RECREATIONAL INHALATION DEVICE

Abstract

A recreational inhalation device for a user to inhale smoke and/or vapour. The recreational inhalation device comprises a device body having an inlet for receiving smoke and/or vapour, an outlet for emitting smoke and/or vapour to the user. A passage extends between the inlet and the outlet for conveying smoke and/or vapour from the inlet to the outlet. A plurality of baffles at or adjacent to the passage forms a tortuous pathway between the inlet and outlet.

Description

The present invention relates to a recreational inhalation device for a user to inhale smoke and/or vapour.

Recreational inhalation devices, such as smoking pipes, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other pipes, are known and are used for combusting or vaporising combustible or vaporisable material to release smoke, vapour and/or aerosols. The smoke or vapour may then be inhaled by the user via an outlet of the device. The smoke or vapour is commonly enjoyed recreationally, although recreational inhalation devices may also be used to inhale smoke or vapour for medicinal effect.

Conventional recreational inhalation devices, in particular smoking pipes, can result in users inhaling high temperature smoke and/or vapour as a result of the heat energy released via combustion or the heat energy required for vaporisation. High temperature smoke or vapour can irritate the user, for example it may irritate a throat of the user, and/or it may result in bouts of coughing. Such irritation and coughing may be undesirable and/or embarrassing to the user.

Additionally, undesirable particulate by-products of the combustion and/or vaporisation process may also typically be inhaled, which can also cause irritation, coughing or adverse health effects.

Furthermore, such conventional recreational inhalation devices may be time-consuming and/or problematic to clean. This can result in the recreational inhalation device being infrequently cleaned, and therefore a composition of the smoke and/or vapour can be affected by residue on the inside of the recreational inhalation device. This may produce a poor user-experience.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided A recreational inhalation device for a user to inhale smoke and/or vapour, the recreational inhalation device comprising: a device body having an inlet for receiving smoke and/or vapour, an outlet for emitting smoke and/or vapour to the user, a passage between the inlet and the outlet for conveying smoke and/or vapour from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of baffles at or adjacent to the passage for forming a tortuous pathway in three mutually perpendicular directions between the inlet and outlet.

A baffle may here be considered to be an obstruction to the flow of fluid. The baffle may therefore cause a flow of fluid to be disrupted and/or diverted off course from a pathway between the source and the destination of the fluid. The baffles at or adjacent to the passage diverts and/or disrupts a flow of smoke and/or vapour between the inlet and the outlet. This diversion and/or disruption increases a time spent by the smoke and/or vapour within the passage and therefore at or adjacent to the device body which in turn increases an amount of heat able to be transferred from the smoke and/or vapour to the device body which enables to smoke and/or vapour to be cooled. Cooler smoke and/or vapour improves a user experience. Additionally, the tortuous pathway can decrease a speed of the smoke and/or vapour which can result in entrained impurities within the smoke, such as moisture or particulate matter, being detrained and/or precipitating from the smoke. This therefore increases a purity of the smoke. The baffles may direct the smoke in three mutually perpendicular directions away from the outlet.

Preferably, said plurality of baffles includes an inlet baffle at or adjacent to the inlet which forms a barrier to direct flow of smoke and/or vapour from the inlet to the outlet. Diverting smoke or vapour away from the inlet increases a total length of the pathway between the inlet and the outlet, which in turn increases a length of time the smoke or vapour spends in the passage. This cools the smoke or vapour more effectively and/or increases its purity. Additionally, the inlet baffle allows for the inlet to positioned away from an end of the passage, whilst still forcing the smoke to travel the full length of the passage. It will be appreciated that the baffle may not be required to be positioned at the inlet to direct a flow of smoke away from the outlet.

Advantageously, said plurality of baffles includes a plurality of passage baffles at or adjacent to the passage for disrupting a flow of smoke and/or vapour through the passage. Passage baffles disrupt the flow of smoke and/or vapour by providing at least partial barriers to the through passage or smoke. This may, for example, prevent laminar flow and thereby decreasing the speed of the smoke and/or vapour and/or increasing a length of time the smoke and/or vapour spends in the passage. Additionally, the passage baffles may increase a surface area of a passage wall which increases an amount of heat which is able to be transferred therethrough.

Preferably, each passage baffle is a curvately convex protrusion.

In a preferable embodiment, the device body may have a plurality of recesses at or adjacent to the passage. Each recess may in use cause a vortex effect as the smoke and/or vapour flows over, across or past it. This may disrupt a flow of smoke and/or vapour, as well as encouraging heat transfer to the device body.

The device body may have first and second body portions at or adjacent to opposing sides of the passage, the first body portion having at least one of said plurality of baffles and the second body portion having at least one recess. Preferably, the or each passage baffle of the first body portion may be aligned with the or each recess of the second body portion so that said tortuous pathway at least in part extends in a direction towards the first body portion and at least in part extends in a direction towards the second body portion. An undulating pathway increases the length of the pathway and therefore assists with cooling the smoke and/or vapour.

Optionally, a peak distal to the first body portion of the or each at least one baffle of the first body portion may extend at least to an opening of the or each recess of the second body portion. The baffle extending to the opening provides a barrier across a depth of the passage.

Preferably, the baffle may be configured to extend inside of the recess. For example, the baffle may extend through the opening of the recess by between 0.01 mm and 1 mm, in particular by 0.1 mm.

Alternatively, the peak may extend to the opening of the or each recess of the second body portion. Extending to the opening, but not beyond, provides a barrier to direct flow of smoke whilst still providing a wide route beneath the baffle, through the recess, to prevent or limit blockages from being formed.

Preferably, each baffle and/or each recess may be laterally and/or longitudinally aligned with adjacent baffles and/or recesses. Laterally and longitudinally aligned formations may be more convenient to manufacture and/or may have beneficial flow characteristics.

Beneficially, the baffles may be integrally formed with the device body. Integrally formed baffles provide better heat transfer between the baffles and the passage by removing boundaries or airgaps therebetween created during attachment.

Advantageously, the device body may taper distally in a direction away from the passage for promoting heat transfer away from the passage to the environment via the device body. The tapering body effectively acts as cooling fins. This tapering increases an external surface area of the device body for a given volume, which therefore increase a rate of heat transfer away from the body across the external surface.

Beneficially, the device body may taper in a plurality of directions away from the passage. Tapering in a plurality of directions increases the amount of heat able to be transferred.

Optionally, the recreational inhalation device may further comprise a flow guide at or adjacent to the inlet, the flow guide having at least one fan blade for increasing a flow-rate of smoke, vapour and/or air received through the inlet. Increasing said flow-rate ensures that more of the smoke or vapour which is emitted is captured. Additionally or alternatively, the fan blades may cause a vortex effect which may promote mixing of smoke or vapour with air. This may provide a more uniform smoke and/or vapour to be provided to the user.

In a preferable embodiment, the first and second body portions may be detachably attachable to each other. This can allow for the inside of the passage to be more easily accessed and therefore cleaned, for example, without the use of cleaning pipes.

Additionally, the first and second body portions may be detachably attachable via at least one magnetic member on each of the first and second body portions. Magnetic attachment provides an attachment means which is easy to use, in particular it is easy for those with limited motor control to use, such as those with arthritis.

Preferably, the passage may have an at least in part tapering lateral extent from the inlet to the outlet for funnelling smoke, vapour and/or air towards the outlet. A tapering lateral also allows for a wider passage than that at the outlet. This therefore allows for a relatively small outlet to be provided, through which it may be convenient to inhale.

Advantageously, the passage may include an outlet chamber at or adjacent to the outlet, the outlet chamber having a greater lateral extent than an adjacent portion of a shaft portion for decelerating smoke, vapour and/or air before reaching the outlet. Decelerating smoke or vapour before reaching the outlet may allow for a more gentle transfer of smoke or vapour to the user's mouth, and/or a reduced temperature at the user's mouth.

Beneficially, the passage may include an inlet chamber at or adjacent to the inlet, the inlet chamber having a greater lateral extent than a shaft portion of the passage for collecting and promoting mixing of in use smoke, vapour and/or air. This may provide a smoke or vapour-air mixture with preferably ratios of smoke or vapour to air.

Optionally, the body at or adjacent to the inlet chamber may taper distally so as to form a ridge which extends at least in part around the inlet. A taper surrounding the inlet increases a cooling effect on the inlet chamber, which is beneficially as this is where smoke or vapour may be at the highest temperature.

Additionally, said ridge may at least in part defines a source holder which is fluidly communicable with the fluid pathway, the source holder being for holding a source of smoke and/or vapour.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a recreational-inhalation-device part for forming a recreational inhalation device, the recreational-inhalation-device part comprising: a device-body part for forming a passage between an inlet and an outlet of the recreational inhalation device together with an in-use further device-body part, said device-body part having a plurality of baffles for positioning at the passage to form a tortuous pathway between the inlet and outlet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a recreational inhalation device for a user to inhale smoke and/or vapour, the recreational inhalation device comprising: a device body having an inlet for receiving smoke and/or vapour, an outlet for emitting smoke and/or vapour to the user, a passage between the inlet and the outlet for conveying smoke and/or vapour from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of baffles at or adjacent to the passage for forming a tortuous pathway between the inlet and outlet. In this case, the tortuous pathway may extend in only one direction, two directions, three directions or more than three directions. Two or more of the directions may be mutually perpendicular or at other angles, as necessity dictates. Furthermore, the tortuous pathway may extend within two or more mutually perpendicular planes.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a recreational inhalation device in accordance with an embodiment of a first aspect of the invention, including a recreational-inhalation-device part according to a second aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side cut-away view of the recreational inhalation device of FIG. 1 showing a passage from the inlet to the outlet;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of circle A of FIG. 2, with a portion of a tortuous pathway indicated by dashed line B;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a first body portion or recreational-inhalation-device part of the recreational inhalation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a second body portion of the recreational inhalation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the recreational inhalation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a recreational inhalation device according to the first aspect of the invention, in a disassembled condition; and

FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of a first body portion or recreational-inhalation-device part according to a second aspect of the invention of the recreational inhalation device of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a recreational inhalation device 10 having a device body 12. Whilst the recreational inhalation device 10 is named as such, it may alternatively be described as a smoking pipe, inhalator or inhalation device.

Also referring to FIG. 2, the device body 12 has an inlet 14 for receiving smoke and/or vapour, an outlet 16 for emitting smoke and/or vapour to the user and a passage 18 between the inlet 14 and the outlet 16 for conveying smoke and/or vapour from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16. The passage 18 is here defined by the device body 12, and the device body 12 preferably includes a first body portion 20 and a second body portion 22 at or adjacent to opposing sides of the passage 18. The first and/or second body portions 20, 22 may also be known as device body parts.

Preferably, the passage 18 is or is substantially slot-shaped, having a longitudinal extent between the inlet 14 and the outlet 16 and a width which has a greater extent than a depth of the passage 18. The passage 18 here has a rectangular transverse cross-section. Preferably, the passage 18 is not cylindrical or substantially cylindrical. The passage 18 may be described as being planar or generally planar. Here, for example, a width of the passage 18 is greater than the depth or thickness of the passage. However, it will be appreciated that the passage may have other shapes, for example it may be or be substantially tubular, having a circular cross-section, or may have a polygonal cross-section. The first body portion 20 includes an upper passage surface 24 which defines an in use upper boundary of the passage 18, and the second body portion 22 includes a lower passage surface 26 which defines an in use lower boundary of the passage 18. The first and second body portions 20, 22 interengage at lateral edges thereof to define a lateral boundary of the passage 18. Here the first body portion 20 includes a lip 28 around a lateral edge, the lip 28 defining a depth of the passage 18.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the device body 12 has a plurality of baffles at or adjacent to the passage 18 for forming a tortuous pathway between the inlet 14 and outlet 16. Here the device body 12 has an inlet baffle 30 and at least one passage baffle 32. The inlet baffle 30 is at or adjacent to the inlet 14 for directing smoke and/or vapour away from the outlet 16. Therefore, the inlet baffle 30 is positioned between the outlet 16 and the inlet 14 and so forms at least a partial barrier to smoke and/or vapour directly from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16. Whilst both inlet baffle and passage baffles are described, it will be appreciated that the device body may have only one of the inlet baffle and passage baffles. Whilst only one inlet baffle is described, it will be appreciated that there may be a plurality of inlet baffles. Preferably, the baffles 30, 32 project from an upper wall of the passage 18, although it will be appreciated that the baffles 30, 32 may project from the lower wall.

The inlet baffle 30 is here unitarily formed with the first body portion 20 and extends in the passage around at least part of an outlet-proximal side of the inlet 14 so that smoke is prevented from travelling directly towards the outlet 16. It will be appreciated that the inlet baffle may not be unitarily formed with the first body portion and may, for example, be attached thereto. Additionally, the inlet baffle may be attached to or formed with the second body portion. Here the inlet baffle 30 is or is substantially V-shaped or U-shaped having side walls which extend in a direction away from the outlet 16 and beyond the outlet-proximal side of the inlet 14. Therefore, smoke and/or vapour is directed away from the outlet 16. However, it will be appreciated that the inlet baffle may in fact not extend beyond the outlet-proximal side of the inlet and so the smoke and/or vapour would only be deflected laterally with respect to the direction between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet baffle 30 preferably extends across the depth of the passage 18, although it will be appreciated that the inlet baffle 30 may in fact extend only part way across the depth of the passage 18. Although only one inlet baffle is here described, it will be appreciated that there may be a plurality of inlet baffles.

There is preferably a plurality of passage baffles 32 which are at or adjacent to the passage 18. Each passage baffle 32 is preferably a protrusion which protrudes from the upper passage surface 24 of the first body portion 20 into the passage 18. Therefore, the passage extends across an axis of the passage between the inlet 14 and the outlet 16. The passage baffle 32 is here curvately convex. As can be seen in FIG. 3, each passage baffle 32 preferably extends to a plane defined by the lower passage surface 26. However, it will be appreciated that each passage baffle may in fact be spaced apart from the plane defined by the lower passage surface. Each passage baffle 32 is laterally and longitudinally aligned with each other. The passage baffles 32 are therefore in a grid-like arrangement. The passage baffles 32 have a tapering lateral cross-section such that each passage baffle 32 forms a peak 33. Here the peak 33 is rounded such that each protrusion is at least in part curvate, although it will be appreciated that the or each passage baffle may not be curvate. There are preferably a multitude of passage baffles. For example, there are preferably more than 10 passage baffles, more than 50 passage baffles, more than 100 passage baffles, more than 200 passage baffles or more than 300 passage baffles. Here there are between 250 and 450 passage baffles.

There are here two types of passage baffle 32; there is a first passage baffle 32a, which is preferably elongate and more preferably elongate in a width direction of the passage 18 having an elliptical lateral cross-section, and a second passage baffle 32b, which here has a circular lateral cross section. The two types of passage baffle 32 here ensure that a maximum number of passage baffles 32 may be included at the passage 18 despite the width of the passage 18 being equivalent to a non-integer number of first or second passage baffles 32a, 32b. Additionally, two types of passage baffle 32 may provide differing flow characteristics via the passage baffles 32, for example the second passage baffles 32b, having greater width, may create more disruption to fluid flowing past than the first passage baffle 32a.

Referring in addition to FIG. 5, the device body 12 includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of, recesses 34 which are at or adjacent to the passage 18. Each recess 34 here extends into the second body portion 22 from the lower passage surface 26. The recesses 34 may here be considered to be dimples. Similar to the passage baffles 32 there are here two types of recess 34; there is a first recess 34a, which is preferably elongate and more preferably elongate in a width direction of the passage 18, and a second recess 34b, which here has a circular lateral cross section. Each recess 34 has a depth and/or shape which corresponds to the height and/or shape of the passage baffle 32, although it will be appreciated that the recess and passage baffles may not correspond in shape. There are preferably the same or a similar number of recesses 34 as there are passage baffles 32.

Preferably, each passage baffle 32 is aligned with each recess 34. The passage baffle 32 at least in part provides a barrier to a direct or straight pathway through the passage 18 and the or each recess 34 provides a pathway below and underneath the or each passage baffle 32. In this way the tortuous pathway at the baffles and recesses 34 undulates in a direction between first and second body portions 20, 22, is sinuous, is serpentine and/or is sinusoidal. Therefore, the tortuous pathway at least in part extends in a direction towards the first body portion 20 and at least in part which extends in a direction towards the second body portion 22. A portion of the tortuous pathway is illustrated in FIG. 3 with dashed line B.

Given that the passage baffle 32 extends to the plane of the lower passage surface 26, and the passage baffles 32 and recesses 34 are aligned, each passage baffle 32 and/or the peak 33 thereof extends to, at or adjacent to the opening of the or each recess 34. Therefore, the passage baffle 32 and a wall of the recess 34 do not interengage and are spaced apart. The peak 33 of each passage baffle 32 extending to the recess 34 creates a barrier to the direct path through the passage 18, whilst still providing a wide enough pathway thereunder via the recess to prevent or limit blockages from being formed in use. However, it will be appreciated that the or each passage baffle may at least in part extend into the associated recess and/or may at least in part engage with the wall of the associated recess. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the passage baffles may not be aligned with each recess and may in fact be offset therefrom.

The passage 18 preferably at least in part tapers from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16 so as to direct or funnel smoke and/or vapour from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16. The width of the passage 18 at least in part tapers from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16, although it will be appreciated that the depth of the passage may instead taper towards the outlet.

Preferably, the passage 18 includes an inlet chamber 36, a shaft portion 38 and/or an outlet chamber 40 which are gaseously communicable and/or continuous with each other. Whilst described as tapering, it will be appreciated that the width and/or depth of the passage may in fact be uniform.

The inlet chamber 36 is preferably at or adjacent to the inlet 14 and preferably has a greater lateral extent than the shaft portion 38. The greater lateral extent promotes collecting and mixing of in use smoke, vapour and/or air. The shaft portion 38 is at or adjacent to the inlet chamber 36 and the outlet chamber 40 is at or adjacent to an opposing end of the shaft portion 38 to the inlet chamber 36. The shaft portion 38 has a tapering lateral extent, and here tapers at an outlet-proximal end thereof, although it will be appreciated that the shaft portion may not taper. The outlet chamber 40 is preferably at or adjacent to the outlet 16 and has a greater lateral extent than at least part of the shaft portion 38, and preferably has a greater lateral extent than the outlet-proximal end of the shaft portion 38. The greater lateral extent of the outlet chamber 40 decelerates smoke and/or vapour before they reach the outlet 16.

Referring in addition to FIG. 6, the device body 12 preferably tapers distally in a direction away from the passage 18, thereby promoting heat transfer away from the passage 18 to an external environment via the device body 12. More preferably the device body 12 tapers in more than two directions away from the passage 18, although it will be appreciated that the device body 12 may only taper in one or two directions. Here the device body 12 which defines and/or is at or adjacent to the shaft portion 38 and the outlet chamber 40 of the passage 18 may be considered to be a device-body tail 12a. The device-body tail 12a preferably tapers in four directions away from the passage 18 having an upper taper 42, a lower taper 44 and two lateral tapers 46 or wings. Therefore, the device body 12 has a substantially rectangular, square and or diamond lateral cross-section, although it will be appreciated that other shaped cross-sections may be considered such as circular or triangular.

The device body 12 at or adjacent to the inlet chamber 36 may be considered to be a device-body head 12b. Here the device-body head 12b tapers in or in substantially six directions away from the inlet chamber 36. The device-body head 12b has two lateral tapers 48 or wings which extend distally away from opposing sides of the passage 18. The lateral tapers 46 of the device-body head 12b are continuous with the lateral tapers 48 of the device-body tail 12a. The device-body head 12b further includes two upper tapers 50 or wings and two lower tapers 52 or wings, the upper and lower tapers 50, 52 of the device-body head 12b branching from the upper and lower tapers 42, 44 of the device-body tail 12a respectively. The two upper tapers 50 meet each other at an end ridge 54, as do the lateral and lower tapers 48, 52. The two upper tapers 50 define a space or bowl 56 therebetween which may at least in part define a source holder 58 for holding a source of the smoke and/or vapour, for example combustible matter.

The or each taper 50, 52 form arms or wings which is/are beneficial in dissipating excessive heat from the burning material and smoke drawn into the body at the head. The or each taper therefore forms a heat exchanger element, such as a fin, as well as enabling the head to be more easily grasped by a user.

The inlet 14 here includes an aperture 60 which preferably extends through a first body portion 20 to the passage 18. The inlet 14 preferably also includes an inlet recess 62 which is open to the exterior of the device and which has a diameter which is greater than that of the aperture 60. The aperture 60 extends through the inlet recess 62. The inlet recess 62 here preferably defines at least part of the source holder 58.

The inlet 14 preferably further includes a flow guide 64 which is at or adjacent to the inlet 14. Here the flow guide 64 is disposed around the aperture 60 and is at or adjacent to the bottom of the inlet recess 62. The flow guide 64 preferably has at least one fan blade and/or may have at least one vane. Whilst described as having at least one fan blade, the flow guide 64 here does not move relative to the device body 12, although it will be appreciated that it may be modified to do so.

The first and second body portions 20, 22 are detachable from and releasably attachable to each other. Therefore, the first and second body portions 20, 22 are detachably attachable to each other. Preferably, the first and second body portions 20, 22 are detachably attachable via magnetic members 66, and so the first and second body portions 20, 22 are magnetically detachably attachable. The first and second body portions 20, 22 each have active magnetic members 66 which are arranged so that magnetic members 66 on the first body portion 20 are alignable with magnetic members 66 on the second body portion 22. The magnetic members 66 on the first body portion 20 each have an exterior facing pole which is of opposing polarity to an exterior facing pole of the magnetic members 66 on the second body portion 22. This is so that the magnetic members 66 on the first and second body portions 20, 22 are magnetically attractable to each other. Whilst each body portion is described as having magnetic members which are actively magnetic, it will be appreciated that only one of the body portions may have active magnetic members with the other body portion being at least in part formed from a magnetically attractable material, such as steel.

The device body 12 is preferably at least in part formed from metal, more preferably from aluminium or an aluminium alloy, and most preferably aluminium which is of a recycled origin. Aluminium provides a good balance between heat conductivity to ensure good dissipation of heat energy, structural strength and manufacturability. Although aluminium is described as being preferable, it will be appreciated that the first and second body portions 20, 22 may alternatively be formed from other suitable materials having appropriate thermal conductivity properties, such as steel, copper, magnesium, titanium, heat resistant plastics or wood or a combination thereof.

In use, the first and second body portions 20, 22 may be attached together to form the device body 12 of the recreational inhalation device 10. Combustible material, which may for example be tobacco or other organic matter, may then be positioned in the source holder, which here may take the form of positioning it in the inlet recess 62 of the inlet 14 and/or on the first body portion 20 in the bowl 56 defined by the two upper tapers 50. The combustible material is then ignited which causes combustion and smoke to be emitted.

The user may then inhale at or through the outlet 16 causing flow from the inlet 14 along the passage 18 to the outlet 16. This results in smoke, emitted by the combustible material, to be drawn towards the inlet 14. The flow of air and/or smoke over the flow guide 64 at the inlet 14 causes a vortex effect at the inlet 14 which increases a volume of air being drawn into the inlet 14 and encourages a mixing of smoke and air. The smoke and air travel through the aperture 60 and into the inlet chamber 36 in the passage 18.

Whilst in the passage 18, heat energy from the smoke is transferred to the device body 12 thereby cooling the smoke and heating the device body 12. By virtue of the tapering of the device body 12, heat is efficiently and quickly transferred from the device body 12 to the external environment given that tapering increases a heat transfer surface for the device body 12 to the exterior. This allows for cooling of the device body 12 and therefore increases a cooling effect on the smoke.

The inlet baffle 30 deflects smoke away from the outlet 16 and/or defines at least part of the tortuous pathway by directing smoke away from a direction from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16. Therefore, a duration spent by the smoke in the passage 18 is increased which increases the amount of cooling to which the smoke is subjected and additionally increases a density of the smoke or vapour within the device body 12.

Between the inlet 14 and the outlet 16, the smoke travels via passage baffles 32. The passage baffles 32 provide at least a partial barrier to the flow of the smoke and therefore the smoke is required to be directed around or below each passage baffle 32 and preferably the peak 33 of each passage baffle 32. This can disrupt a flow of the smoke and/or defines a tortuous pathway, for example causing turbulent flow by preventing or limiting laminar flow of smoke taking place. Disrupting a flow of the smoke can reduce the speed of motion of the smoke and therefore can result in extending a period of time spent by the smoke within the passage 18, and therefore increasing a cooling effect on the smoke. The tortuous pathway additionally increases the distance travelled by the smoke which can also increase the time spent by the smoke within the pathway.

As the smoke travels through, across, at or adjacent to recesses 34, vortices of smoke may be generated. These may additionally disrupt flow of the smoke and thereby increase the cooling effect on the smoke.

Given the disruption of the smoke by the inlet baffle and passage baffles 30, 32 as well as the recesses 34, the smoke may detrain constituents and/or impurities entrained and/or held within the smoke. For example, entrained moisture within the smoke may be detrained. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the particulate matter of the smoke may be detrained. Therefore, the inlet baffle 30, passage baffles 32 and/or recesses 34 may together or separately act as filters to filter the smoke and/or collect impurities therefrom.

The smoke travels to the outlet 16, being funnelled by the overall taper of the passage 18. Upon entering the outlet chamber 40, the smoke may decelerate, given the widening of the passage 18 and the increased volume of which to occupy. The smoke may then travel through the outlet 16 and here enters the user's mouth, being inhaled.

The passage 18 may be required to be cleaned after use. This would in use be achieved by separating the first and second body portions 20, 22 from each other by disengaging the magnetic members 66 on the first and second body portions 20, 22, for example by pulling the first and second body portions 20, 22 apart from each other. Having been separated the upper and lower passage surfaces 24, 26 can then be easily accessed and cleaned, for example by wiping a damp cloth over the surfaces. This would remove any impurities collected on the walls of the passage 18. The first and second body portions 20, 22 can then be reassembled for subsequent use.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a second embodiment of a recreational inhalation device 110. Similar or identical reference numerals are used as for the first embodiment, with 100 added. The second embodiment has a first body portion 120, and a second body portion 122.

The second embodiment of the recreational inhalation device 100 further has a removable filter or grill 168 which is removably receivable in the inlet recess 162. Additionally, the device 100 may comprise a cover 170 which is shaped correspondingly to the bowl 156. The cover 170 may comprise magnetic elements or magnetic material to attract to corresponding magnetic elements on the device body 112 or the device body 112 itself should the body be formed from a magnetic material. Thus, the cover 170 may be removably attachable to the device body 112.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first body portion 120 is similar in profile to the first body portion 20 of the first embodiment. However, the arrangement of the passage baffles 132 differs as compared to those of the first embodiment. Here, a plurality of the passage baffles 132 is laterally off-set or substantially laterally off-set from a longitudinally adjacent passage baffle 132. This is such that longitudinally adjacent spaces between the baffles 132 are not aligned, or are misaligned, with each other. Therefore, a disruption of smoke and/or a lateral extent of a flow pathway may be increased. At least a majority of the passage baffles 132 are offset from a longitudinally adjacent baffle 132.

Additionally, there are here three types of passage baffles, indicated as first, second and third passage baffles 132a, 132b, 132c. The first passage baffle 132a is elongate, the second passage baffle 132b has a circular cross section, and the third passage baffle 132c represents an intermediate between these two passage baffle types 132a, 132b, the third passage baffle 132c being more elongate than the second passage baffle 132b and less elongate than the first passage baffle 132a. It may therefore be considered to be oval or obround. The provision of at least three passage baffle types allows for baffles 132 to be arranged to maximise disruption of smoke or vapour flow and maximise a lateral or horizontal component of the tortuous path. Passage baffles 132 of different lengths provide more freedom in arrangement of the baffles 132 so as to block gaps between longitudinally adjacent baffles 132. This may especially be the case in the instance when the passage 118 has a varying and/or continuously carrying width.

The baffles 132 may here be considered to be in a triangular arrangement or a close packed arrangement. This may assist with increasing a density of baffles 132 within the passage 118.

Here the inlet baffle 130 has arms 130a which extend towards each other. This may assist with directing smoke away from the outlet 116. Additionally, the passage 118 has a projection 118a which extends away from the outlet 116 and is aligned with an opening of the inlet baffle 130. The projection 118a may assist with disrupting a flow of smoke, given that the smoke may be required to flow inwards and then outwards of the projection, and/or flow around relatively sharp corners of the projection.

Furthermore, at or adjacent to the inlet 114, the passage 118 preferably does not have passage baffles, and therefore the smoke may more easily flow into the passage. This may prevent or limit a deflection of smoke away from the device when inhaling.

Here the lip 128 of the body portion 120 defines a smoothly tapering passage 118, rather than a stepped passage as shown in the preceding embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second body portion 122 has recesses 134 which are correspondingly arranged as the baffles 132 of the first body portion 120. The second body portion 122 has a second-body-portion inlet recess 172 at or adjacent to the inlet 114 for allowing smoke to collect therein.

Whilst smoke is described above, it will be appreciated that vapour may be provided instead of smoke, for example by replacing the source of the smoke with a vaporiser. Vapour emitted from the vaporiser may then travel through the inlet, passage and outlet and be inhaled in a similar or identical way as described for the smoke.

It will also be appreciated that the device body may be provided with a removable filtering means for further filtering of the smoke. For example, the device body may include a removable-filter receiver at or adjacent to the outlet for inserting a removable filter therein.

Whilst the passage baffles and recesses are described as being longitudinally and laterally aligned with each other, for example forming a square packing arrangement, it will be appreciated that any other packing arrangement may be used. In particular, a triangular packing of recesses and/or passage baffles may provide beneficial flow characteristics.

Although the tortuous pathway extends in three mutually perpendicular directions, it may extend in only one direction, two directions, or more than three directions. Two or more of the directions may be mutually perpendicular or at other angles, as necessity dictates. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the tortuous pathway may extend within two or more mutually perpendicular planes.

Whilst one passage it described, it will be appreciated that multiple passages between the inlet and the outlet may in fact be provided. For example, two passages may be provided extending from the inlet to the outlet.

It is therefore possible to provide a recreational inhalation device with which a user may inhale smoke and/or vapour. The inhalation device has a tortuous or undulating pathway between the inlet and outlet to increase a cooling effect on the smoke and/or filter impurities from the smoke.

The words ‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

1. A recreational inhalation device configured to be used by a user to inhale at least one of smoke and vapour, the recreational inhalation device comprising:

a device body having an inlet to receive at least one of smoke and vapour, an outlet at least one of smoke and vapour to the user, a passage between the inlet and the outlet to convey at least one of smoke and vapour from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of baffles at or adjacent to the passage for forming a tortuous pathway (B) in three mutually perpendicular directions between the inlet and outlet.

2. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of baffles includes an inlet baffle at or adjacent to the inlet which forms a barrier to direct flow of smoke and/or vapour from the inlet to the outlet.

3. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of baffles includes a plurality of passage baffles at or adjacent to the passage to disrupt a flow of smoke and vapour through the passage.

4. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each passage baffle is a curvately convex protrusion.

5. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device body has a plurality of recesses at or adjacent to the passage.

6. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the device body has first and second body portions at or adjacent to opposing sides of the passage, the first body portion having at least one of said plurality of baffles and the second body portion having at least one recess.

7. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or each baffle of the first body portion is aligned with the or each recess of the second body portion so that said tortuous pathway at least in part extends in a direction towards the first body portion and at least in part extends in a direction towards the second body portion.

8. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a peak distal to the first body portion of the or each at least one baffle of the first body portion extends at least to an opening of the or each recess of the second body portion.

9. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said peak extends to said opening of the or each recess of the second body portion.

10. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each baffle is laterally and longitudinally aligned with adjacent baffles, and each recess is laterally and longitudinally aligned with adjacent baffles and recesses.

11. (canceled)

12. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device body tapers distally in a direction away from the passage to promote heat transfer away from the passage to the environment via the device body.

13. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the device body tapers in a plurality of directions away from the passage.

14. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flow guide at or adjacent to the inlet, the flow guide having at least one fan blade to increase a flow-rate of at least any one of smoke, vapour and air received through the inlet.

15. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second body portions are configured to be attached to and detached from to each other.

16. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first and second body portions are configured to be attached to and detached from each other via at least one magnetic member on each of the first and second body portions.

17. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passage has an at least in part tapering lateral extent from the inlet to the outlet to funnel at least one of smoke, vapour and air towards the outlet.

18. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passage includes an outlet chamber at or adjacent to the outlet, the outlet chamber having a greater lateral extent than an adjacent portion of a shaft portion to decelerate at least one of smoke, vapour and air before reaching the outlet.

19. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passage includes an inlet chamber at or adjacent to the inlet, the inlet chamber having a greater lateral extent than a shaft portion of the passage to collect and promote mixing of at least one of smoke, vapour and air in use.

20. The recreational inhalation device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the body at or adjacent to the inlet chamber tapers distally so as to form a ridge which extends at least in part around the inlet, said ridge defining a source holder which is fluidly communicable with the pathway, the source holder being for holding a source of at least one of smoke and vapour.

21. (canceled)

22. A recreational-inhalation-device part configured to form a recreational inhalation device, the part comprising:

a device-body part configured to form at least in part a passage between an inlet and an outlet of the recreational inhalation device, the device-body part being adapted to connect to a further device-body part,

the said device-body part having a plurality of baffles configured to be positioned at the passage to form a tortuous pathway between the inlet and outlet.