Abstract: A charcoal-less hookah and components thereof. Preferably, the charcoal-less hookah is an electronic hookah. A battery may be operably connected to one or more heating elements to heat the one or more heating elements to allow the hookah to be used at a site lacking an electrical outlet. Preferably, the battery is sufficiently removed from one or more heating elements and a heat exchanger so that the battery is not exposed to elevated or harmful temperatures. The charcoal-less hookah may include a hookah sub-assembly having a heating element, a heat exchanger and tobacco/smoked substance disposed below the heat exchanger and the heating element and an insulation section which is disposed above the tobacco/smoked substance and below a lower portion of the heating element and a lower portion of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hookah or hookah assembly preferably having a lid including one or more sealing members that seal and releasably lock the lid to a liquid retaining tank such that when lid is connected to the liquid retaining tank the lid and liquid retaining tank can be moved as a unit by gripping any portion of the lid or the tank. The hookah preferably includes one or more openings that allow vapor to be exhausted through one or more openings formed in the lid. The hookah preferably includes a seal operably connected to a lower surface of the lid and engages an upper and horizontally extending surface of the liquid retaining tank. The hookah may include a down stem which has an integral diffuser configured to significantly reduce the operational noise level of the hookah while significantly reducing the number of openings necessary in the diffuser to achieve quite operation of the hookah.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an article in a free standing manner so that the article can be used in a hands free manner, i.e., without an individual supporting the article or the support apparatus. The apparatus includes a support having a body and a plurality of appendages. The support is configured to position an article in a free standing manner so that the article can be used by an individual without the individual holding the article. The body has a plurality of connection areas. Preferably, each of the plurality of appendages has at least one connection area. Preferably, the support includes four appendages. Preferably, the appendages are connected to the body in such manner as to allow the appendages and body to be positioned in a multitude of different positions to allow the support to support numerous different articles and allow the support to be mounted on a multitude of differently contoured surfaces.