Smoking Pipe

Abstract

The device comprises a combustion chamber into which smoking material is disposed for burning, and has means for igniting the smoking material. A first conduit communicates the combustion chamber with a conduit-terminating mouthpiece, and a second conduit communicates the combustion chamber with an air pump. Accordingly, the combustion chamber is intermediate the pump and the mouthpiece, so that the pump forces air through the second conduit, to and through the chamber, and to and through the first conduit, serially. In one embodiment of the device, a water chamber is interposed between the combustion chamber and the mouthpiece to serve as a smoke washing filter.

Description

This invention pertains to smoking apparatus and devices, and in particular to a smoking device which features forced smoke conduction so the user of the device will have no need to draw on the device to extract smoke therefrom.

It is an object of this invention to set forth a smoking device comprising an air pump; first conduit means for conducting smoke therethrough; said first conduit means having a mouthpiece at one end thereof; a combustion chamber for burning smokable material therewithin; ignition means disposed within said chamber, energizable for igniting the smokable material; said ignition means having means external of said chamber and connectable to a source of energy for energizing said ignition means; said first conduit means opening onto said combustion chamber via an end of said first conduit means which is opposite said one end thereof; and second conduit means for conducting smoke therethrough; wherein said second conduit means also opens onto said combustion chamber, via a first end of said second conduit means; and said air pump is coupled to said second conduit means, via a second end thereof, for forcing air, serially, through said second conduit means to said combustion chamber, and from said combustion chamber through said first conduit means to and through said mouthpiece.

Further objects of this invention, as well as the novel features thereof, will become more apparent by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combustion chamber shown in FIG. 1 with the cover and the igniter removed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a screen or filter which, optionally, is usable within the combustion chamber;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the ignition means disposed within the combustion chamber of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a portion of a smoking device illustrative of an alternate embodiment thereof wherein the first conduit includes a smoke chamber which envelopes the combustion chamber;

FIG. 6 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a portion of a smoking device illustrative of a further alternate embodiment thereof wherein a water chamber is operatively interposed between the mouthpiece and the combustion chamber; and

FIG. 7 depicts, in elevational cross-section, a smoking device embodiment, according to the invention, which comprises the combustion chamber, ignition means, and pump of the FIG. 1 embodiment, as well as the smoke chamber which envelops the combustion chamber, according to the FIG. 5 embodiment, and in addition a water chamber interposed between the combustion chamber and the mouthpiece, as disclosed in the FIG. 6 embodiment, which water chamber serves as a smoke washing filter.

As shown in FIG. 1, the novel smoking device comprises a bowl or combustion chamber 4, which has a first conduit coupled thereto, the first conduit opening into the chamber 4 via a chamber top or cover 2. An extending, terminal end of the first conduit, opposite the end thereof which opens into the chamber 4, defines a mouthpiece 1. As depicted in FIG. 1, the cover 2 is centrally apertured to admit smoke therethrough to mouthpiece 1.

A filter or screen 3, shown in plan view in FIG. 3, is used, optionally, in the chamber 4 to prevent smoking material, such as tobacco, from migrating from the chamber 4 through cover 2. If the air flow is not of great force, the screen 3 is not necessary.

The smoking material, is placed within the chamber atop an ignition element 5. Element 5, here shown to be a heating filament, in this embodiment of the invention, is energizable, externally, for igniting the smoking material. Terminals of the element 5, extending through the chamber 4, are connectable (as shown) to a source of electrical energy. By way of example, a battery 10 is shown as such an energy source. The element 5, the heating filament and the terminals thereof, are shown in plan view in FIG. 4.

A second conduit, as shown in FIG. 1, is also connected with the chamber 4 and with an air pump 9. The pump delivers air through the second conduit into and through the chamber 4, and from there through the first conduit to the mouthpiece 1. A ball-type check valve 8 is interposed in the second conduit to prevent a back-flow of air and/or smoke from chamber 4 to pump 9.

A needle-type valve 6 is interposed in the second conduit, intermediate the chamber 4 and the pump 9, for controlling the communication of the second conduit with an air vent 7. Valve 6 is cooperative with vent 7 for adjusting the amount of air in an air/smoke mixture which can be conducted to mouthpiece 1.

In use, the smoking device is charged with smoking material, such as tobacco, and the element 5 is energized to promote ignition of the material. Co-incidentally, or thereafter, pump 9 is activated (by means not shown) to force air through the ignited material, through chamber 4, and to the mouthpiece 1; accordingly, a mixture of smoke and air is delivered to the user of the device. Once the material is ignited, and the pump is activated, combustion of the material will be continuous; thus, the device 5 can be de-energized after ignition. As noted priorly, valve 6 can be adjusted to regulate the desired air/smoke mixture, and the force thereof, as well.

The alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except that the first conduit includes a smoke chamber 11 which envelops the combustion chamber. Chamber 11 serves as a type of plenum chamber; it wholly encloses and confines the combustion chamber 4' therewithin. Chamber 11 has as its purpose the defining of an intermediate station within which the smoke will cool prior to being expelled through the mouthpiece 1. In this embodiment, chamber 11 is formed of transparent material so that the user of the smoking device can see the air/smoke mixture therewithin.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the first conduit is interrupted intermediate the ends thereof to receive a water chamber 12 for confining water 13 therewithin. The water 13 and chamber 12 cooperate to provide enhanced cooling of the air/smoke mixture, and also contribute to a cleansing of the mixture.

The FIG. 7 embodiment combines the features of the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, in setting forth a smoking device which comprises the combustion chamber, ignition means, and pump of the FIG. 1 embodiment, as well as the smoke chamber which envelops the combustion chamber, according to the FIG. 5 embodiment, and in addition has a water chamber interposed between the combustion chamber and the mouthpiece, as disclosed in the FIG. 6 embodiment, which water chamber serves as a smoke washing filter. The smoke chamber 11 and the water chamber 12 are serially interconnected.

In the foregoing embodiments of the invention, I set forth an electrical heating filament as the ignition element 5, and a piston-type air pump 9. Now, clearly, other types of ignition elements can be used, and other types of air-impelling means can be employed, taking a teaching from my disclosure. So also, other one-way check valving, rather than the ball-type valve 8, and differing air throttling means, other than the needle-type valve 6, will occur to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, while I have described my invention in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example, and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the object thereof and in the appended claims. I claim:

Claims

1. A smoking device, comprising:

an air mover;

first conduit means for conducting smoke therethrough;

said first conduit means having a mouthpiece at one end thereof;

a combustion chamber for burning smokable material therewithin;

ignition means disposed within said chamber, energizable for igniting said smokable material;

said ignition means having means external of said chamber and connectable to a source of energy for energizing said ignition means;

said first conduit means having means connected with said combustion chamber via an end of said first conduit means which is opposite said one end thereof; and

second conduit means for conducting smoke therethrough; wherein

said second conduit means has means connected with said combustion chamber via a first end of said second conduit means; and

said air mover also has means connected with said second conduit means, via a second end of said second conduit means, for forcing air, serially, through said second conduit means to said combustion chamber, and from said combustion chamber through said first conduit means to and through said mouthpiece.

2. A smoking device, according to claim 1, wherein:

said first conduit means comprises a conduit which defines said mouthpiece at one end thereof, and which defines a smoke chamber at an end thereof which is opposite said one end.

3. A smoking device, according to claim 2, wherein:

said smoke chamber wholly encloses and confines said combustion chamber therewith.

4. A smoking device, according to claim 3, wherein:

said smoke chamber has walls which are spaced apart from said combustion chamber, to define an annular space between said chamber and said walls.

5. A smoking device, according to claim 3, wherein:

said smoke chamber is formed of transparent material.

6. A smoking device, according to claim 1, further including:

an air vent means opening onto said second conduit means, intermediate said first and second ends thereof; and

valve means interposed between said air vent means and said second conduit means selectively operative for regulating a communication of said vent means with said second conduit means.

7. A smoking device, according to claim 1, wherein:

said first conduit means comprises an conduit having first and second portions;

said first portion of said conduit defines said mouthpiece at one end thereof, and a water chamber at an end thereof which is opposite said one end; and

said second portion of said conduit has an end thereof which is in penetration of said water chamber.

8. A smoking device, according to claim 1, wherein:

said first conduit means comprises a conduit having first and second portions;

said first portion of said conduit defines said mouthpiece at one end thereof, and a water chamber at an end thereof which is opposite said one end; and

said second portion of said conduit has an end thereof which extends into said water chamber, and defines a smoke chamber at an end thereof which is opposite said extending end;

said smoke chamber wholly enclosing and confining said combustion chamber therewithin; and

said smoke chamber being formed of transparent material.