SMOKING ARTICLE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to the field of smoking articles.

BACKGROUND

In general, a smoking article does not have a hole in the side of its tube. When such a smoking article is coated with a cannabis concentrate (e.g., hashish, wax, oil, resin, kief, etc., or any combination thereof) and smoked by a user, the cannabis concentrate can inadvertently partially combust and accumulate at an opening of the smoking article, which can clog the opening of the smoking article. Even if a smoking article is not coated with a cannabis concentrate, when such a smoking article is smoked, the air flow inside the smoking article may be at least partially stifled by the smoking material inside the smoking article.

There is a need for a smoking article that has a hole in a side of its tube, to increase an air flow inside the tube, which can prevent the opening of the smoking article from clogging during combustion.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In general, a smoking article can include a conical tube made primarily of smoking paper, the conical tube including a first portion defining a first opening, the conical tube including a second portion defining a second opening; a filter positioned inside the first portion of the conical tube; wherein: the conical tube defines a channel between the first opening and the second opening; the first portion of the conical tube wraps around the filter; the second portion of the conical tube does not wrap around the filter; and the second portion of the conical tube defines a single pinhole.

Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. The detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates an illustrative depiction of a smoking article, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 1B illustrates an illustrative depiction of a cross-section of a smoking article taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 1A, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates an illustrative depiction of a first opening of a smoking article, according to some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates an illustrative depiction of a second opening of a smoking article, according to some embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an illustrative depiction of a smoking article, according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the drawings may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described product or methods of use. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood from there.

It is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the products. Accordingly, the product and components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

In general, the embodiments described herein relate to a smoking article. The smoking article can include a tube. The tube can be made primarily of smoking paper (e.g., rolling paper), tobacco leaves, metal, glass, ceramic, porcelain, or any combination thereof. The smoking paper can be made primarily of rice, wheat, wood pulp, or any combination thereof. The tube can include a first portion defining a first opening, and a second portion defining a second opening. The tube can be constructed and arranged to receive a filter in the first portion of the tube. The tube defines a channel between the first opening and the second opening. The first portion of the tube wraps around the filter. In some embodiments, the second portion of the tube may not wrap around the filter. The second portion of the tube defines a hole that improves an air flow inside the tube which helps the smoking paper or other materials burn more evenly and prevents clogging of the second opening of the tube when a user smokes the smoking article.

The smoking paper can be made primarily of any suitable material, such as, for example, one or more plant fibers. The one or more plant fibers can include fibers of wood, hemp, rice, straw, flax, any other plant material(s), or any combination thereof. The smoking paper can be made by making a pulp of the one or more plant fibers. The pulp can be mixed with any suitable liquid such as, for example, water, to form a slurry. The slurry can be spread onto a mesh screen and the screen carrying the slurry can be passed through one or more rollers which apply pressure to the slurry to remove excess liquid from the slurry, thereby forming wet paper. The wet paper can be dried, and pressure can be applied to the wet paper to remove any remaining moisture or liquid. Additives can be added to the paper to improve its burn rate, texture, taste, etc. The paper can then be cut to form sheets or rolls of any desired size(s). In some embodiments, an adhesive (e.g., gum) can be applied to one or more edges so that one or more other edges can overlap and adhere to the one or more edges, allowing the paper to be rolled to form a tube. The tube can be cylindrical, conical, or have any other suitable shape for smoking. The tube can have any suitable length in the range from approximately 20 mm to approximately 125 mm. The tube can have a diameter in the range from approximately 4 mm to 15 mm. An end of the first portion of the tube can have a diameter in the range from approximately 4 mm to 8 mm. An end of the second portion of the tube can have a diameter in the range from approximately 8 mm to 15 mm. The tube can have a diameter that increases along the length of the tube. The tube can be made to contain any amount of dried cannabis in the range from approximately 0.5 grams to approximately 5 grams.

The filter can be made primarily of any suitable material, such as, for example, one or more plant fibers. The filter can be made primarily of a paper that is made in a substantially the same or similar process as is used to make the smoking paper. The filter paper can be made to be stiffer and thicker than the smoking paper. The filter paper can be folded to form a filter that prevents particles of a predetermined size (e.g., approximately 1 mm or larger) from passing through the filter. The filter can be rolled so that its outer surface is cylindrical or conical, so that the filter can be received inside a tube made primarily of a smoking paper. The filter can have any suitable length in the range from approximately 15 mm to approximately 50 mm.

The hole can be formed in the second portion of the smoking paper or other materials of the tube by any suitable method. The hole can be formed by puncturing the second portion of the smoking paper with, for example, a pin (e.g., a needle, a toothpick, etc.). The hole can have any diameter in the range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 2 mm.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a smoking article 10 can comprise a tube 12 made primarily of smoking paper. The tube 12 can include a first portion 21 defining a first opening 31. The tube 12 can include a second portion 22 defining a second opening 32. The first portion 21 can be connected to (e.g., integrated with) the second portion 22.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a filter 14 can be positioned inside the first portion 21 of the tube 12. The tube 12 can define a channel 40 between the first opening 31 and the second opening 32. The channel 40 can be in fluid communication with the first opening 31 and the second opening 32. The first portion 21 of the tube 12 can wrap around the filter 14. In some embodiments, the second portion 22 of the tube 12 does not wrap around the filter 14. The channel 40 can be defined by at least the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 of the tube 12. The channel 40 can be further defined by the filter 14.

In some embodiments, the second portion 22 of the tube 12 can at least partially define a hole 50. In some embodiments, the hole 50 can be a pinhole. The hole 50 can be in fluid communication with the channel 40. The hole 50 can be formed at any position in the second portion 22 of the tube 12. In some embodiments, the hole 50 is not formed over the filter 14. In some embodiments, the hole 50 can be formed at a predetermined distance 51 from the filter 14. In some embodiments, the predetermined distance 51 can be measured along a length 52 of the tube 12. In some embodiments, the predetermined distance 51 can be in the range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 10 mm. In some embodiments, the predetermined distance 51 can be 10 mm or less. In some embodiments, an edge 53 of the tube 12 that defines the hole 50 can be aligned with an edge 54 of the filter 14.

The hole 50 can improve an air flow 62 inside the channel 40 of the smoking article 10 when a portion 70 of the smoking article 10 combusts. As the portion 70 of the smoking article 10 combusts, the oxygen inside the channel 40 is removed by the combustion, reducing the pressure inside the channel 40. As the pressure inside the channel 40 is reduced, air is pulled through the first opening 31 and into the channel 40 and through the second opening 32 and into the channel 40. Air is also pulled to generate an air flow 61 through the hole 50 and into the channel 40. The hole 50 provides an additional pathway for air to flow into the channel 40, increasing the rate of the combustion of the portion 70 of the smoking article 10.

When one or more cannabis concentrates (e.g., resin, kief, or any combination thereof) are applied to an outer surface 71 of the tube 12, the hole 50, being an additional pathway for air to flow into the channel 40, prevents the portion 70 of the tube 12 and the one or more cannabis concentrates from partially combusting. The hole 50 can facilitate the complete combustion of the portion 70 of the tube 12 and the one or more cannabis concentrates.

Referring to FIG. 2, the filter 14 can include a folded filter paper that prevents particles with a diameter of approximately 1 mm or larger from passing through the filter 14 and through the first opening 31. Referring to FIG. 3, the second opening 32 can be larger than the first opening 31. The second portion 22 of the tube 12 can contain any suitable smoking material 80 (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, a cannabis concentrate, or any combination thereof). The smoking material 80 can be inserted into the tube 12 through the second opening 32. One or more edges 81 can overlap and adhere to one or more other edges 82 to form the tube 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, a smoking article 10′ can include a cylindrical tube 12′. The tube 12′ can include a first portion 21′ defining a first opening 31′, and a second portion 22′ defining a second opening 32′. In some embodiments, the second portion 22′ can define a single hole 50′.

The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, products, and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, products, and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and are still considered to be within the scope of the invention.

According to variation 1, a smoking article can include a conical tube made primarily of smoking paper, the conical tube including a first portion defining a first opening, the conical tube including a second portion defining a second opening; and a filter positioned inside the first portion of the conical tube; wherein: the conical tube defines a channel between the first opening and the second opening; the first portion of the conical tube wraps around the filter; the second portion of the conical tube does not wrap around the filter; and the second portion of the conical tube at least partially defines a single pinhole.

Variation 2 can include the smoking article of variation 1, wherein the pinhole is positioned 1 cm or less from the filter.

Variation 3 can include the smoking article of variation 1, wherein the pinhole has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 2 mm.

Variation 4 can include the smoking article of variation 1, wherein the pinhole has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 1.6 mm.

Variation 5 can include the smoking article of variation 1, wherein the conical tube is made primarily of one or more plant fibers.

Variation 6 can include the smoking article of variation 1, wherein the filter is made primarily of one or more plant fibers.

According to variation 7, a smoking article can include a conical tube made primarily of smoking paper, the conical tube including a first portion defining a first opening, the conical tube including a second portion defining a second opening; a filter positioned inside the first portion of the conical tube; wherein: the conical tube defines a channel between the first opening and the second opening; the first portion of the conical tube wraps around the filter; the second portion of the conical tube does not wrap around the filter; and the second portion of the conical tube at least partially defines a pinhole.

Variation 8 can include the smoking article of variation 7, wherein the pinhole is positioned 1 cm or less from the filter.

Variation 9 can include the smoking article of variation 7, wherein the pinhole has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 2 mm.

Variation 10 can include the smoking article of variation 7, wherein the pinhole has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 1.6 mm.

Variation 11 can include the smoking article of variation 7, wherein the conical tube is made primarily of one or more plant fibers.

Variation 12 can include the smoking article of variation 7, wherein the filter is made primarily of one or more plant fibers.

According to variation 13, a smoking article can include a conical tube made primarily of smoking paper, the conical tube including a first portion defining a first opening, the conical tube including a second portion defining a second opening; a filter positioned inside the first portion of the conical tube; wherein: the conical tube defines a channel between the first opening and the second opening; the first portion of the conical tube wraps around the filter; the second portion of the conical tube does not wrap around the filter; and the second portion of the conical tube at least partially defines a single hole that is not positioned over the filter.

Variation 14 can include the smoking article of variation 13, wherein the pinhole is positioned 1 cm or less from the filter.

Variation 15 can include the smoking article of variation 13, wherein the pinhole has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 4 mm.

Variation 16 can include the smoking article of variation 13, wherein the pinhole has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 1.6 mm.

Variation 17 can include the smoking article of variation 13, wherein the conical tube is made primarily of one or more plant fibers.

Variation 18 can include the smoking article of variation 13, wherein the filter is made primarily of one or more plant fibers.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for anyone of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations, and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible considering the above teachings without departing from the following claims.