Universal Smoking Device

This patent document claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/375,847, titled “UNIVERSAL SMOKING DEVICE” and filed Sep. 15, 2022. The entire content of the above noted application is incorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of this patent document.

This patent document relates to lighter and smoking technologies, particularly for devices and systems for an integrated lighter, pipe, and storage, and methods thereof.

Smoking is an activity where a smokeable substance is burned in a vessel, e.g., a pipe, rolled paper, or other container, and smoke resulting from the combustion of the smokeable substance is inhaled, such that substances within the smoke are tasted by the user and absorbed into the user's bloodstream through the lungs. For instance, combustion of dried plant leaves, such as tobacco, creates aerosol particles mixed with a vaporized gas containing active substances deliverable into the lungs where they can be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. For example, the vaporized gas can diffuse directly into the pulmonary vein, where it combines with oxygen-rich blood that is pumped from the heart to the brain and can affect the user within a second or seconds of the inhalation.

Disclosed is a universal smoking device and system with an integrated lighter, smoking vessel, and compartment for storage and/or preparation of a smokeable substance, and methods of manufacture and/or use thereof.

In some aspects, a universal smoking device includes a lighter comprising a body, an igniter coupled to the body and operable to create an ignition event of a smokeable substance, and a first compartment coupled to and encompassed within the body to store an energy source to be provided to the igniter; a second compartment coupled to the body of the lighter and configured to store and provide a smoking vessel; and a third compartment coupled to the body of the lighter and configured to store a smokeable substance and provide a structure to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel.

In some aspects, an attachment apparatus for securing a smokeable substance storage compartment to a lighter includes a body portion comprising a bracket configured to conform to a region of a body of a lighter device; a securement interface coupled to or spanning from a first end of the bracket such that the securement interface connects the smokeable substance storage compartment; and a fastening mechanism to fasten the attachment apparatus to the body of the lighter device.

In some aspects, a method for facilitating one-handed preparation of a smokeable substance for smoking in a smoking vessel, where the method includes: providing a universal smoking device that includes (i) a lighter comprising a body, an igniter coupled to the body and operable to create an ignition event of a smokeable substance, and a first compartment coupled to and encompassed within the body to store an energy source to be provided to the igniter, (ii) a second compartment coupled to the body of the lighter and configured to store and provide a smoking vessel, and (iii) a third compartment coupled to the body of the lighter and configured to store a smokeable substance; releasing the smoking vessel from the second compartment to a first hand of a user while the universal smoking device is held by a second hand of the user; receiving a distal end of the smoking vessel within the third compartment through an access port of the third compartment while the smoking vessel is held in the first hand the universal smoking device is held by the second hand, wherein the receiving of the distal end of the smoking vessel within the third compartment causes transfer of the smoking substance stored in the third compartment to be loaded in an interior of the distal end of the smoking vessel; igniting a flame at the igniter of the lighter by actuation of the igniter from contact of fingers of the second hand while the universal smoking device is held in the second hand; and receiving heat energy at the distal end of the smoking vessel created by the ignited flame during the igniting while the universal smoking device is held in the second hand to cause burning of the transferred smokeable substance within the interior of the smoking vessel while held in the first hand.

The subject matter described in this patent document can be implemented in specific ways that provide one or more of the following features.

A lighter is a device that generates a flame or an electrical arc to create a laser charge instead of a flame. Lighters can come in many shapes and sizes based on their desired use, such as to ignite a variety of things including smokeable substances, candles, outside fires, gas-powered appliances such as stoves or fireplaces, etc. In general, a flame lighter includes a metal or plastic container filled with a fuel (e.g., flammable liquid or compressed gas); an igniter assembly to produce the flame (e.g., a flint wheel and button) by releasing the fuel and concurrently generating a spark to ignite the released fuel; and a mechanism for maintaining and/or extinguishing the flame. For an electric lighter, generally, the arc lighter includes an electric battery (typically encased in the body of the lighter) and at least two separated ceramic nodes electrically connected to the battery to create an electric arc in the space between the nodes to ignite the target.

Portable lighters are the most common device used for igniting a smokeable substance in a smoking vessel, such as a pipe, rolled paper, rolled plant leaves, or other. Typically, a user of a smokeable substance (i.e., a user also referred to herein as a “smoker”) will carry a portable lighter and the smokeable substance on their person, e.g., in the smoker's pocket, handbag, or other compact storage unit, whether as part of their clothing or as a separate carrying case. In such cases, the smoker generally prefers their portable lighter, their smoking vessel, and, as applicable, their smokeable substance, to be of a compact size to minimize any inconvenience in possessing and transporting these items. Examples of a smokeable substance can include flowers or leaves to be loaded into a smoking vessel, and can include components for a paper- or leaves-rolled smoking article including paper, leaf/leaves, and/or filters.

For instance, the most common portable lighter is known as the “pocket lighter. In the early 1970's, Marcel Bich revolutionized the lighter industry by introducing the adjustable-flame lighter in a convenient pocket size; a little over a decade later, the BIC company introduced a non-adjustable flame lighter, and subsequently an electronic lighter. However, in the two to three decades since these BIC® lighters, little change has been introduced to lighter technology. Some of the advancements include more compact containers, more ergonomic flint wheels and buttons, and more safety features. Examples of safety features for the portable pocket lighter are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,420A, titled “Child Resistant Disposable Lighter,” and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,488, titled “Child Resistant Disposable Lighter,” which are incorporated by reference in their entirety as part of the disclosure of this patent document for all purposes.

Yet, the evolution of the pocket lighter has consistently shown that size matters, such that it is important to keep the overall volume, footprint, and form factor of the portable lighter to be as small as practical, i.e., small sized to fit in a pocket, but large enough to comfortably and effectively grip and handle to ignite a flame safely.

Due to these and other constraints, long ignored has been an interest in creating new features for lighters with smoking vessels, such as pipes or rolls, and smokeable substances. As a result, smokers have traditionally had to manage and carry their lighter separate from their smoking vessels and substances. Moreover, for loose smokeable substances, such as leaves or flowers, a smoker must find a surface to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel, which not only risks contamination to the smoking substance to be prepared and/or loaded, but also makes it more difficult to prepare a smoking solution, takes a longer time, and may be impracticable in the smoker's present situation, particularly if he/she is on-the-go. At a minimum, there has been a long-felt inconvenience to have to separately carry and transport each needed item on the smoker's person in order to readily smoke on demand; and, such extra responsibility raises the risk of loss of any one of these items or disruption when any one item is not brought by or easily found on the smoker.

Yet, like lighters, there are many types of portable smoking vessels easily carried in the smoker's pocket or purse. For example, one type of pipe for smoking a single-serving or small amount of a smokeable substance (e.g., approximately 300 mg or less, or in some instances around 100 mg) is a slender pipe, sometimes referred to as a “one-hitter” based on the size and structural configuration to facilitate a single inhalation, or “hit,” of the smoke from burning a smokeable substance contained in the slender pipe's body. A one-hitter is typically structured to have a narrow cylindrical body having a hollow interior chamber between two end apertures, i.e., one hole at one end of the cylindrical body as a mouthpiece and the other hole at the other end of the body to load the smokeable substance and apply the igniting flame when smoking the substance. Sometimes, the one-hitter slender pipe can be sized to facilitate multiple (e.g., few) inhalations of the smokeable substance loaded within, referred to as a “multi-hitter” pipe. This slender pipe design allows smoking using a one-hitter or multi-hitter to be relatively easy and efficient with respect to other pipe designs (such as bowl pipes) by reducing the distance of the igniter flame to the opening from where the user inhales from, e.g., resulting in minimizing combustion waste and toxicity.

Yet, still to date, there has been no advancement in the integration of a lighter, smoking vessel, and smoking preparation station that meets the needs of smokers and/or improves the practice of smoking. While some existing lighters have horizontal flame outputs (e.g., for better accommodating lighting cigars, one-hitters or multi-hitters, or other types of vessels) or provide ancillary tools akin to a Swiss Army knife, such as a nail filer, pocketknife, reamer, etc., no known technology has effectively assimilated smokeable substance lighting and combustion vessel containment. Also, while there are container products, sometimes referred to as a “dugout,” that offer storage portions to store one's smoking substance (e.g., tobacco or other) and to stow one's slender smoking pipe, there has been no advancement in the integration of a facile, multi-functional utility for storing, preparing, loading, and/or igniting a smoking substance in the smoking vessel, where a user can possess all of the necessary items for having a smoke on demand and on his/her person at any time.

Disclosed is a universal smoking device and system with an integrated lighter, smoking vessel, and compartment for storage and/or preparation of a smokeable substance, and methods of manufacture and/or use thereof.

In some aspects, a universal smoking device includes (i) a lighter comprising a body, an igniter coupled to the body and operable to create an ignition event of a smokeable substance, and a first compartment coupled to and encompassed within the body to store an energy source to be provided to the igniter to ignite the fuel and create the flame; (ii) a second compartment coupled to the body of the lighter and configured to store and provide a smoking vessel (e.g., where, in some embodiments, the smoking vessel comprises a pipe having an interior chamber between a first aperture and a second aperture, and in some embodiments the smoking vessel comprises a pre-rolled paper- or leaf-based smoking article); and (iii) a third compartment coupled to the body of the lighter and/or the second compartment and configured to store a smokeable substance and provide a structure to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel. For example, in some implementations of the universal smoking device, a user can, with the use of just the device alone, release the smoking vessel from the second compartment, insert the smoking vessel through an access port (e.g., door) of or to the third compartment to load the smokeable substance into the smoking vessel, and bring the smoking vessel near the igniter to ignite the smokeable substance for smoking.

In some embodiments of the device, for example, the smoking vessel includes a one-hitter pipe or multi-hitter pipe. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the lighter includes a flame lighter, in which the igniter of the flame lighter is configured to create a flame, and the first compartment is configured to store a fuel to be provided to the igniter to ignite the fuel and create the flame for the ignition event of the smokeable substance. Examples of the flame lighter embodiments of the lighter include, but are not limited to, a pipe lighter, a disposable pocket lighter, a refillable pocket lighter, a blue flame pocket lighter, a catalytic pocket lighter, and a permanent match pocket lighter. Examples of the fuel for the flame lighter include, but are not limited to, butane, naphtha, methanol, and liquefied petroleum gas. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the lighter includes an electric lighter, in which the igniter of the electric lighter is configured to create an electric arc, and the first compartment is configured to store a battery to provide electrical charge to the igniter for the ignition event of the smokeable substance. Examples of the electrical lighter include, but are not limited to, an electric arc lighter (also referred to as a plasma lighter) and an electric coil lighter (e.g., car lighter). In some example embodiments of the electric arc lighter, the igniter includes at least two separated nodes (e.g., ceramic nodes) electrically connected to the battery to create an electric arc in a space between the at least two separated nodes.

shows a diagram of an example embodiment of a universal smoking device, labeled, in accordance with the present technology. The deviceincludes a lighter contingentcomprising a body, an igniter assemblycomprising an igniterand coupled to the body, and a first compartmentcoupled to and/or encompassed within the bodyto store an energy sourceto be provided to the igniter assembly. In some embodiments, for example, the igniter assemblycan include a flame igniter, which may include a hood (e.g., frame of igniter, including flame channel), a spark wheel assembly (e.g., one or more wheels with a strike plate in-between, and a flint, e.g., such as a plastic rod with the flint and spring inside), and a trigger (e.g., lever) to create a spark proximate an outer aperture of a tube from the first compartment(storing an ignitable fuel, e.g., butane, naphtha, methanol, or liquefied petroleum gas or other) to create a flame directed outward from the igniter assembly. Yet, in some embodiments, for example, the igniter assemblyincludes an electric igniter, which may include at least two separated nodes electrically connected to a battery disposed in the first compartmentto create an electric arc in a space between the at least two separated nodes.

The deviceincludes a second compartment, also referred to as “smoking vessel compartment” or “smoking vessel storage,” coupled to and/or encompassed within the bodyof the lighter contingent, where the second compartmentis configured to store a smoking vesseland provide the smoking vesselto a user of the device. In some embodiments, for example, the deviceincludes the smoking vesselthat is structurally designed to the features of the second compartment. Examples of the smoking vesseldesigned for the second compartmentinclude, but are not limited to, a one-hitter pipe or multi-hitter pipe. In some embodiments, for example, the smoking vesselcan include a pipe with an ashing feature and/or a pipe with a filter. Whereas, for example, in other embodiments of the device, the smoking vesselis not included as part of the devicebut can be of any type of smoking vessel that is at least partially storable by the second compartment, such as an individual rolled paper-based smoking substance, a pipe, etc. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the lighter bodycan optionally include an aperture that extends into the interior of the second compartment, which can facilitate easy ejection of the smoking vesselstored within the second compartmentby, e.g., enabling a user to use her/his thumb to quick press/push the smoking vesselto slide out. In some embodiments, for example, the length of the aperture can constitute up to 10%, or up to 20%, or up to 30%, or up to 40%, or up to 50%, or up to 60%, or up to 70%, or up to 80%, or up to 90%, or up to 95% of the length of the smoking vessel. In some embodiments, for example, the width of the aperture can constitute up to up to 40%, or up to 50%, or up to 60%, or up to 70%, or up to 80%, or up to 90%, or up to 95% of the width of the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the lighter bodyand corresponding wall or structure of the second compartmentcan optionally include a window or transparent or translucent wall of the second compartment(or portion thereof) that provides visibility into the interior of the second compartment, which can allow the user to see an amount of the smoking vesselstored within the second compartment. In some embodiments of the device, the second compartmentcan be accessed via an access port, which, for example, can be an opening at a bottom, side, and/or top portion of the second compartmentdepending on the position of the second compartmentwithin the lighter body; and/or, in some embodiments, the access port can be part of the structure (e.g., a door on a wall) of the second compartment, and/or can be part of a structure of the lighter contingent(e.g., removeable component(s) of the igniter assembly).

The deviceincludes a third compartment, also referred to as a “smokeable substance compartment” or “smokeable substance storage,” coupled to and/or encompassed within the bodyof the lighter contingent, where the third compartmentis configured to store a smokeable substanceand/or provide a structure or surface to a user of the deviceto prepare and/or load the smokeable substancein the smoking vessel. In some embodiments, for example, the third compartmentis built into (e.g., permanently attached to or as part of) the bodyof the lighter contingent. In some embodiments, for example, the third compartmentis reversibly attachable to the bodyof the lighter contingent. For example, in some implementations of example embodiments with a reversibly attachable (attachable and detachable) smokeable substance compartmentwith the bodyof the lighter contingent, the universal smoking devicecan allow for interchangeability of multiple smokeable substance compartments, which can be prefilled and be refillable, to provide the smoker with variety in smokeable substance storage options. The third compartmentcan be accessed via an access port, which, for example, can be part of the structure (e.g., a door on a wall) of the third compartment, and/or can be part of a structure of the lighter contingent(e.g., removeable component(s) of the igniter assembly). In some embodiments of the device, for example, the body of the third compartmentcan optionally include a window or transparent or translucent wall of the third compartment(or portion thereof) that provides visibility into the interior of the third compartment, which can allow the user to see an amount of the smokeable substancepresently stored within the third compartment.

In various embodiments of the device, for example, the second compartmentthat stores and provides the smoking vesselfrom the devicecan be coupled to the bodyof the lighter contingentin a variety of ways, including: being within the lighter bodysuch that second compartmenthas a cavity adjacent (e.g., including below, at least partially above, or to the side of) to the first compartmentand/or the third compartmentand is capable of encasing the smoking vesselwithin the cavity; or being disposed outside of the lighter bodysuch that it is capable of attaching the smoking vesselto the lighter body, e.g., on a side of the lighter contingent. Being adjacent can include directly adjacent (i.e., next to) or indirectly adjacent (i.e., nearby but not directly next to, including with something or with nothing in between).

Also, in various embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentthat stores and provides the smokeable substancefor use with the smoking vesseland lighter assemblycan be coupled to the bodyof the lighter contingentin a variety of ways, including: being within the lighter body, such as adjacent (e.g., including below, at least partially above, or to the side of) the second compartmentand/or the first compartment, where third compartmenthas an access port to insert and remove the smokeable substancein and out of the compartment; or being disposed outside of the lighter bodysuch that it is capable of attaching to the lighter body, such as on a side (e.g., bottom) of the lighter contingent. For example, in some embodiments of the third compartment, the access port of the third compartmentincludes a door coupled to a portion of the body (e.g., a wall) of the third compartmentand operable to move between an open position and a closed position to at least partially enclose the smoking substance in the third compartment. The example door access port can be configured in a variety of embodiments, including (i) a sliding door configured to move between the open position and the closed position by pivoting, by sliding, by reversibly releasing from the body, or a combination thereof; a (ii) a divet and/or a tab door configured to allow for engagement of the door to move between the open position and the closed position; (iii) a tethered door that connects the door to the body in a manner that allows the door to seal and expose the opening into the second compartment to deploy or store the smoking vessel; (iv) a hinge jointed-door to enable the door to move about an axis (e.g., as a hinge-rotatable joint mechanism) or a ball-socket jointed door to enable the door to move with multiple degrees of freedom (e.g., a ball-socket-rotatable joint mechanism) to seal and expose the opening into the second compartment to deploy or store the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the universal smoking device, the access port to the third compartmentcan include one or more components of the lighter contingent, such as one or more components of the igniter assembly, which can be removed from its regular position in the lighter contingentto open the access port allowing access into the third compartmentand can be returned back to its regular position in the lighter contingentto close the access port (e.g., and seal the third compartment).

Also, in various embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartment(smokeable substance container) can attach/detach to/from the bodyof the lighter contingentby a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, the universal smoking deviceincludes a screw attachment assembly that (i) can include a series of grooves or threads that can be disposed on or coupled to a wall of the body; and (ii) can include corresponding grooves or threads disposed on or coupled to a wall of the smokeable substance containerto engage the grooves or threads of the bodyto secure the smokeable substance containerto and allow it to reversibly attach to the body. In some embodiments, for example, the universal smoking deviceincludes a magnetic attachment assembly that (i) can include a magnet component attached to or materially part of a wall of the bodyand/or secured in a channel or cavity proximate the wall where the smokeable substance containeris to attach/detach; and (ii) can include a magnet component attached to or materially part of a wall of the smokeable substance container, such that the magnets are configured with respect to the wall of the bodyand wall of the smokeable substance containerto prevent from falling out of the device, thereby ensuring safety of the magnetic securement feature.

In some embodiments of the device, for example, the deviceincludes a fourth compartment (not shown) coupled to the bodyof the lighter contingentand/or the second compartmentand configured to store and provide an auxiliary vessel device associated with use of the smoking vessel, such as for packing, cleaning, or other uses.

show diagrams illustrating example embodiments of the universal smoking device, depicting various configurations of the lighter contingent, the second compartment, and the third compartmentwith the lighter body, in accordance with the present technology.

shows diagrams illustrating example embodiments of a universal smoking devicein accordance with the present technology, which include example embodiments of a container for a smokeable substance that is integrated with the lighter body (e.g., at the base). The universal smoking deviceincludes a lighter contingentincluding a body, an igniter assembly, and a first compartment, e.g., to store an energy source for the igniter assembly, coupled to and encased within the body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a second compartmenthaving an interior cavity disposed within the body, which may be configured to be adjacent to the first compartment, and which a smoking vesselcan be contained within the cavity of the second compartment, where the second compartmentcan be enclosable in the lighter body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a third compartmenthaving an interior cavity, where the third compartmentis coupled to the bodyand configured to store a smokeable substance within its cavity. In some implementations, for example, the third compartmentcan provide an apparatus to a user of the device(smoker) to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis affixed to the body; whereas, in some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis reversibly attachable to the body, e.g., illustrated by examples in the upper right portion of, showing a screw attachment and a slide attachment for the third compartmentto reversibly attach to the bodyof the device.

In various embodiments, the third compartmentcan include an outer surface that can detach from the structure of the third compartment. As illustrated by an example embodiment of the third compartmentA, an outer surface can be configured to screw, slide, swing or otherwise (at least partially) detach from the body of the third compartmentA, e.g., which allows the smoker to fill and/or remove the smokeable substance from the third compartmentA. For example, the third compartmentA may be affixed to the bodyof the lighter contingent, in which the outer surface that detaches (fully or partially) is a bottom surface of the third compartmentA (and thereby a bottom surface of the lighter body). Yet, in some embodiments, for example, the third compartmentA may be reversibly attachable to the bodyof the lighter contingent, in which the outer surface that detaches (fully or partially) is a top surface or a button surface of the third compartmentA. In some embodiments of the third compartmentA (not shown), the outer surface that fully or partially detaches can include a side surface of the third compartmentA. In various embodiments of the device, the third compartmentcan be configured to be clear (e.g., transparent or translucent wall or walls) or with a visible window along a side wall, top wall, and/or bottom wall, thereby allowing users to see how much substance remains in the third compartment.

In various embodiments, the third compartmentcan include an access portof the third compartment. As illustrated by an example embodiment of the third compartmentB, the access portcan be configured on the bottom surface of the third compartment, which can allow for the third compartmentB to be either affixed to the lighter bodyor reversibly attachable to the lighter body, allowing the smoker access to fill and/or remove the smokeable substance from the third compartmentB in either configuration. In some embodiments of the third compartmentB (not shown), the access portcan be configured on a side surface of the third compartmentB; or in some embodiments of the third compartmentB that is reversibly attachable from the lighter body(not shown), the access portcan be configured on a top surface of the third compartmentB.

In various embodiments, the third compartmentcan include two or more sections having a single access port or multiple corresponding access ports, in which the multiple sections of the third compartmentcan store separate quantities of the smokeable substance and be separately accessible to the smoker. As illustrated by an example embodiment of the third compartmentC, the multiple sections of the third compartmentcan be configured with a single access port or multiple respective access ports on the bottom surface of the third compartmentC, which can allow for the smoking vessel to access the storage space of the third compartmentC (e.g., to load the smokeable substance into the smoking vessel). Moreover, in some example implementations, the multiple compartments can be used to store both a smokeable substance and another type material or component that could fit in a section of the third compartmentC.

In some embodiments of the device, like that shown in, the lighter bodyincludes an openingthat extends into the interior of the second compartment. In the embodiments of the device, the second compartmentcan be positioned on a side of the igniter assemblyopposite where the flame is produced (referred to as “non-flame side”); yet it is understood that the second compartmentcan be positioned on a side of the igniter assemblywhere the flame is produced (referred to as “flame side”), or on a side adjacent, perpendicular, or otherwise proximate to the flame side. In some embodiments (not shown), for example, the second compartmentis disposed fully or at least partially under part of the igniter assemblywhile positioned on an exterior of a body(e.g., fully outside the bodyor at least partially inside the body), where the second compartmentboth secures the smoking vesseland allows the smoking vessel to reversibly attach/detach to/from the second compartment, such that the smoking vesselis fully (or at least partially) outside of the lighter bodywhen it is in a stored position. In this manner, the igniter assemblyprovides an overhang for the smoking vessel, which is reversibly attachable to a securement mechanism of the second compartmentwhen stored in the device.

The example structural configurations of the universal smoking deviceare configured to contain the smoking vesseland the smokeable substance compartmentwithin the form factor of the lighter contingent. In this manner, for example, the universal smoking devicestill maintains an optimal size profile for a lighter while providing an ergonomic securement for a smoking vessel and smokeable substances, as well as improves cleanliness and safety aspects for storing all of the necessary elements for smoking in a user's pocket, purse, or other personal location. Moreover, the example structural configurations of the universal smoking devicecan provide additional utility advantages for readily available, on-demand smoking by providing an integrated structure to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel without having to rely on an external surface, such as one's hand, or a table, or other that could contaminate or otherwise introduce unsanitary features to the smokeable substance to be smoked. Furthermore, the example structural configurations of the universal smoking devicecan reduce the difficulty for the smoker to prepare a smoking solution, especially for users without the knowledge of how to use shredders, papers, packers, etc., e.g., by enabling one or multiple compartments that are pre-arranged and structured to facilitate loading of the smoking substance in the smoking vesselwith relative ease, effectively enabling on-the-go preparation and/or loading. Yet further, the example structural configurations of the universal smoking devicecan provide advantageous attributes to its user in that the openingto the smoking vessel compartmentcan allow others to see, at least partially, the stored smoking vesselwhile in the bodyof the lighter, which may be aesthetically pleasing and create positive attention to the user of the device.

In various embodiments of the universal smoking device, one or more features of any of the embodiments of the universal smoking devicecan be included as features of the universal smoking device.

show diagrams illustrating an example embodiment of a universal smoking devicein accordance with the present technology, which includes example embodiments of the container for a smokeable substance that is integrated with the lighter body (e.g., at the base) and having an access port to the interior of the container. As shown in FIG.A, the universal smoking deviceincludes a lighter contingentincluding a body, an igniter assembly, and a first compartment, e.g., to store an energy source for the igniter assembly, coupled to and encased within the body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a second compartmenthaving an interior cavity disposed within the body, which may be configured to be adjacent to the first compartment, and which a smoking vesselcan be contained within the cavity of the second compartment, and where the second compartmentcan be enclosable in the lighter body. For example, the smoking vesselcan attach/detach to/from the second compartment, e.g., by a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. The universal smoking deviceincludes a third compartmenthaving an interior cavity, where the third compartmentis coupled to the bodyand configured to store a smokeable substance within its cavity. In some implementations, for example, the third compartmentcan provide a structure to a user of the device(smoker) to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis affixed to the body; whereas, in some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis reversibly attachable to the body. For example, the smokeable substance compartmentcan be embodied in a container that can attach/detach to/from the bodyof the lighter contingentby a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism.

In various embodiments, the third compartmentcan include an outer surface that can detach from the structure of the third compartment. For example, the outer surface can be configured to screw, slide, swing, magnetically attract, or otherwise (at least partially) attach and detach from the body of the third compartment. In some example embodiments, the third compartmentmay be affixed to the bodyof the lighter contingent, in which the outer surface that detaches (fully or partially) is a bottom surface or a side surface of the third compartment(and thereby a bottom surface of the lighter body). Yet, in some embodiments, for example, the third compartmentmay be reversibly attachable to the bodyof the lighter contingent, in which the outer surface that detaches (fully or partially) is a top surface, a side surface, or a button surface of the third compartment.

Various embodiments of the third compartmentare illustrated in, showing examples of an access portof the third compartment. As illustrated by an example embodiment of the third compartmentA, the access portcan be configured on the side, the top, or the bottom surface of the third compartmentA, where the access port can be configured at a central or corner position on the surface. As illustrated by an example embodiment of the third compartmentB, the access portcan be configured on the side, the top, or the bottom surface of the third compartmentB and include a plurality of bendable and/or retractable flanges, in which the access portis sized similar or larger than the smoking vessel, such that the smoking vesselcan penetrate through the access portby bending or displacing the flanges to load the smokeable substance contained in the third compartmentB, in which the bendable and/or retractable flanges return to a default conformation to close and seal the third compartmentB when the smoking vesselis removed from the access port.

As illustrated by an example embodiment of the third compartmentC, the access portcan be configured on the side, the top, or the bottom surface of the third compartmentC, where the access port includes a door, e.g., including but not limited to a sliding door, a hinged (swing) door, a screw cap door, or other. As illustrated by example embodiments of the third compartmentE andF, the access portcan be configured on one of the top or bottom surface of the third compartment, where the access port includes a hinged (swing) door and a screw cap door, respectively.

In various embodiments (including but not limited to the third compartment embodimentsA,B,C,E,F), the third compartmentcan include two or more sections having a single access port or multiple corresponding access ports, in which the multiple sections of the third compartmentcan store separate quantities of the smokeable substance and be separately accessible to the smoker.illustrates an example of the multi-sectional third compartmentD, including one access port. In this example, the multiple sections can be rotated such that the access portcan align with an individual section of the compartment. In some embodiments, for example, the multi-sectional third compartmentD can include a section rotating mechanism (not shown) to cause the sections to move relative to the access port.

In various embodiments of the universal smoking device, one or more features of the universal smoking device, or any other embodiments of the universal smoking device, can be included as features of the universal smoking device.

shows diagrams illustrating an example embodiment of a universal smoking devicein accordance with the present technology, which includes example embodiments of the container for a smokeable substance that is integrated with the lighter body (e.g., at the base). The universal smoking deviceincludes a lighter contingentincluding a body, an igniter assembly, and a first compartment, e.g., to store an energy source for the igniter assembly, coupled to and encased within the body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a second compartmenthaving an interior cavity disposed within the body, which may be configured to be adjacent to the first compartment, and which a smoking vesselcan be contained within the cavity of the second compartment, and where the second compartmentcan be enclosable in the lighter body. For example, the smoking vesselcan attach/detach to/from the second compartment, e.g., by a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. The universal smoking deviceincludes a third compartmenthaving an interior cavity, where the third compartmentis coupled to the bodyand configured to store a smokeable substance within its cavity. In some implementations, for example, the third compartmentcan provide a structure to a user of the device(smoker) to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis affixed to a structure of the body(e.g., such as a wall); whereas, in some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis reversibly attachable to the body. For example, the smokeable substance compartmentcan be embodied in a container that can attach/detach to/from the bodyof the lighter contingentby a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. In some embodiments, for example, the smoking vesselcan partially fit inside smokeable substance compartmentto pick up smokeable substance(s) contained within the smokeable substance compartment, in which the container of the smokeable substance compartmentcan include any of the example embodiments of the access port(shown in) to facilitate access and operability of the smoking vesselto and inside the smokeable substance compartment.

In various embodiments of the universal smoking device, one or more features of the universal smoking deviceand/or the universal smoking device, or any other embodiments of the universal smoking device, can be included as features of the universal smoking device.

show diagrams illustrating an example embodiment of a universal smoking devicein accordance with the present technology, which includes example embodiments of the compartment with container for a smokeable substance and the compartment for the smoking vessel that are integrated with each other and the lighter and orientated in a similar manner and/or positioned adjacent to each other within the lighter body.

shows the universal smoking device, which includes a lighter contingentincluding a body, an igniter assembly, and a first compartment, e.g., to store an energy source for the igniter assembly, coupled to and encased within the body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a second compartmenthaving an interior cavity disposed within the body, which a smoking vesselcan be contained within the cavity of the second compartment, and where the second compartmentcan be enclosable in the lighter body. For example, the smoking vesselcan attach/detach to/from the second compartment, e.g., by a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism.

The universal smoking deviceincludes a third compartmenthaving an interior cavity, where the third compartmentis coupled to the bodyand configured to store a smokeable substance within its cavity. The second compartmentand the third compartmentare configured within the lighter bodysuch that they are oriented in a similar manner (e.g., oriented vertically within the body) and/or positioned adjacent with each other and/or with the second compartment. In some implementations, for example, the third compartmentcan provide a structure to a user of the device(smoker) to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis affixed to a structure within the body(e.g., such as a wall); whereas, in some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis reversibly attachable to the body. For example, in such reversibly attachable embodiments, the third compartmentcan include a detachable storage containerC (also referred to as “substance storage container”), which is reversibly attachable to the bodywithin the space that defines the third compartment. In this manner, for example, the smoker can eject the substance storage containerC for filling or removing a smokeable substance away from the lighter contingent, and can reinsert the substance storage containerC back into the third compartmentto maintain all smoking elements in a singular apparatus. For example, the substance storage containerC can attach/detach to/from the bodyof the lighter contingent, within the third compartment, e.g., by a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. In the example shown in(andbelow), the second compartmentis configured on the non-flame side of the lighter contingent, the third compartmentis configured on the flame side of the lighter contingent, and the first compartmentis configured between the second compartmentand the third compartmentin the lighter body; yet, it is understood that in some embodiments the second compartmentmay be configured on the flame side of the lighter contingentor between the third compartmentand first compartmentin the lighter body, and it is understood that in some embodiments the third compartmentmay be configured on the non-flame side of the lighter contingentor between the second compartmentand first compartmentin the lighter body.

shows a diagram of the bodyof the devicedepicting the first compartmentbetween the second compartment(e.g., configured on one side of the body) and the third compartment(e.g., configured on the opposite side of the bodywith respect to the second compartment), in which the substance storage containerC is insertable, attachable, and removeable from the third compartment, e.g., by translationally moving the substance storage containerinto and out of the third compartment. While not shown, the third compartmentcan include a securement mechanism to reversibly attach the substance storage containerC, including but not limited to a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. The right illustration ofillustrates various embodiments of the substance storage containerC that include a fill door to fill smoking substance in the containerC; the fill door can be configured at a top end of the substance storage containerC or at a bottom end of the substance storage containerC. In some embodiments, for example, the substance storage containerC can optionally include a separate access door to allow the user to load stored smoking substance into the smoking vessel(shown in); where, for some implementations in such embodiments, the smoking vesselcan be inserted in the separate access door (e.g., such as from the bottom of the containerC having the fill door at the top end, or vice versa). Yet, in some embodiments, the fill door and the access door are not separate and rather the same door, as shown in the right-most illustration in, allowing the user to store the smokeable substance within the substance storage containerC and later on load the stored smokeable substance in the smoking vesselvia the substance storage containerC.

In some embodiments of the universal smoking device, the smoking vesselis configured to a shape and size that fits inside of substance storage containerC. In this manner, the smoking vesselcan be loaded with the smokeable substance stored in the substance storage containerC, whether the substance storage containeris positioned within the third compartmentor separated from the third compartment(and thereby the lighter contingent), such as the example illustration on the right in. It is understood that the relative sizes and shapes of the smoking vesseland the smokeable substance compartmentC can be varied.

In some embodiments of the device, like that shown in, the lighter body(optionally) includes an openingthat extends into the interior of the second compartment. The openingcan allow for easy ejection of the smoking vesselstored within the second compartment, e.g., enabling a user to use his/her thumb to quick press/push the smoking vesselto assist in the removal of the smoking vesselfrom the second compartment. In some embodiments of the device, the lighter body(optionally) includes an openingthat extends up to the third compartment(e.g., to an outer wall of the substance storage containerC); or in some embodiments, the openingextends into the interior of the third compartment. In example embodiments where the (optional) openingextends up to the substance storage containerC, this can allow for easy ejection of the substance storage containerfrom being within the third compartment, e.g., enabling a user to use his/her thumb to quick press/push the smoking storage containerC to slide out. Moreover, in example embodiments where the (optional) openingextends up to the substance storage containerC, the substance storage containerC may include a window or transparent or translucent wall that aligns with the optional openingso that the user can view an amount of the smokeable substance in the substance storage containerC. In example embodiments where the (optional) openingextends into the interior of the third compartment, the substance storage containerC can include an access port to allow for the smoking vesselenter the third compartmentfor preparing and/or loading of the smokeable substance into the smoking vessel.

In various embodiments of the universal smoking device, one or more features of the universal smoking device, the universal smoking device, and/or the universal smoking device, or any other embodiments of the universal smoking device, can be included as features of the universal smoking device.

shows diagrams illustrating an example embodiment of a universal smoking devicein accordance with the present technology, which includes example embodiments of the compartment for a smokeable substance and the compartment for the smoking vessel that are integrated with each other and the lighter and orientated in a similar manner and/or positioned adjacent to each other within the lighter body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a lighter contingentincluding a body, an igniter assembly, and a first compartment, e.g., to store an energy source for the igniter assembly, coupled to and encased within the body. The universal smoking deviceincludes a second compartmenthaving an interior cavity disposed within the body, which a smoking vesselcan be contained within the cavity of the second compartment, and which can be releasably attachable to the second compartmentand/or enclosable in the lighter body. For example, the smoking vesselcan attach/detach to/from the second compartment, e.g., by a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism. The universal smoking deviceincludes a third compartmenthaving an interior cavity, where the third compartmentis coupled to the bodyand configured to store a smokeable substance within its cavity. The second compartmentand the third compartmentare configured within the lighter bodysuch that they are oriented in a similar manner (e.g., oriented vertically within the body) and/or positioned adjacent with each other and/or with the second compartment.

In some implementations, for example, the third compartmentcan provide a structure to a user of the device(smoker) to prepare and/or load the smokeable substance in the smoking vessel. In some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis affixed to a structure within the body(e.g., such as a wall); whereas, in some embodiments of the device, for example, the third compartmentis reversibly attachable to the body. For example, in such reversibly attachable embodiments, the third compartmentcan include a detachable storage container (not shown similar to the substance storage containerC discussed for), which is reversibly attachable to the bodywithin the space that defines the third compartment. In this manner, for example, the smoker can eject the substance storage containerC for filling or removing a smokeable substance away from the lighter contingent, and can reinsert the substance storage containerC back into the third compartmentto maintain all smoking elements in a singular apparatus. In such embodiments, for example, the detachable storage container of the third compartmentcan attach/detach to/from the bodyof the lighter contingent, within the third compartment, e.g., by a screw mechanism, a slide mechanism, a clip mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism, and/or other attachment mechanism.