CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/017,579 filed on Apr. 29, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional devices exist for smoking material such as tobacco, medical marijuana or the like. Many of such conventional devices share the same disadvantages, including the manner of storing and filling the bowl of the smoking device with smoking material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide a smoking device wherein the bowl member can be easily filled with smoking material, then smoked or ignited, and then re-filled.
The present invention is a device for smoking an ignited loose smoking material such as tobacco, medical marijuana, or the like. In one embodiment, the device comprises a lower housing comprising a floor area. The lower housing further comprises a receptacle extending upward from the floor area. The lower housing further comprising an outlet port for a person to place his or her mouth upon. The device further comprises a middle member engaged with the lower housing to form an air passage way in communication with the outlet port. The middle member comprises a lower surface and an upper surface. The device further comprises a carrier member comprising an open top portion and an inner portion. The device further comprises a bowl member disposed within the inner portion of the carrier member. The bowl member comprises an open end portion. The device further comprises an upper housing engaged with the lower housing to form a storage area for the smoking material located between the upper housing and the middle member. The upper housing comprises an opening allowing access to the open end portion of the bowl member. The carrier member is rotatably engaged with the receptacle between a loading position where the open end portion of the bowl member is in communication with the storage area whereby the bowl member can be filled with any smoking material in the storage area and a smoking position where the open end portion of the bowl member is in communication with the opening of the upper housing thereby allowing any smoking material in the bowl member to be ignited by a match, lighter or other means and inhaled via the outlet port 22.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description of the invention will be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings filed herewith in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a smoking device according to the present invention shown in a smoking position with smoking material in a storage area.
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the smoking device according to the present invention showing a lower housing of the smoking device comprising an outlet port for inhaling ignited smoking material.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the smoking device.
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a smoking device according to the present invention shown with the upper housing removed from the lower housing exposing the bowl member engaged within a rotatable carrier member, and smoking material disposed upon the middle member.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the smoking device shown in an intermediate position of the loading process with the bowl member and carrier member partially rotated.
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the smoking device in a loading position with the smoking material disposed within a storage area and the bowl member rotated to a position where the open end portion of the bowl member is in communication with the storage area and the bowl member can be filled or loaded with the smoking material contained in the storage area.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the smoking device in a smoking position with the smoking material disposed in the storage area and in the bowl member. The bowl member is rotated to a position where the open end portion of the bowl member is in communication with the opening of the upper housing to allow the smoking material in the bowl member to be ignited by a match, lighter or other means.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the lower housing.
FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the lower housing.
FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the lower housing.
FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the middle member.
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the middle member.
FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of the middle member.
FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the carrier member.
FIG. 15 is a cross section view of the carrier member.
FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the bowl member.
FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the bowl member.
FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the upper housing.
FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the upper housing.
FIG. 20 is a cross-section view of the smoking device in the loading position.
FIG. 21 is a cross-section view of the smoking device in the smoking position.
FIG. 22 is a cross-section view of the smoking device showing the cap covering the bowl member.
FIG. 23 is a cross-section view of the smoking device showing the protrusion of the carrier member flexed to push up the bowl member and remove the cap.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the present invention is a hand held smoking device 10 for smoking loose smoking material 8 such as tobacco, medical marijuana or the like. Smoking device 10 can be stored with smoking material 8 for use at any desired time. In the embodiment shown, smoking device 10 generally comprises a lower housing 12 comprising an outlet port 22 that a person can place his or her mouth over and a centrally located opening 18. Smoking device 10 further comprises a carrier member 38 and a bowl member 52. Bowl member 52 is disposed within carrier member 38. Carrier Member 38 comprises an outer bottom portion 46 extending thru an opening 15 of lower housing 12 and outward therefrom. Smoking device 10 further comprises a middle member 26 engaged with lower housing 12 to form an air passage way 72 (not shown) in communication with outlet port 22. Smoking device 10 further comprises an upper housing 60 comprising an opening 68. Engagement of upper housing 60 with lower housing 12 forms a storage area 74 for smoking material 8 located between middle member 26 and upper housing 60. As will be described more fully herein, bowl member 52 can be rotated by a person's finger between a loading position where bowl member 52 is in communication with storage area 74 whereby bowl member 52 can be filled with smoking material 8 contained within storage area 74 (FIGS. 6 and 20) and a smoking position where bowl member 52 is in communication with opening 68 of upper housing 60 thereby allowing smoking material 8 contained within bowl member 52 to be ignited by a match, lighter or other means and inhaled via outlet port 22 (FIGS. 1, 7, and 21). In this view, smoking device 10 is shown without a cap 70 (to be described) that can be removably engaged with bowl member 52.
Referring to FIG. 3, where an exploded view of smoking device 10 is shown. As described heretofore, smoking device 10 generally comprises lower housing 12, middle member 26, carrier member 38, bowl member 48, and upper housing 52 that removably engages with lower housing 12. As will be described more fully herein, carrier member 38 is freely rotatable within a receptacle 16 (to be described) of lower housing 12 between the loading and storage positions. As will also be described more fully herein, engagement of upper housing 60 with lower housing 12 forms storage area 74 located or occupying the space between middle member 26 and upper housing 60 (FIGS. 1, 20, and 21). As will also be further described, engagement of middle member 26 with lower housing 12 forms an air passage way 72 (FIGS. 20 and 21) located or occupying the space between a floor area 14 (to be described) of lower housing 12 and a bottom surface 18 (to be described) of middle member 26. Upper housing 60 comprises an opening 68 allowing access to an open end portion 54 of bowl member 52 in the smoking position (FIG. 1) so that any smoking material 8 in bowl member 52 may be ignited. Smoking device 10 further comprises a cap 70 removably engaged with open end portion 54 of bowl member 52. Smoking device 10 further comprises a plug 76 that may be inserted into outlet port 22 when the smoking device is not in use to reduce any odor. During use, plug 76 may be stored in a plug cavity 21 (not shown) of lower housing 12 (shown in FIGS. 20 and 21). Also shown is cap 70 that may be removably engaged with bowl member 52.
Referring to FIGS. 4-7, where smoking device 10 is shown in several positions of the loading process. FIG. 4 shows smoking device 10 with upper housing 60 removed from lower housing 12 exposing bowl member 52 engaged within carrier member 38 that is rotatably engaged within receptacle 16 (not shown), and smoking material 8 disposed upon middle member 26. FIG. 5 shows smoking device 10 in an intermediate position of the loading process with carrier member 38 and bowl member 52 partially rotated. FIG. 6 shows the smoking device 10 in a loading position with carrier member 38 and bowl member 52 rotated to a position where bowl member 52 is in communication with storage area 74 and bowl member 52 can be filled or loaded with smoking material 8 disposed in storage area 74. FIG. 7 shows the smoking device 10 is a smoking position with the smoking material 8 disposed in storage area 74 and in bowl member 52. Carrier member 38 and bowl member 52 are rotated to a position where open end portion 54 of bowl member 52 is in communication with and faces opening 68 of upper housing 60 to allow smoking material 8 in bowl member 52 to be ignited by a match, lighter or other means.
Referring to FIGS. 8-10, where perspective views and a cross section view of lower housing 12 are shown. In the embodiment shown, lower housing 12 generally comprises an outside surface 19, a floor area 14, and a centrally located opening 15 extending thru floor area 14. Lower housing 12 further comprises a receptacle 16 extending upward from floor area 14. In the embodiment shown, receptacle 16 comprises an annular shaped sidewall 17 surrounding opening 15. Sidewall 17 comprises a plurality of air openings 20 in fluid communication with a plurality of air openings 48 (to be described) of carrier member 38 Sidewall 17 further comprises a top surface 13 that engages with an annular inner lip portion (to be described) of middle member 26. In the embodiment shown, each air opening 20 is in the shape of a slot. Receptacle 16 further comprises a circular shaped inner portion 18 that allows a portion of carrier member 52 to freely rotate therein. As discussed before, lower housing 12 comprises outlet port 22 that allows a person to inhale ignited smoking material 8 by placing his or her mouth over outlet port 22. Lower housing 12 further comprises an external threaded portion 23 for engaging with internal threaded portion 66 (to be described) of upper housing 60. In the embodiment shown, external thread portion 23 comprises a cylindrical shaped wall 24 and threads 25. Lower housing 12 further comprises a plug cavity 21 for receiving plug 76. When smoking device 10 is being used, plug 76 may be inserted into plug cavity 21 (shown in FIGS. 20 and 21). In the embodiment shown, lower housing 12 is generally concave and circular shaped. Lower housing 12 may take a variety of other shapes. Lower housing 12 may be made from metal or other materials and may be fabricated by conventional processes.
Referring to FIGS. 11-13, where perspective views and a cross-section view of middle member 26 are shown. In the embodiment shown, middle member 26 comprises a bottom surface 28 and an upper surface 30. Middle member 26 further comprises a central opening 34. Middle member 26 further comprises an annular inner lip portion 35 surrounding opening 34 that removably engages with the top surface 13 of sidewall 17 of receptacle 16 of lower housing 12 to form an air passage way 72 located or occupying the open space between floor area 14 of lower housing 12 and bottom surface 28 of middle member 26 (FIGS. 20 and 21). Air passage way 72 is in communication with outlet port 22 In the smoking position, air passage way 72 is in communication with air openings 20 of receptacle 16 thereby providing communication between air openings 20 of receptacle 20 and outlet port 22. In the embodiment shown, air passage way 72 occupies the full open space of between floor area 14 of lower housing 12 and bottom surface 28 of middle member 26 (FIGS. 20 and 21) that is basically an annular shaped open space. Although not shown, air passage way 72 could occupy only a portion or section of the open space between floor area 14 of lower housing 12 and bottom surface 28 of middle member 26 perhaps by having dividing members. Middle member 26 further comprises an annular sidewall 32 extending upward from upper surface 30 to confine any smoking material 9 placed upon upper surface 30. Middle member 26 may be made from plastic or metal and may be fabricated by conventional processes.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, where perspective views of carrier member 38 are shown. In the embodiment shown, carrier member 38 comprises a hollow inner portion 40 and an open top portion 42. Carrier member 38 further comprises an inner bottom portion 44 and an outer bottom portion 46. Carrier member 38 further comprises a plurality of air openings 48 to allow smoke to pass to air passage way 22. In the embodiment shown, each air opening 48 is circular shaped. In other embodiments, air openings 48 may be of a variety of shapes. Carrier member 38 further comprises a flange portion 43 that removably engages with a flange portion 55 (to be described) of bowl member 52. Carrier member 38 is rotatably engaged with circular shaped inner portion 18 of receptacle 16, including between the loading position and the smoking position. In the embodiment shown, carrier member 38 is circular or ball shaped and corresponds to the shape of circular shaped inner portion 18 of receptacle 16 so that it may freely rotate therein. Carrier member 38 further comprises a protrusion member 50 extending upward from inner bottom portion 44. As will be described more fully herein, depression of outer bottom portion 46 of carrier member 38 causes protrusion member 50 to be deflected or move upward to push bowl member 52 upward thereby pushing cap 70 out of engagement with bowl member 52. Carrier member 38 may be made from silicone rubber or many other materials, and may be fabricated by conventional processes.
Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, where perspective views of bowl member 52 are shown. In the embodiment shown, bowl member 52 comprises a pit 53 to retain smoking material 8 (not shown) to be ignited and open end portion 54. In the embodiment shown, bowl member 52 comprises an annular sidewall wall 51 and bottom portion 56 forming pit 53. Bowl member 52 further comprises a flange portion 55 that is removably engaged with flange portion 43 of carrier member 38. Bowl member 52 further comprises a bottom portion 56. Bowl member 52 further comprises an opening or hole 58 disposed in bottom portion 56 to allow ignited smoke to pass into inner portion 40 of carrier member 38. In the embodiment shown, opening 58 is circular. In other embodiments opening 58 may take other shapes or comprise multiple openings. Bowl member 52 may be made from glass, metal or any other non-combustible material, and fabricated by conventional processes.
Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, where perspective view of upper housing 60 are shown. In the embodiment shown, upper housing 60 comprises a top surface 62 and a bottom surface 64. Upper housing 60 further comprises an internal threaded portion 66 that is removably engaged with external threaded portion 23 of lower housing 12 or by other conventional means such as screws. In the embodiment shown, internal thread portion comprises threads 67 that engage with threads 25 of external thread portion 23 of lowering housing 12. Engagement of upper housing 60 with lower housing 12 forms storage area 74 located or occupying the full open space between middle member 26 and upper housing 60 (FIGS. 1, 20 and 21). In other embodiments, storage area 74 may occupy only a portion of the open space between middle member 26 and upper housing 60. Upper housing 60 further comprises an opening 68 in communication with open end portion 54 of bowl member 52 in the smoking position to allow smoking material 8 to be ignited by a match, lighter or other means (FIGS. 1, 7, and 21). Upper housing 60 may be made from metal or other materials and fabricated by conventional processes.
Referring to FIG. 20, a cross-section view shows smoking device 10 in the loading position. Carrier member 38 and bowl member 52 are rotated such that open end portion 54 of bowl member 52 is in communication with storage area 74. In this position, bowl member 52 may be filled or loaded with smoking material 8 stored in storage area 74 by a tilt of smoking device 10. Also shown is air passage way 72. Also shown is plug 76 inserted into plug cavity 21.
Referring to FIG. 21, where a cross-section view of smoking device 10 is shown in the smoking position. Carrier member 38 and bowl member 52 are rotated such that open end portion 54 of bowl member 52 faces or is in communication with opening 68 of upper housing 60 so that smoking material 8 contained in bowl member 52 may be accessed for igniting by a match, lighter or other means. In the smoking position, each air opening 48 of carrier member 38 is in communication with an air opening 20 of receptacle 16 of lower housing 12 so that ignited smoke passed to inner portion 40 of carrier member 38 can pass thru air openings 48 of carrier member 38 and air openings 20 of receptacle 16 to passage way 72 that leads to and is communication with outlet port 22 where ignited smoking material 8 may be inhaled. Also shown is plug 76 exploded from plug cavity 21. FIG. 19 shows plug 76 inserted into plug cavity 21 for storage. During non use of smoking device 10, plug 76 may be inserted into outlet port 22 to reduce any odors. Plug 76 may be made from plastic or any other material and fabricated by conventional processes.
Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, where a cross-section view of smoking device 10 is shown in the smoking position. In FIG. 21, the cap 70 is shown engaged with the open end portion 54 of bowl member 52 and protrusion member 50 of carrier member 38 is not flexed. In FIG. 22, outer bottom portion 46 and protrusion member 50 of carrier member 38 are shown flexed whereby protrusion member 50 is moved upward and pushes bowl member 35 upward to remove cap 70. In the embodiment shown, cap 70 is made of metal and fabricated from conventional processes.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the sprit and scope of the claimed invention.
