GB2026300A - Coaxial bowl and stem - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for use in smoking tobacco having a stem, 1, 2, and a burning chamber 3 co-axial with the stem and open at the end. A cap 4 overlies the burning chamber. Tobacco is inserted into the burning chamber through the open end if the cap is removed, or through an opening in the end of the cap, which opening is then closed by a movable disc. The tobacco is provided in the form of a tube which contains a quantity of ready-rubbed slow burning tobacco. The tube is aluminium foil. The smoking device avoids the disadvantages of known pipes, i.e. filling with loose tobacco and cleaning of the bowl (i.e. burning chamber). The device also avoids the appearance of a pipe and is, therefore, more socially acceptable to women who may wish to smoke tobacco and to people generally who wish to find a substitute for cigarettes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for smoking tobacco This invention relates to a device for smoking tobacco.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in smoking tobacco comprising a stem having a mouthpiece at one end and a burning chamber at the other end, said chamber being coaxial with the stem and having an open end remote from the mouthpiece end, and a cap which overlies the open end of the burning chamber.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a prepared fill pf tobacco comprising a quantity of ready-rubbed tobacco in a tube-forming wrapping made of aluminium foil.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter comprising an outer cylindrical sleeve and an inner body in which the bores are located.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a smoking device according to one aspect of the invention with the dimensions exaggerated for clarity; Figure 2 is a detail; Figure 3 is a tube of tobacco for use with the smoking device; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a filter according to a third aspect of the invention for incorporating in the smoking device.

Referring to the drawings, a device for use in smoking tobacco includes a stem comprising a central part 1 and a mouthpiece 2 at one end thereof, a burning chamber 3 at the other end of the central part 1 co-axial with the stem and a cap 4 located over the chamber 3.

The central part 1 of the stem comprises one elongate tube 10 which has a slightly enlarged tapered external surface at one end, the burning chamber end, and a thin-walled frusto-conical sleeve 11 which tapers inwards towards the mouthpiece end when mounted on the stem. The large diameter end of the sleeve 11 has a stepped collar 1 2 of reduced diameter, the collar 1 2 being spaced from the tube 10, and into the said space is located one end of a tube 1 3 which forms the wall of the burning chamber 3. The tube 1 3 may be of pyrex (RTM) or pyrolitic graphite, but in the present embodiment it is of aluminium.

Graphite or heat resistant resin may also be used.

The base or end wall of the burning chamber 3 is formed by the corresponding end of the tube 10, which end is formed by a metal stud 1 5 having a threaded stem 1 6. which screws into the tube 10. A bore 1 7 passes through the stud and stem so that smoke can pass from the burning chamber along the stem.

The cap 4 encloses the burning chamber 3 and is preferably a thin-walled heat resistant plastics tube, 1 8 with a metal end portion having a perforated end face. In this embodiment the end portion comprises a split ring 20 having a disc 21 mounted therein by means of a longitudinal pivot pin 22 so that the disc can swing outwards transversely as illustrated in Fig. 2 to permit filling or emptying of the burning chamber 3 without the need to remove the cap 4.

The ring 20 includes a pair of small inwardly extending fingers 23 which engage the rim of the burning chamber tube 1 3 when the cap is fully in position. In this position the other end of the cap overlies the collar 1 2 in frictional engagement.

The tobacco is provided in a prepared form each "fill" comprising a small quantity of ready-rubbed slow burning tobacco 30 wrapped in a tube-forming wrapping 31 and in this embodiment the tube is of metal foil, preferably aluminium foil.

A filter 40 is preferably included or is locatable on the inner end of the mouthpiece 2. In this embodiment the filter includes an outer tubular casing 41 of rubber or flexible plastics which fits over a small extension 14 normally provided on pipe mouthpieces, and an inner body 42 having a plurality of very narrow bores 43, e.g. 5 in number.

The smoking device herein before described can be dismantled into five pieces, a mouthpiece 2, the central part 1 of the stem, the sleeve 11, the burning chamber tube 1 3 and the cap 4.

When assembled, the tube 1 3 and cap 4 engage the sleeve 11 and are movable longitudinally therewith along the central part 1 of the stem towards or away from the mouthpiece between two positions respectively a) a retracted position in which the end wall 1 5 of the stem abuts the disc 21 of the cap ring 20, and b) an extended position as shown in Fig.

1 in which the narrow end of the sleeve firmly engages the widening tapered surface of the central part. In the latter position, the end wall 1 5 lies at the inner end of the burning chamber 3.

In use, a fill of tobacco is placed into the burning chamber through the opened end of the cap if located over the burning chamber after which the tobacco is lit. The cap is then closed (or located in position) and the tobacco is smoked.

The cap prevents strands of tobacco or ash from falling out of the burning chamber during use.

After use, the cap is opened (or removed) and the sleeve drawn to its retracted position; this, in effect, forces the end wall 1 5 through the tube 1 3 and ejects the ash and the foil tube 31.

The smoking device, as hereinbefore described, does not resemble a conventional pipe, but is more similar to a cigarette holder though, of course, it is distinguished therefrom by the burning chamber and the cap which covers it. Thus, it will be more socially acceptable to female smokers for special smoking mixtures can be prepared and, in addition, people who normally smoke cigarettes may more easily convert their smoking habits by making use of the smoking device and "cigarettes" of foil wrapped pipe tobacco.

People who normally smoke pipes will find the smoking device, as hereinbefore described, easy to fill and convenient to smoke.

A fill, i.e. a foil wrapped tube of tobacco of the dimensions approximately 1+" long and +" diameter will give a smoke of about 20 minutes and leave no dottle but only ash. The foil will retain the tars from the tobacco thus preventing the burning chamber wall becoming coated as with the bowl of a normal pipe.

When the smoking device is not in use the sleeve can be placed in the retracted position, thus reducing the overall length of the device and the device carried in a pocket, for example, the top pocket of a jacket.

Fills of tobacco could be produced in cigarette-making machines suitably modified and, of course, they could be marketed in packs.

Standard lengths and diameters of the fills and burning chambers can be agreed on by the tobacco and pipe-making industries.

The foil keeps the wrapped tobacco fresh while packaged.

Claims (11)

1. A device for use in smoking tobacco comprising a stem having a mouthpiece at one end and a burning chamber at the other end, said chamber being co-axial with the stem and having an open end remote from the mouthpiece end, and a cap which overlies the open end of the burning chamber.

2. A smoking device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the cap has a tubular body which engages the stem and encloses the burning chamber.

3. A smoking device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the cap includes a perforated disc which is movable relative thereto for access to the burning chamber.

4. A smoking device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the stem comprises a mouthpiece, a central part connected at one end to the mouthpiece and connected at its other end to the burning chamber, said other end of the central part forming an end wall of the burning chamber.

5. A smoking device as claimed in Claim 4, in which a sleeve is mounted on the central part of the stem and is movable thereabout, said sleeve engaging a tube forming the side wall of the burning chamber, which tube is movable relative to the central part whereby the part forming the end wall of the burning chamber is movable through the burning chamber tube to remove contents of the burning chamber.

6. A prepared fill of tobacco comprising a quantity of ready-rubbed tobacco in a tubeforming wrapping in which the tube is of aluminium foil.

7. A fill as claimed in Claim 6, in which the tube is approximately 1 +" long and approximately 3" diameter.

8. A filter for location on the inner end of a mouthpiece of a pipe or of a smoking device as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a cylindrical member having a plurality of very fine bores extending longitudinally therethrough.

9. A filter as claimed in Claim 8, comprising an outer cylindrical sleeve and an inner body in which the bores are located.

1 0. A device for use in smoking tobacco substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A prepared fill of tobacco substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A filter for location on the inner end of a mouthpiece of a pipe or of a smoking device as claimed in Claim 1, substantially with reference to Fig. 4.

1 3. A device for use in smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1 in combination with a prepared fill of tobacco as claimed in Claim 6, said fill being located in the burning chamber of the device.