Pipe Inhaler

Abstract

An inhaler including a flexible mask which is adapted to be inserted over the nose and mouth of the user and fits snugly against the face so that the smoke from a pipe can be inhaled. The pipe has an auxiliary air inlet whereby the amount of air being inhaled along with the smoke can be varied.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inhalers have been proposed but have usually been rather complicated in construction and not easily placed securely in position on the user. Various adjustments usually had to be made to make the mask fit properly and they were generally expensive to manufacture.

Inhalers to which the present invention pertain are used, for example, for inhaling a mixture of mint and wintergreen which act as a decongestent for medicinal purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pipe inhaler including a flexible face mask portion which is preferably made of plastic and which is adapted to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of the user. The mask includes a one-way valve that is automatically closed to prevent return of the smoke to the pipe to which the mask is attached. The mask is formed of plastic, flexible material and its edges are tapered to a narrow edge whereby the mask can be slipped easily over the nose and mouth of the user and fit snugly over the face. The pipe to which the mask is attached by means of a curved conduit has a ceramic lined bowl having a screen across the bottom of the bowl to prevent fragments from the material being smoked from being drawn into the conduit. An auxiliary air supply is provided in the pipe bowl whereby the user can shut off the auxiliary air into the conduit by means of placing his finger over an auxiliary air opening, thus regulating the amount of air being combined with the smoke when drawn into the mask.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pipe inhaler embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the pipe shown in FIG. 1, but certain parts shown as broken away or in section for the sake of clarity and furthermore showing an outline of the face of the user when the mask has been applied to the face;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pipe inhaler as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pipe inhaler;

FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the pipe inhaler and showing the auxiliary air opening;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inhaler taken generally from the front left side thereof; and

FIG. 8 is another perspective view taken generally from the rear left side thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The pipe inhaler shown in the drawing includes a pipe P preferably made of wood and having a bowl 1 lined with a ceramic material 2, or the like. A screen 3 is molded into the ceramic adjacent the bottom of the bowl and a passage 4 extends downwardly into communication with a chamber 5 in the bottom of the pipe P. An auxiliary air opening 6 is located in the back of the pipe and places the chamber 5 in communication with the outside of the pipe. A curved conduit 7 preferably made of plastic material is inserted into the chamber 5 so as to form a tight fit therewith. The upper, backwardly curved portion 7a of the conduit 7 is adapted to be inserted snugly in an inlet portion 8 of the mask M.

The mask M is formed of flexible plastic material and has a narrow upper portion 10 which fits snugly against the bridge 11 of the user's face. The mask has a lower portion 12 which is relatively wide and fits tightly against the front side of the chin of the user and below the mouth. The two sides 13 and 14 of the mask are flared outwardly in a transverse direction, and are relatively wide so as to fit firmly against the face of the user. Thus the mask when pressed against the face forms sealing engagement with the face. The outermost edges 16 extending around the mask are tapered to a very narrow edge so as to provide good flexibility and sealing contact with the face.

A one-way valve 20 is provided inside the mask and adjacent the inlet 8 of the mask. The valve 20 is circular in shape and is fastened at one small location 21 to the shoulder 22 adjacent the inlet end of the conduit portion 7a. Thus when the user inhales the smoke coming from the pipe P, the valve 20 lifts so as to permit ingress of smoke. Any exhaling by the user when the mask is on acts to close the valve 20 and prevent smoke return to the pipe. When the device is used, first the ingredients are placed in the bowl 2, then lit and the user then holds his finger over the auxiliary air inlet 6 so as to cause the material to ignite readily. After the material has become ignited, the hole 6 may be opened to permit air to be drawn into the mask along with the smoke. Occasionally, the user may wish to cut off the air supply and this can be done easily by placing his finger over the air inlet 6.

Thus, the present invention provides a simple and economically produced pipe inhaler which can be readily applied to the user in a very efficient manner. The mask fits snugly against the face of the user without any particular adjustment or fittings. The burning mixture in the pipe can be mixed with any amount of air as desired by the user and simply by means of the auxiliary air inlet. The screen in the bowl prevents any inhalation of solid material and insures complete burning of the material.

Claims

I claim:

1. A portable pipe inhaler comprising: a pipe having a bowl made of heat resistant material for burning material therein, said pipe being adapted to be held in one hand, a heat resistant metallic screen across the lower end of said bowl to prevent inhaling of said material, a rigid curved conduit extending from and in communication with said bowl adjacent the lower end thereof and below said screen, an auxiliary air inlet in said bowl and communicating with said conduit, said auxiliary inlet having an opening located in a position to be closed or opened by the user, a flexible mask attached to an opposite end of said conduit and placing said mask in communication with said bowl, said conduit being curved sufficiently to locate said mask above said bowl and at a position where its user can observe the interior of said bowl when said mask is placed against the face of the user, said flexible mask including an inlet portion secured to said conduit, and a flat flexible flap hingedly secured to one side of said mask inlet to form a one-way valve in said inlet portion to limit the direction of flow through said conduit, said mask also including an upper, transversely narrow portion, a lower relatively wider transverse portion, and opposite side portions merging with said narrow portion and said wider portion so as to form an opening in which the face of a user can be inserted, the edge around said opening being flexible so as to abut in sealing engagement with the face of the user.

2. The pipe inhaler as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said mask side portions are formed as transversely extending, flange-like sides which abut against the face of the user.

3. A portable pipe inhaler comprising: a pipe having a bowl made of heat resistant material for burning material therein, a metallic heat resistant screen across the lower end of said bowl, a rigid conduit extending from and in communication with said bowl adjacent the lower end thereof and below said screen, said conduit having a section curved at an acute angle to said conduit, an auxiliary air inlet in said bowl and communicating with said conduit, a flexible mask attached to an opposite end of said curved section and placing said mask in communication with said bowl, said mask being disposed at a position above and facing said bowl so that the user can observe the interior of the bowl when the mask is placed against the face, said flexible mask including an inlet portion secured to said conduit, and a one-way valve including a flat flexible disc hingedly secured adjacent one side to said mask and extending over said conduit end to provide flow into said mask and prevent flow from said mask into said conduit, said mask also including an upper transversely narrow portion, a lower relatively wider transverse portion, and opposite side portions having flange-like sides which abut against the face of the user, said side portions merging with said narrow portion and said wider portion so as to form an opening in which the face of a user can be inserted, the edge around said opening being flexible so as to abut in sealing engagement with the face of the user.