Smoke and Odor Elimination Filters, Devices and Methods
A pipe comprises a combustion bowl with bowl vents; an inhalation path for drawing smoke from the combustion bowl through the bowl vents during inhalation; an exhalation filter; and an exhalation path for forcing exhaled smoke through the exhalation filter during exhalation.
This application claims benefit of and hereby incorporates by reference provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/238,091, entitled “Enclosed Smoking Device,” filed on Aug. 28, 2009, by inventor Kelly J. Adamic; provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/242,229, entitled “Enclosed Smoking Device with Timed Ignition Button,” filed on Sep. 14, 2009, by inventor Kelly J. Adamic; and provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/327,064, entitled “Smoke and Odor Elimination Filter and Devices,” filed on Apr. 22, 2010, by inventor Kelly J. Adamic.
COPYRIGHT NOTICEA portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates generally to smoking devices, and more particularly relates to smoke and odor elimination filters, devices and methods.
BACKGROUNDSmoking is a practice in which a combustible substance, e.g., tobacco, cannabis or herbs, is burned and the resulting smoke inhaled. Combustion of the substance causes the release of active drugs such as nicotine or THC and makes them available for absorption through the lungs. The most common way of smoking today is through cigarettes, primarily industrially manufactured but also hand-rolled using rolling paper. Other smoking tools includes traditional pipes, cigars, hookahs and bongs.
People smoke for recreation, as a part of rituals, in search of a spiritual enlightenment, and for medical purposes. The history of smoking can be dated to as early as 5000 BC, and has been recorded in many different cultures around the world. Early smoking evolved in association with religious ceremonies, as offerings to deities, in cleansing rituals, or as a process of divination. The practice of smoking has become commonplace.
It will be appreciated that, while cannabis for recreational use is illegal in many parts of the world, its use as a medicine is legal in a number of territories, including Canada, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Italy, Finland, and Portugal. In the United States, permission for medical cannabis varies from state to state, several having enacted laws to allow regulated cannabis consumption, possession, cultivation, and distribution for medicinal use.
When non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, it is commonly referred to as passive smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke take in the nicotine, THC and/or other chemicals just like smokers do. Passive smoking has played a central role in the debate over the harms and regulation of tobacco products. Since the early 1970s, the tobacco industry has been concerned about passive smoking as a serious threat to its business interests. Passive smoking was perceived as motivation for stricter regulation of tobacco products as well as for smoking bans in workplaces and indoor public establishments, such as restaurants, bars and night clubs.
Smoking releases odors that get into hair, clothing, and other surfaces, even after the smoke is no longer visible. Some researchers call this remnant odor “thirdhand” smoke. Essentially, the particles caused by smoking settle on surfaces and can be measured long after a person has finished smoking.
What is desired is a mechanism for reducing or eliminating secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
SUMMARYIn accordance with some embodiments, the present invention provides a pipe, comprising a combustion bowl with bowl vents; an inhalation path for drawing smoke from the combustion bowl through the bowl vents during inhalation; an exhalation filter; and an exhalation path for forcing exhaled smoke through the exhalation filter during exhalation.
The pipe may further comprise a mouthpiece on both the inhalation path and the exhalation path. The inhalation path may include a one-way inhalation valve between the combustion bowl and the mouthpiece. The pipe may further comprise a lid over the combustion bowl, the lid creating a substantially airtight inhalation seal with the combustion bowl. The lid may include a one-way inhalation valve. The pipe may further comprise exhalation vents, wherein the exhalation path includes a one-way exhalation valve between the mouthpiece and the exhalation vents. The one-way exhalation valve may be part of the exhalation filter. The exhalation filter may include an exhalation filter cartridge. The pipe may further comprise an internal lighter for providing a flame to the combustion bowl. The pipe may further comprise a timed ignition switch for controlling the length of time that a flame is delivered to the combustion bowl. The exhalation filter may include a housing, a HEPA filter, and a foam core. The foam core may include a central bore extending the length of the foam core, and the foam core includes odor absorbing chemicals for removing the odor from the exhaled smoke.
In accordance with some embodiments, the present invention provides a method, comprising burning a combustible substance in a combustion bowl having bowl vents, the burning combustible substance creating smoke; channeling at least portions of the smoke from the combustion bowl through the bowl vents to a smoker; receiving exhaled smoke from the smoker; channeling the exhaled smoke to an exhalation filter; and filtering the exhaled smoke by the exhalation filter.
The smoke from the combustion bowl may be channeled to the smoker via a mouthpiece and the exhaled smoke may be received through the same mouthpiece. The method may further comprise preventing the exhaled smoke from being delivered to the combustion bowl. The method may further comprise preventing the smoke from the combustion bowl from including air from the exhalation filter. The method may further comprise controlling the length of time that a flame is delivered to the combustible substance in the combustion bowl. The exhalation filter may include a housing, a HEPA filter, and a foam core. The foam core may include a central bore extending the length of the foam core, and the foam core may include odor absorbing chemicals for removing the odor from the exhaled smoke.
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments are possible, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to these and other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments and applications shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles, features and teachings disclosed herein.
As shown in
In use, the smoker opens the lid 110, exposing a combustion bowl (not shown) with combustible substance therein. The smoker applies a flame over the combustible substance, e.g., using a butane lighter, and inhales through the mouthpiece 105. Airflow causes the combustible substance to burn and smoke to pass through an inhalation path in the pipe 100 via an inhalation filter (not shown) and out the mouthpiece 105 to the smoker. The smoker closes the lid 110, which effectively prevents air from flowing out the opening exposed when the lid 110 is open. Air can still be drawn through the one-way inhalation vents 120. The smoker then exhales through the same mouthpiece 105. The smoke passes through an exhalation path in the pipe 100 through an exhalation filter (not shown) and out the exhalation vents 115. The exhalation filter scrubs the smoke and odor particles.
In one embodiment, the pipe 100 is about 4 inches long (front to rear), 1.5 inches tall (top to bottom), and ⅞ inch wide (left to right). Components of the pipe 100 may be made of a metal such as aluminum or of plastic.
The pipe 100 includes a body 201 with two channels, namely, a lower channel 210 and an upper channel 211. An end cap 208 with a through-hole (not shown) is positioned on the rear end of the lower channel 210. A bowl housing 202, possibly made of aluminum, is positioned near the rear side of the body 201, behind the end cap 208. Although not shown, bowl vents may be disposed on the underside of the bowl 212. The shape of the bowl housing 202 allows air to be drawn through the bowl vents on the underside of the bowl 212 to an intermediate chamber behind the end cap 208 and through the upper channel 211. Although not shown, in some embodiments, an inhalation filter may be positioned in the upper channel 211. The shape of the bowl housing 202 also allows air to pass from the upper channel to the intermediate chamber under the bowl 212, through the end cap 208, and through the lower channel 210.
A fitting 205 is positioned in the front end of the body 201. The fitting 205 includes two passageways, namely, an upper passageway 213 that interfaces with the upper channel 211 and a lower passageway 214 that interfaces with the lower channel 210. In some embodiments, the fitting 205 is attached airtight to the body 210, e.g., using glue. The upper passageway 213 may be configured to accept the mouthpiece 105 mounted therein, possibly with an o-ring 204 therebetween to create an airtight seal. The lower passageway 214 may be configured to accept an exhalation filter cartridge 203 into the lower channel 210 and an exhalation vent cap 206. In some embodiments, the exhalation vent cap 206 is removable to allow replacement of the exhalation filter cartridge 203. In some embodiments, the end cap 206 is part of or integrated with the exhalation filter cartridge 203.
The pipe 100 includes an inhalation path and an exhalation path. As shown and described with reference to the pipe 100, the inhalation path and exhalation path of pipe 100 overlap. To ensure that air is not drawn from the exhalation filter cartridge 203 during inhalation and that air is not forced through the combustion bowl 212 during exhalation, one or more one-way inhalation valves and one or more one-way exhalation valves may be employed. In some embodiments, the one-way inhalation valve may be attached to the flip top lid 110. In some embodiments, the one-way inhalation valve may be a flap (similar to the flap 303 of
As shown, a one-way inhalation flap 303 may be attached to the lid 110 to prevent airflow out of the inhalation vents 120. A lid gasket 302 may be positioned on the underside of the lid 110, and held in place by a combustion bowl plate 305. The combustion bowl plate 305 may be secured to the lid 110 using screws 304. It will be appreciated that the combustion bowl plate 305 may be made of metal to protect the gasket 302 and the one-way inhalation flap 303 from damage by the burning combustible substance in the bowl 212.
Accordingly, during inhalation, air is drawn from the mouthpiece 625. The one-way inhalation valve 630 allows air to pass through the upper channel 635, through the inhalation filter 620, and from the combustion bowl 615. The exhalation valve 645 prevents air from being drawn from the lower channel 655. During exhalation, air is forced into the mouthpiece 625, which forces air through the intermediate channel 640 via the one-way exhalation valve 645, to the lower channel 655, through the exhalation filter 650 and out the exhalation vents 655. The one-way inhalation valve 630 prevents are being exhaled through the inhalation filter 620 or the combustion bowl 615.
As shown, the exhalation pipe 700 includes an elliptical body 705 with a filter channel 725 therethrough, threading (not shown) on the rear internal side of the elliptical body 705, and a passageway (not shown) on the front side. A mouthpiece 710 is attached onto the front side of the elliptical body (possibly with glue). An exhalation filter cartridge 203 is inserted into the filter channel 725. An end cap 715 includes exhalation vents 720 and threading 730 that cooperates with the threading in the body 705.
In use, the smoker inhales smoke from a cigarette, pipe, bong, cigar or other smoking apparatus. The smoker then exhales through the mouthpiece 710. The smoke travels through the mouthpiece 710, through the passageway, into the channel 725, through the exhalation filter cartridge 203, and out the exhalation vents 720. The filter 203 scrubs the smoke and odor particles.
In some embodiments, the body 705 may be made of extruded aluminum, plastic, ferrous metals, precious metals, etc. The mouthpiece 710 may be machined stainless steel, plastic, ferrous metals, precious metals, etc. The end cap 715 may be machined stainless steel, plastic, ferrous metals, precious metals, etc.
In some embodiments, the pipe 900 is about 4 inches tall (top to bottom), 3 inches long (front to rear), and ⅞ inches wide (left to right). As shown, the pipe 900 includes a body 910. A mouthpiece 905 is rotatably attached to the front side of the body 910. A cap 915 is slidably mounted on the top of the body 905. Sliding the cap 915 forward exposes the combustion bowl (not shown) therein. Sliding the cap 915 towards the rear will allow the mouthpiece 905 to flip open. In some embodiments, sliding the cap forward after opening the mouthpiece secures the mouthpiece in its open position. An ignition switch 920 ignites the internal lighter, which causes combustible substance in the combustion bowl to ignite. The smoker can inhale the smoke through the mouthpiece 905 via an inhalation path and exhale the smoke through the same mouthpiece via an exhalation path to filter the smoke and odor.
The front channel 1020 may be used for storage of combustible substance. This storage may be locked in place using spring-loaded ball bearings that drop into receiving indents on the compartment. Some embodiments may use a swing out storage hinged along the vertical edge of the compartment and the device. Other embodiments may use a fold back compartment that is hinged at the bottom of the compartment and device.
A fitting 1005 may be inserted into the top side of the body 1001, above the three channels. The fitting 1005 may include a mouthpiece attachment portion 1026 in the front of the fitting 1005. A mouthpiece 905 and mouthpiece seal 1008 may be attached to the mouthpiece attachment portion 1026. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece seal 1008 includes five flat faces and one arcuate face. The arcuate face may cooperate with an arcuate section of the mouthpiece 905 to enable the mouthpiece 905 to rotate from a position flush with the front face of the body 1001 to a position normal to the front face of the body 1001. A pin (not shown) may be slidably inserted through holes 1032 in the fitting 1002 and through a pivot bore 1030 in the mouthpiece 905. When the mouthpiece 905 is inserted into the body 1001, the dowel may be held in place by the side walls of the body 1001.
The fitting 1002 may also include notches 1034, which abut the top portion of the walls dividing the body 1001 into its three channels. The notches 1034 may provide a better airtight seal between the fitting 1002 and the body 1001. The fitting 1002 also includes a combustion bowl 1028, possibly made of aluminum, with flame access holes (not shown) on the bottom side of the bowl 1028. The fitting 1002 may be attached to the body 1001, possibly using glue, to provide an airtight seal.
A top lid 915 may be slidably attached to the fitting 1002 or the body 1001. A spring pin 1005, washer 1006 and set screw 1007 may cooperate with the top lid 915 to retain the lid 915 in open or closed position. Some embodiments of the device may use a porcelain lighter compartment top dome insert and a combustion chamber insert to help contain heat generated during combustion.
An external ignition switch 920 may be slidably mounted through the body 1001 to engage an internal ignition switch on the lighter 1004. Upon activation, the lighter will ignite causing a flame through the flame access holes under the combustion bowl 1028, causing the combustible substance to burn.
Like the pipe 100, the pipe 900 will include an inhalation path from the combustion bowl through an inhalation filter to the mouthpiece 905 and an exhalation path from the mouthpiece 905 through the exhalation filter cartridge 203 and out the exhalation vents 1036.
In some embodiments, the odor absorbing materials react on a molecular level to neutralize smoke odors, preferably involving adsorption, absorption, gas solubility and reaction. For example, when Ecosorb® oil is diluted with water and broadcast via atomization, the tiny water droplets created contain a thin oil skin that creates an electrostatic charge. This charge facilitates adsorption of the odor molecules onto the droplet surface. The gas is absorbed by the droplet (solubility) and held.
As stated above with reference to
It will be appreciated that some embodiments may use natural or synthetic fibers, ceramic, metal, chemicals, oils and/or crystals for filtering.
Some embodiments may use a warning system that will alert the user and others that exhalation has not gone back through the pipe. This alarm or alerting system will have an adjustable timer of from 5 seconds to 30 seconds after which the alarm or alert will sound. The use of this alarm or alerting system will assist in the training of the user to always exhale through the device. Over time, the proper use of this device will become habit.
The exhalation filter cartridge 203 may be designed to be inserted into the series of devices.
Some embodiments may use filter media that is not in the form of a cartridge.
Although several of the embodiments have been described as using the same mouthpiece for inhalation and exhalation, one skilled in the art will recognize that separate mouthpieces may be used. Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that, in some embodiments, the inhalation path and exhalation path may not overlap.
The term “pipe” herein shall include various types of smoking devices, including bongs, hookahs, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, or the like.
It will be appreciated that smoke and odor may be visible or invisible. It will be appreciated that the term “smoke” may or may not include odor.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is by way of example only, and other variations and modifications of the above-described embodiments and methods are possible in light of the foregoing teaching. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. The present invention is limited only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A pipe, comprising:
- a combustion bowl with bowl vents;
- an inhalation path for drawing smoke from the combustion bowl through the bowl vents during inhalation;
- an exhalation filter; and
- an exhalation path for forcing exhaled smoke through the exhalation filter during exhalation.
2. The pipe of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece on both the inhalation path and the exhalation path.
3. The pipe of claim 2, wherein the inhalation path includes a one-way inhalation valve between the combustion bowl and the mouthpiece.
4. The pipe of claim 1, further comprising a lid over the combustion bowl, the lid creating a substantially airtight inhalation seal with the combustion bowl.
5. The pipe of claim 4, wherein the lid includes a one-way inhalation valve.
6. The pipe of claim 2, further comprising exhalation vents; and wherein the exhalation path includes a one-way exhalation valve between the mouthpiece and the exhalation vents.
7. The pipe of claim 6, wherein the one-way exhalation valve is part of the exhalation filter.
8. The pipe of claim 1, wherein the exhalation filter includes an exhalation filter cartridge.
9. The pipe of claim 1, further comprising an internal lighter for providing a flame to the combustion bowl.
10. The pipe of claim 9, further comprising a timed ignition switch for controlling the length of time that a flame is delivered to the combustion bowl.
11. The pipe of claim 1, wherein the exhalation filter includes a housing, a HEPA filter, and a foam core.
12. The pipe of claim 11, wherein the foam core includes a central bore extending the length of the foam core, and the foam core includes odor absorbing chemicals for removing the odor from the exhaled smoke.
13. A method, comprising:
- burning a combustible substance in a combustion bowl having bowl vents, the burning combustible substance creating smoke;
- channeling at least portions of the smoke from the combustion bowl through the bowl vents to a smoker;
- receiving exhaled smoke from the smoker;
- channeling the exhaled smoke to an exhalation filter; and
- filtering the exhaled smoke by the exhalation filter.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the smoke from the combustion bowl is channeled to the smoker via a mouthpiece and the exhaled smoke is received through the same mouthpiece.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing the exhaled smoke from being delivered to the combustion bowl.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing the smoke from the combustion bowl from including air from the exhalation filter.
17. The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the length of time that a flame is delivered to the combustible substance in the combustion bowl.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the exhalation filter includes a housing, a HEPA filter, and a foam core.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the foam core includes a central bore extending the length of the foam core, and the foam core includes odor absorbing chemicals for removing the odor from the exhaled smoke.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 31, 2011
Inventor: Kelly J. Adamic (Alamo, CA)
Application Number: 12/871,500
International Classification: A24F 1/00 (20060101); A24F 3/00 (20060101);