Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SMOKING IMPLEMENT AND FILTER ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to smoking implements in particular but not exclusively
to a filter assembly for smoking foldable pipes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Smoking implements such as pipes are well known. In the interest of health
there is often provided an ability to insert a disposable or non-disposable
filter in the
stem assemblies of such pipes to trap and filter tar, ash and moisture.
The problem with using such prior art filters is that they are often
fabricated
from plastics and combustible materials which must be isolated from the
burning
chambers of prior art pipes. This is not a problem where the stem of the pipe
is long
enough to separate the filter from the burning chamber but presents a problem
with
compact smoking apparatus such as foldable pipes and the like. In addition,
prior art
filters generally capture tar, ash and nicotine residue in the stems of prior
art pipes
between the bowl and the mouth piece. With prior art pipes the bowl is
attached or
embodied in a housing that contains a corridor or path for the hot gases and
ash
drawn from the bowl during smoking. This housing accumulates waste, tars and
ash
and requires regular cleaning. With prior art pipes, a filter element is
normally
incorporated in the stem diverging away from the bottom of the bowl housing.
The
stem and bowl housing both need to be cleaned regularly after use. There is
therefore a need to filter the smoke path from the bowl bottom aperture
through to
the mouthpiece. There is a present need for a complete filter which can then
be
disposed with the contents of ash, moisture and nicotine residue contained
inside the
filter thereby eliminating the need to continually clean the smoke path of the
pipe.
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In compact smoking pipes, the filter is often very close to the burning
chamber or the aperture at the bottom of the burning chamber through which
smoke is drawn which can be of a temperature high enough to heat or even
combust materials such as synthetic fibres and/or plastics of prior art
disposable filters. This presents a potential health problem if the materials
which are exposed to the heat release harmful gases on molting or burning.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to ameliorate at
least
on or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art or to at
least provide
the public with a useful choice.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, but not necessarily the only aspect, the invention resides in a
filter assembly for smoking implements, typically pipes including in
combination a
heat arrester member for positioning between a burning chamber adapted to be
loaded with and to burn a smoking product, typically tobacco, and a stem
assembly
in communication with said burning chamber, said stem assembly adapted to
house,
a filter member wherein in operation, heated gases and/or burning embers drawn
from the burning chamber as a smoker draws on the mouthpiece portion of the
stem
assembly will be arrested by the heat arrester member and wherein heat is
absorbed
and dissipated by the heat arrester member, thereby protecting the filter from
said
heated gases and burning embers.
Preferably, the heat arrester member comprises two portions, wherein the first
portion is adapted to be attached to an end of a disposable filter and said
second
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portion is adapted to house or partially enclose said first portion wherein
said second
portion is of a greater mass and ability to absorb heat and wherein in
operation said
second portion operates as a heat sink for said first portion.
Preferably, the first and second portions of the heat arrester are fabricated
from a highly heat absorbent metal or other suitable heat absorbent material.
Preferably, the first portion forms a catchment receptacle for capturing tar
and/or ash and reduces the rate of transferring heat and particulate matter to
the
filter.
Preferably, said second portion can form a stem or is part of the stem
assembly adapted to house the disposable filter.
Preferably the second portion is adapted to house replacement filter members
to replace the used filters.
More preferably, the second portion is adapted to house additional filter
members to comprise a multiple filter assembly wherein smoke is further
filtered and
cooled by passing through the additional filter members before being inhaled
by the
smoker.
Preferably, the first and second portions can be disassembled and separated
for cleaning purposes.
Preferably, the filter is a disposable filter.
In another version the first portion is supplied incorporating a disposable
filter
and is disposed with the filter when the filter is full or spent.
In another aspect, the invention resides in a smoking implement or pipe
having a filter assembly as herein described, the pipe having interchangeable
burning chambers or bowls adapted for removable attachment to the stem
assembly,
the bowls being of different shapes and materials, typically wood, ceramic or
metal,
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wherein the arrangement in use, enables a smoker to select from a range of
bowls
and to interchange bowls as the smoker desires.
Typically the materials for the interchangeable bowls include briar,
meerschum, porcelain, or aluminum or a combination thereof.
Preferably the interchangeable bowls are attached to the stem assembly by
means of a slide or screw fitting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the present invention be more readily understood and put into
practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying illustrations
wherein:
Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the
invention according to Example 1
Figure 2 and Figure 2a show a preferred multiple filter assembly of the
invention according to Example 2,
Figure 3 shows a preferred smoking implement or pipe with interchangeable
bowls according to the invention, and
Figure 4 shows another smoking implement or pipe with a screw in
bowl according to the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown an exploded view of a preferred
embodiment of the invention according to Example 1.
The filter assembly 10 is shown with the first portion 12 of the heat arrester
5 proximal to an end of the disposable filter 12c. The preferably disposable
filter, and
first portion of the heat arrester is insertable into the second portion 14 of
the heat
arrester assembly wherein it abuts against the burning chamber 16. Smoke and
hot
gases from the burning chamber are trapped in the catchment receptacle 9 of
the
first portion as a smoker draws on the stem 12b of the filter. The second
portion
houses the first portion 9 and the filter 12c and positions the first portion
beneath the
bowl 16 or burning chamber.
The second portion 14 is shown with a greater mass than the first portion and
acts as a heat sink for the first portion. This prevents hot gases from
directly
affecting the end 12a of the filter member 12c.
Preferably, the first and second portions of the heat arrester are
manufactured
from a highly heat absorbing metal such as aluminium or brass or other
suitable heat
absorbent material. It will be noted that the second portion can be shaped to
form a
stem for the filter member. In a preferred version the first portion can be
attached to
the filter member and is disposed with the filter member when the filter has
been
filled or spent.
The filter which is preferably disposable is shown of an elongate rectangular
configuration, however, may be of any other suitable shape, for example,
tubular,
ovoid in cross-section, tapered, etc.
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Although the heat arrester is shown as an assembly of two portions, it is
possible in some examples, that it can be unitary in construction or may
consist of
more than two parts.
The present example of the invention is the bowl and stem design of a
portable folding pipe, however, there is no reason, why the present invention
cannot
be adapted to be used with prior art pipes with modifications to the heat
arrester
design.
It is envisaged that the first portion of the heat arrester is stamped from
sheet
metal in one piece and the second portion cast from sintered metal or other
suitable
material with good heat absorption and dissipation properties.
It is envisaged that the filter is constructed in the form of a casing
containing
fibrous filter material, however, a compressed one-piece filter made from the
filter
material itself can be an option. It will also be obvious that the length and
cross
sectional area of the filter relate directly to the performance of the filter,
however, it is
envisaged that with improvements to filter materials that more compact filter
shapes
can be produced without change to the inventive concept disclosed.
Improvements
to metals will be even more significant in changes to the present design which
may
lead to a reduction in mass and weight, particularly of the second portion of
the heat
arrester. Changes to bowl design do not have to be significantly different.
The
inventor brings the filter as close as possible to the hole at the bottom of
the bowl as
the first portions in the present design sits directly under he bowl to catch
the tar, ash
and nicotine residue even before it reaches the filter. This design not only
improves
the performance of the filter but also extends the actual life of the filter.
Figure 2 shows a multiple filter assembly 20 according to Example 2a. In this
example, the first portion is adapted to house additional filter members 22,
24
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comprising the first portion of the heat arrester assembly 20. Smoke drawn by
a
smoker is further filtered by the additional filter members and is also
further cooled
as is passes through the additional filter members (as shown by the arrows)
before
being inhaled by the smoker through the mouthpiece 26.
In an alternative version, the second portion can be adapted to have
replacement filter members to replace single disposable filters as they are
spent.
Figure 2a shows a detailed side view of the first portion and filter cartridge
assembly 20 of Figure 2. The heat catchment receptacle 9 is shown located
directly
beneath the bowl 16 to capture hot ashes and smoke leaving the bowl through
the
bowl aperture. The design of the filter cartridge assembly 20 is such that it
protects
the filter members 22,24 and stem portion 20a proximal to the bowl from
extreme
heat when a smoker inhales on the mouthpiece 26. This arrangement protects the
filters and stem section from burning and/or melting and releasing noxious or
harmful
gases into the smoke path as shown by the arrows.
Figure 3 shows a preferred smoking pipe 30 with interchangeable bowls 16,
32 according to the invention. Corresponding numbering used for Figure 1 and
Figure 2 is repeated for identical and corresponding parts in Figure 3. The
bowls 16,
32 which may be constructed of metal or wood, preferably briar or ceramic
typically
meerschum can be interchanged with the second portion by means of the base
tongue section 36, 38 which has dovetailed edge faces 36a, 36b and 38a, 38b
adapted to slide into a corresponding dovetail slot 40 in the heat sink and
second
portion 14. In this arrangement the tongue in slot combination enables the
filter
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cartridge and first portion 20 to be inserted behind the bowl thereby
captively locking
the bowl and the second portion together.
Figure 4 shows another smoking pipe with a screw in bowl according to
the invention. The bowl 50 which may be made of timber such as briar has a
screw
in portion 54 at the base of the bowl through which the bowl apparatus passes.
The
screw in portion is adapted to screw into the heat sink 60 of the pipe. The
stem
assembly 66 of the pipe has a tenon portion 66a which is slotted into the heat
sink
portion 60a of the pipe. Attached to the tenon portion 66a of the stem
assembly is
the heat catchment receptacle 64. The stem portion 66 also houses a
rectangular
shaped filter 62 and tapers to a mouthpiece 68. It will be evident that by
being able
to screw in the bowls, various types of bowls having a common screw fitting
can be
interchangeably used.
Some of the advantages of the present invention discovered by the inventor
over the prior art can be said to include the following: The use of the pipe
of the
preferred embodiment can result in a 30 percent reduction of waste per smoker
in
the form of cigarette butts, if the pipe is used to replace approximately 42
percent of
the cigarettes smoked by a person. In using the pipe of the preferred
embodiment
the smoker produces less smoke when compared to the use of cigarettes. Unlike
cigarettes that continue to smoke when not in use and still burning, the
present pipe
does not produce any smoke that is not inhaled or generated by the smoker. The
result is a reduction of up to 21 percent of the smoke generated per smoker
and
released into the atmosphere as pollution. A direct result of the reduction in
the
generation of smoke that is released into the atmosphere, is a significant
reduction in
"passive smoking" through the inhalation of smoke by bystanders. The use of
the
25~ pipe of the preferred embodiment will result in a saving of up to 25
percent compared
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to the cost of cigarettes, when used to substitute approximately 42 percent of
the
average smoker's cigarette consumption. Similarly, if the pipe of the
preferred
embodiment is used to substitute cigarette consumption entirely, the resulting
saving
in cost is approximately 58 percent with up to 70 percent less waste and
approximately 50 percent less smoke pollution.
VARIATIONS
It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way
of
illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and
variations
thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall
within
the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word
"comprise" and
variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended
to
exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.
