DEVICE FOR AIDING USERS IN PACKING A SMOKING CONTAINER

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for aiding users in packing and clearing a smoking container. The smoking container (hereinafter referred to as a “bowl”) can be in the form of a bowl with stem which is the type used with a water pipe.

If users do not have a device for packing and clearing a bowl, then it can be relatively cumbersome to handle and pack the bowl with the tobacco or smoking condiments, and attempts to clear and pack the bowl can result in a user making a mess of the surrounding area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention relates to a device for aiding users in packing and clearing a bowl. The device includes a tray comprised of at least one hole in the tray for receiving the bowl, and a support element coupled to the tray for supporting the tray above a surface. Because this tray is supported above a surface, a user can insert a section of the bowl into the hole in the tray and have this bowl supported by the tray for purposes of allowing the user to clear and then pack the supported bowl. There can be more than one hole in the tray for receiving more than one bowl for packing and clearing. The hole(s) in the tray can be centralized and/or non-centralized within the tray and the holes can be various shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the tray also serves to hold and store the tobacco or smoking condiments.

While any variation of this basic design is possible, a more complex embodiment comprises an upper first tray comprising an edge region forming a rim and a base region forming a planar surface having a first side and a second side. There is a support element coupled to the upper first tray and a lower second tray below is also coupled to the support element. The lower second tray is formed as an ashtray shaped type receptacle and is spaced opposite the second side of the first tray's planar surface. The first tray has a channel, which extends through the planar surface on the first tray. This channel comprises a frusto-conical opening, extending away from the first side on the planar surface of the first tray and an extending region extending from the second side on the planar surface. This frusto-conical opening within the upper first tray is for receiving the bowl, and wherein the extending channel section is for holding the bowl in place.

Other optional features include a clearing and packing poker element to be used with the bowl. The clearing and packing poker element is selectively connected to the device. For example, part of the support element of the device can have an optional receptacle for receiving the clearing and packing poker element. This clearing and packing poker element could also be optionally attached to the device through any known attachment means such as a string, or cord.

Other optional features include a place on the device to securely hold multiple bowls. The optional feature is in the form of an additional ledge surrounding the outer rim of the upper first tray having holes within the outer-rim ledge to hold and secure the bowls. If a user has multiple bowls, it is beneficial to have the device offer the capability to securely hold and store bowls insofar as the bowls are typically made of breakable material.

Other optional features include a cover, which can be snapped on, screwed on, attached with a hinge, or in any known manner, to the top of the upper first tray in order to securely cover the upper first tray and its contents, and the upper first tray can be in the form attached to the support element or can be in the form of an upper first tray that is removable from the support element.

Another optional feature is that the support element of the device is in the form of one or more legs that are formed as either solid components, or as telescoping leg(s). In addition, the leg(s) can be formed integral with the upper first tray and the lower second tray, or selectively connected to the trays at each end via an optional connection interface on the trays. In this way, the leg(s) can be snapped into these connection interfaces to join the two trays together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the top tray showing multiple variations;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the device;

FIG. 5 is a top view of multiple variations of the bottom tray;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of the upper tray;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the device 10 which includes an upper tray 20, having a beveled or angled region 23, and a channel 26 disposed in a center region of tray 20. There is also a lower tray 30 which has a beveled region 34 and a center indent 134 for receiving water or other materials which can be dispensed from a bowl 50. Bowl 50 can be selectively inserted into channel 26 wherein stem 54 inserts into a lower substantially cylindrical region 29, while the bowl section 52 rests in a frusto-conical section 28 wherein this conical section or channel can be of various shapes and sizes. Once this bowl 50 is disposed in channel 26 it can rest there and then be filled with any desired condiments. Tray 20 is connected to tray 30 via legs 42, 44, and 46.

FIG. 2 discloses a perspective view of the device 10. Device 10 includes an upper tray, a lower tray 30 and a plurality of legs 40 which connects lower tray 30 to upper tray 20. These legs 40 keep these two trays 20 and 30 spaced apart from each other. Upper tray 20 includes a top edge or rim 22, a sloped side edge or beveled edge 23 and a bottom base section 24. In a substantially central region of base section 24 is opening or channel 26 having a hole 27 (See FIG. 3) extending inside of channel 26. Channel 26 extends below upper tray 20 into a lower region 29 formed in this case as a cylinder. An upper region of channel 26 includes frusto-conical opening 28 for receiving a bowl 50. The frusto-conical opening 28 is designed as radiating out as it extends up such that it forms an opening that easily receives a downward extending portion 54 of a bowl 50. Bowl 50 includes an upper open region 52 and a tab region 56. Bowl 50 can be selectively inserted into channel 26 and thereby be stabilized by the sides of channel 26 by extending down into lower region 29.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the top tray and also discloses a plurality of optional connection interfaces 125, 127, and 129. Each connection interface is designed to connect to an associated leg such as legs 42, 44 and 46. This type of connection can be in any way known, such as via legs 42, 44, or 46 selectively inserting into any one of connection interfaces 125, 127, 129. In addition, these legs can also selectively insert into opposite connection interfaces 35, 37, and 39 (See FIG. 5).

Legs 42, 44 and 46 can be formed as solid extending legs, formed in at least one embodiment integral with either of upper tray 20 or bottom tray 30. Alternatively, trays 20 and 30 can be selectively detached from legs 40 (See FIG. 4) such that this device can then be collapsed. Legs 40 can be formed as solid legs or can alternatively be formed as telescoping legs, such that legs 42, 44 and 46 can be extended up or down to adjust the height or distance of spacing of upper tray 20 from lower tray 30.

For example, FIG. 4 discloses a series of legs wherein each leg for example leg 42 is formed as two sets of legs 42a and 42b which are formed as top and bottom telescoping legs. Leg 44 includes a top portion 44a, a bottom portion 44b while leg 46 includes a top portion 46a and a bottom portion 46b. For example, with this design the top legs such as legs 42a, 44a, and 46a slide into bottom legs 42b, 44b, and 46b such that upper tray 20 can be collapsed in the lower tray 30. The movement of legs 42, 44, and 46 can be selectively locked via locks 42c, 44c, and 46c which in this case are formed as collars which clamp down on the respective legs 42a, 42b, 44a, 44b, and 46a and 46b to stop any movement of these legs.

In addition, in this view, there is shown a cover 60 which can be snapped on, screwed on, in any known manner to upper tray 20 to cover upper tray 20. Accordingly, upper tray 20 can be formed in many different ways. For example, in one embodiment, upper tray 20 can include an optional rim or flange 21 which extends along an outer region of top edge for rim 22, which allows top cover 60 to snap onto upper tray 20 over optional rim or flange 21. Alternatively, upper tray 20 can include threads 120, for allowing a corresponding cover 60 to screw onto upper tray 20, or a hinge 220 which allows cover to fold up or down from an open position to a closed position.

There can also be a clearing poker element 70 which includes a body section 72 and a head 74 which is larger in surface area than body section 72. This clearing poker element 70 is used to poke a clearing hole in bowl 50. For example, body section 72 can be used to insert through an open region of bowl 50 to poke and clear any ashes, resins or residue left after using bowl 50 for smoking. When the user inserts this clearing poker element 70 into the open region of bowl 50, the ashes, resins and/or other resulting residue falls into the base lower tray 30.

Head section 74 is wider than body section 72. Head section 74 can be used to pack any type of tobacco or other smoking condiments into bowl 50. For example, a user can grasp any tobacco or smoking condiments which may be residing in upper tray 20 and hand pack these elements into bowl section 52 of bowl 50. To pack more tobacco or smoking condiments into this area, the user may wish to use the head section 74 of clearing poker element 70 to further push and pack the tobacco or smoking condiments into the bowl section 52 of bowl 50.

When this clearing poker element 70 is not being used, it can be inserted into an insert or hole region 49 (See FIG. 3) in for example, leg 42. Leg 42 which extends up to upper tray 20 can have a hole in the top of this region to allow clearing poker element 70 to insert therein. In addition, clearing poker element 70 can also include an optional attachment element 78, which can be in the form of a string or cord for attaching clearing poker element 70 to the device 10. For example, a string or cord can be attached to clearing poker element 70 at a first end and at an opposite end to leg 42. In this way, the optional attaching element 78 keeps clearing poker element 70 with the rest of the device to keep it from being lost.

FIG. 5 is a top view of lower tray 30. In this view, there is shown a lower tray section 36 which forms a base, which can have one or more indents or receptacles 38 that are proportionate and aligned under the number of hole(s) in the upper tray which receive the bowl(s). The indent(s) or receptacle(s) can be used to receive any water or any remaining liquid type residue drip from the bowl that would reside in lower base tray section 36. Accordingly, bottom tray or lower tray 30 can be used as an ashtray such that users who wish to smoke cigarettes or other rolled smoking condiments can use the side rim 32 to rest and ash the lit cigarette(s) or rolled smoking condiments into the lower base section 36, if necessary. By having the optional indent(s) or receptacle(s) 38, the residue water which remains in this base section drips into the receptacle and is accordingly kept away from any lit cigarette(s) or other rolled smoking condiments. The upper rim or edge 32, can also have optional indents 33, for receiving these cigarette(s) or rolled smoking condiments and holding them in place (See FIG. 4).

The device can be assembled as follows: first, legs 40 can be attached to lower tray 30 in any manner known such as inserting these legs into connecting elements 35, 37 and 39. These legs can then be inserted into connection elements 125 127 and 129 on top upper tray 20 (See FIG. 3). Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the device can be formed as a single molded unit wherein legs 40 are molded to both upper tray 20 and lower tray 30. Once upper tray 20 and lower tray 30 are connected together via legs 40 the device can be used. For example, if these legs are formed as solid elements then, the user only has to insert bowl 50 into channel 26 to start using the product. Alternatively, if legs 40 are telescoping legs such as shown in FIG. 4, then the height of these legs can be adjusted by the user to adjust the spacing distance between upper tray 20 and lower tray 30.

Accordingly, with this design, a user can easily clear and pack tobacco or other smoking condiments into a bowl 50, without losing any valuable tobacco or other smoking condiments from the upper tray 20. The upper tray 20 forms a container for this valuable tobacco or other smoking condiments, while the lower tray 30 forms an ashtray type receptacle allowing a user to dispose of the bowl's ashes, resins or residue into the lower tray 30. The lower tray 30 can also serve as an ashtray such that users who wish to smoke cigarettes or other rolled smoking condiments can use the side rim 32 to rest and ash the lit cigarette(s) or rolled smoking condiments into the lower base section 36. In addition, because upper tray 20 can be closed off by an optional cover, such as cover 60, this upper tray 20 which can also be sealed at a bottom region, can form a sealed container for holding for this valuable tobacco or other smoking condiments. In addition, there is the added feature that this device is detachable and collapsible for easy storage. Last, with this design a user has multiple benefits from this stacked tray to create an easier, practical and more enjoyable overall smoking experience.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of an upper tray. In this view, the tray has an additional rim section 140 which has a plurality of holes 150, 152, 154, 156, and 158 which are spaced apart around this rim section. These plurality of holes are for receiving additional bowls or packing containers. Thus, this additional rim section serves as a storage element for receiving these additional bowls.

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment 210 of the invention. In this view, there is an upper tray 220 which is connected to a lower base section 250 via a set of legs 242 and 244. A lower tray 230 is disposed on top of base section 250. A lock 246 is used to couple legs 242 and 244 together and can be selectively adjusted to allow leg 242 to slide up or down on lock 246. Lock 246 is in the form of a clamp which selectively clamps to these legs via a butterfly adjustment knob 247. Butterfly adjustment knob 247 can be turned to selectively tighten this clamp or loosen this clamp. A bowl can be selectively inserted into holder 226 which can be frusto-conical in shape and then rest inside of this section so that it can be packed with smokeable material. When the bowl is cleaned or cleared, residue from this bowl then flows into and is collected in lower tray 230.

FIG. 8 shows a design that can be one piece which can be made from a one piece molded plastic, carved from wood, or blown from glass. For example FIG. 8 shows another design 310 which includes an upper tray 320, a base section 350 and a support or leg 340 which is formed one piece with upper tray 320 and base section 350. A holder 326 which forms a hole inside is formed frusto-conically but can be formed from any usable shape. This holder 326 is for holding a bowl such as bowl 50 shown in FIG. 1. A lower tray 330 can be placed on base section 350 which can have a substantially circular rim 352 for centering this lower tray on base section 350. Because this design is made from one piece, it is simple in design and easily manufactured.

Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.