MODULAR WATER PIPE SYSTEM

Abstract

A modular water pipe system is provided. The system includes a number of geometric members that when combined form a water pipe for use in smoking smokable materials (e.g., tobacco, herbs, cannabis, etc.). The geometric members each include flat surfaces such that a flat surface on one geometric member may mate with a flat surface on another geometric member to form the system. The geometric members are designed to be mated with one another and held in place by gravity and friction. In this way, the geometric members may be combined to form the system for use, and subsequently taken apart for cleaning each member individually and/or for storage. The system also includes a novel tray for holding the smokable material during use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to smoking devices, including a modular water pipe system.

BACKGROUND

Water pipes are used throughout the world to smoke various types of smokable materials. The waterpipes typically include a bowl for holding the smokable material, a down stem connecting the bowl to the water chamber, and an uptake tube extending from the water chamber to the mouthpiece.

However, such water pipes are quite large and difficult to clean.

In addition, smokable material combusted in the bowl oftentimes results in ash being combusted along with the smokable material thereby contaminating the smoke.

Accordingly, there is a need for a modular water pipe system that may be disassembled for easy cleaning and storage, and subsequently reassembled for use. There also is a need for a water pipe system with a smokable material holder that eliminates the ash from being combusted in parallel with the smokable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a modular water pipe system according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the modular water pipe system of FIG. 1 according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 3 shows aspects of a modular water pipe system according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 4-5 show aspects of a mating mechanism according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 6 shows a modular water pipe system according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the modular water pipe system of FIG. 6 according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 8-15 show actions taken to form a modular water pipe system according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 16 shows aspects of a modular water pipe system according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 17 shows aspects of a grid and a geometric member according to exemplary embodiments hereof; and

FIG. 18 shows a case for a modular water pipe system according to exemplary embodiments hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In general, the system according to exemplary embodiments hereof includes a modular water pipe system. The system comprises a number of geometric members that when combined form a water pipe for use in smoking smokable materials (e.g., tobacco, herbs, cannabis, etc.). The geometric members each include flat surfaces such that a flat surface on one geometric member may mate with a flat surface on another geometric member to form the system. The geometric members are designed to be mated with one another and held in place by gravity and friction.

In some embodiments, the geometric members may be combined to form the system for use, and subsequently taken apart for cleaning each member individually and/or for storage.

In some embodiments, the system also includes a novel tray for holding the smokable material during use.

For the purpose of this specification, the term completely flat surface will mean a smooth surface without any curvature(s) between the edges of the surface that define the surface. For example, a cube may be referred to as having six completely flat surfaces. In addition, the term flat surface will mean completely flat surface unless specifically stated otherwise.

In one exemplary embodiment hereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the modular water pipe system 10 (also referred to as simply the system 10) includes a plurality of modular components 100. In some embodiments, the modular components 100 include geometric members 102-1, 102-2, . . . 102-n (individually and collectively 102) each with at least one completely flat surface Sn. FIG. 1 shows the geometric members generally combined to form the system 10 and FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the same. The system 10 also may include other elements as necessary to fulfill its functionalities.

For the purposes of this specification and for clarity, the geometric members 102 in FIGS. 1-2 are generally shown as generic cuboids and/or combinations of generic cuboids. However, it is understood that this is for demonstration and that the geometric members 102 may be formed as any suitable geometric shapes or forms and/or as any combinations of any geometric shapes or forms as desired. Examples of non-cuboid geometric members 102 will be described in other sections.

As will be described herein, flat surfaces Sn on one geometric member 102 may be mated with flat surfaces Sn on a second geometric member 102 to combine the members 102 together. For the purposes of this specification, flat surface(s) Sn designed to receive other flat surface(s) Sn may be referred to as mating elements Mn. In some embodiments, a mating element Mn may be formed by a first horizontal flat surface Sn such that a second horizontal flat surface Sn may rest on top of first horizontal flat surface Sn and be held in place by gravity. In other embodiments, a mating element Mn may be formed by opposing flat surfaces Sn oriented at an angle with respect to one another thereby forming a first wedge-shaped arrangement of flat surfaces Sn. In this case, a second wedge-shaped arrangement of flat surfaces Sn (preferably offset from one another at the same angle as the first arrangement) may rest within the wedge-shaped notch of the first arrangement of flat surfaces Sn and be held within the wedge by gravity. It is understood that a mating element Mn may be formed by any combination of any number of flat surfaces Sn, whether horizontal, vertical, and/or arranged at angles with respect to one another. As will be described herein, the geometric members 102 may be combined using mating elements Mn to form the overall system 10.

In some embodiments, the flat surfaces Sn may be completely smooth while in other embodiments, the flat surfaces Sn may be textured (e.g., to increase the surface's coefficient of friction). In some embodiments, the surfaces Sn may be coated with a coating to aid in the mating of the surfaces Sn with other surfaces Sn, e.g., with a coating of silicone or other suitable material(s) that may increase the surface's coefficient of friction as well as make the junction between the mated surfaces Sn watertight.

In addition, one or more of the members 102 also may include one or more passageways Pn that pass through the respective member 102. The passageways Pn may pass through a member 102 from a first flat surface Sn to a second flat surface Sn, from a first flat surface Sn to an edge between adjacent flat surfaces Sn, from a first edge between a first set of adjacent flat surfaces Sn to a second edge between a second adjacent flat surfaces Sn, and any combinations thereof. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first member 102-1 may include a first passageway P1, the third member 102-3 may include a second passageway P2, the second member 102-2 may include a third passageway P3, the fourth member 102-4 may include a fourth passageway P4, and the fifth member 102-5 may include a fifth passageway P5. In this way, during use with the members 102 all combined, smoke may pass through each passageway Pn of the system 10 from the first member 102-1 to the fifth member 102-5 as represented by the arrow A.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, one or more passageways Pn may be utilized to hold water for smoke filtration and cooling purposes. For example, the member's 102-3's passageway P2 may be designed to hold water in its base such that water passing from the first passageway P1 (in member 102-1) may pass through the water in the passageway P2 on its way to the passageway P3 in the member 102-4. It is understood that this arrangement is shown for demonstration and that other members 102 with other passageways Pn also may be utilized to hold water.

System 10

In some embodiments, the system 10 is formed entirely from two or more geometric members 102 contacting one another via completely flat surfaces Sn (mating elements Mn) and held together by gravity and friction. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the flat surface S3 of the third geometric member 102-3 may be a first mating element M1 that receives the flat surface S6 of the member 102-2, flat surface S7 of member 102-2 may be a second mating element M2 that receives the flat surface S8 of member 102-4, flat surface S9 of member 102-4 may be a third mating element M3 that receives a portion of the flat surface S11 of member 102-5, and flat surface S10 may be a fourth mating element M4 that receives the flat surface S12 of the fifth member 102-5. In this arrangement, flat surfaces S3, S7, and S9 may be horizontal mating elements Mn such that their respective mated surfaces S6, S8, and S11 may be held in place by gravity. Flat surface S10 may be a vertical mating element Mn such that its respective mated surface S12 may be abutted against the flat surface S10 and held in place by gravity and friction.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, a mating element Mn may be formed by two flat surfaces Sn oriented at an offset angle with respect to one another thereby forming a wedge-shaped mating element Mn. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the flat surfaces S13 and S14 are opposing and at an offset angle θ with respect to one another thereby forming the wedge-shaped mating element M5. The flat surfaces S15 and S16 are similarly arranged. As the flat surfaces S15 and S16 of FIG. 4 are moved downward in the direction of the arrow B, the flat surfaces S15, S16 may mate with the flat surfaces S13, S14, respectively. This is shown in FIG. 5 taken from the perspective of the arrow C of FIG. 4. In addition, because the flat surfaces S13, S14 form a wedge-shaped mating element M5, the flat surfaces S15, S16, also being in a wedge-shaped arrangement, are held in place within the wedge-shaped mating element M5 of by gravity.

Notably, the flat surfaces S13, S14 also are laterally offset from one another (spaced apart) such that a portion of each of the flat surfaces S15, S16 extends downward beyond the flat surfaces S13, S14 as shown in FIG. 5.

Examples

Additional embodiments and details of the system 10 will be described by way of several detailed examples. The examples provided below are chosen to illustrate various embodiments and implementations of various geometric members 102 to form the system 10, and those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate and understand, upon reading this description, that the examples are not limiting and that the system 10 may be formed in different ways. It also is understood that details of different embodiments described in different examples may be combined in any way to form additional embodiments of the system 10 that are all within the scope of the system 10.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 6-15, the system 10 is formed of geometric members 102-6 through 102-10 using mating elements M6-M11 comprising completely flat surfaces S17-S37. Notably, the geometric members 102-6 through 102-10 are non-cuboid.

FIG. 6 shows a modular water pipe system 10 comprising geometric members 102-6 through 102-10, and FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the same. This specification will next describe actions that may be taken to assemble the geometric members 102 of FIG. 7 to form the system 10 of FIG. 6.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the opposing inner flat surfaces S17 and S18 of the geometric member 102-7 are designed at an offset angle to form a wedge-shaped mating mechanism M6. In addition, opposing outer flat surfaces S19 and S20 of the geometric member 102-6 are designed at the same (or similar) offset angle to form a wedge-shaped arrangement that may be received into the wedge-shaped mating mechanism M6 to form a combined unit. Accordingly, as the geometric member 102-6 in FIG. 6 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow D, the member 102-6 will nest into the mating mechanism M6 with the flat surfaces S19 and S20 abutting the flat surfaces S17 and S18, respectively. This will result in the combined arrangement shown in FIG. 9.

Next, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, the opposing front and rear inner flat surfaces S25 and S26 of the geometric member 102-8 are designed at an offset angle to form a wedge-shaped mating mechanism M7. In addition, opposing outer flat surfaces S21 and S23/S24 of the geometric member 102-7 are designed at the same (or similar) offset angle to form a wedge-shaped arrangement that may be received into the wedge-shaped mating mechanism M7 to form a combined unit. Accordingly, as the combination of geometric members 102-6, 102-7 in FIG. 10 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow E, the combination of members 102-6, 102-7 will nest into the mating mechanism M7 with the flat surfaces S21 and S23/S24 abutting the flat surfaces S25 and S26, respectively. In addition, the inner flat surface S27 that forms the inner bottom surface of the member 102-8 forms a mating mechanism M8 that receives the bottom outer flat surface S22 of the geometric member 102-7. This will result in the combined arrangement shown in FIG. 11.

Next, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the opposing inner flat surfaces S28 and S29 of the geometric member 102-7 are designed at an offset angle to form a wedge-shaped mating mechanism M9. In addition, opposing outer flat surfaces S31 and S32 of the geometric member 102-9 are designed at the same (or similar) offset angle to form a wedge-shaped arrangement that may be received into the wedge-shaped mating mechanism M9 to form a combined unit. Accordingly, as the geometric member 102-9 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow F, the geometric member 102-9 will nest into the mating mechanism M9 with the flat surfaces S31 and S32 abutting the flat surfaces S28 and S29, respectively. In addition, the inner flat forward surface S30 of the member 102-7 forms a mating mechanism M10 that receives the front outer flat surface S33 of the member 102-9. This will result in the combined arrangement shown in FIG. 13.

Next, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 14A (a view of member 102-10 taken from the perspective of the arrow G), the opposing inner flat surfaces S34 and S35 of the geometric member 102-9 (see FIG. 14A) are designed at an offset angle to form a wedge-shaped mating mechanism M11. In addition, opposing outer flat surfaces S36 and S37 of the geometric member 102-10 are designed at the same (or similar) offset angle to form a wedge-shaped arrangement that may be received into the wedge-shaped mating mechanism M11 to form a combined unit. Accordingly, as the geometric member 102-10 is moved in the direction of the arrow G, the geometric member 102-10 will nest into the mating mechanism M11 with the flat surfaces S36 and S37 abutting the flat surfaces S34 and S35, respectively. This will result in the combined arrangement shown in FIG. 15.

It is understood that the actions described above to mate the geometric members 102 together to form the overall system 10 are meant for demonstration and that other actions also may be performed. In addition, not all of the actions described may be necessary and it is understood that the actions may be taken indifferent orders.

In addition, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 16 and as described above in relation to FIG. 3, the members 102 also may include one or more passageways Pn that when combined (e.g., as the geometric members 102 are combined to form the overall system 10), form a through passageway that passes entirely through the system 10 from the geometric member 102-6 to the geometric member 102-10 as represented by the arrow H. In addition, water W may be placed within the inner cavity/passageway of the member 102-8 such that smoke passing through the overall system 10 also may pass through the water W and be cooled and filtered thereby. In this way, a user may place his/her mouth at the outlet O in member 102-10 while igniting a smokable material placed at the inlet I in member 106-2 and inhale. The inhalation will then cause smoke from the combusting smokable material to pass through the system 10 in the direction of the arrow H (and pass through the water W held therein) and enter into the user's mouth.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 17, the geometric member 102-6 includes an upper cavity C1 generally above and/or adjacent the inlet I designed to receive and hold a grid member 104 as represented by the arrow J. The grid member 104 includes a plurality of stubs 106 separated from one another by a plurality of through gaps 108. While the stubs 106 and gaps 108 are shown in FIG. 17 as generally formed in a rectilinear matrix, it is understood that the stubs 106 and gaps 108 may be formed in other patterns such as concentric circles and/or in other suitable patterns. In this way the smokable material may be placed on top of the grid member 104 and generally held by the stubs 106. Then, when the smokable material is ignited, the smoke caused by its combustion may pass downward through the gaps 108 and be drawn into the inlet I and subsequently pass through the system 10 and out the outlet O in member 102-10.

The gaps 108 between the adjacent stubs 106 are preferably small enough such that the smokable material does not fall through the gaps 108 and into the cavity C1 below, and large enough to allow smoke to easily pass therethrough. For example, it may be preferable that the stubs 106 and/or the gaps 108 each be about 1 mm-2 mm wide. While the width of the stubs 106 and gaps 108 are shown in FIG. 17 to be similarly sized, this may not be necessary. In addition, while the stubs 106 and gaps 108 are shown in FIG. 17 to each have generally rectangular footprints, the stubs 106 and/or gaps 108 may include footprints of other shapes, such as, but not limited to, circular, triangular, oval, trapezoidal, other suitable shapes and/or forms, and any combinations thereof. Furthermore, while the stubs 106 are shown as generally pyramidal frustum-shaped, it is understood that the stubs 106 may be shaped as other forms, such as, but not limited to, pyramid shaped, frustum shaped, tubular shaped, pointed, other shapes that may contain any types of curvatures, and/or any combinations thereof. In addition, it is understood that the grid member 104 may comprise a screen and/or other type of porous member that includes the gaps 108.

In use, the grid member 104 is placed within the upper region of the member's 102-6's cavity C1 (such that it generally covers the cavity C1) and the smokable material is spread across the upper surface of the grid 104 generally formed by the tops of the stubs 106. It may be preferable that the smokable material be ground to a particle size that is larger than the size of the gaps 108 so that the ground smokable material does not fall through the gaps 108 and is instead held by the tops of the stubs 106. In this way, the smokable material may be spread evenly across the upper surface of the grid member 104 such that when it is ignited, the smokable material may burn evenly across the grid 104. Then, as the user inhales through the outlet O in the geometric member 102-10, the smoke from the combusting smokable material spread across the grid 104 is drawn downward forward toward and into the inlet I, passing through the inner passageway of the system 10 (and through the water W in the member 102-8, and out the outlet O in the member 102-10 and into the user's mouth.

In some embodiments, because the smokable material may be spread evenly across the upper surface of the grid member 104 during combustion, ash that may be formed by the combustion may not be re-combusted along with the smokable material thereby resulting in a cleaner smoking experience.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 18, the system 10 may be disassembled and the individual geometric members 102 may be stored in any suitable type of container.

It is understood that any aspect and/or element of any embodiment of the system 10 described herein or otherwise may be combined with any other aspect and/or element of any other embodiment described herein or otherwise in any way to form additional embodiments of the system 10 all of which are within the scope of the system 10.

Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs” and includes the case of only one ABC.

As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. In the context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all of the conversation.

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means “using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means “based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based in part on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X” does not mean “based only on X.”

In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.

It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, in the description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels (e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on) and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist in readability and to help distinguish and/or identify and are not intended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial or numerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as “particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description and claims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.

As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two or more PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or “approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).

As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to” and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.

It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values, and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values, and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).

Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A modular water pipe system comprising:

a first geometric member including a first mating mechanism comprising at least one first surface;

a second geometric member including a second mating mechanism comprising at least one second surface;

a third geometric member including a third mating mechanism comprising at least one third surface;

wherein the first mating mechanism is adapted to mate with the second mating mechanism by abutting the at least one first surface against the at least one second surface, and the second mating mechanism is adapted to mate with the third mating mechanism by abutting the at least one second surface against the at least one third surface;

wherein the modular water pipe system further comprises a passageway that passes continually through the first geometric member, the second geometric member, and the third geometric member when the first mating mechanism is mated with the second mating mechanism and the second mating mechanism is mated with the third mating mechanism;

wherein the at least one first surface, the at least one second surface, and the at least one third surface are each completely flat.

2. The modular water pipe system of claim 1 wherein the third geometric member includes a cavity adapted to contain a liquid.

3. The modular water pipe system of claim 2 wherein the passageway includes at least a portion of the cavity.

4. The modular water pipe system of claim 1 wherein a first at least one first surface and a second at least one first surface are configured at a first offset angle with respect to one another forming a downward facing first wedge.

5. The modular water pipe system of claim 4 wherein a first at least one second surface and a second at least one second surface are configured at a second offset angle with respect to one another forming an upward facing second wedge.

6. The modular water pipe system of claim 5 wherein the second offset angle is equal to the first offset angle.

7. The modular water pipe system of claim 1 wherein the passageway includes a first opening in the first geometric member and a second opening in the third geometric member, the first opening in fluid communication with the second opening.

8. The modular water pipe system of claim 7 wherein the first opening includes an open cavity adapted to receive a grid.

9. The modular water pipe system of claim 8 wherein the grid includes a matrix of stubs and openings.

10. The modular water pipe system of claim 7 wherein the second opening includes a mouthpiece.