Tubular waterpipe

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable and discrete device for consuming substances by smoke inhalation, which is characterised by its innovative design and use of water (A) and / or ice (H) for filtering and cooling the smoke. Unlike traditional waterpipes, the present invention incorporates a new arrangement of components: the burner (10) serves as a stable base and may contain ice. On top of the burner is the expansion chamber (20), which is a tubular structure that houses the water and / or ice and prevents leaks by means of the percolator (23). This chamber is connected to a head (30) that is detachable by means of a joint system that allows the waterpipe to be positioned horizontally, reducing the risk of spilling. The container (12) for the substances is integrated into the burner, with a lower hole (13) that channels the smoke towards the chamber, where the smoke is filtered before being inhaled by the user through the upper hole (32).

Description

[0001] Tubular water pipe

[0002] The present invention is a device for smoking various substances by means of a mechanism that incorporates water and even ice as filtering and cooling agents for the generated smoke. This device is designed for both therapeutic and recreational use, offering a system that employs water and ice to improve the quality of the smoke to be inhaled.

[0003] Background of the invention.

[0004] This device was designed considering the essential components found in any water pipe: the bowl, the percolator, and the expansion chamber that holds the water. The bowl is where the herbs or substances to be smoked are placed, facilitating the application of heat to generate combustion, which produces smoke. This smoke enters the bowl and then passes into the expansion chamber through the percolator, whose primary function is to diffuse the smoke within the liquid contained in the water pipe's expansion chamber to cool it and retain the ash contained in the gas. The shape, size, and placement of the percolator within the water pipe can significantly improve cooling and ash reduction in the smoke.An effective percolator maximizes diffusion between the gas and the liquid, allowing the water to capture a greater amount of impurities present in the smoke, such as particulate matter or ash. This process relies on surface contact between the smoke and the water. Therefore, percolators are designed to maximize smoke bubbling, thus increasing contact between the gas and the liquid to retain the ash in the water and cool the hot smoke stream upon contact with the liquid. Once the water passes through the percolator, it collects in the expansion chamber of the hookah and is then inhaled through the top mouthpiece.

[0005] Background of the invention.

[0006] This device has been designed considering the essential components present in any water pipe: the bowl, the percolator, and the expansion chamber that holds the water. The bowl is where the herbs or substances to be smoked are placed, facilitating the application of heat to generate the...

[0007] 1

[0008] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) Combustion results in the formation of smoke. This smoke enters the burner and then passes into the main chamber through the percolator, whose primary function is to diffuse the smoke into the liquid contained in the hookah's expansion chamber. The shape, size, and placement of the percolator within the hookah can significantly improve cooling and reduce ash in the smoke. An effective percolator maximizes diffusion between the gas and the liquid, allowing the water to capture a greater amount of impurities present in the smoke, such as particulate matter or ash. This process relies on surface contact between the smoke and the water. Therefore, percolators are designed to maximize smoke bubbling, thus increasing contact between the gas and the liquid to retain the ash in the water and cool the hot smoke stream upon contact with the liquid.Once the water passes through the percolator, it accumulates in the expansion chamber of the water pipe and is then inhaled through its upper mouth.

[0009] It's important to note that, in addition to the essential elements mentioned earlier, there are other accessories that can be added to enhance the smoking experience. These include an ash catcher, additional percolators, and an ice catcher. The ash catcher is a small chamber filled with water and placed between the bowl and the hookah. Its main function is to retain any ash that might enter through the bowl, preventing it from contaminating the water inside the hookah. This reduces the accumulation of particulate matter in the hookah's expansion chamber, as most of the impurities are trapped in the ash catcher.

[0010] Additional percolators are subdivisions located along the expansion chamber of the hookah. These percolators create new chambers where the smoke is filtered again through the water. These percolators can be arranged in parallel or in series as desired. It's important to note that both ash catchers and percolators operate on the same principle of filtering the smoke through water; the distinction lies in the fact that an ash catch refers to a pre-percolation stage that occurs before the smoke enters the expansion chamber.

[0011] Finally, the ice catcher is a structure designed to retain the ice added to the chamber, thus cooling the smoke upon contact. This structure is usually located near the top of the hookah and consists of a deformation or obstruction that prevents the ice from falling into the water inside the expansion chamber, keeping it suspended within the chamber.

[0012] Most hookahs have a similar design, with the components described above: an expansion chamber containing water, from which extends a lateral protrusion that houses the burner. It is crucial that the burner is always kept above the water level; otherwise, due to the pressure difference, water could escape from the expansion chamber through the burner's lower orifice, following the path to the lowest outlet.

[0013] The fundamental purpose of all these water pipes is to generate a pressure gradient by drawing air through the top of the pipe. This gradient allows the smoke to enter the water pipe and pass through the liquid inside. During this process, the water traps some of the ash present in the smoke stream and, at the same time, cools it. This results in a smoother, cleaner smoke stream.

[0014] The problems associated with hookahs are primarily related to the complexity of their design. These devices typically feature a structure where the burner protrudes prominently from the expansion chamber containing the liquid. This arrangement, with its protruding parts, makes them susceptible to damage, rendering them fragile and easily breakable. Consequently, hookahs are often impractical, as transporting them safely and comfortably is difficult. It is crucial to handle them with extreme care both during use and transport, as even the slightest stress or impact on any of their parts can cause significant damage or even breakage.

[0015] Furthermore, water pipes are notoriously conspicuous due to their distinctive shape, making their presence obvious when in plain sight. Their characteristic design makes them easily recognizable, which can generate rejection in certain sectors of society, given the controversy and prejudices associated with their use. Therefore, it is necessary to store these objects in hidden places to avoid awkward situations. This means they must be stored in secure locations to prevent damage, but at the same time, they must be discreet so as not to attract attention. Some innovative water pipe designs can be found in US patent 3881499 A granted to McFadden et al. This design describes an improved water pipe or bong where a water chamber for purifying the smoke from ash and cooling it is positioned above an ash and contaminant trap.The flue pipes from the trap to the water chamber terminate at different water levels, allowing one or more pipes to be operational depending on the suction strength. The water chamber is thermally insulated from the rest of the flue by refractory material, while the main flue is made of plexiglass. A removable plug is included at the base of the flue for easy cleaning of the ash collector.

[0016] Another interesting design is found in US patent 8490629 B1 granted to Shenassa et al., which describes a smoking device that offers smoke cooling through its multiple chambers, filtration of condensed tar from the cooled smoke, and reduction of breathing strain for the user via an annular carburetor valve. This device is built to be extremely durable, protecting the glass smoking vessel from impacts and shocks.

[0017] Despite the wide variety of hookah designs available today, most modifications focus on aesthetic aspects such as color, size, or material. While some hookahs may feature repeated elements or variations in dimensions, generally, there are no designs that differ significantly from the classic design.

[0018] The present invention addresses these limitations by presenting a novel hookah design. This design is distinguished by its simplicity of form, portability, and discretion, incorporating all the essential elements of classic hookahs into a single, complete device.

[0019] Summary of the invention

[0020] This new hookah draws inspiration from the fundamental elements of traditional hookahs, but introduces an innovative design that results in a more compact and practical product. This version also incorporates water and ice to filter and cool the smoke.

[0021] One of the main advantages of this new water pipe is its ability to adapt to different design preferences. Variations can be made by adding, removing, or repeating elements, as well as adjusting aesthetic aspects such as dimensions, shape, and construction material.

[0022] Like any water pipe, it's designed for smoking a wide range of substances. However, its ability to filter the smoke through water and, in some cases, to cool it with ice, significantly enhances the smoking experience. This makes it suitable for medicinal or therapeutic applications, as the contact of the smoke with water reduces its harshness and minimizes irritation upon inhalation.

[0023] The pipe consists of a three-piece, tubular chamber. At the bottom is the bowl, which contains a reservoir with a hole at the bottom for placing the substance to be smoked. Ice can be added to the bowl to cool the smoke before it enters the next component. The bowl connects to the second piece, an expansion chamber with an inner wall that directs the smoke through a percolator. This percolator connects the lower section, where the smoke originates, to the upper section, where the water is located.

[0024] In doing so, the smoke comes into contact with the water, filtering out a large number of particles. Ice can also be added to this upper section to further cool the smoke. Finally, at the end closest to the smoke intake, there is the third piece, a cap or bowl that acts as a water and ice trap to prevent them from escaping when the pipe is laid horizontally on any surface. Some of the aspects that characterize the pipe are:

[0025] The lower hole is located within the slit of the herbal reservoir, located on the side of the burner, thus allowing the placement of the substances to be smoked.

[0026] The base of the burner should be flat or semi-concave inwards to allow the water pipe to stand vertically on horizontal surfaces and remain stable so as not to fall over.

[0027] In addition, the burner has a side hole that acts as a draft, allowing air to enter to dilute the smoke, if necessary.

[0028] A percolator is included to direct the smoke from the burner into the main combustion chamber, while simultaneously preventing water from flowing down from the expansion chamber and flooding the burner below. In one of its simplest forms, this is achieved using an inverted U-shaped tube that prevents water from descending due to the difference in height between the liquid level and the percolator.

[0029] Depending on the design and its dimensions, this pipe allows the inclusion of ice in the expansion chamber to further cool the smoke stream.

[0030] Another key advantage of this design is the ability to add ice inside the burner, providing an extra level of coolness to the smoke. Immediately after burning and entering the pipe, the smoke comes into contact with the ice, cooling the gas stream.

[0031] In addition, two extra components are included. The first is a cap that fits tightly onto the top opening of the expansion chamber. This cap has a hole, which we will call the top hole, on its flat surface closest to the edge. When mounted on the top opening of the expansion chamber, it allows the water pipe to be placed horizontally, preventing water from escaping and spilling. This is crucial for safety, as when supported horizontally, it is less likely to be damaged by accidental drops compared to when it is placed vertically.

[0032] The second structure consists of bulbs attached to the outside of the expansion chamber, designed to prevent the pipe from rotating when placed horizontally on a surface. These bulbs act as a stop to keep the pipe static when positioned horizontally.

[0033] Another fundamental aspect of this invention is its compatibility with multiple modifications, which allows for the creation of various variations of the pipe, all based on the same basic principle: a pipe with the burner at the bottom, above it is the main chamber, which contains the water that filters the smoke, and above it a head that prevents the water from escaping freely when the pipe is held horizontally.

[0034] Thus, the advantages of this device are diverse:

[0035] 1. Flexibility in construction configuration: The size and arrangement of the pipe components can be adjusted to suit the individual preferences for comfort and ease of use of each user.

[0036] 2. Material versatility: Although the construction material is optional, borosilicate glass or any material with high heat resistance and low reactivity is recommended to minimize smoke pollution.

[0037] 3. Customization possibilities: The pipe can be modified in terms of color, shape and even the incorporation of light or sound elements to satisfy the user's preferences.

[0038] 4. Integration of additional accessories: Other devices such as stirrers, temperature gauges, sprayers or other instruments can be included to improve the user experience.

[0039] 5. Design without fragile elements: The pipe has an elongated and uniform shape, without protruding elements or side components that could be points of weakness prone to breakage. However, it is important to note that, due to the nature of the materials and the eventual use it may be subjected to, the pipe cannot be guaranteed to be completely indestructible. Therefore, it is recommended to handle it with care and responsibility to avoid accidental damage.

[0040] 6. Versatile support position: Thanks to this new design, the pipe can be positioned vertically or horizontally without the risk of water or ice spilling. 7. Additional cooling with ice: The bowl's design allows ice to be added not only to the expansion chamber but also directly to the bowl, providing a cooler smoking experience.

[0041] 8. Convenient and discreet storage: The device's elongated shape makes it easy to store in a container designed to protect and conceal it when not in use. Tubular containers that fit the pipe's dimensions are recommended.

[0042] These features and other additional advantages will be detailed in the following description and accompanying claims, together with the drawings that form part of this specification. The same reference characters will be used to designate the corresponding parts in the various views.

[0043] Description of the drawings

[0044] Figure 1: Perspective view of a traditional water pipe

[0045] Figure 2: Perspective view of the new vertically oriented design, with its pieces together.

[0046] Figure 3: Perspective view of the new vertically oriented design, with its separate pieces.

[0047] Figure 4: Horizontal view of the new design, oriented horizontally, with its pieces together

[0048] Before delving into the details of the present invention, it is important to understand that its application is not restricted to the specific details of the arrangements shown, as it has the potential to manifest itself in other forms. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for descriptive, not limiting, purposes. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0049] Figure 1 shows the typical design of a conventional water pipe, consisting of the basic parts common to this type of device. Starting with the description of the bowl (10), this comprises a structure that houses a reservoir (12) where the substance to be smoked is placed.

[0050] The chamber (12) is a slit that allows the material to be smoked to be placed inside. The smoke resulting from combustion enters the water pipe through the lower hole (13) at the bottom of the chamber (12).

[0051] Following its path, the smoke passes through the tank (12) and enters the burner (10) through the lower orifice (13), then passes through the male (14) and female (21) connections, which allow the burner (10) to be separated from the expansion chamber (20). Subsequently, the smoke enters the water (A) through the percolator (23), where contact between the smoke and the water (A) occurs.

[0052] As the smoke passes through the percolator (23) due to the pressure generated by inhalation, it begins to rise through the expansion chamber (20). On its way, the smoke passes through the ice-catcher section (24), designed to hold ice (H) on them, allowing contact with the smoke stream so that it cools and exits fresh through the top opening (25).

[0053] Figure 2 presents the design of the new water pipe. This design is intended for large or medium-sized pipes, similar to conventional water pipes. Although it doesn't closely resemble the conventional design, it contains the same parts mentioned earlier in Figure 1.

[0054] Starting with the description of its burner (10), this consists of a detachable structure with a flat or semi-concave base (11) at the bottom, which allows the pipe to stand upright on it and to rest on any surface without risk of falling.

[0055] On one side, the burner (10) has a reservoir (12), which consists of a slit where the material to be smoked is placed. This slit ends in the lower hole (13) at the bottom of its interior. In this way, once the material to be smoked is placed in the burner (10), it can be smoked to generate smoke which, through the reservoir (12), passes through the lower hole (13) to enter the interior of the burner (10).

[0056] Furthermore, the burner (10) may include slits on the sides of the tank (12), without a hole at the bottom, which function as a primary ice trap (15). This allows ice (H) to be added inside the burner (10), where it remains suspended so that the smoke impacts it directly, facilitating heat exchange between the smoke stream and the ice (H), thus generating a cooler stream. Subsequently, the smoke continues its upward path through the lower male connection (14) of the burner (10) and the lower female connection (21) of the expansion chamber (20).

[0057] These joints are designed to allow the burner (10) to be attached to and detached from the expansion chamber (20), which facilitates the addition of ice (H) inside the burner (10) and also simplifies the internal cleaning process.

[0058] Once the smoke rises above these joints, it encounters a containment wall (22), which holds the water (A) contained in the expansion chamber (20). The smoke passes through this containment wall (22) via the percolator (23) attached to this structure.

[0059] The percolator (23), in its simplest form, consists of a hollow, inverted U-shaped tubular structure, which allows smoke to enter the expansion chamber (20) through the suction generated in the water pipe. However, due to the difference in height between the levels, it prevents the water (A) contained in the water pipe from descending through it.

[0060] This is crucial, because if water were to pass through the percolator (23) in the opposite direction to the flue gas flow, it would flood the burner (10), disabling it. Therefore, it is important that the percolator tube (23) be as long as possible, since the only way for water (A) to reach the burner (10) is if excess liquid is added, exceeding the height of the percolator (23).

[0061] After the smoke exits the percolator (23), contact is established between the water (A) and the smoke inside the expansion chamber (20), allowing for the capture of the maximum amount of particulate matter present in the gas stream. Driven by the pressure generated during inhalation, the gas rises through the expansion chamber (20), where secondary ice catchers (24) are also located. These are slits situated on the sides of the expansion chamber (20) that also support ice (H). This ice further cools the smoke before it exits through the header (30), which is hermetically sealed to the expansion chamber (20) by means of joints similar to those that connect the burner (10) to the expansion chamber (20).

[0062] The expansion chamber (20) culminates at its upper end with an upper male fitting (25) that fits hermetically to the upper female fitting (31) attached to the upper head (30). The function of this structure is to create a barrier that prevents water (A) and ice (H) from escaping the expansion chamber (20) when the water pipe is positioned horizontally (it functions like a lid with a small hole in its flat surface). Therefore, the head (30) must have an upper hole (32) in its front face or upper wall (33). The upper hole (32) should be located as close as possible to the edge of the upper wall (33) so that it can be properly positioned and aligned with the top of the upper wall (33) of the head (30), thus retaining the contents inside the expansion chamber (20) (Figure 4 provides a more detailed visualization of the function of this structure).

[0063] Finally, it is worth mentioning the bulbs (26); small protrusions attached to the outside of the expansion chamber tube (20), whose function is to prevent the water pipe from rotating when it is positioned horizontally. These bulbs (26) act as lateral stops to keep the pipe stable when it rests on the ground or on some other horizontal surface.

[0064] Figure 3 shows the same design, but with its parts separated. This separation is achieved through the lower male (14) and lower female (15) connections, which separate the burner (10) from the expansion chamber (20), respectively. This allows the burner (10) to be disassembled for filling with the desired substance, cleaning the ashes after use, and even adding ice (H) inside to immediately cool the smoke. It is essential that these connections are airtight when assembled to prevent smoke from leaking through any pores. The same applies to the upper male (25) and upper female (31) connections, which allow the expansion chamber (20) to be decoupled from the head (30) so that water (A) and / or ice (H) can be added or removed, facilitating cleaning.

[0065] Finally, Figure 4 shows the water pipe in a horizontal position. The importance of the bulbs (26) is highlighted here; they must be located on the sides of the expansion chamber (20). This ensures that when the pipe is positioned horizontally, the burner's reservoir (12) (10) is oriented at the highest point of the pipe relative to the ground, while the percolator (23) connects to the edge of the container wall (22) as high as possible. This prevents water (A) from flowing back into the burner (10), while allowing the other end of the percolator (23) to be as low as possible, so that the smoke comes into contact with the water (A).

[0066] It is essential that the bulbs (26) are placed in such a way as to prevent the water pipe from rotating, avoiding spillage of its contents or damage from slipping or accidental falling when placed horizontally.

[0067] Furthermore, it is observed that the head (30) has an upper hole (32) on the edge of the flat face of the upper wall (33). This allows the upper wall (33) of the head (30) to retain the water (A) and / or ice (H) when the pipe is placed in a horizontal position, preventing it from escaping freely from the water pipe.

[0068] It is important that the head (30) is mounted correctly, i.e., with the upper hole (32) as high as possible from the ground, as shown in Figure 4, because if it is installed so that the upper hole (32) is on the lower edge, water will escape immediately.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 30 September 2025 (30.09.2025) 1. A smoking device that provides a simple, portable, and discreet way to smoke various substances, allowing the use of water and even ice to filter and cool the smoke generated within it. Its novel design ensures that the head (30) functions as a lid that retains the contents inside the expansion chamber (20), and, together with the bulbs (26) attached to its exterior, allows for the horizontal orientation, use, and support of this pipe. CHARACTERIZED in that it is composed of at least: a burner (10), a straight tubular expansion chamber (20), and a head (30). The head (30) functions as a lid with an upper opening (32) on the edge of the upper wall (33), and is hermetically sealed to the upper end of the expansion chamber (20) via the upper male union (25) and upper female union (31), allowing the pipe to be supported horizontally without the water inside escaping.At the opposite end of the expansion chamber (20), the burner (10) is connected by means of a lower male (14) and lower female (21) union. On the base (11), to the side of the burner (10), there is a recess (12) that serves as a reservoir for the substances to be smoked. A lower hole (13) at the bottom of the reservoir (12) allows the smoke to enter the burner (10).

2. The smoking device, as described in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the specific design of the burner (10) extends from the base (11) to the lower male joint (14) A draft (16) can be integrated, consisting of another hole located on the side of the burner (10). This hole allows the entry of additional air, which helps to dilute the smoke generated in the reservoir (12). Alternatively, this hole can be covered with a finger when smoking, so that the incoming smoke is more concentrated.

3. The smoking device, as described in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the arrangement of its components; in the expansion chamber (20), immediately after the lower female connection (21), is the container wall (22), from which the percolator (23) extends. In its most basic form, the percolator (23) can be a hollow tube in the shape of an inverted "U", with one end attached to the container wall (22) and extending perpendicularly before returning in the opposite direction, reaching the container wall (22) at the bottom. The opening of the percolator (23) must be open, since Its function is to connect the space below the container wall (22) with the space above it, where the water is held. In this way, by drawing air in through the upper opening (32), the smoke contained in the burner (10) can rise through the percolator (23), pass through the water, and continue its path through the expansion chamber (20) and the header. (30) until it passes through the upper orifice (32) and is inhaled by the user. The purpose of the percolator (23) is to allow only the passage of smoke from the burner (10) into the expansion chamber (20) and to prevent the liquid from flowing in the opposite direction into the lower compartments under the containment wall (22). This is due to the height difference between the top of the percolator (23) and the height of the water column in the expansion chamber (20). The water level must be above the height of the percolator (23) to descend through it; therefore, it is advisable to maintain the liquid level at an average height that does not necessarily exceed that of the percolator (23).

4. The smoking device, according to claims 1 and 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the expansion chamber (20) may have internal slits or obstructions on its sides, above the level of the percolator (23), which serve as secondary ice catchers (24). These secondary ice catchers are intended to retain ice added to the interior of the expansion chamber (20), allowing it to remain suspended in the air and thus contributing to cooling the stream of smoke inhaled by the user.

5. The smoking device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the head (30) is designed to function as a lid, preventing water or ice from escaping freely when the pipe is held horizontally, as with traditional pipes used in this position. This head (30) has an upper wall (33) that blocks the free passage of air or liquid, and has a single upper opening (32) through which the contents of the expansion chamber (20) can be dispensed. The main function of the head (30) is to ensure that, when joined with the expansion chamber (20), the water pipe can be oriented horizontally without the water or ice contained within the expansion chamber (20) spilling out. This is achieved because the upper wall (33) of the head (30) effectively retains them.Therefore, it is important that the upper hole (32) of the head (30) is located at its highest edge, so that the water does not reach that height level to come out of the inside of the pipe. Water should be dispensed when the device is in a horizontal position. This arrangement ensures optimal use of the device, preventing any loss or spillage of liquid during use.

6. The smoking device according to claims 1 and 5, CHARACTERIZED by the presence of bulbs (26) attached to the outside of the side walls of the expansion chamber (20). These bulbs are intended to prevent the water pipe from rotating or moving freely when it rests on a horizontal surface. To achieve this, the bulbs (26) must be two protrusions projecting from the side walls of the expansion chamber (20), positioned so that the end where the percolator (23) joins the container wall (22) is at its highest point above the surface on which the water pipe rests when it is in a horizontal position. In this way, the bulbs (26) provide stability to the device, ensuring that it does not rotate when placed on a surface and that it remains in place.

7. The smoking device, in accordance with claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, Characterized by its versatility, as it offers the possibility of customization to satisfy each user's preferences, allowing the omission of elements and variations in their sizes to create multiple designs adapted to the needs of each user, according to usage preferences. For example, for smaller and more portable designs, the lower male (14) and lower female (21) joints, and / or the upper male (25) and upper female (31) joints can be omitted to save space and also leave the pipe as a single piece without subdivisions that could make it more susceptible to wear or breakage.

Images