FILTER ELEMENT FOR A WATER PIPE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a filter element for a water pipe in the form of a bong or shisha, wherein the filter element is arranged in the flow path between an assembly for receiving the material to be smoked and a water vessel, i.e., in the case of a bong between the head and the pipe of the chillum and in the case of a shisha between the tobacco intake and the smoke tube.

[0002] The basic principle of a water pipe, regardless of its specific design, is that the smoke produced when heating tobacco, cannabis, herbs, and the like is first passed through a water vessel and cooled there before being inhaled by the user. Water pipes are known in various forms, particularly as bongs or shishas.

[0003] A bong is known, for example, from DE 10 2018 007 547 B3 and consists of a cylindrical base, preferably made of glass, which serves as the water vessel. This base has a closed bottom. The opposite end face is open and designed as a mouthpiece for the user. The cylindrical base has at least one opening in its outer surface into which a chillum is inserted. The chillum comprises a tubular section that widens upwards to form a section with a larger diameter, the so-called bowl. The chillum is inserted into the opening in the base with its tubular section in such a way that the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening is below the water level in the base. The material selected for smoking is packed into the bowl of the chillum.

[0004] To smoke, the user first places their mouth on the open end of the base. Then, the material in the bowl is lit, and the user draws firmly on the mouthpiece. The resulting negative pressure forces a mixture of air, vapor, smoke particles, and flavorings (hereinafter referred to as "smoke") from the bowl, through the tube-like section of the chillum, and through the water to the user's mouth.

[0005] A shisha, for example, is known from DE 20 2016 003 909 U1 and has a more elaborate design. It also has a water vessel, which is partially filled with water for use. The water vessel has an opening at its top. A smoke tube is inserted through this opening, with one end of the smoke tube protruding from the water vessel and the other end positioned below the water level. The end of the smoke tube protruding from the water vessel is equipped with a tobacco and charcoal holder. Furthermore, the water vessel has at least one hose connection, which is inserted into the water vessel above the water level. A hose is attached to the hose connection, the other end of which is placed in the mouth by the user while smoking the shisha. If multiple hose connections are present, a shisha can be used simultaneously by several people.

[0006] To smoke, the tobacco chamber on the smoke tube is first filled with a specific amount of tobacco and then covered. The charcoal is placed on top of this cover. After the charcoal is lit, or already glowing charcoal is placed on the cover, the user draws on the hose connected to the hose connector. This draw creates a vacuum in the water chamber above the water level. This vacuum draws smoke from the tobacco chamber, through the smoke tube, the water chamber, and the hose, to the user's mouth.

[0007] Therefore, bongs and shishas share a largely similar operating principle. A key difference, however, is that a bong is smoked without a hose, while a shisha is smoked with a hose.

[0008] In both bongs and hookahs, the smoke is cooled as it flows through the water vessel. This process filters out suspended particles and some water-soluble substances from the smoke. However, this filtering effect is insufficient to significantly reduce the general health risks associated with smoking. Therefore, it has been repeatedly proposed that water pipes be equipped with a separate filter element, similar to cigarettes. Such filter elements would reduce the amount of nicotine and condensates in the smoke before it is inhaled by the user.

[0009] Several types of filter elements are available. Some, like those in cigarettes, are designed for single use only. However, reusable filter elements are preferred. This offers convenience because the user only needs to replace the filter element occasionally. It is also environmentally friendly because the filter element can be used multiple times, thus promoting sustainability.

[0010] Known designs of this type, for example, feature a glass base with a spigot-shaped connection on each of two opposite sides for linking to components of the water pipe. The filter element is positioned in the flow path between the material being smoked and the water vessel; that is, in the case of a bong, between the bowl and the downstem, and in the case of a hookah, between the tobacco chamber and the smoke tube.

[0011] Activated carbon is filled into the main body, absorbing a portion of the pollutants contained in the smoke. To prevent the activated carbon from entering adjacent components, metal sieves are positioned in the transition areas between these connections and the spherical main body. These sieves retain the activated carbon while still ensuring good airflow for the smoke. This technical solution is considered effective in terms of its filtration performance. However, its poor handling is a disadvantage.

[0012] German patent application DE 10 2021 102 698 B3 describes a connector for use in a water pipe, consisting of a cylindrical body with an inlet opening at one end for connecting to the water pipe and an outlet opening at the other end for connecting to a smoke hose. The inlet and outlet openings are connected by an axial bore in the cylindrical body, and a filter is inserted in a section of this bore. The basic idea behind this technical solution is that not all of the flue gas passes through the filter, but rather a portion of the flue gas flows past it unfiltered. This, however, deliberately limits the filter's effectiveness.

[0013] From DE 93 14 137 U1, a filter element for a water pipe is known, which can be arranged between a unit for holding the material to be smoked and a water vessel. The filter element has a hollow cylindrical base body with an open end face and a partially closed end face, wherein the base body has two sections of different diameters in the axial direction with respect to its central longitudinal axis, the second section having a smaller outer diameter and a smaller inner diameter than the first section.

[0014] The object of the invention is to create a filter element for a water pipe that is designed as a disposable product in an environmentally sustainable manner, has good handling and enables a large number of separate, successive smoking processes.

[0015] This problem is solved with the technical features according to claim 1.

[0016] One embodiment proposes that the partially closed end face of the hollow cylindrical base body has several parallel rib contours, between each of which a free space is arranged for airflow. An alternative embodiment proposes that the partially closed end face of the base body has a closed surface in which a multitude of small openings are arranged for airflow. Both embodiments ensure that, during operation of the water pipe, the user can inhale a sufficient amount of smoke through the suction motion without particles of the filter material (preferably activated carbon) entering subsequent components of the water pipe or the user's mouth.

[0017] One design proposes that the hollow cylindrical base be made of a wood-based material. This allows for simple and cost-effective production, for example, on a lathe. Furthermore, environmentally sound disposal is possible after complete wear, as wood offers advantages over many other materials in terms of CO₂ emissions. Alternatively, the base can also be made from other sustainable materials, such as a biodegradable plastic.

[0018] The inventive technical solution provides a filter element for a water pipe that is designed as a disposable product, is environmentally sustainable, easy to handle, and allows for a large number of separate, successive smoking sessions. This filter element ensures a good draw during smoking.

[0019] The filter element is a disposable product, filled only once with activated carbon as the filter material. After filling, the initially open end is sealed, for example, with a stopper, which the user removes before inserting the filter element into the hookah. Current estimates suggest that such a filter element can be used for approximately 30 smoking sessions. After that, the filtering effect of the activated carbon is exhausted. Furthermore, the filter element itself will also be worn down by the heat of the smoke to such an extent that it must be disposed of.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a filter element in perspective view Fig. 2 the filter element according to Fig. 1 Top view of the partially closed front face Fig. 3, a sectional view of the filter element along line AA from Fig. 2

[0021] The filter element shown in the drawing is designed for a water pipe (not shown), but can be used for both bongs and hookahs. The filter element is always positioned in the flow path between a component for holding the smoking material and a water vessel; that is, in a bong, between the bowl and the downstem, and in a hookah, between the tobacco chamber and the smoke tube.

[0022] The filter element has a hollow cylindrical base body 1. From Fig. 1 It is evident that the base body 1, with respect to its central longitudinal axis MLA, has two sections 2 and 3 with different diameters in the axial direction. Furthermore, the base body 1 has an open end face 4 and a partially closed end face 5. The drawing shows only an exemplary embodiment of the partially closed end face 5, which here has several parallel web contours, between each of which a free space is arranged as a flow passage for the smoke. This partially closed end face 5 could also have a closed surface in which a multitude of small openings are arranged as flow passages for the smoke, although such an embodiment is not shown.

[0023] Out of Fig. 3 It is evident that the first section 2, starting from the open end face 4, has an outer diameter that remains constant along its entire length with the same size and parallel to the central longitudinal axis MLA. In contrast, the inner diameter of this first section 2, starting from the open end face 4, initially tapers conically over a first region "a" with a diameter that decreases continuously in the axial direction. The contour of this conical inner surface provides good guidance for an adjacent component of the water pipe (not shown) that is to be inserted into the base body 1 of the filter element.

[0024] Following section "a", the inner diameter of the first section 2 extends through a second section "b" with a consistently constant diameter parallel to the central longitudinal axis MLA. At the transition between the two diameter sections "a" and "b", a circumferential contour line is formed, which is marked with a reference symbol 8.

[0025] The first section 2 of the base body 1 transitions into the second section 3 at the end of diameter range "b". The second section 3 has a smaller outer and inner diameter than section 2. Starting from the transition area between the first section 2 and the second section 3, the outer diameter of the second section 3 tapers conically with a continuously decreasing diameter in the axial direction. The contour of this conical outer surface provides good guidance for an adjacent component of the water pipe (not shown) that is slid onto the filter element. In contrast, the inner diameter of the second section 3, starting from the transition area between the first section 2 and the second section 3, runs parallel to the central longitudinal axis (MLA) with a consistently constant diameter throughout the entire area "c".

[0026] The basic body 1 is designed in the transition area between the first section 2 and the second section 3 on the outer diameter with an oblique circumferential contour 6, which runs at an acute angle to the central longitudinal axis MLA and consists of Fig. 3 as is evident.

[0027] At the inner diameter, the base body 1 in this transition area is designed with a web-like circumferential contour 7, which runs at a right angle to the central longitudinal axis MLA and is also made of Fig. 3 as is evident.

[0028] The interior of the base body 1 forms a chamber between the open end face 4 and the partially closed end face 5, which can be filled with filter material. The filter material, preferably activated carbon, is not shown in the drawing. Instead, in Fig. 3 A wavy line with the reference symbol 9 is shown, which is intended to stylize a specific fill level with filter material as an example.

Claims

1. Filter element for a water pipe in the form of a bong or shisha, wherein the filter element is configured to be arranged in the flow path between an assembly for receiving the material to be smoked and a water vessel, i.e. in the case of a bong between the bowl and the tube of the chillum (downstem) and in the case of a shisha between the tobacco bowl and the stem, wherein the filter element is formed as a hollow-cylindrical base body (1) with an open end face (4) and with a partially closed end face (5), wherein the base body (1), with reference to its central longitudinal axis (CLA), has, in the axial direction, two sections (2; 3) with diameters that are different from one another, wherein, starting from the open end face (4), a first section (2) is formed which merges into a second section (3) with a smaller outer diameter and a smaller inner diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the second section (3), starting from the transition region between the first section (2) and the second section (3), extends conically with a diameter that continuously decreases in the axial direction, and wherein the inner diameter of the second section (3), starting from the transition region between the first section (2) and the second section (3) extends over the entire region (c) with a continuously constant diameter parallel to the central longitudinal axis (CLA), characterised in that the outer diameter of the first section (2) extends with a constant diameter parallel to the central longitudinal axis (CLA), and the inner diameter of the first section (2), starting from the open end face (4), initially extends conically over a first region (a) with a diameter that is continuously decreasing in the axial direction, and thereafter extends over a second region (b) with a constant diameter parallel to the central longitudinal axis (CLA), and wherein, in the transition region between the first section (2) and the second section (3) of the base body (1), the outer diameter is provided with an oblique circumferential contour (6), with said contour extending at an acute angle to the central longitudinal axis (CLA), and the inner diameter is provided with a rib-like circumferential contour (7), with said contour extending at a right angle to the central longitudinal axis (CLA).

2. Filter element according to claim 1, characterised in that the partially closed end face (5) on the hollow-cylindrical base body (1) has a plurality of rib-like contours extending parallel to one another, with a clearance formed between each rib-like contour as a flow passage.

3. Filter element according to claim 1, characterised in that the partially closed end face (5) on the hollow-cylindrical base body (1) has a closed surface in which a plurality of small openings are arranged as a flow passage.

4. Filter element according to claim 1, characterised in that the hollow-cylindrical base body (1) consists of a wood-based material.

5. Filter element according to claim 1, characterised in that the hollow-cylindrical base body (1) consists of a biodegradable plastic.

6. Filter element according to claim 1, characterised in that activated carbon is used as the filter material.