US20210204597A1

US20210204597A1 - Smoking device

Info

Publication number: US20210204597A1
Application number: US16/735,133
Authority: US
Inventors: Geoff Deabreu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-01-06
Filing date: 2020-01-06
Publication date: 2021-07-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a forced-air smoking device, comprising: a hollow body, the hollow body operable to hold a smokable product, the hollow body comprising: a tip at one end and a forced-air input at an opposite end, and a holder disposed within the body, the holder adapted to hold an ignited smokable product, and a thumb hole, the thumb hole disposed between the forced-air input and the holder; and an air hose, the air hose coupled at a first end to the forced-air input and at a second end to a forced-air source, wherein, when the thumb hole is covered, the forced-air source forces air through the hose, into the body, over the smokable product and out the tip to produce a stream of smoke from the smokable product.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present specification relates generally to a smoking device, and more particularly to a forced-air smoking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Smoking of tobacco and other substances via rolled cigarettes, cigars and the like has been known for centuries. Generally, rolled cigarettes or the like consists of shredded tobacco or another smokable substance wrapped in a flammable paper, optionally with a filter at the end which is inserted into the user's mouth. Other methods of preparation may be used for cigars or similar products.
However, the nature of cigarettes requires the user to draw breath with some force to maintain the ignition of the cigarette and draw smoke into the user's mouth and lungs. Thus, the draw of smoke is affected by the user's ability to forcefully draw breathe. Additionally, cigarettes provide a limited ability to share or exchange with others, as the ends/tips and filters (if present) are readily contaminated by the user's saliva.
Thus, it would be desirable to have a smoking device which at least partially mitigates some of the existing disadvantages of cigarettes and similar products.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a forced-air smoking device.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a forced-air smoking device, comprising: a hollow body, the hollow body operable to hold a smokable product, the hollow body comprising: a tip at one end and a forced-air input at an opposite end, and a holder disposed within the body, the holder adapted to hold an ignited smokable product, and a thumb hole, the thumb hole disposed between the forced-air input and the holder; and an air hose, the air hose coupled at a first end to the forced-air input and at a second end to a forced-air source, wherein, when the thumb hole is covered, the forced-air source forces air through the hose, into the body, over the smokable product and out the tip to produce a stream of smoke from the smokable product.
The stream of smoke is produced as a short range jet of a few inches before dissipating, therefore, the user may ingest the smoke by opening their mouth and positioning the smoking end of the smoking device around 2-4 inches from their face
The smoking device may further comprise a transparent section in the hollow body, the transparent section permitting viewing of the holder from the exterior of the body. Further, a light source may be provided within the hollow body, the light source illuminating the hollow body when active to permit viewing through the transparent section. Additionally, any or all parts of the smoking device may be removable for cleaning or replacement.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of smoking a smokeable product via a forced-air smoking device, comprising: placing the smokeable product into a holder disposed within the smoking device; igniting the smokeable product; activating a forced-air source coupled to the smoking device; covering a thumb hole in the smoking device such that forced-air from the forced-air input passes of the smokeable product to produce a stream of smoke from the smoking device which is inhalable by a user as described above.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a side view of a smoking device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view of the smoking device of FIG. 1.

Like reference numerals indicated like or corresponding elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to smoking devices and, in particular, to a forced-air smoking device.
According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, a forced air smoking device 100 comprises a hollow body 110 with a smoking end 120 and a forced air input 130. Control of air flow through the smoking device 100 is provided via thumb hole 140. Forced air input 130 is connected to a forced-air source 160 via a hose 150. Air source 160 may be an air pump which drives air through hose 150 or an air bladder which stores air, which is then released through hose 150 either by natural pressure of the air bladder or by applied pressure from the user or a third party.
As shown in FIG. 2, smoking end 120 is formed from a holder 210 and a tip 220. The holder 210 holds the smokable 230, which may be a rolled or packed amount of a smokable material (e.g. tobacco, marijuana, herbs). The holder 210 should be formed from a heat-resistant material, whereas tip 220 may be made of plastic or similar material. Holder 210 and tip 220 may also be removeable for cleaning or replacement.
In operation, the hollow body 110 is opened, preferably by removing air input 130 by unscrewing or other means. The smokable 230 is placed into holder 210 and lit. Hollow body 110 is then closed. Air will then flow into hollow body 110 from the air source 160 through the hose 150 and air input 130 and out through thumb hole 140 according to the path shown by arrows “A” in FIG. 2. To use smoking device 100, the user covers thumb hole 140 with a thumb or finger, causing the air flow path to be redirected through the lit smokable along path “B” in FIG. 2. A stream of smoke “C” is then emitted from the smoking device through tip 220 in smoking end 120. The stream of smoke is produced as a short range jet of a few inches before dissipating, therefore, the user may ingest the smoke by opening their mouth and positioning the smoking end 120 of the smoking device 100 around 2-4 inches from their face.
As the user's mouth is not required to contact the tip 220, the smoking device 100 (and smokable 230) may be shared without risk of contamination. Also, as the default air flow “A” does not pass air through smokable 230, if the smoking device is left alone or abandoned for a few minutes, the smokable will no longer remain lit, reducing the risk of fire or other accidents. Similarly, the ashes from the consumed smokable 230 are contained within the hollow body 110 and can be tamped out for disposal by removing air input 130, making the smoking process cleaner and more contained. However, for convenience in other applications, a removable cap or plug may be provided to cover thumb hole 140, in which case control of the smoke would be provided through actuation of forced-air source 160 instead.
The interior of smoking device 100 may further contain a light source 240 which illuminates the interior of hollow body 110. The light may assist in positioning the smokable 230 into the holder 210 under low-light conditions (e.g. outdoors at night). Further, hollow body 110 may further contain a transparent window 170 to permit the user to look inside and view the status of the smokable 230 without opening hollow body 110. Any or all of the hollow body 110, the light source 240 and transparent window 170 may be colored for decorative and identification purposes, if desired.
As shown, hollow body 110 is generally cylindrical in shape. While a cylindrical shape may be preferred due to a resemblance to existing smokables (cigarettes, cigars, etc.), other shapes, such as a rectangular or triangular prism, may be used without any substantive change in functionality. Further, the hollow body may be symmetrical or asymmetrical as desired (including custom shapes, such as letters, animals, etc.) as long as the air flow path remains as described herein.
It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or 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.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A forced-air smoking device, comprising:

a hollow body, the hollow body operable to hold a smokable product, the hollow body comprising:

a tip at one end and a forced-air input at an opposite end, and a holder disposed within the body, the holder adapted to hold an ignited smokable product, and a thumb hole, the thumb hole disposed between the forced-air input and the holder; and

an air hose, the air hose coupled at a first end to the forced-air input and at a second end to a forced-air source,

wherein, when the thumb hole is covered, the forced-air source forces air through the hose, into the body, over the smokable product and out the tip to produce a stream of smoke from the smokable product.

2. The smoking device of claim 1, wherein the forced-air source is an air pump.

3. The smoking device of claim 1, wherein the forced-air source is a user-actuated air bladder.

4. The smoking device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent section in the hollow body, the transparent section permitting viewing of the holder from the exterior of the body.

5. The smoking device of claim 4, further comprising a light source within the hollow body, the light source illuminating the hollow body when active.

6. The smoking device of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is cylindrical in shape. The smoking device of claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a non-circular cross-section.

8. The smoking device of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is asymmetrical.

9. The smoking device of claim 1, wherein one or more of: the tip, the air input and the holder are removeable.

10. A method of smoking a smokeable product via a forced-air smoking device, comprising:

placing the smokeable product into a holder disposed within the smoking device;

igniting the smokeable product;

activating a forced-air source coupled to the smoking device;

covering a thumb hole in the smoking device such that forced-air from the forced-air input passes of the smokeable product to produce a stream of smoke from the smoking device which is inhalable by a user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the forced-air source is an air pump.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the forced-air source is a user-actuated air bladder.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the smoking device further comprises a transparent section, the transparent section permitting viewing of the smokable product without opening the smoking device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising activating a light source within the smoking device to permit viewing through the transparent section.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising decoupling the forced-air source from the smoking device to permit removal and disposal of consumed smokeable product.