US20030221697A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20030221697A1
Application number: US10/159,501
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Erickson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-31
Filing date: 2002-05-31
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Also published as: US7350523B1

Abstract

An elongated tobacco smoking pipe having an outer band (12) that may slide along a body (10) and may be positioned to cover a transverse-smoking cavity (22). The outer band may have either a dimple (26) or a coating (28) to aid with friction. A bore (18) communicates with either an end-smoking cavity (20) or the transverse-smoking cavity or both to carry the smoke mixture to a draw end (14). An end cap (24) may be placed over the end-smoking cavity to secure the embers or the tobacco. Also an end cap (24a) with an end-cap hole (30) may be used to assist in controlling the smoke to air mixture. Either smoking cavity may have and inner liner (32) to protect the body from hot embers. The body may have two pieces (10a&10b), allowing the smoker to cover the end-smoking cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.[0001]

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention[0002]

This invention relates to tobacco smoking pipes.[0003]

2. Discussion of Prior Art[0004]

There have been many attempts in the past to provide smokers a smoking device that satisfies the urge to smoke yet aids them in cutting down, is convenient to use and carry, and is affordable to purchase.[0005]

Smoking accessory retailers, mail order companies, and on-line brokers have extensive lines of smoking accessories including pipes. What is a pipe? It's an instrument for the enjoyment of burning tobacco.[0006]

The pastime of pipe smoking has been in existence for centuries. Conventional tobacco pipes incorporate a bowl with a smoking cavity and a perpendicular bore attached to a separate stem. This conventional pipe is generally rather large to fit in a trouser pocket. Also the stem must be removed from the bowl for cleaning. Most pipe stems are made of hard rubber or plastic which smokers tend to chew.[0007]

Generally the stem is frictionally engaged with the bowl, so that the stem must be removed from the bowl using an awkward twisting, pulling motion. The smoking cavity is filled with tobacco for smoking requiring an awkward scoop shovel motion.[0008]

Pipes are made from bamboo, bone, clay, crustacean shells, gourds, metal, nuts, porcelain, roots, wood, etc. These pipes tend to be bulky, making them inherently difficult for the smoker to transport.[0009]

The most popular kinds of pipe have traditionally been made of woods like briar, which is the root of a Mediterranean shrub. It has been said that the wood is at its best at ages over 100 years making such pipes costly to manufacture. Traditional shapes are cut from hardwood burl and are therefore bulky and thus do not rest well in an ashtray nor slip into a pocket conveniently.[0010]

Meerschaum, also widely used in pipe making, is fine white clay from turkey. This “sea spay” was created over 150 million years ago by crustacean shells. After the dangerous mining process the rock is boiled for days to remove salt, then it is treated with oils and waxes to give strength to the brittle stone. Meerschaum pipes are usually adorned with intricate carvings, and change in color as they are used. These pipes are also expensive to produce, bulky, and inconvenient to carry.[0011]

All pipes heretofore known suffer from one or more of a number of disadvantages:[0012]

a) they create an uncomfortable bulge in the pocket[0013]

b) they require a separate container for the transporting of tobacco[0014]

c) the tobacco must be scooped to fill the pipe[0015]

d) if any, they have elaborate devices incorporated to store tobacco[0016]

e) if any, they have elaborate devices incorporated to regulate air to smoke mixture[0017]

f) they have no way to prevent debris from spilling[0018]

g) they don't sit well in a conventional ash tray[0019]

h) they don't aid the smoker in cutting down tobacco consumption[0020]

i) they don't clean easily and require disassembly to do so[0021]

j) they appear clumsy in a smokers mouth[0022]

k) they require considerable effort to put away after smoking[0023]

l) they are expensive to manufacture.[0024]

There are patents for devices called cigar pipes and smoking tubes that do fit conveniently into trouser pocket, however, these are complicated devices to fill and are a nuts and bolts type of solution to the previous bulky pipe. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,988 to Titus (1988) is a very complicated device to use and expensive to manufacture.[0025]

U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,232 to Chkadua (2001) provides a cover for the smoking cavity but when it is rotated to reveal the cavity, it resembles a jagged block. There are other patents in this category like U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,626 to Caulkins (1988) that have many parts to provide a simple cover for the pipe. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,607 to Claesens (1981) is a tube made entirely of glass not a pleasing material to smoke from besides being fragile and easy to break upon dropping.[0026]

A pipe that allows the user to regulate the mixture of smoke and air is in U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,258 to Steiner (1986). This device has separate passages to open and close, again an extremely complicated device for blending smoke and air. Another even more expensive to produce and complicated to use pipe is U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,554 to Rowland, et al.(2001) that includes adjustable reservoirs, various bores and parts that blend the mixture.[0027]

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,658 to Crow (1980) is a smoking system that has a container for the storage of tobacco and the pipe. This patent has the disadvantage of having many parts, which can be lost.[0028]

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention a smoking pipe comprises a solid material extruded to a certain length as a circle extruded to a cylinder and resembling a cigar, a central bore running the length of the pipe and parallel to the extruded sides, a one or two piece pipe body that may hide or reveal a smoking cavity, one or both of the following smoking cavities: a) a smoking cavity hollowed into the end of the pipe connected to and in line with the bore and b) a smoking cavity hollowed into the side of the pipe connected and perpendicular to the bore, an outer band around the pipe that may be slid to cover or uncover the smoking cavity, a cover that may be slipped over the hollowed end, and a liner that will protect the smoking cavity from the burning embers.[0029]

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:[0030]

a) to provide a sleek attractive pipe that looks, lights, and smokes like a cigar,[0031]

b) to provide a pipe that can also be used as a holder for conventional cigarettes;[0032]

c) to provide a pipe that can be used as a quit smoking aid,[0033]

d) to provide a pipe that an be used as a placebo, that can comfort the smoker yet remain unlit;[0034]

e) to provide a pipe with a shape that will fit into a conventional cigar case;[0035]

f) to provide a pipe that fits conveniently into ones pocket;[0036]

g) to provide a pipe that has a movable band that would cover the smoking cavity;[0037]

h) to provide a pipe in which one can store tobacco without fear of spillage for smoking at a later time;[0038]

i) to provide a pipe in which one can put out the smoldering embers immediately and slip into a pocket without fear of spilling embers;[0039]

j) to provide a pipe that fits easily into a conventional ash tray;[0040]

k) to provide a pipe that does not display the smoking cavity while not in use;[0041]

l) to provide a pipe that has two smoking cavities that can be used individually or in conjunction with each other[0042]

m) to provide a pipe in which one can control the amount of air in the smoke mixture;[0043]

n) to provide a pipe in which one can dry the tobacco prior to lighting and smoking;[0044]

Further objects and advantages are to provide a pipe that can be used easily and conveniently to smoke tobacco, which is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be used by cigarette smokers, by cigar smokers, and by pipe smokers. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.[0045]

DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawings closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.[0046]

FIGS. 1A & 1B show a pipe with a circular cross section and supplied with an outer band and an end-smoking cavity.[0047]

FIG. 1C shows a similar pipe with a conventional cigarette positioned for insertion.[0048]

FIGS. 2A & 2B show a similar pipe supplied with an inner liner and a two-piece pipe body[0049]

FIGS. 3A & 3B show a similar pipe supplied with an end cap.[0050]

FIGS. 4A to[0051]4D show a similar pipe with a transverse-smoking cavity replacing the end-smoking cavity.

FIGS. 5A to[0052]5C show a similar pipe supplied with both an end and transverse-smoking cavity.

FIGS. 6A & 6B show a similar pipe supplied with both an end and transverse-smoking cavity, and provided with both an outer band and an end cap with a hole.[0053]

FIGS. 7A to[0054]7D show a longitudinal section of the draw end of various embodiments of a pipe.

FIGS. 8A to[0055]8F show a longitudinal section of the smoking end of various embodiments of a pipe.

FIGS. 9A to[0056]9D show end views of pipes having various cross sectional shapes and looking from the smoking end toward the draw end.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0057]10 body

[0058]10a2^ndbody piece

[0059]10b1^stbody piece

[0060]12 coated-outer band

[0061]12adimpled-outer band

[0062]14 draw end

[0063]16 smoking end

[0064]18 bore

[0065]20 end-smoking cavity

[0066]22 transverse-smoking cavity

[0067]24 end cap

[0068]24aend cap with hole

[0069]26 dimple

[0070]28 coating

[0071]30 end-cap hole

[0072]32 inner liner

DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A to[0073]1C—Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of the pipe of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A (perspective view), FIG. 1B (longitudinal section), and FIG. 1C (longitudinal section). The pipe has a[0074]

body

10 of uniform cross section consisting of a material that win enhance the smoking of tobacco. In the preferred embodiment, a brass-outer band12 nearly 5 cm long and about 0.5 mm thick slides along a cylindrical black-walnut body. However, the body can be made of any suitable material such as maple, granite, brass, ceramic, etc. that will withstand the embers of tobacco and not impart unwanted flavor into the smoke. The pipe body is nearly 2 cm in diameter and easily extruded, machined or fashioned using existing manufacturing processes to a length of approximately 15 cm. Also, the band can be made of any other suitable material such as steel, copper, glass, ceramic, etc.

At a[0075]

smoking end

16, of the pipe is an end-smokingcavity20 which leads to a throughbore18 that carries the smoke to adraw end14 of the body. As seen in FIG. IC, the cavity is sized to receive a cigarette as well as loose tobacco. The bore can be formed by machining, boring, or extruding and the cavity can be formed by machining or boring. The body of the pipe is typically 1 cm to 2.5 cm across and 8 cm to 15 cm in length. The draw end of the pipe is typically rounded and smooth. The band has acoating28 of lacquer or similar substance.

FIGS.[0076]2A-6B—Additional Embodiments

Additional embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2A through 6B. In FIGS. 2A and 2B the pipe has a two-piece body with the band fixed to a 2[0077]^nd

body piece

10aallowing the 1^st

body piece

10bto be flipped and positioned to conceal the smoking cavity, also FIGS. 2A and 2B show the smoking cavity has aninner liner32; in FIG. 3A the smoking end of the pipe has an end cap24awith ahole30; in FIG. 3B it has anend cap24 without a hole; in FIGS. 4A and 4B the end-smoking cavity is replaced by a transverse-smoking cavity22 and the band has adimple26 and is positioned to reveal the cavity; in FIGS. 4C and 4D the band is positioned to cover the cavity; in FIGS. 5A and 5B the pipe incorporates both types of cavity with the band positioned to reveal the cavity, in FIG. 5C the band is positioned over the transverse cavity, in addition, FIGS. 5A and 5C show the liner for the transverse cavity, FIGS. 6A and 6B also have two smoking cavities with the addition of the end cap.

FIGS.[0078]7A-9D—Alternative Embodiments

There are various possibilities with regard to the cross sectional and end shape of the pipe as illustrated in FIGS. 7A through 8F which are details in longitudinal section and FIGS. 9A through 9D which are cross sectional views. FIGS. 7A to[0079]7D show various shapes of the draw end of a pipe; FIGS. 8A to8F show possible smoking end shapes of a pipe; FIGS. 9A to9D illustrate different cross sectional shapes of a pipe looking from the smoking end toward the draw end

Advantages[0080]

From the above description, a number of advantages of my “cigar o rama” tobacco smoking pipes become evident:[0081]

a) it provides the smoker a sleek attractive pipe that looks, lights, and smokes like a cigar,[0082]

b) the smoker can also smoke conventional cigarettes in the pipe;[0083]

c) a smoker can use it as a quit smoking aid, using it as a placebo, that can comfort the smoker yet remain unlit;[0084]

d) the smoker can travel with the pipe in a conventional cigar case or conveniently into ones pocket;[0085]

e) with the movable band slipped over the smoking cavity, one can store tobacco without fear of spillage and one can put out the smoldering embers immediately and slip into a pocket without fear of spilling embers;[0086]

f) the smoker needs no stands or special holders it fits easily into a conventional ash tray,[0087]

g) the smoker does not have to view the smoking cavity while not in use;[0088]

h) the smoker has a choice of two smoking cavities that can be used individually or in conjunction with each other whereby one can control the amount of air in the smoke mixture and in which one can dry tobacco in the first cavity while smoking in the other;[0089]

Further objects and advantages are to provide a pipe that can be used easily and conveniently to smoke tobacco, which is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be used by cigarette smokers, by cigar smokers, and by pipe smokers. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.[0090]

Operation—Preferred Embodiment—FIG. 1[0091]

The manner of using the “cigar o rama” smoking pipe is similar to the present methods for smoking pipes.[0092]

Namely, one first lights the tobacco in end-smoking[0093]

cavity

20 of smokingend16 and inhales the smoke throughbore18 fromdraw end14. Next, one taps out the ash, slips this pipe into a cigar case, shirt pocket or into a conventional ashtray. The smoker refills the pipe by simply insertingend16 into their favorite tobacco with light pressure. Enough tobacco for about six to ten puffs is forced intocavity20. Next, ascavity20 has a convenient size, the smoker is able to tamp the tobacco with the end of a conventional pen or pencil to the desired compaction. The pipe can then be re-lit. As the smoke travels throughbore18,body10 cools it, before reachingend14. The smoker may slideouter band12 to any position alongbody10.Coating28

assists band

12 frictionally in keeping its position. Also, if the smoker wishes, a conventional cigarette may be smoked with this pipe, as illustrated in FIG IC, by neatly inserting the cigarette intocavity20. When time for cleaning, a conventional pipe cleaner is simply inserted intobore18 and pulled through the pipe. There is no need for disassembly to clean.

Operation—Additional Embodiments—FIGS.[0094]2,3,4,5,6

The useful life of the pipe illustrated in FIG. 2 is extended by the addition of[0095]

inner liner

32 that slows and nearly eliminates the deterioration ofcavity20. This embodiment also allows the smoker to flippiece10ain relation to piece10b

concealing cavity

20 and thereby providing containment for tobacco or ash inend16.

The pipe in FIG. 3 is provided with[0096]

end cap

24.Cap24 fits snugly overend16 allowing the smoker to extinguish burning embers.Cap24, when fitted withhole30, allows the smoker to coverend16 and use their finger to control the amount of combustion air drawn in while smoking.

FIG. 4 features transverse-[0097]

smoking cavity

22 that smokes more like a traditional pipe. In thisconfiguration band12ahasdimple26 to assist with friction in positioning along the body and in centering overcavity22, illustrated in FIG. 4C.

The embodiments in FIGS. 5 & 6 have[0098]

cavity

20 in combination withcavity22 to give the smoker other options. The smoker may smoke in one while storing and drying tobacco in the other. The smoker may smoke in both at the same time. The smoker may smoke in one cavity while controlling the amount of air entering the smoker's mixture with a finger, end cap24a, orband12apositioned over the other.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Thus, the reader will see that the smoking pipe of this invention can be smoked easily and conveniently, can be extinguished just as easily, and can also be used to carry tobacco, eliminating the need for a separate container for the tobacco. The mix of air and tobacco smoke can be regulated with this pipe and thus provide the exact amount of smoke desired by the smoker. The pleasing cigar shape and appearance make it an ideal prop for one to use when they do not wish to smoke but desire that style. This pipe travels well and is never messy as the smoker has the ability to easily cover the smoking cavity. This feature also allows one to slip the r pipe into a pocket without fear of spilling on or burning their clothing, also the odor and unsightliness of the smoking chamber is concealed. No special cases are required for this pipe but if so desired, it can be used with conventional cigar cases. This pipe is very easy and inexpensive to manufacture and can be fashioned from common and readily available components.[0099]

Claims

I claim:

1. A tobacco smoking pipe comprising:

a) a body of predetermined solid material selected from a group1 consisting of a hardwood, a metal, a ceramic, a stone, and a man made solid material suitable for pipes and having a predetermined cross sectional shape selected from a group2 consisting of a circle, an oval, and a polygon having sides selected from a group3 consisting of an arc and a line.

b) a smoking end and a draw end each having a predetermined end shape selected from a group4 consisting of a planar shape, a concave shape, a convex surface and a shape that is a combination thereof.

c) a side surface(s) formed by the extrusion of said cross sectional shape to a predetermined body length and thus forming a predetermined extruded shape

d) a bore of a predetermined diameter near the center of said cross sectional shape running said body length and parallel to said side surface(s)

e) a smoking cavity selected from a group5 consisting of an end-smoking cavity having an inner surface and drilled into said smoking end in line with and following said bore, a transverse-smoking cavity having an inner surface, drilled into said side surface(s) and connected to said bore, and both said end smoking cavity and said transverse-smoking cavity

f) an outer band of predetermined material selected from a said group1 having an inner surface contiguous to said side surface(s)

2. The pipe ofclaim 1 further including a friction means for preventing said outer band from slipping yet allowing said outer band to slide along said body thus allowing the smoker to position said outer band in a predetermined location along the said body.

3. The pipe ofclaim 2 wherein the first of said friction means is a dimple of predetermined size creating a raised area on said inner surface of said outer band.

4. The pipe ofclaim 2 wherein the second of said friction means is a coating material selected from a group6 consisting of shellac, varnish, and lacquer.

5. The pipe ofclaim 3 wherein said body is a conventional cylindrical walnut dowel being about the size of a cigar and approximately 15 cm long, wherein said draw end shape is convex, wherein said smoking end shape is planar, and wherein said outer band is made from conventional brass tube.

6. The pipe ofclaim 5 consisting of said end-smoking cavity.

7. The pipe ofclaim 5 consisting of said transverse-smoking cavity.

8. The pipe ofclaim 5 consisting of said transverse-smoking cavity and further consisting of said end-smoking cavity together.

9. The pipe ofclaim 8 further including an end cap made from a predetermined solid material selected from a said group1, and having an inner surface contiguous to said side surface of said body, and being of a slightly larger cross sectional dimension than said body.

10. The pipe ofclaim 9 further including a hole in said end cap and further including said second friction means for preventing said end cap from slipping yet allowing said end cap to slide over said smoking end of said body.

11. The pipe ofclaim 10 wherein said end cap is a conventional copper pipe cap.

12. The pipe ofclaim 1 further including an end cap made from a predetermined solid material selected from a said group1, and having an inner surface contiguous to said side surface of said body, and being of a slightly larger cross sectional dimension than said body.

13. The pipe ofclaim 12 further including a hole in said end cap and further including said second friction means for preventing said end cap from slipping yet allowing said end cap to slide over said smoking end of said body.

14. The pipe ofclaim 13 wherein said end cap is a conventional copper pipe cap, wherein said body is a conventional cylindrical walnut dowel being about the size of a cigar and approximately 15 cm long, wherein said draw end shape is convex, wherein said smoking end shape is planar, and wherein said outer band is made from conventional brass tube.

15. The pipe ofclaim 1 further including a body divided into two pieces whereby said pieces are contiguous inside and covered by said band.

16. The pipe ofclaim 1 wherein said end-smoking cavity has a diameter slightly larger than a conventional cigarette and a depth approximately 1.2 cm deep.

17. The pipe ofclaim 1 wherein the dimension(s) of said cross sectional shape is constant throughout said body length and wherein said extruded shape is formed along a path selected from a group7 consisting of a straight line, a curved line and a combination thereof.

18. The pipe ofclaim 1 further including an inner liner of predetermined material selected from said group1 having an outer surface contiguous to said inner surface of said smoking cavities.

19. The pipe ofclaim 18 wherein said inner liner is conventional brass tube.

20. The pipe ofclaim 1 wherein the distance across said cross sectional shape is between 1 cm and 2.5 cm.