Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SMOKELESS GLASS PIPE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to smokeless pipes, and more particularly to a
smokeless pipe
constructed of glass and its method of manufacture.
Description of the Related Art
Most smoking systems include a container that houses both a metallic smoking
pipe
and a quantity of tobacco for use with the pipe. Such systems are typically
used by consumers
who desire less tobacco than offered by cigarettes, and wish to consume a more
refined
tobacco.
U.S. Patent No. 4,214,658 issued to Crow on July 29, 1980 discloses a smoking
system comprising a container that has a first compartment for receiving a
smoking pipe and a
second compartment for receiving and storing the quantity of tobacco. A cover
slides over the
open end of each compartment to hold the pipe and tobacco in place when not in
use. The
pipe includes a bowl with a sharp lower edge for cutting away excess smoking
material when
the pipe is forced against the bottom of the tobacco storage compartment. The
bowl is pressed
into the tobacco and the pipe is moved up and down until the bowl is filled
with smoking
material.
The metallic material in these types of pipes is not as desirable as other
materials, such
as glass. Certain types of glass are well known for their heat insulative
qualities and their
ability to be repeatedly cleaned and sterilized. Heretofore, the successful
production of
smokeless pipes constructed of glass material was unknown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a device for smoking combustible materials
comprises a
tubular body member having a longitudinal axis, a mouth end portion and a
loading end
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portion opposite the mouth end portion, with a bore extending through the
tubulac body
member between the mouth end portion and the loading end pottion. The bore is
preferably
coaxial with the longitudinal axis. A ring is formed unitary with the tubular
body member in
the bore and separates the bore into a smoke chamber and a loading chamber
that are both
coaxial with the longitudinal axis. The ring defining a constricted passage
between the smoke
chamber and loading chamber. In a preferred arrangement, the tubular body
member is
constructed entirely from a heat-resistant glass material.
Further according to the invention, a method of forming a device for smoking
combustible materials comprises providing a tubular body member constructed
entirely from
a heat-resistant glass material; forming a constricted passage in a bore of
the tubular body
member by applying heat to a predetermined location on the tubular body member
until the
glass material expands into the bore at the predetermined location; and
smoothing the outer
surface of the tubular body member at the predetermined location. With this
arrangement, the
constricted passage separates the bore into a coaxial smoke chamber and a
loading chamber.
ln accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device for smoking
combustible materials, comprising: a tubular body member constructed entirely
from a heat-resistant
glass material having a longitudinal axis, a mouth end portion and a loading
end portion opposite the
mouth end portion; a bore extending through the tubular body member between
the mouth end portion
and the loading end portion coaxial with the longitudinal axis; a ring formed
unitary with the tubular
body member in the bore, the ring separating the bore into a smoke chamber and
a loading chamber
that are coaxial with the longitudinal axis, the ring defining a constricted
passage between the smoke
chamber and loading chamber.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention wherein the loading end portion comprises a beveled
surface that extends from
an outer surface of the tubular body member to the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising a cutting edge at the
intersection of the beveled surface
and the bore.
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In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising at least one gripping ring formed
in the outer surface of
the tubular body member adjacent the mouth end portion.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention wherein the loading end portion comprises a beveled
surface that extends from
an outer surface of the tubular body member to the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising a cutting edge at the
intersection of the beveled surface
and the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising at least one gripping ring formed
in the outer surface of
the tubular body member adjacent the mouth end portion.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device for smoking
combustible materials, comprising: a tubular body member constructed entirely
from a heat-resistant
glass material, the tubular body member having a mouth end portion and a
loading end portion
opposite the mouth end portion; a bore extending through the tubular body
member between the
mouth end portion and the loading end portion; a venturi formed unitary with
the tubular body
member in the bore, the venturi separating the bore into a smoke chamber and a
loading chamber and
defining a constricted passage between the smoke chamber and loading chamber.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention wherein the loading end portion comprises a beveled
surface that extends from
an outer surface of the tubular body member to the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising a cutting edge at the
intersection of the beveled surface
and the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising at least one gripping ring formed
in the outer surface of
the tubular body member at the mouth end portion.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device according to
the present invention and further comprising at least one gripping ring formed
in the outer surface of
the tubular body member adjacent the mouth end portion.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of forming a
device for smoking combustible materials, comprising: providing a tubular body
member constructed
entirely from a heat-resistant glass material; forming a constricted passage
in a bore of the tubular
body member by applying heat to a predetermined location on the tubular body
member until the glass
material expands into the bore at the predetermined location; and smoothing
the outer surface of the
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tubular body member at the predetermined location; wherein the constricted
passage separates the
bore into a coaxial smoke chamber and a loading chamber.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method according to
the present invention and further comprising forming a beveled surface at one
end of the tubular body
member that extends between an outer surface of the tubular body member and
the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method according to
the present invention wherein the step of forming a beveled surface includes
simultaneously forming a
cutting edge at the intersection of the beveled surface and the bore.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method according to
the present invention and further comprising forming at least one gripping
ring on the outer surface of
the tubular body member, the gripping ring being axially spaced from the
constricted passage.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method according to
the present invention and further comprising forming at least one gripping
ring on an outer surface of
the tubular body member, the gripping ring being axially spaced from the
constricted passage.
DRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAwINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the smokeless pipe according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the smokeless pipe;
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the smokeless pipe; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of forming the smokeless
pipe
20 according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPT[ON OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIAiENT
Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1- 3 in particular, a smokeless
pipe or
bat 10 includcs a substantially tubular member 12 that includes a forward or
loading end
25 portion 14 and a rearward or mouth end portion 16. A bore 18 extends
through the tubular
member 12 from the forward end portion to the rearward end portion. The
forward end
portion 14 includes an annular beveled surface 20 that extends between the
outer surface of
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the tubular member 12 and the bore 18. A cutting edge is formed at the
intersection of the
bore 18 and beveled surface 20. An inner annular ring 25 is formed in the bore
26 proximal
the forward end portion 14. The annular ring 25 defines a constricted passage
or venturi 24
and separates the bore 18 into a rearward smoke chamber 26 and a forward
loading chanlber
28. The rearward and forward chambers are fluidly connected to each other
through the
venturi. Annular grooves 30 are formed in the outer surface 32 of the tubular
member 12 and
serve as gripping means for a user.
Preferably, the pipe 10 is formed from a single piece of thick-walled glass
tubing. A
suitable glass material is PyrexTM , a borosilicate glass known for its
relatively high melting
point and excellent stability characteristics.
In a preferred embodiment, the pipe is approximately three and three-eighths
inches
long and has an outer diameter of about three-eighths inch. The center of the
venturi 24 is
preferably located about three-eighths inch from the cutting edge 22, while
the venturi
opening is approximately three-sixteenths inch in diameter. The rings 30 are
preferably
spaced about one-quarter inch apart, with the ring closest to the outer edge
32 of the rearward
end portion 16 being spaced approximately one-quarter inch therefrom. The
bevel 20
preferably extends at an angle of about 45 with respect to a longitudinal
axis of the tube.
Although the above dimensions are preferred, it is to be understood that the
invention is not
limited thereto, as other dimensions may alternatively be used.
With reference now to FIG. 4, a method of forming the glass pipe 10 is
illustrated. As
shown in block 50, the heavy-walled glass tubing is first cut to the desired
length, preferably
by a wet saw that is typically used in cutting glass or tile. A wet saw having
a 220 grit
diamond cutting blade is adequate for performing the cutting operation.
Subsequently, the cut tubing is mounted in a turret or chuck that is capable
of
swiveling through 90 . The turret or chuck is motorized and causes the tubing
to spin around
its longitudinal axis. The cut tubing is then swivelled into the path of a
belt sander or grinder
that is positioned to contact the forward end portion 14 of the cut tubing at
a 45 angle to
thereby grind the bevel 20 and form the cutting edge 22, as shown in block 52.
It is to be
understood that both the tubing and the belt sander or grinder are spinning,
preferably in
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opposite directions, during this operation. Also, a coolant may be used during
the cutting or
grinding. A diamond abrasive belt or grinding wheel of approximately 120 - 150
grit is
adequate for grinding the beve120.
As shown by block 54, the tubing is then washed in steam-distilled water and
allowed
to dry.
In block 56, the venturi 25 is then formed. This is accomplished by mounting
the
tubing again in the collet with the forward end portion 14 protruding outward.
The tubing is
then spun about its longitudinal axis, preferably at a low rpm. A heat source
capable of
producing a concentrated, high temperature heat is then applied to the
spinning tubing at the
location where it is desired to form the venturi. Preferably, the heat source
includes a hand-
held torch with a # 1 tip, a propane supply set at 5 psi and an oxygen supply
set at 10 psi to
produce a very fme flame. The torch is held such that the flame is directed to
one spot on the
spinning tubing. After about 40 seconds, the outer diameter of the tubing
begins to slightly
swell while the inner diameter begins to slightly shrink. At that point, the
torch is removed
and a graphite paddle is simultaneously applied with a light touch to the
underside of the
spinning tubing until the glass is smooth and true. At this point, the beve120
may be fire-
polished for a more desirable clear finish.
After cooling (which should not be less than 65 F), the forward end portion
14 of the
tubing is placed in the turret to smooth the outer edge 32 of the rearward end
portion 16 and to
form the rings 30, as shown by block 58. The tubing is again spun about its
longitudinal axis
at a low rpm. The same heat source used for forming the venturi is then
applied to the very
outer edge 32 of the rearward end portion 16 until the glass is orange in
color. A graphite
paddle is then applied to smooth the edge 32. Subsequently, the heat source is
applied to the
spinning tubing at the location where it is desired to form one of the rings
30.
Simultaneously, a sharpened one-eighth inch graphite rod is applied to the
same location.
After about seven seconds, the ring is formed. The remainder of the rings are
then formed in
the same manner.
Finally, as shown in block 60, the finished pipe 10 is annealed to remove any
stress
that may have occurred in the glass due to uneven thermal changes. The pipe 10
is annealed
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by placing it in a kiln that has been set at approximately 1050 F for about
five minutes. The
pipe is then removed and allowed to gradually cool.
Although particular materials, equipment and supplies have been described for
forming the pipe 10, it is to be understood that such is given by way of
example, as other
materials, equipment and supplies may be suitable.
Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the foregoing
disclosure of
the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
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