HYBRID GRAVITY BONG
An apparatus and method for using a smoking vessel to cool and collect smoke from an ignited combustible material for later consumption using the creation of a vacuum. The apparatus is a smoking vessel, container, a bowl to hold and burn a combustible material, a down-stem to cool and transfer smoke from the bowl to the smoking vessel, and a drilled stopper or bung to create a seal between the bowl and down-stem combination and the smoking vessel. Utilization of vacuum principles facilitates the creation of smoke from a combustible material while simultaneously cooling and collecting the smoke without the need for a person use their lungs. The apparatus and method of use allows multiple smoking vessels to be filled with smoke for consumption by any person at a later time.
This present application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Number 61/767,799 filed Feb. 22, 2013.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUNDSmoking vessels in the form of a plastic or glass bottle are often used to collect smoke for inhalation. An opening is made through the bottom of the smoking vessel by making a hole or completely cutting off the bottom. At the top of the smoking vessel, a bowl is inserted. The bowl, often an inverted brass nozzle, is packed with a combustible substance such as cannabis or tobacco. The smoking vessel with bowl is lowered into a bucket of water so that the smoking vessel remains upright with the bowl above the water and the bottom opening submerged in the water. The smoking vessel then fills with the water through the bottom opening. Next, the combustible substance in the bowl is ignited while the smoking vessel with bowl is raised from the water, the draining water creating a vacuum and pulling smoke into the vessel. Once the water has drained completely from the smoking vessel, the user may remove the bowl and inhale the smoke from the vessel. The smoke that fills the vessel using this method is often hot and unpleasant to inhale. Moreover, the smoke enters the vessel directly from the bowl without any type of filtration
Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,805,806, 4,096,868 and 4,648,410. The '806 patent incorporates an inverted upper vessel to contain smoke, the upper vessel being used to prevent dispersion of the smoke created as a byproduct of the apparatus's use, not to collect the smoke for inhalation. The '868 patent incorporates the features of a traditional water pipe into a two-piece apparatus, with a detachable upper and lower portion, so that water or ice may be easily introduced into the apparatus. The '410 patent also incorporates the features of a traditional water pipe, but with the addition of a means for controlling the thermal conduction around the pipe bowl. Additionally, an apparatus called the Gravity Vortex Portable Smoking apparatus utilizes gravity and draining liquid to fill a chamber. However, each of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: they are complicated to use, requiring complex parts to operate; the same person must draw air the to facilitate combustion of the material while inhaling the smoke being created, the smoke cannot be created and contained for later inhalation; the smoke is not filtered and cooled through a liquid; and a singular apparatus cannot be used to fill multiple vessels with smoke.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a apparatus and method of use that utilizes vacuum principles to cool, filter, and contain smoke for inhalation by a different person at a later time. The solution is found in the present, Hybrid Gravity Bong invention, which comprises: a smoking vessel, a container, a down-stem to cool and transfer smoke from the bowl to the smoking vessel, a bowl to hold and burn the combustible material, and a drilled stopper or bung to create a seal between the bowl and down-stem combination and the smoking vessel.
SUMMARYThe present invention is directed to a apparatus and method of use that satisfies the need to cool, filter, and contain smoke for inhalation by a person at a later time. The Hybrid Gravity Bong apparatus comprises a smoking vessel, a container, a down-stem to cool and transfer smoke from the bowl to the smoking vessel, a bowl to hold and burn the combustible material, and a drilled stopper or bung to create a seal between the bowl and down-stem combination and the smoking vessel.
Additionally, utilization of a down-stem facilitates filtration of the smoke through water. When the apparatus is submerged in the water, the smoking vessel fills with water to a level above the bottom of the down-stem. When the smoking vessel with bowl and down-stem is raised from the water after igniting the combustible substance, smoke is drawn into the smoking vessel through the cold down-stem and water by the creation of a vacuum, effectively cooling and filtering the smoke. Once the water in the smoking vessel has emptied, the bowl and down-stem can be removed, allowing the smoke in the vessel to be consumed or saved for later use by sealing the smoking vessel openings with stoppers.
As shown in
The smoking vessel 110 may be any shape but is preferably in the form of a bottle or vase as illustrated in
A container is used to hold any liquid such as water and/or ice, and can take the form of a standard bucket. The container may be any material suitable for holding ice and liquid without leaking and large enough so that the smoking vessel 110 may be nearly completely submerged into the liquid. The container is used to submerge the smoking vessel 110 and down-stem 140 in the liquid so that it cools to a lower temperature and fills with the liquid to later create a vacuum. To assist submersion of the smoking vessel 110 in the liquid, one or more weights 150 in the form of spheres, a rod or any shape capable of being inserted in or around the smoking vessel 110 may be used.
The bowl 130 illustrated in
The down-stem 140 illustrated in
As best illustrated in
The apparatus is used by first filling the container (not shown) with a liquid and preferably ice. Next, the smoking vessel 110 and down-stem 140 is submerged into the liquid to cool to a lower temperature. The down-stem 140 and drilled stopper 150 are then inserted into the top opening 112 of the water-filled smoking vessel 110. Next, the bowl 130, filled with a combustible material, is inserted into the down-stem 140 where it is ignited. Once ignited, the entire assembly may be slowly raised from the container. As the liquid drains from the smoking vessel 110 bottom opening 114 a vacuum is created, drawing air through the bowl 130. The air drawn through the bowl 130 facilitates burning of the combustible material and fills the smoking vessel 110 with smoke that has been cooled by contact with the down-stem 140 and liquid. Once the liquid has drained, the smoking vessel 110 is filled with smoke. The bowl 130, down-stem 140 and drilled stopper 150 may then be removed. Finally, the smoke may be inhaled from one of the smoking vessel's 110 openings and the process repeated. As an alternative to sucking the smoke from the vessel 110, the bottle may be re-inserted into the liquid container so that liquid begins to fill the smoke-filled vessel 110 from the bottom opening 114, resulting in the smoke being forced through the top opening 112 and allowing the user to simply inhale the smoke. Optionally, a solid stopper 160 may also be used to close the smoking vessel's 110 openings, allowing the smoke to be trapped for later consumption.
All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claim, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
Claims
1. An apparatus for cooling and collecting smoke, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a smoking vessel for containing smoke, the smoking vessel having at least one top opening for insertion of a bowl and a down-stem, and at least one bottom opening to allow liquid and air to enter and exit.
- b) a bowl to hold and burn a combustible material, the bowl comprising at least one top opening and at least one bottom opening.
- c) a tubular down-stem, the down-stem comprising a hollow elongated shape to be inserted into the smoking vessel with a portion of the tubular down-stem remaining outside of the smoking vessel for insertion of the bowl;
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smoking vessel comprises a total weight sufficient to maintain it submerged in a liquid-filled container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smoking vessel comprises more than one top opening, facilitating consumption of the smoke by several people simultaneously.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bowl and down-stem are incorporated into the same component.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the down-stem comprises at least one protrusion that extends distally, the protrusion facilitating increased heat transfer between the smoke and liquid.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a drilled stopper creates a seal between the down-stem and smoking vessel;
7. A method for cooling and collecting smoke utilizing the apparatus of claim 1, comprising the steps of:
- a) submerging the smoking vessel and down-stem of claim 1 in a liquid-filled container;
- b) inserting the down-stem and bowl into the smoking vessel;
- c) filling the bowl with a combustible material;
- d) igniting the combustible material;
- e) slowly raising the assembled smoking vessel, down-stem and bowl from the container so that as liquid drains from the smoking vessel, air is drawn through the ignited combustible material causing smoke to fill the smoking vessel; and
- f) removing the down-stem and bowl from the smoking vessel.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of inhaling the contained smoke.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of sealing the smoking vessel with solid stoppers for later consumption.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of lowering smoking vessel into the liquid-filled container while inhaling the expelled smoke.
Type: Application
Filed: May 19, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 20, 2014
Inventor: Shahin R. Gransar (Studio City, CA)
Application Number: 13/897,426
International Classification: A24F 1/02 (20060101);