Smoking Device

What is this patent about?

'032 is related to the field of smoking devices, specifically pipes designed to cool smoke by drawing it through a liquid reservoir. The background acknowledges the well-known advantages of liquid-cooled pipes in reducing the harshness of smoke compared to traditional pipes that directly ignite the smokeable substance.

The underlying idea behind '032 is to extract smoke components from a smokeable substance without directly igniting it. Instead of burning the material with a direct flame, the device uses a separate heat source, like charcoal, to generate hot gases. These gases then pass through the smokeable substance, vaporizing the desired components without fully combusting the material into ash.

The claims of '032 focus on a smoking device comprising a bowl for the smokeable substance with two spaced holes, and a container for a heat source. The container communicates with the bowl through one hole, allowing hot gases to extract smoke components. The user draws the vapor through the other hole in the bowl.

In practice, the user places a heat source, such as ignited charcoal, in the housing above the bowl containing the smokeable substance. When the user inhales, the hot gases from the charcoal are drawn through perforations in the housing and into the bowl. This vaporizes the smoke components, which are then drawn through a liquid reservoir for cooling before inhalation.

This design differentiates itself from prior art by avoiding direct ignition of the smokeable substance. The patent suggests this indirect heating method results in cooler smoke and potentially reduces the presence of harmful byproducts associated with combustion. Furthermore, the extraction process is claimed to be slower, leading to a longer duration of user satisfaction and leaving the smokeable substance largely intact, rather than reduced to ash. The separate heating chamber is a key element in achieving this controlled vaporization.