Hookah Subassembly and Components of the Subassembly

Preferred forms of the present invention are directed to a hookah subassembly and components of the hookah subassembly having numerous features that are significant improvements over conventional hookahs and components thereof.

A most preferred form of the present invention completely eliminates the need in prior hookahs for a vertical member extending downwardly from a bowl housing a substance to be smoked and into the water chamber to direct smoke into the water chamber so that smoke enters the water from above to pass through the water prior to being inhaled by a user.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention include a hot chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke prior to the smoke passing through water) extending along an outer periphery of the water chamber or housing that receives and directs smoke to a point of entry into the water chamber housing below an upper portion of the water chamber or housing. Preferably, the point of entry of smoke into the water chamber or housing is below a mid-section of the water chamber or housing. Most preferably, the point of entry of smoke into the water chamber or housing is at a point in the bottom or lowermost surface of the water chamber or housing.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention include a cold chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke after the smoke passes through water) configured to prevent water or moisture from being inhaled by the user.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention includes a hookah subassembly in which the port to which the inhalation tube, conduit or hose is connected to is located adjacent a lower portion of the water chamber or housing to ensure that water and/or moisture is not inhaled by the user.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention include a hot chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke prior to the smoke passing through water) having one or more settling members and a collection area to separate and collect any foreign substance (e.g., molasses or water) that is not smoke from the smoke prior to the smoke being directed into the water chamber or housing.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention include a hookah subassembly that is formed by three main components which include an internal member and two outer shell members to provide a hookah subassembly that is inexpensive to manufacture and is easily assembled.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention include a hookah subassembly that is configured to cause smoke, during a purge process, operation or mode, to be directed outwardly from the bottom of the water chamber or housing so that purge smoke flows outwardly from each of the four (4) sides of the hookah subassembly to present to the user a generally cross shape of purged smoke.

One or more preferred forms of the present invention include a removable and reversible draw control member to allow a hookah subassembly to be readily modified to vary the draw from a wide open draw, a medium draw and a restrictive draw.

A hookah is a known device that one or more individuals can use to smoke a smokable substance (e.g., tobacco). A hookah can be a single or multi-stemmed instrument for vaporizing and smoking tobacco (flavored or non-flavored) or other substance where the smoke or vapor is passed through a water basin or other liquid retaining structure before being inhaled by an individual.

An object of a preferred form of the present invention is to provide a novel and unobvious hookah subassembly.

Another object of a preferred form of the present invention is to provide a hookah subassembly that completely eliminates the need in prior hookahs for a vertical member extending downwardly from a bowl housing a substance to be smoked and into the water chamber to direct smoke into the water chamber so that the smoke passes through the water before being inhaled by a user.

A further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hot chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke prior to the smoke passing through water) extending along an outer periphery of the water chamber or housing that receives and directs smoke to a point of entry into the water chamber or housing below an upper portion of the water chamber or housing.

Still another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hot chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke prior to the smoke passing through water) extending along an outer periphery of the water chamber or housing that receives and directs smoke to a point of entry into the water chamber housing below a mid-section of the water chamber or housing.

A further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hot chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke prior to the smoke passing through water) extending along an outer periphery of the water chamber or housing that receives and directs smoke to a point of entry into the water chamber or housing where the point of entry of smoke into the water chamber or housing is at a point in the bottom or lowermost surface of the water chamber or housing.

Yet another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a cold chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke after the smoke passes through water) configured to prevent water or moisture from being inhaled by the user.

Yet a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hookah subassembly in which the port to which the inhalation tube, conduit or hose is connected to is located adjacent a lower portion of the water chamber or housing to ensure that water and/or moisture is not inhaled by the user.

Another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hot chamber, section or portion (i.e., a chamber, section or portion that receives smoke prior to the smoke passing through water) having one or more settling members and a collection area to separate and collect any foreign substance (e.g., molasses) that is not smoke from the smoke prior to the smoke being directed into the water chamber or housing.

A further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hookah subassembly that is formed by three main components which include an internal member and two outer shell members to provide a hookah subassembly that is inexpensive to manufacture and is easily assembled.

Yet a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hookah subassembly that is configured to cause smoke, during a purge process, operation or mode, to be directed outwardly from the bottom of the water chamber or housing so that purge smoke flows outwardly from each of the four (4) sides of the hookah subassembly to present to the user a generally cross shape of purged smoke.

Still a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a removable and reversible draw control member to allow a hookah subassembly to be readily modified to vary the draw from a wide open draw, a medium draw and a restrictive draw.

It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention.

In summary, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a hookah subassembly including a liquid retaining member for retaining a liquid to filter a material that is to be smoked prior to being inhaled by a user and a flow path for directing smoke from a smoked substance retaining member including a substance to be smoked to a point of entry in the liquid retaining member that is below an upper surface of the liquid retaining member.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a hookah subassembly hookah subassembly including a liquid retaining member for retaining a liquid to filter a material that is to be smoked prior to being inhaled by a user and a purge smoke control member configured to direct smoke in a generally cross shaped pattern during a purge operation.

A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a hookah subassembly including an internal member and an outer housing for housing the internal member. The internal member and the outer housing being configured to form a liquid retaining chamber, section or portion. The outer housing includes a connection portion to which a smoked substance bowl containing a substance to be smoked is operably connected to when the hookah subassembly is used to smoke. The hookah subassembly includes at least one of the following: (i) a smoke flow path formed between the outer housing and the internal member for delivering smoke to a point of entry in the liquid retaining chamber, section or portion that is below an upper surface of the liquid retaining chamber, section or portion, and (ii) a removable draw flow control member, wherein when the draw flow control member is removed from the hookah subassembly, the hookah subassembly will operate in a wide open smoke draw mode, when the draw flow control member is in a first position in the hookah subassembly, the hookah subassembly will operate in a medium draw mode and when the draw flow control member is in a second position, the hookah subassembly will operate in a restrictive draw mode.

The preferred forms of the present invention described above provide various examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to any of the preferred forms described above in this section or any preceding or subsequent section.

The preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to. The appended claims are not limited to the preferred forms and no term and/or phrase used herein is to be given a meaning other than its ordinary meaning unless it is expressly stated otherwise.

The figures do not depict the bowl that supports, houses or contains the material or substance that is smoked (e.g., tobacco) or the inhalation hose, conduit, tube used to smoke the material or substance to be smoked, as these items can be of any suitable conventional form or later developed form that is compatible with the preferred forms of the present invention or any variation thereof.

Referring to, a preferred form of the present invention includes a hookah subassembly A having an internal member B and an outer housing C. The outer housing C preferably includes a first outer shell portion D and a second outer shell portion E. First outer shell portion D includes a hollow annular support member F configured to receive a smoked substance retaining member (e.g., a tobacco bowl), i.e., the bowl or other substance retaining member is mounted on support member F. The configuration of member F can be readily varied to accommodate different types, sizes and/or shapes of smoke substance retaining members.

Second outer shell portion E includes a hollow annular connection member or port G to which an inhalation tube, conduit or hose is to be connected during smoke operation so that a user can inhale the smoke passing through the subassembly A. Preferably, port G is disposed below a mid-section of the liquid retaining member and adjacent a bottom portion of subassembly A. The inhalation tube, conduit or hose connected to port G can also be used by an individual to purge smoke from the hookah subassembly A during a purge operation. The configuration of port G can be readily varied to accommodate different types, sizes and/or shapes of inhalation tubes, conduits or hoses.

The first shell portion D and the second shell portion E surround internal member B and these three components form a liquid storage chamber, section of portionhousing and storing a liquid (e.g., water), a first hot circumferential chamber, section or portion, a purge circumferential chamber, section or portionand a cold circumferential chamber, section or portionas seen in, for example,. The terms “hot” and “cold” are used to make clear that chamberreceives smoke prior to the smoke passing through the liquid (e.g., water) in chamberand chamberreceives smoke after the smoke passes through the liquid in chamber.

Referring to, for example, first shell portion D includes a vertically extending wallwhich preferably is transparent and an annular sealextending completely around wallto form one sealed end of the hookah subassembly A. Second shell portion D includes a vertically extending wallwhich preferably is transparent and an annular sealextending around completely around wallto form an opposing sealed end of the hookah subassembly A. Four annular sealsare received in annular grooves or recessesformed in internal member B. The outer portion of annular sealsengage an inner surface of a corresponding outer shell portion to form the first hot circumferential chamber, section or portion, the purge circumferential chamber, section or portionand the cold circumferential chamber, section or portion. The annular sealsisolate chambers,andfrom each other, for example, smoke in chambercannot pass from chamberdirectly into chamberor chamber. In this regard, it is noted that smoke in chambercan only enter chamberafter passing through the liquid in chamber. Similarly, smoke in chambercannot pass from chamberdirectly into chamberor chamber. Further, smoke cannot pass from chamberdirectly into chamberor chamber. This is due to the fact that each chamber is formed between a pair of annular sealsas seen in, for example,. Each of the circumferential chambers, sections or portions,andsurround the liquid retaining chamber, i.e., extend completely around chamber.

Referring to, the bottom of first shell portion D includes a notch or groovethat forms a discharge, exhaust or purge outlet H when the first shell portion D abuts second shell portion E. As seen in, two of the four annular sealsare disposed on opposing sides of outlet H to prevent liquid in chamberfrom passing through outlet H.

Referring to, member F includes a vertically extending passagewaywhich is in fluid communication with circumferential chamber, section or portion. During a smoking mode when a user inhales, smoke from a tobacco bowl seated on member F is drawn downwardly through passagewayto enter chamber. The smoke passes in, around and downwardly in chamberto enter water chamberthrough openingformed in a bottomof internal member B when closure sealing memberis in the position shown in.

When the subassembly is not being used in a smoke or smoking mode, closure memberseals openingpreventing or blocking fluid communication between chamberand chamber. Closure memberincludes a central openingthat allows smoke from chamberto enter chamberwhen closure member is in the position shown in. Closure memberis housed in a diffuser assembly or memberthat includes an upper surfacehaving a plurality of through holesthat act to uniformly distribute smoke in chamber. The diffuser memberis housed in chamber. Internal member B includes a collection well or recessthat can collect any foreign matter other than smoke that enters chamber(e.g., molasses).

During a smoke or smoking mode, smoke directed into chamberpasses upwardly through the liquid in chamberand enters the cold circumferential chamberthrough openingsformed in or adjacent upper corners of internal member B in the portion of internal member B forming cold circumferential chamberas seen in, for example,. While eight openingsare shown in the left, upper corner of member B (see, for example,), the number of openings may be varied as desired. Also, preferably, the right, upper corner of member B includes the same number and size of openings as the left, upper corner of member B.

Preferably, the water level in chamberis at approximately the height of a horizontal plane passing through a mid-section of port G seen in, for example. Also, water will be present in chamberto approximately the same level. However, bottomof internal member B and closure memberseparate chamberand chamberwhen chamberis not under a negative pressure, i.e., closure membermoves downwardly to seal opening.

Referring to, smoke entering cold chambermust travel downwardly to enter port G. Accordingly, any substance other than smoke exiting chamberand entering cold chamberwill settle and be collected in a bottom portion of cold chamberensuring that only smoke enters port G. Internal member B includes a recessed portionproviding a hand gripping area or portion to allow the user to grip internal member B and separate it from a corresponding outer shell portion when disassembling the subassembly A for cleaning.

Referring to, two openingsare formed in purge chamberand a closure memberis mounted on a pair of support membersdisposed between openingsso that opposing end portions of closure memberare positioned directly above a corresponding openingand biased downwardly to close a corresponding opening. The opposing end portions of closure memberseal a corresponding openingpreventing smoke from passing from chamberinto chamberduring a smoking operation during which a vacuum is created, i.e., chamberis subjected to a negative pressure.

During a purge mode, operation or process, an individual can blow into a conduit connected to port G to cause the end portions of closure memberto move upwardly to a position shown inand allow smoke to escape from chamberthrough openingsand enter purge chamberdue to the positive pressure exerted on chamberwhen a user blows into the inhalation conduit. The smoke to be purged travels in, around and downwardly in chamberto be purged or discharged through outlet H. Outlet H is disposed or communicates with only chamberso that only smoke from purge chambercan only pass through outlet H.

Referring to, another preferred form of the present invention will be described.illustrate a hookah subassembly K that is similar to subassembly A and, therefore, only the differences will be described in detail. Subassembly K includes three main components, i.e., an internal member L, a first outer shell portion M and a second outer shell portion N which when assembled form a liquid storage chamber, section of portionhousing and storing a liquid (e.g., water), a first hot circumferential chamber, section or portion, a purge circumferential chamber, section or portionand a cold circumferential chamber, section or portionas seen in, for example,. Chambers,andextend completely around chamber.

Internal member L includes five annular sealsas opposed to four annular sealsin subassembly A. Two of the five annular seals extend around junctureformed by adjacent ends of the first shell portion M and the second shell portion N to ensure that the junctureis sealed and isolated from the other portions of the subassembly K. The annular sealsisolate chambers,andfrom each other, for example, smoke in chambercannot pass from chamberdirectly into chamberor chamber. In this regard, it is noted that smoke in chambercan only enter chamberafter passing through the liquid in chamber. Similarly, smoke in chambercannot pass from chamberdirectly into chamberor chamber. Further, smoke cannot pass from chamberdirectly into chamberor chamber. This is due to the fact that each chamber is formed between a pair of annular sealsas seen in, for example,. An annular collection groove or recessis formed in support member F to collect or capture molasses dripping down from a smoke substance retaining member (e.g., tobacco bowl).

Hot chamberincludes a collection wellsimilar to collection wellof subassembly A. However, collection wellincludes vertically extending diffuser wall portionsthat smoke entering chamberpasses over regardless of the direction the smoke flows in chamber. Diffuser wall portionshelp to settle out into the collection wellany foreign substance other than smoke (e.g., molasses). Hot chamber directs smoke into chamberin the same or similar manner to chamberduring a smoking operation.

With regard to cold chamber, an opening(see, for example,) is formed in or adjacent each of the left and right upper corners of chamberto allow smoke passing through the liquid in the chamberto travel in, around and downwardly in cold chamberand enter portduring a smoking operation.

With regard to purge chamber, openingsare formed in the left and right upper corners and a pair of closure or sealing membersmounted on a corresponding supportto seal the corresponding openingas seen in, for example. Purge chamberis in fluid communication with the two elongated openingsformed in first shell portion M. The two elongated openingsextend between adjacent annular seals that isolate the purge chamberfrom the hot chamberand the cold chamber. During a purge operation in which a user blows into the inhalation conduit, tube or hose, closure or sealing membersare unseated from the corresponding openingas seen in, for example,.

Referring to, the first outer shell portion M and the second outer shell portion N are each provided with a support member. Each support memberis preferably configured in the same manner so only one will be described in detail. Support memberis preferably formed from a non-slip material so that when mounted on a table or other structure the subassembly does not slide on the table or other structure. Support memberincludes two opposing foot portionsand two opposing foot portions. Each of foot portionsis longer or taller than each of foot portionsto create a purge smoke flow path in which purge smoke is directed outwardly between and generally parallel to the two opposing foot portionsthrough the space created by the height differential between foot portionsand foot portions. Also, purge smoke passes outwardly in opposing directions between and generally parallel to support membersso that purge smoke flows outwardly from a bottom of hookah subassembly K in a generally cross-shaped smoke pattern, i.e., purge smoke flows outwardly in four different paths from each of the four lower side portions of hookah subassembly K where each of the four paths is generally perpendicular to a corresponding side portion of the hookah subassembly K.

Support membersare preferably configured in the manner depicted inso that each support membercan be readily gripped by a user to make handling of the outer shell portions M and N easier especially when these components may be wet.

Referring to, an optional draw control memberwill be described in connection with internal member L of subassembly K. However, it will be readily appreciated that the optional draw control member can be used in the subassembly A.

In its most preferred form, the optional draw control memberis a removable and reversible plate member having elongated openingsand. Elongated openinghas a larger open area than elongated openingbut smaller than the open area of inlet openingthrough which smoke enters water in the liquid retaining chamber. When memberis used and elongated openingis fluidly connected to inlet openingsmoke can only enter the water by passing through elongated openingplacing the subassembly K in a medium draw mode. Flipping memberover will cause smaller elongated openingto communicate with inlet openingso that smoke can only enter the water by passing through elongated openingplacing the subassembly K in a restrictive or minimum draw mode. When memberis removed from the subassembly K, the subassembly K is placed in a wide open or maximum draw mode. The medium draw mode provides a draw greater than the restrictive or minimum draw mode but less than the wide open or maximum draw mode. Preferably, memberis held in place by diffuser assembly or memberthat is removably attached to a lower portion of inner member L by any suitable means including, but not limited to screws below closure member.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that the preferred design can be further modified or adapted following in general the principles of the invention and including, but not limited to such departures from the present invention as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiments and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.