject to plastic deformation at tobacco combustion temperatures.

8. A tobacco pipe according to claim 4, including capsule retaining means mounted within said bowl to maintain the capsule spaced from said bowl.

9. A preformed pipe tobacco capsule adapted to be charged as a unit into the bowl of a pipe having height, length, and width dimensions, comprising a charge of particulate smoking tobacco, a sheath of imperforate incombustible sheet material surrounding and retaining the tobacco, and a top closure consisting of an imperforate flexible material united to the top edge of the sheath by a readily separable joint, passage means through said sheath at the bottom of said capsule, and imperforate sheet material disposed transversely across the capsule interposed between said tobacco and said passage means, said material being of smaller size than the transverse dimensions of said capsule to permit fluid flow between tobacco and said passage means.

10. A preformed pipe tobacco capsule according to claim 9, including an air-permeable filter located in the bottom of said capsule to intercept tobacco smoke passing through said passage means when said tobacco is ignited.

11. A tobacco capsule according to claim 10, wherein the top closure is of the same material as and is integral with said sheath and is joined thereby by means of a mechanically weakened seam.

12. A tobacco capsule according to claim 10, wherein closure is joined to said sheath by a readily separable adhesive.

13. A tobacco capsule according to claim 9, wherein the ratio of the length to width of said capsule is substantially 4:1.

14. A performed pipe tobacco capsule as defined in claim 9, wherein said imperforate sheet material is integral with the capsule sheath.

15. A preformed pipe tobacco capsule as defined in claim 9, wherein the means interposed between said tobacco and said passage means is air permeable and incombustible.