Smoking Apparatus With Embedded Glass Mouth Tip

Abstract

A smoking apparatus with a conical shaped, tubular wrapper and a mouth tip is provided. The conical shaped, tubular wrapper is a hollow conical tube comprising a top end and a bottom end. The mouth tip is coaxially disposed at the bottom end of the tubular wrapper. The mouth tip is a conical tube having an internal channel that extends along a single axis from a first end of the mouth tip to a second end opposite to the first end of the mouth piece. A diameter of the second end of the mouth tip is less than a diameter of the top end of the tubular wrapper. The second end of the mouth tip is configured to be inserted into the tubular wrapper through the top end of the tubular wrapper for creating a coaxial connection between the tubular wrapper and the mouth tip.

Description

BACKGROUND

A segment of smokers enjoy smoking hand rolled cigarettes, hand rolled cigars, and other hand rolled smokable products. These smokers prefer the smell and taste of hand rolled cigarettes and hand rolled cigars to machine prefabricated and prepackaged cigarettes and cigars commercially sold in stores. Typically, these smokers purchase their preferred brand of smoking material such as crushed tobacco and hand roll the smoking material in a wrapping material, for example, rolling paper, tobacco leaves, cigar wrapping material, etc. to make a custom-made cigarette, cigar, etc. As used herein, custom-made cigarettes, hand rolled cigarettes, hand rolled cigars, etc., will be referred to as a smoking apparatus. Also, as used herein, the material within the smoking apparatus smoked by a smoker, for example, tobacco, herbal smoking blends, etc., will be referred to as a smoking material.

When a user smokes from a smoking apparatus, smoking material is often drawn into a smoker's mouth. Furthermore, a smoking apparatus made from rolled wrapping material such as rolling paper, tobacco leaves, etc. does not permit complete usage of the smoking material disposed within the smoking apparatus because the smoking apparatus can be smoked only until the lit end of the smoking apparatus is in proximity to the smoker's fingers or lips to prevent burn or other injury to the smoker's fingers or lips.

Pre-rolled cone rolling paper is a type of wrapping material used for constructing a smoking apparatus by inserting a smoking material into the pre-rolled cone rolling paper. However, pre-rolled cone rolling papers are not durable. After limited use, cardboard or paper crutches used to construct the complete pre-rolled cone rolling paper becomes soggy and damp from the absorption of saliva of a smoker into the cardboard or paper crutches. The dampness creates a bacteria laden soggy mouth tip which may not fully function as intended. Moreover, it is inconvenient for the smokers to share the smoking apparatus made of pre-rolled cone rolling papers with another smoker since a smoker does not like to inhale from a soggy mouth tip of the smoking apparatus of another smoker. Furthermore, a smoker tends to become frustrated in attempting to hold the smoking apparatus without getting their fingers wet, and/or without compromising the structural integrity of the smoking apparatus. Furthermore, when a paper joint of the smoking apparatus made of pre-rolled cone rolling paper is held for a long time, the paper joint gets pinched resulting in restricted airflow through the smoking apparatus. A paper joint of the smoking apparatus made of pre-rolled cone rolling paper is a joint created when one side of the pre-rolled cone rolling paper overlaps another side of the pre-rolled cone rolling paper.

Mouth tips are devices that are attached to the end of a smoking apparatus proximal to the mouth. Mouth tips available in the market for a smoking apparatus provide protection from burns to the mouth of the smokers when a user smokes a smoking apparatus. However, most mouth tips are made from paper crutches or cardboard and are susceptible to becoming wet and soggy with use. Thus, mouth tips made from paper crutches or cardboard fail to provide the desired support to the smoker to hold the smoking apparatus while smoking. Furthermore, soggy mouth tips collect bacteria when smokers smoke the smoking article and the bacteria that accumulate on the mouth tip may be transmitted to another smoker when the mouth tip of the smoking apparatus is used by the other smoker for smoking.

Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a smoking apparatus that precludes smoking material contained in the smoking apparatus from being drawn from the smoking apparatus into a smoker's mouth. There also exists a need to allow the smoker to smoke the entire smoking material in the smoking apparatus and not discard the smoking apparatus remaining when the lit end of the smoking apparatus is in proximity to the smoker's fingers or lips. There also exists a need for eliminating a moist and/or soggy mouth tip of a smoking apparatus. Furthermore, there exists a need for maintaining the hygienic integrity of the smoking apparatus when a smoker shares the smoking apparatus with another smoker. Furthermore, there exists a need for a mouth tip that does not become soggy with usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The smoking apparatus disclosed herein addresses the above recited need for a smoking apparatus that precludes smoking material contained in a smoking apparatus from being drawn from the smoking apparatus into a smoker's mouth when a user is smoking from the smoking apparatus. The smoking apparatus comprises a conical shaped, tubular wrapper and a mouth tip. The conical shaped, tubular wrapper is a hollow conical shaped structure comprising a top end and a bottom end. The mouth tip is coaxially disposed at the bottom end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper. The mouth tip comprises a conical shaped cylindrical structure having an internal channel that extends along a single axis from a first end of the mouth tip to a second end opposite to the first end of the mouth tip. A diameter of the first end of the mouth tip is greater than a diameter of the bottom end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper. A diameter of the second end of the mouth tip is less than a diameter of the top end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper. The second end of the mouth tip is configured to be inserted into the conical shaped, tubular wrapper through the top end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper for creating a coaxial connection between the conical shaped, tubular wrapper and the mouth tip. In an embodiment, the mouth tip is made from a pre-rolled tube of glass. The pre-rolled tube of glass is softened using heat and/or a flame and then fed into a metal casting mold to compress the pre-rolled tube of glass into the desired conical shaped, cylindrical mouth tip.

The hollow, conical shaped, tubular wrapper allows multiple shredded pieces of smoking material to be filled in the wrapper. The smoking material comprises one or more of a medicinal smoking material, tobacco, nicotine, and herbal smoking blends. The conical shaped, tubular wrapper filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material is closed at a top end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper to form a smoking apparatus end, with the mouth tip located at the opposite end of the smoking apparatus. In an embodiment, the mouth tip comprises two pre-rolled tubes of glass to provide a stable cylindrical support to the smoker to hold the smoking apparatus while smoking. In this embodiment, a cross-sectional diameter of the first pre-rolled tube of glass is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the second pre-rolled tube of glass. The second pre-rolled tube of glass is inserted into the first pre-rolled tube of glass and a branding label is inserted between the two pre-rolled tubes of glass. The ends of the first pre-rolled tube of glass and the second pre-rolled tube of glass are softened using heat and/or flame and fused together.

The mouth tip of the smoking apparatus disclosed herein provides a stable cylindrical support to hold the smoking apparatus while smoking, unlike conventional mouth tips made from paper crutches or cardboard that becomes soggy with usage. Furthermore, the mouth tip acts as a filter to minimize the passage of the smoking material into a smoker's mouth. Also, the mouth tip allows the smoker to consume the entire smoking material during smoking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and components disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a component referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or component shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a smoking apparatus comprising a conical shaped, tubular wrapper and a mouth tip.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper of the smoking apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the mouth tip of the smoking apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of the smoking apparatus in which a first end of the mouth tip is affixed to a bottom end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper.

FIG. 5 illustrates construction of an embodiment of the mouth tip comprising at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass with a branding label inserted between the two pre-rolled tubes of glass.

FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment of the mouth tip comprising at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass with a branding label inserted between the two pre-rolled tubes of glass.

FIG. 6B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the mouth tip comprising at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass, taken along line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top perspective view of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper being filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material.

FIG. 8 illustrates a view of the smoking apparatus in which the conical shaped, tubular wrapper filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material is closed at the top end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the smoking apparatus taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional, top view of the smoking apparatus taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 illustrates a view of the smoking apparatus comprising a mouth tip having at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass in which the conical shaped, tubular wrapper filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material is closed at the top end of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper.

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the smoking apparatus taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the mouth tip with a generally rectangular shape second end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a smoking apparatus 100 comprising a conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 and a mouth tip 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 of the smoking apparatus. The conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is a hollow, conical shaped, structure comprising a top end 101a and a bottom end 101b. The conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 extends axially from the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 to the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. The conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is configured to contain a smoking material 103. The diameter of the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is greater than the diameter of the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 for allowing a smoker to fill the smoking material 103 into the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 through the top end 101a.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the mouth tip 102 of the smoking apparatus 100. The mouth tip 102 is a conical shaped cylindrical structure having an internal channel 902, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 9. The internal channel 902 extends along a single axis from a first end 102a of the mouth tip 102 to a second end 102b opposite to the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102. The diameter of the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102 is greater than the diameter of the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. The diameter of the second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 is less than the diameter of the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. The first end 102a of the mouth tip 102 is coaxially disposed at the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 4-8. In an embodiment, the mouth tip 102 is made from a pre-rolled tube of glass. The pre-rolled tube of glass is softened using heat and/or a flame and then fed into a metal casting mold to compress the pre-rolled tube of glass into the desired conical shaped, cylindrical mouth tip 102.

In an embodiment, the mouth tip 102 is configured to be slideably inserted into the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1, for creating a coaxial connection between the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 and the mouth tip 102. The second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 is inserted into the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 from the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. The mouth tip 102 slides into the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 and the second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 fixedly attaches to the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101.

The conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 comprises a sheet of wrapping material rolled into a hollow conical shaped, cylindrical structure. In an embodiment, a sheet of wrapping material is cut into a shape, for example, a trapezoidal shape, etc., and rolled into the hollow conical shaped, structure of the tubular wrapper 101 so that the diameter of the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is greater than the diameter of the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. In another embodiment, pre-cut sheets of wrapping material in trapezoidal shape are readily available. A smoker rolls the pre-cut sheets of wrapping material into the hollow conical shaped, structure of the tubular wrapper 101. In another embodiment, the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is readily available in a pre-rolled hollow, conical shaped, cylindrical structure. The sheet of wrapping material is made from a material comprising one or more of paper, hemp, rice, and tobacco.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of the smoking apparatus 100 in which the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102 is affixed to a bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. The mouth tip 102 is affixed at the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 to provide a stable cylindrical support to the smoker to hold the smoking apparatus 100.

FIG. 5 illustrates construction of an embodiment of the mouth tip 102 comprising at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass 502 and 503 with a branding label 501 inserted between the two pre-rolled tubes of glass 502 and 503. In this embodiment, the mouth tip 102 comprises a first pre-rolled tube of glass 502 and a second pre-rolled tube of glass 503 to provide a stable cylindrical support to the smoking apparatus 100. The first pre-rolled tube of glass 502 and the second pre-rolled tube of glass 503 are of same length. Furthermore, a cross-sectional diameter of the first pre-rolled tube of glass 502 is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the second pre-rolled tube of glass 503. A branding label 401 is inserted between the two pre-rolled tubes of glass. A second end 503b of the second pre-rolled tube of glass 503 is inserted into a first end 502a of the first pre-rolled tube of glass 502. The branding label 501 is positioned generally in the middle of the first pre-rolled tube of glass 502. The first end 502a of the first pre-rolled tube of glass 502 and a first end 503a of the second pre-rolled tube of glass 503 are softened using heat and/or flame and fused together and the branding label 501 is retained between the two pre-rolled tubes of glass 502 and 503. Similarly, a second end 502b of the first pre-rolled tube of glass 502 and the second end 503b of the second pre-rolled tube of glass 503 are softened using heat and/or flame and fused together to create the mouth tip 102 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the mouth tip 102 comprising at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass 502 and 503, taken along line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A. The mouth tip 102 comprising a plurality of pre-rolled tubes of glass is antibacterial and antimicrobial. The second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 contacts the mouth of a smoker and is used by the smoker to inhale the smoke from the combusting smoking material 103 contained in the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 12, the cross-section of the internal channel 902 of the mouth tip 102 is conical. The cross-section of the internal channel 902 of the mouth tip 102 tapers from the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102 towards the second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 to terminate in opening 903. The internal tapered channel 902 precludes shredded smoking material 103 from being drawn from the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 into a smoker's mouth, as the cross-section of the opening 903 is smaller than the size of the shredded smoking material 103 contained in the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. Therefore, the opening 903 allows passage of smoke from the combusting smoking material 103 contained in the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 into the smoker's mouth, but does not allow shredded smoking material 103 from being inhaled into the smoker's mouth.

In an embodiment, the size of the shredded smoking material 103 used in the smoking apparatus, for example, in a range of about 1.8 mm to about 3.5 mm. In an embodiment, the size of the cross-section of the opening 903 is in a range of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm to preclude passage of the shredded smoking material 103 into the smoker's mouth. If the size of the shredded smoking material 301 is less than 1.8 mm, the smoker may smoke with a filter 901 attached to the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102, as illustrated in FIG. 9, to preclude the smoking material 103 from being drawn from the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101, through the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102, into a smoker's mouth.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top perspective view of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 being filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material 103. The smoking material 103 comprises medicinal smoking material, tobacco, herbal smoking blends, etc. In an embodiment, the smoking material 103 comprises any authorized smoking blend. The hollow conical shaped, cylindrical structure of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 allows ease of filling of the smoking material 103 in the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 from the open, top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. After the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is filled with the smoking material 103, the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 is manually closed to preclude the smoking material 103 from spilling out of the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 when the smoking apparatus 100 is oriented in different directions.

FIG. 8 illustrates a view of a smoking apparatus 100 in which the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material 103 is closed at the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 to form a cigar end 101c.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the smoking apparatus 100 taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional, top view of the smoking apparatus 100 taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 illustrates a view of the smoking apparatus 100 comprising a mouth tip 102 having at least two pre-rolled tubes of glass 502 and 503 in which the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101 filled with multiple shredded pieces of smoking material 103 is closed at the top end 101a of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the smoking apparatus 100 taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

In an embodiment, a filter 901 is attached to the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102 to preclude the smoking material 103 from being drawn from the bottom end 101b of the conical shaped, tubular wrapper 101, through the first end 102a of the mouth tip 102, into a smoker's mouth. The filter 901 is made from materials used for cigarette filters, for example, cellulose acetate, paper, viscose, bonded carbon, or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the mouth tip 102 of the smoking apparatus 100 provides a stable cylindrical support to hold the smoking apparatus 100 in a robust configuration throughout the entire smoking experience, unlike the conventional mouth tips made from paper or cardboard that becomes soggy with use. The mouth tip 102 maintains the structural integrity of the smoking apparatus 100, irrespective of the usage of the smoking apparatus 100. Furthermore, the internal channel 902 extending from the first end 102a to the second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 precludes the shredded smoking material 103 from being drawn from the tubular wrapper 101 into a smoker's mouth. Furthermore, the mouth tip 102 also allows the smoker to consume the entire smoking material 103 from the first to the last drag. The anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties of the mouth tip 102 protect the smoker from being exposed to bacteria when the smoker share the custom-made cigarettes.

The mouth tip 102, made of pre-rolled tubes of glass is resistant to water, and moisture in the mouth tip 102 area, and accordingly is not contaminated by the saliva of the smokers even after repeated use, thereby providing a bacteria free smoking experience to the smoker.

In an embodiment, the mouth tip 102 is made from other non-combustible materials apart from glass. For example, the mouth tip 102 is made of sintered metal powder, metal shavings, etc., that are melted and cast into the shape of the mouth tip 102. Examples of other non-combustible material include stone, quartz, etc. In another embodiment, the mouth tip 102 is made from a high-performance thermoplastic, for example, high-performance polyamide, sulfone polymer, polyphenylene sulfide resin, liquid crystal polymer, etc. High-performance thermoplastics are specialized polymers designed to withstand long-term service temperatures of at least 150° C.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the mouth tip 102 with a generally rectangular shape second end 102b. An opening 131 at the second end 102b of the mouth tip 102 which interfaces with the mouth of the smoker is generally rectangular in shape with a width of about 5 mm to about 10 mm, and a height of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm to preclude the shredded pieces of the smoking material 103 from being drawn into the mouth of the smoker.

The foregoing examples have been provided merely for explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the smoking apparatus 100 disclosed herein. While the smoking apparatus 100 have been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Furthermore, although the smoking apparatus 100 have been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the smoking apparatus 100 are not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the smoking apparatus 100 extend to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, that the smoking apparatus 100 disclosed herein are capable of modifications and other embodiments may be effected and changes may be made thereto, without departing from the scope and spirit of the smoking apparatus 100 disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A smoking apparatus comprising:

a conical shaped, tubular wrapper, wherein said conical shaped, tubular wrapper is a hollow, conical shaped structure comprising a top end and a bottom end; and

a mouth tip coaxially disposed at said bottom end of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper, wherein said mouth tip is a conical shaped cylindrical structure, having an internal channel that extends along a single axis from a first end of said mouth tip to a second end opposite to said first end of said mouth tip, wherein a diameter of said first end of said mouth tip is greater than a diameter of said bottom end of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper.

2. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of said second end of said mouth tip is less than a diameter of said top end of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper, and wherein said second end of said mouth tip is configured to be inserted into said conical shaped, tubular wrapper through said top end of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper for creating a coaxial connection between said conical shaped, tubular wrapper and said mouth tip.

3. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of said internal channel of said mouth tip is a conical cross-section, wherein said cross-section of said internal channel of said mouth tip tapers from said first end of said mouth tip towards said second end of said mouth tip, and wherein said internal channel tapering from said first end of said mouth tip towards said second end of said mouth tip precludes smoking material from being drawn from the conical shaped, tubular wrapper into a smokers mouth.

4. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conical shaped, tubular wrapper comprises a sheet of wrapping material rolled in a shape of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper, and wherein said sheet of wrapping material is made from one of paper, hemp, rice, and tobacco.

5. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top end of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper is configured to receive smoking material comprising one or more of a medicinal smoking material, tobacco, nicotine, and herbal smoking blends, and wherein said top end of said conical shaped, tubular wrapper is further configured to be closed.

6. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mouth tip is made from one or more pre-rolled tubes of glass.

7. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mouth tip comprises a plurality of pre-rolled tubes of glass, and wherein said mouth tip further comprises a branding label inserted between two of said plurality of pre-rolled tubes of glass.