SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR A BUBBLING WATER PIPE

Description

FIELD

The present specification relates generally to smoking devices, and more specifically to bubbling water pipes.

BACKGROUND

There are two major types of existing bubbling water pipes, “hookahs” and “bongs”. These devices allow a user to draw smoke that passes through water and up a tube into the user's mouth and lungs.

Both hookahs and bongs attempt to provide a smoother, cooler inhalation experience through water filtration as the smoke becomes filtered of tar, ash, and other substances. However, the resulting water becomes dirty. Further, current bong and hookah options often lack sufficient cooling mechanisms, resulting in harsh, hot smoke that can irritate the throat and diminish the overall smoking experience.

Currently available bongs and hookahs options are notoriously difficult to clean due to their structural complexity and the nature of the residues they accumulate. The smoke passing through these devices contains tar, resin, ash, and other sticky particulates that cling to the internal surfaces. Over time, these deposits build up, creating thick, hard-to-remove layers that affect both performance and hygiene.

Another issue shared by current devices is odor retention and microbial growth. Residual moisture in the base or hose creates an environment where bacteria and mold can thrive, especially if the device isn't cleaned frequently. These microbial contaminants produce foul smells and can also pose health risks to users.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments, a smoking device includes a bowl tube connectible to a container at a first end and in fluid connection with a vacuum chamber at a second end, the vacuum chamber configured to hold a liquid, the second end of the bowl tube positioned in the liquid; and a drawing tube in fluid connection with the vacuum chamber, the drawing tube and the bowl tube each passing through a stopper, the stopper configured to seal an opening of the vacuum chamber.

According to some embodiments, method for assembling the smoking device includes connecting the bowl tube, the container, the vacuum chamber, the stopper, and the drawing tube.

According to some embodiments, a smoking device includes a bowl tube and a drawing tube each extending through a stopper, the bowl tube extending further past a bottom end of the stopper than the drawing tube.

Other aspects and features and combinations thereof concerning embodiments described herein will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the instant disclosure of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, embodiments of the disclosure, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water pipe, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a bowl tube and a drawing tube of the water pipe of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a bowl tube and a drawing tube of the water pipe of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a bowl attached to the bowl tube of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a bowl tube and a drawing tube of the water pipe of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein is a device 100 that can be configured as a bubbling water pipe for cooling smoke and removing particulate material from it prior to inhalation, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, device 100 allows for improved cooling, easier cleaning, and/or for either a replaceable or customized artisan glass vacuum chamber and stopper. Device 100 can be used with small amounts of smoking material such as marijuana “bud” or “flower” or hashish to optimize efficiency and economy and to prevent the waste of smoking material and minimize the release into the air of smoke which has not been inhaled.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of device 100, according to an embodiment. Device 100 includes a container 140 such as a bowl (e.g., brass or copper), a screen 170 (e.g., brass, mesh), a first tube 110 configured for connection to a vacuum chamber 130 partially filled with water or other non-toxic liquid 160, a second tube 120 configured for allowing smoke to be drawn through and inhaled, and a stopper 150. The first tube is referred to herein as a bowl tube 110 even where the bowl tube is connected to a container that is not a bowl, and the second tube is referred to herein as a drawing tube 120. Bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 can be thin and copper. Other materials and dimensions can be used in various embodiments. As assembled, bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 are each fluidly connected with vacuum chamber 130 and each pass through stopper 150. Stopper 150 is sized and dimensioned to seal an opening of vacuum chamber 130. Stopper 150 can be comprised of cork, silicone or rubber material or other materials according to various embodiments. Stopper 150 can be sized and dimensioned differently according to the size and dimension of an opening of vacuum chamber 130. For example, multiple stoppers 150 can be provided for use with different sized vacuum chambers 130. Stopper 150 includes at least one hole through which bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 pass through. For example, stopper 150 includes two holes, one for each of bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 in some embodiments. Screen 170 is configured to reduce passage of matter from container 140 into vacuum chamber 130 through bowl tube 110. Screen 170 is supported in position by a circlip, in some embodiments. The container 140 may be secured to the bowl tube 110 by appropriate threaded fasteners 180. According to some embodiments, the resulting bowl tube unit 105 (comprising the container 140, the threaded fasteners 180, and the bowl tube 110), may not be separated as the components are pressure fitted together.

In some embodiments, vacuum chamber 130 is configured to hold water or other liquid 160 and receive bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 through at least one opening. At least one opening is sealed with stopper 150, and no gas can enter or leave vacuum chamber 130 except through bowl tube 110 or drawing tube 120. In some embodiments, a single opening sealed with a single stopper 150 containing two holes through which bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 is inserted for use.

In operation, smoking material is placed in container 140. Container 140 is in fluid connection with an opening at a first end of bowl tube 110, while an opening at a second end of bowl tube 110 is placed in fluid contained in vacuum chamber 130. Smoking material is burned and gas (e.g., smoke) enters through the opening at the first end of bowl tube 110, passes through screen 170, continues to move through bowl tube 110, and exits bowl tube 110 at the opening at the second end of bowl tube 110. Vacuum chamber 130 can be a custom-made piece of “artisan” glass or a used wine, liquor, or other replaceable bottle, for example. Marbles, stones, or other objects small enough to fit through the mouth of vacuum chamber 130 can be placed at the bottom of vacuum chamber 130 to act as a “baffle” to increase the dissipation of gas as it bubbles through the liquid 160 to the upper part of the vacuum chamber from which it can be drawn through drawing tube 120 and inhaled.

In some embodiments, each opening can be one or more openings, such as a collection of openings.

Vacuum chamber 130 can be easily replaced and sized and dimensioned to be large enough to allow for a greater cooling effect on the gas. In some embodiments, bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 are each thin copper tubes rather than larger bore tubes to connect container 140 to vacuum chamber 130 and vacuum chamber 130 to the user for inhalation of smoke, and this also allows for a greater cooling effect. In some embodiments, small objects can be placed in vacuum chamber 130 to act as a baffle for the gas so as to also cause a greater cooling effect. According to some embodiments, as long flexible tubes are not used and vacuum chamber 130 is not integrated with the rest of the unit, device 100 is more easily cleaned.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a bowl tube unit 105 of device 100, the bowl tube unit 110 and drawing tube 120 having example dimensions, according to some embodiments. Specifically, FIGS. 2 and 3 show a drawing tube of approximately 9 inches in length and 5 inches in height (resulting from its curve), and a bowl tube 110 of approximately 12 inches in length. In other embodiments, other dimensions of bowl tube 110 and/or drawing tube 120 are possible. Bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 are shown assembled to pass through stopper 150.

FIG. 4 shows a container 140 attached to the bowl tube 110, the container having example dimensions, according to some embodiments. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows a container 140 with a diameter of approximately 15 millimeters. In other embodiments, other dimensions of container 140 are possible.

FIG. 5 shows a container 140 attached to a bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 of a disassembled device 100, according to some embodiments. Specifically, FIG. 5 shows a drawing tube of approximately 8 inches in length and 4 inches in height (resulting from its curve), and a bowl tube 110 of approximately 12 inches in length. In other embodiments, other dimensions of bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 are possible.

There are two major types of existing bubbling pipes, “hookahs” and “bongs”. The bowl of a hookah is typically meant to hold enough smoking material for several minutes of simultaneous use. They are often elaborate devices with a number of tubes, usually made from flexible material such as plastic or rubber, from which several smokers draw smoke simultaneously. The vacuum chamber is often ornate, frequently made of brass or other metal, and is expected to be the one and only vacuum chamber used for the “life” of the device. Hookahs are wasteful of the material being smoked and hard to clean. The pipes from which the smoke is drawn, because of the materials used, tend to have a limited cooling effect.

Bongs and similar bubbling water pipes tend to permit the passage of smoke from the device to the user through large bore drawing tube. The vacuum chambers tend to be relatively small and are typically made of custom-blown glass with both the bowl, the bowl tube, and the drawing tube being all part of an integrated glass unit. The short, large bore glass tube at the top of the vacuum chamber is meant to allow the user to inhale a large single “burst” of smoke. Often there is a secondary air vent at the top of the vacuum chamber to be covered by the user's finger which can be removed to allow additional air to enter the vacuum chamber through the vent to mix with the smoke which has been drawn into the vacuum chamber through the bowl tube. The relatively small vacuum chamber, which is partially filled with water or other liquid, and the large bore drawing tube can provide limited cooling compared to thin copper tubes and larger cooling chamber of embodiments of device 100 which, as noted herein, may have further cooling effect if marbles or other like objects have been added to dissipate the smoke as it rises through the liquid from the lower submersed end of the bowl tube.

Both bongs and hookahs are difficult to clean. The long flexible drawing tubes of a hookah, being made of plastic or rubber, are subject to damage, and it is difficult to force a rod or wire with a cleaning “wad” through the tube. The tubes may suffer damage if heated or subjected to harsh cleaning fluids. The vacuum chamber, which is expected to last the ‘lifetime” of the device, can be cleaned but not replaced. A glass bong with its integrated parts is also difficult to clean. The integrated unit cannot be disassembled, and each part must be cleaned “in place”. There are many junctions within the integrated unit which are difficult to reach with cleaning rods, wires, or brushes such as the junction of the bowl tube and the vacuum chamber or the junction of the drawing tube and the vacuum chamber. Because the vacuum chamber is part of the integrated unit it cannot be changed or replaced.

In some embodiments, device 100 provides improved cooling by forcing the smoke through the long thin copper tubing (e.g., ¼ inch (o/d)) used for both bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120. These small-bore copper tubes force the smoke into contact with the inside copper surfaces which naturally conduct heat inherent in the smoke through the copper to the coolant. The cooling effect is affected by and may be increased by reducing the temperature of the coolant. As the smoke exits bowl tube 110, it bubbles up through the water further cooling the smoke by direct contact with the coolant. Most particulate material from the smoke can be captured by the coolant. Direct contact with the coolant and increased cooling can occur if the smoke is further dissipated by the placement of marbles or other objects in the coolant at the bottom of the vacuum chamber. When smoke bubbles into the air space above the coolant it can then be drawn through the drawing tube by the suction created by the user. Again, the smoke is further cooled by being drawn through a long small-bore copper pipe. According to further embodiments, the thin tubing may be made of plastics, such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), or rubber or metal such as stainless steel.

Device 100 allows for more complete and easier cleaning, according to some embodiments. Device 100 has tubes made of metal, in some embodiments, which can withstand heat and abrasive and corrosive cleaning materials The bowl tube unit 105, draw tube 120 and screen 170 can all be removed for very complete cleaning with a moderately flexible wire or rod capable of fitting down the tube can be used as a “ramrod” for cleaning both bowl tube 110 and drawing tube 120 and/or the use of readily available household solvents such as isopropyl alcohol. Drawing tube 120 can be gently curved according to some embodiments. Vacuum chamber 130, if made of artisan glass, can be cleaned separately using brushes and cleaners used with glass bottles, or can be exchanged with a different chamber such as a bottle.

The described implementations herein of the present disclosure are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications, and variations may be effected to the particular implementations without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

While the foregoing provides certain non-limiting example embodiments, it should be understood that combinations, subsets, and variations of the foregoing are contemplated.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described in detail. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.