Vaporizing Pipe with Separator for Flame Filter Support

Abstract

Provided is a vaporizing pipe having a separator 40 for maintaining a separation distance between a screen (or constriction) and a flame filter. In a simple, one-piece vaporizing pipe, it is necessary to mechanically fix the location of the screen and flame filter. Forming mechanical features for this function on inside surfaces of the pipe is difficult and expensive, particularly if the pipe is made of glass. In the present invention, the separator is disposed between the screen or constriction and filter, and functions to fix the location of the filter. The separator can be a wireform, for example. The separator greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of fabricating the present vaporizing pipe.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority of provisional patent application 61/572,142 filed on Jul. 12, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to smoking devices and vaporization devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vaporizing pipe having a separator for positioning a flame filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tobacco and other herbs are typically smoked by burning and inhaling the combustion fumes and smoke. In recent years, interest has grown in the technique of vaporization in which the smoking material is carefully heated so that the desired flavor and psychoactive components are liberated, and combustion is minimized.

Vaporization provides many benefits over smoking. Vaporization produces much less toxic and carcinogenic pyrolytic products compared to smoking. Also, vaporization is smoother and more flavorful, and lacks the disagreeable burned taste produced by conventional smoking. Further, vaporization allows more efficient use of smoking materials, since desired flavor and psychoactive compounds are not destroyed by combustion.

However, vaporization is difficult to perform, since vaporization only occurs in a relatively narrow temperature range. If the temperature is too low, desired compounds are not vaporized and nothing is inhaled; if the temperature is too high, combustion will occur. For most smoking materials, vaporization is optimal in a temperature range of about 250-400 degrees Fahrenheit. The optimal temperature depends upon the compounds being vaporized.

There is significant interest in one-piece “bat” style vaporizing pipes since they are small, lightweight and portable. The one-piece vaporizing pipe has a single body part that encloses a bowl area and contains a flame filter. A difficulty with such pipes is in mounting the flame filter internally, with a space between the flame filter and the bowl area. This is particularly a problem with linear pipes made of glass, because it is difficult to manufacture mechanical features on the internal surfaces of the glass. Without mechanical features (such as a ledge), neither the screen nor flame filter can be properly fixed in position. Retaining rings sometimes do not generate enough friction against the glass to reliably grasp the inner surface of the pipe.

FIG. 1 shows a bat-style vaporizing pipe without the benefit of the present invention. FIG. 1 is not necessarily prior art and should not be construed as such. FIG. 1 is provided merely to better illustrate the advantages provided by the present invention. The linear vaporizing pipe comprises a pipe body 2 having an inner constriction 3 for supporting a metal mesh screen 4. A ledge 5 supports the flame filter 6. Retaining rings 7, 8 retain the screen 4 and flame filter 6. An opening 9 provides access to a bowl area where tobacco is disposed. A C-shaped sliding door 10 can slide to cover and uncover the opening 9 as needed.

A substantial difficulty in manufacturing this design is forming or machining the ledge 5. This is difficult to do by hot glassworking. Also it is difficult to do by machining, because the ledge 5 and constriction 3 block access to the bowl area. Machine tools have difficulty removing material from the bowl area because they must work around the ledge 5.

Another problem with the pipe of FIG. 1 is that the retaining ring 7 cannot slip even slightly. Even a small movement of retaining ring 7 will put the retaining ring 7 across the opening 9 where it does not effectively hold the screen, and where it interferes with external access to the bowl area and movement of the door 10. It is necessary, however for screen 4 to be reliably held in proper position.

Consequently, there is a need for a vaporizing pipe that effectively holds the screen and flame filter in proper position, without having difficult-to-fabricate internal mechanical features, and without having a retaining ring close to the door opening.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a vaporizing pipe comprising a tubular pipe body with a bowl area inside the pipe body, and a sidewall opening in a sidewall of the pipe body. A screen and flame filter are disposed inside the pipe body, on opposite sides of the bowl area. A separator is disposed in the bowl area, between the screen and flame filter. The separator maintains a separation distance between the screen and flame filter.

Consequently, the need for mechanical features on the inside surface of the pipe body is minimized.

In a preferred embodiment, the separator comprises a wireform (e.g. made of stainless steel wire) having two spaced apart support features connected by a connecting leg. The support features are disposed against the screen and filter. The support features can be wire loops or zig-zags, for example. The support features can be approximately planar-parallel.

Alternatively, the separator can be made of a sheet of heat resistant material, such as metal sheet, metal foil, wire cloth, mice sheet, ceramic sheet, glass sheet or glass tubing, for example.

The only requirements are that the separator is heat resistant, and can separate the screen and filter (or constriction and filter), and still allow access to the bowl area through the opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 (Related Art) shows a vaporizing pipe lacking the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional side view of the present invention.

FIGS. 3a-3f show embodiments of the separator.

FIG. 4 shows a closeup view illustrating how the separator of FIG. 3a is installed in the pipe.

FIG. 5 shows how the pipe is disassembled and assembled.

FIGS. 6a-6b show alternative embodiments of the separator.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the separator made of stamped sheet metal.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the separator made of a sheet of heat resistant material.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the separator made of a sheet of heat resistant material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a vaporizing pipe with improved manufacturability and performance and lower cost. The present vaporizing pipe has a very simple construction (e.g. one-piece) comprising a tubular pipe body. The interior of the pipe has a screen and a ceramic filter on opposite sides of a bowl area, where tobacco is disposed. In the present invention, a separator is disposed in the bowl area and functions to hold apart the screen and flame filter. The separator holds both the screen in place, and the flame filter in place. Consequently, the separator obviates both the retaining ring 7 and ledge 5 illustrated in FIG. 1. The separator greatly reduces manufacturing cost and simplifies assembly and construction of the present vaporizing pipe.

Definitions

Flame filter: Any heat-resistant and porous material as described in issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,584, or otherwise known in the art of vaporizing pipes. Examples of suitable flame filter material include ceramic foam, silicon carbide ceramic foam, bonded granules (metal, glass, or ceramic), stacked screens, tangled wire, stacked discs and the like. The present invention is not limited to any specific materials or structures for the flame filter.

Heat Resistant: Able to tolerate temperatures inside the bowl area (up to about 450 F) without burning, melting, or excessive damage.

Metal wire: An elongated metallic material with consistent cross sectional shape. Cross sectional wire shape will typically be round, but can also be square, rectangular, elliptical, triangular, hexagonal or any other shape. The term “wire” also includes strips of metal foil.

Wireform: An object made of a length of metal wire, bent or formed into a desired shape. Wire can be round cross section, square, hexagonal, rectangular, thin rectangular (e.g. aspect ratio of 1:100 or 1:25), or any other cross sectional shape. Wire used for making a separator can have a diameter of about 0.010-0.050 inches, or 0.020-0.030 inches.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional side view of a vaporizing pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pipe has a pipe body 20 comprising a constriction 22, an inhalation end 24, an air intake 26, and a bowl access opening 28. The bowl access opening 28 is disposed in a sidewall of the pipe body. A C-shaped sliding door 30 clips onto the pipe body 20, and can slide in a left-right direction 32 to cover and uncover the opening 28. A metal mesh screen 34 is disposed on the constriction 22. A flame filter 36 is disposed inside the pipe body and held on one side by a retaining ring 38. A bowl area 39 for tobacco is located between the screen 34 and the flame filter 36.

The pipe body is preferably tubular, and can be straight (as shown), or curved.

In the present invention, a separator 40 is disposed in the bowl area, between the screen 34 and the flame filter 36. The separator functions to hold both the screen 34 in place and the flame filter 36 in place. More specifically, the separator 40 holds the screen 34 against the constriction 22, and the separator holds the flame filter against the retaining ring 38. The separator 40 thereby prevents both the screen 34 and the flame filter from falling or moving into the bowl area, or moving into an area of the opening 28.

The pipe body can be made of many materials such as glass (e.g. borosilicate glass), ceramic, wood or metal. In a preferred embodiment, the pipe body is made of clear, borosilicate glass. Clear glass is easier for some people to use because it provides an unobstructed view of a lighter flame, which makes proper flame positioning easier.

The sliding door 30 can be made of many materials such as metal or wood. In a preferred embodiment, the sliding door is made of ¼-hard, ½ hard, or ¾ hard temper stainless steel. preferably, the sliding door is resilient so that it grips the pipe body and is not able to move by the influence of its own weight.

The retaining ring 38 is preferably made of resilient material such as stainless steel. For example, it can comprise multiple loops of metal wire to provide better grip of the interior surface of the pipe body. This is particularly advantageous if the pipe body is made of glass.

The screen typically comprises a circular piece of wire cloth, a metal plate with small holes, or a star-shaped piece of glass. The screen is optional in the invention. If the screen 34 is not present, then the separator 40 is disposed against the constriction 22.

The constriction 22 can be replaced with a retaining ring, for example, or any other mechanical feature capable of supporting the screen 34 or the separator 40.

The opening 28 can have an opening angle 42 of about 30-180 degrees, more preferably of about 60-120 degrees.

In operation, tobacco or other herbs are disposed in the bowl area 39, and the sliding door 30 is closed over the opening 28. Then, a user inhales from the inhalation end 24 while flame exhaust from a small flame (not shown) is input into the air intake 26. The flame filter 36 mixes heat from the flame with cold, ambient air, creating an air stream with a temperature suitable for vaporization (about 250-400 F). This air stream passes through the tobacco in the bowl area, which vaporizes tho tobacco. Operation is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,584, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Operation and use of vaporizing pipes is well known in the art.

The separator can be made from many types of objects and structures. For example, FIGS. 3a-3f show 3-D perspective views of several embodiments of the separator made of wireforms.

The embodiment of FIG. 3a has two metal wire loops 44a 44b connected by a connecting leg 46. When used in the present pipe, one loop is disposed against the screen 34, and the other loop is disposed against the flame filter 36. The wire loops 44a 44b can be approximately planar parallel.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3b the loops are polygonal.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3c the loops are replaced with zig-zag ends 48a 48b.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3d the loops are replaced with zig-zag ends having a single bend.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3e the separator has simple straight wire ends 50a 50b.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3f, the connecting leg is curved/helical. In this embodiment, the separator is essentially a coil spring.

The loops 44a 44b, zigzag ends 48a 48b, and straight wire ends 50a 50b are generically referred to as “support features” in the appended claims.

All of the embodiments of FIGS. 3a-3f function effectively as separators to hold the screen and flame filter in place, and are with the scope of the present claims.

FIG. 4 shows a closeup view illustrating how the separator of FIG. 3a is disposed inside the present pipe. Loop 1 44a is pressed against the screen 34; loop 2 44b is pressed against the flame filter 36. The connecting leg 46 sustains compression forces (if any). The separator 40 maintains a separation distance 47 between the screen 34 and flame filter 36.

In another embodiment of the invention, the separator 40 comprises a helical wire winding (i.e. a simple coil spring). In this case, the loops 1 and 2 are understood to be the terminal loops of the coil spring, and the connecting leg 46 is understood to comprise a helical coil connecting the terminal loops.

FIG. 5 illustrates disassembly of the present vaporizing pipe. When the retaining ring 38 is pulled out of the air intake opening 26, the flame filter 36, separator 40 and screen 34 can slide out of the pipe. The pipe is easily reassembled by inserting the parts in order and pressing the retaining ring 38 into place. The retaining ring holds all the parts inside the pipe by friction against the inner surface of the pipe.

FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate other embodiments of the present invention in which the separator comprises an undulating, zig-zag wireform rolled into a cylinder shape. In FIG. 6a, dotted line circles 54 indicate the planes where the screen 34 and flame filter 36 are disposed. This shape is sometimes referred to as a “zigzag spring” in the furniture industry. In this embodiment, the wire may cross the opening 28 (which is undesirable) if the wire zigzags are close together.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the separator made of a sheet of heat resistant material (e.g. metal sheet, metal foil, wire cloth, mica sheet, ceramic sheet, glass or the like). The embodiment of FIG. 7 can be made of glass, ceramic, wood, stamped or deep-drawn sheet metal, or any other heat resistant material. The separator has two supports 58a 58b connected by a ring 60. When installed, terminal ends of the supports 58a 58b are disposed against the screen 34, and the ring is disposed against the flame filter 36 (or vice versa). The separator of FIG. 7 is not a wireform.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the separator made of a sheet of heat resistant material (e.g. metal sheet, metal foil, wire cloth, mica sheet, ceramic sheet, glass or the like). For example, the separator of FIG. 8 can be made of (cut from) a section of glass tubing, or from a rolled piece of sheet metal. Ends 60a 60b of the separator are disposed against the screen 34 and filter 36.

Optionally, the separator has holes 62, which provide visibility into the bowl area, if the pipe body 20 is transparent.

Optionally, the separator has corrugations 66.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment made of a sheet of heat resistant material with a central window 64 cut away. The window provides visibility into the bowl area, if the pipe body is transparent.

In an alternative embodiment, a separator made of sheet material can be corrugated.

All of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, 7, 8, and 9 are within the scope of the appended claims.

The above embodiments may be altered in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1) A vaporization pipe comprising:

a) a tubular pipe body with a bowl area, and with a sidewall opening adjacent to the bowl area;

b) a screen disposed inside the pipe body adjacent to the bowl area;

c) a flame filter disposed inside the pipe body adjacent to the bowl area;

d) a separator disposed in the bowl area between the screen and filter, whereby the separator maintains a separation distance between the screen and flame filter.

2. The vaporization pipe of claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a wireform having two spaced apart support features connected by a connecting leg, and wherein the support features press against the screen and flame filter.

3. The vaporization pipe of claim 2 wherein the support features are loops.

4. The vaporization pipe of claim 2 wherein the support features are zigzag ends or straight wire ends.

5. The vaporization pipe of claim 2 wherein the support features are approximately planar-parallel.

6. The vaporization pipe of claim 1 further comprising a constriction, and wherein the screen is disposed between the constriction and the separator.

7. The vaporization pipe of claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a zigzag spring.

8. The vaporization pipe of claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a sheet of heat resistant material.

9. The vaporization pipe of claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a section of glass tubing.

10. The vaporization pipe of claim 1 further comprising a sliding door for covering and uncovering the sidewall opening.

11. A vaporization pipe comprising:

a) a tubular pipe body with a bowl area, and with a sidewall opening providing access to the bowl area;

b) a constriction disposed inside the pipe body and adjacent to the bowl area;

c) a flame filter disposed inside the pipe body adjacent to the bowl area;

d) a separator disposed in the bowl area between the constriction and filter, whereby the separator maintains a separation distance between the constriction and flame filter

12. The vaporization pipe of claim 11 wherein the separator comprises wireform having two spaced apart support features connected by a connecting leg, and wherein the support features are disposed against the constriction and flame filter.

13. The vaporization pipe of claim 12 wherein the wireform is made of wire having a diameter of about 0.015-0.035 inches in diameter.

14. The vaporization pipe of claim 11 further comprising a screen disposed between the constriction and the separator.

15. A vaporization pipe comprising:

a) a borosilicate glass tubular pipe body having: 1) a bowl area, 2) a sidewall opening adjacent to the bowl area, and 3) a constriction on a downstream side of the bowl area;

b) a screen disposed inside the pipe body between the bowl area and the constriction;

c) a flame filter disposed inside the pipe body adjacent to the bowl area;

d) a sliding door for covering and uncovering the sidewall opening;

e) a separator disposed in the bowl area between the screen and filter, comprising a wireform having two spaced apart support features connected by a connecting leg, and wherein the support features are disposed against the screen and flame filter, thereby maintaining the separation distance between the screen and ceramic filter.