SMOKING DEVICE

Abstract

A smoking device and method of using the device are provided. The smoking device may be disposable and be movable between an expanded smoking position and a stowed position.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

[0001] The invention generally relates to the field of pipes for smoking.

B. Description of the Related Art

[0002] There are a wide variety of smoking pipes which generally speaking comprise a bowl defining a combustion chamber and a stem through which smoke may be inhaled. Some of these pipes are what may be thought of as permanent or long-lasting pipes typically made of rigid materials which may last years and even a person's lifetime. However, there are also more temporary or disposable smoking pipes which are intended to last for a number of uses and then thrown away.

[0003] For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,505 granted to Carleton discloses a disposable smoking pipe which is formed from a foldable flat blank and is an elongated frustum of a pyramid having a metal foil bowl in one wall in the form of a cup perforated at its bottom. In addition, US Patent Application Publication 2016/0249678 of Katz discloses a disposable smoking pipe having a frustum-shaped bowl and an elongated body with a trapezoidal cross section, wherein each of the bowl and elongated body are formed from a substrate blank.

[0004] Some embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more benefits or advantages over the prior art.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one embodiment, a smoking device may comprise a tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis, the tubular wall having a first end defining a mouthpiece opening, and a second end longitudinally spaced apart from the mouthpiece opening; at least two creases longitudinally defined in the tubular wall; a longitudinal central chamber defined by an inner surface of the tubular wall and having a variable height in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height being adjustable by flexing the tubular wall along the creases; a bowl-receiving aperture defined in the tubular wall; a bowl having a sidewall and a flange which extends outwardly from the sidewall and is larger than the bowl-receiving aperture; a combustion cavity defined by an inner surface of the sidewall; and at least one through hole formed in the bowl in fluid communication with the combustion cavity, the longitudinal central chamber and the mouthpiece opening; wherein the bowl has a deployed position and a stowed position; in the deployed position, the bowl is in an upright orientation, the sidewall is in the aperture, and the flange is outside the longitudinal central chamber; and in the stowed position, the bowl is in an inverted orientation, the sidewall is in the aperture, and the flange is inside the longitudinal central chamber.

[0006] In another embodiment, a smoking device may comprising a tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular wall has a first end which defines a mouthpiece opening and a second end which is longitudinally spaced apart from the mouthpiece opening and defines a carburetor opening; at least two creases longitudinally defined in the tubular wall; a longitudinal central chamber defined by an inner surface of the tubular wall and having a variable height in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height being adjustable by flexing the tubular wall along the creases; a bowl which defines a combustion cavity and is mounted on the tubular wall so that the combustion cavity is in fluid communication with the longitudinal central chamber and mouthpiece opening; and a carburetor flap which extends from the tubular wall and is foldable over the carburetor opening to variably close the carburetor opening.

[0007] In another embodiment, a smoking device may comprising a tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular wall has a first end which defines a mouthpiece opening and a second end which is longitudinally spaced apart from the mouthpiece opening; at least two creases longitudinally defined in the tubular wall; a longitudinal central chamber defined by an inner surface of the tubular wall and having a variable height in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height being adjustable by flexing the tubular wall along the creases; and a bowl which defines a combustion cavity and is mounted on the tubular wall so that the combustion cavity is in fluid communication with the longitudinal central chamber and mouthpiece opening; wherein when the tubular wall is oriented so that the longitudinal axis is horizontal, the first end of the tubular wall is concavely curved as viewed from above the tubular wall.

[0008] Other benefits and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals indicate like structure, and wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a left side view of an embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a front end view of an embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a front end view of an embodiment in a stowed position.

[0019] FIG. 10 is front end view of an embodiment in a fully collapsed position with the bowl removed.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] As used herein the terms "embodiment", "embodiments", "some embodiments", "other embodiments" and so on are not exclusive of one another. Except where there is an explicit statement to the contrary, all descriptions of the features and elements of the various embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in all operable combinations thereof.

[0021] Language used herein to describe process steps may include words such as "then" which suggest an order of operations; however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of such terms is often a matter of convenience and does not necessarily limit the process being described to a particular order of steps.

[0022] Conjunctions and combinations of conjunctions (e.g. "and/or") are used herein when reciting elements and characteristics of embodiments; however, unless specifically stated to the contrary or required by context, "and", "or" and "and/or" are interchangeable and do not necessarily require every element of a list or only one element of a list to the exclusion of others.

[0023] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a smoking device or pipe 1. Pipe 1 may include a stem or tubular wall 2, a bowl 4 and a carburetor flap 6. FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing pipe 1 with bowl 4 removed or separated from stem 2. Pipe 1 has a first or front end 8, a second or back end 10, a left side 12, a right side 14, a top 16 and a bottom 18 (FIGS. 5-8).

[0024] Referring primarily to FIGS. 1-6, stem 2 has a first or front end 20, a second or back end 22 longitudinally spaced from front end 20, an outer surface 24 and an inner surface 26. Inner surface 26 defines a longitudinal central chamber 28 which extends from first end 20 to second end 22 and extends about a longitudinal axis X (FIGS. 3, 5). Although pipe 1 may be positioned in any orientation, pipe 1 is described herein in an upright orientation such that axis X is horizontal unless otherwise noted.

[0025] Front end 20 may also be referred to as a mouthpiece end or edge, and back end may also be referred to as a carburetor end or edge. Mouthpiece edge 20 defines a mouthpiece opening 30, and carburetor edge 22 defines a carburetor opening 32. Mouthpiece edge 20 may be concavely curved as viewed from above or below stem 2 and pipe 1, as shown respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4. Front end 20 of stem 2 may be adjacent or define front end 8 of pipe 1.

[0026] Stem 2 may be formed from an initially generally flat piece of sheet material which may include one or more generally flat layers and be folded to form a tubular shape. The sheet material may primarily be or include a paperboard material, a fabric, a cellulose material, a plastic material or other materials which are suitable for the present purpose and foldable to form stem 2. Stem 2 and the sheet material may be formed of a biodegradable material. Stem 2 or the sheet material forming stem 2 may include a paperboard material impregnated with live seeds of an arbitrarily preselected species of plant.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 1-7, the folding of the sheet material forms various longitudinal folds or creases which may serve as vertices of a polygon which defines the cross sectional shape of stem 2 perpendicular to axis X or the shape of stem 2 as viewed parallel to axis X. This shape, as shown generally in FIG. 7, is hexagonal for the embodiment shown although this may vary. Each crease may define or represent an axis or hinge.

[0028] The six folds or creases created by the folding of the sheet material to make the tubular form of stem 2 are shown as creases C1-C6. These creases may be referred to as leftmost crease C1, upper left crease C2, upper right crease C3, rightmost crease C4, lower right crease C5 and lower left crease C6. Any of the creases to the left of axis X may be referred to as left creases. Similarly, any of the creases to the right of axis X may be referred to as right creases. Alternately, any of the creases may be referred to as first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth creases. Each crease may be referred to as a longitudinally elongated crease which extends from front end 20 to back end 22. The creases, vertices, axes or hinges C1-C6 may be parallel to one another and axis X.

[0029] The folding of the sheet material to form stem 2 may produce a plurality of panels 33 each of which may include a plurality of panel segments 34. Panels 33 may include an upper panel 33A and a lower panel 33B. Each of panels 33 and panel segments 34 extend from front end 20 to back end 22. Each panel 33 extends from leftmost crease C1 to rightmost crease C4. Crease C1 may serve as the left side of stem 2 and each of panels 33. Crease C4 may serve as the right side of stem 2 and each of panels 33.

[0030] Each panel segment 34 extends from one of the creases to the next of the creases. Where stem 2 has a hexagonal shape, stem 2 may include six panels 34A-F. These panels may include upper left panel 34A, top or uppermost panel 34B, upper right panel 34C, lower right panel 34D, bottom or lowermost panel 34E and lower left panel 34F.

[0031] Panel 34A extends from crease C1 to crease C2. Panel 34B extends from crease C2 to crease C3. Panel 34C extends from crease C3 to crease C4. Panel 34D extends from crease C4 to crease C5. Panel 34E extends from crease C5 to crease C6. Panel 34F extends from crease C6 to crease C1.

[0032] Upper panel 33A includes panel segments 34A, 34B and 34C. Lower panel 33B includes panel segments 34D, 34E and 34F. Each of creases C1-C6 acts as a living hinge to allow stem 2 to move between various stages of expansion and collapse via the flexing of the creases and pivoting of the panel segments relative to one another about the creases.

[0033] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, panel segment 34B of upper panel 33A defines a bowl-receiving aperture 36 which extends from outer surface 24 to inner surface 26 of panel segment 34B. Aperture 36 is defined by an inner perimeter 38 extending from outer surface 24 to inner surface 26. Aperture 36 and perimeter 38 may have a variety of shapes as viewed from above. In the embodiment shown, aperture 36 and perimeter 38 are generally circular although perimeter 38 includes a flat 40 such that aperture 36 and perimeter 38 are not completely circular.

[0034] With primary reference to FIGS. 1-4, carburetor flap or carb flap 6 has an outer perimeter 42, an outer surface 44 and an inner surface 46. Flap 6 may be adjacent back end 22 of stem 2 and the back end of central chamber 28. Flap 6 may be adjacent or define back end 10 of pipe 1. Flap 6 and stem 2 may be formed as a single unitary piece of folded sheet material. Thus, flap 6 may be formed of the same material as stem 2.

[0035] Flap 6 may be pivotally or foldably connected to and extend outwardly from stem 2 by a fold or crease C7, which may be referred to as a transverse crease. Crease C7 may extend along the front edge of outer perimeter 42 and back end 22 of stem 2 from adjacent the back end of crease C5 to adjacent the back end of crease C6. Like creases C1-C6, crease C7 may serve as a living hinge allowing for the same type of flexing and pivoting of flap 6 relative to stem 2 about an axis or hinge represented by crease C7. Crease, axis or hinge C7 may be perpendicular to each of creases C1-C6 and axis X. As best understood from FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, outer perimeter 42 and flap 6 may be generally hexagonal as viewed perpendicular to outer or inner surfaces 44 and 46.

[0036] Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 7, bowl 4 may include a bottom wall 48, a sidewall 50 and a flange 52. Bowl 4 may be formed of various materials, which may include rigid materials such as wood or metal. Bowl 4 may be formed of a biodegradable material.

[0037] Bottom wall 48 has top and bottom surfaces 54 and 56. Sidewall 50 has inner and outer surfaces 58 and 60. Flange 52 has top and bottom surfaces 62 and 64. Bottom surface 54 of bottom wall 48 may serve as the bottom of bowl 4. Top surface 62 of flange 52 may serve as the top of bowl 4. Inner surface 58 of sidewall 50 may define a combustion cavity 65 such that a lower boundary of cavity 65 may also be defined by top surface 54 of bottom wall 48.

[0038] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6-8, bowl 4 may define one or more through holes 66 which extend from inside bowl 4 to outside bowl 4 so that combustion cavity 65, holes 66, central chamber 28, mouthpiece opening 30 and carburetor opening 32 are all in fluid communication with one another. Holes 66 are shown extending from sidewall inner surface 58 to sidewall outer surface 60. However, such through holes may also be formed in bottom wall 48.

[0039] Sidewall 50 outer surface 60 may have a variety of shapes. In the embodiment shown, outer surface 60 is generally circular as viewed from above or below although it may include a flat 68 (FIG. 2) or other feature such that outer surface is not circular. In the embodiment shown, outer surface 60 is sized such that it is only slightly smaller than inner perimeter 38 of upper wall 33A of stem 2. Outer surface 60 may also be shaped complementary to or have the same shape as inner perimeter 38 so that when sidewall 50 is received in aperture 36, the same or similar shapes are aligned and prevent rotation of bowl 4 about a vertical axis. This allows through holes 66 to be oriented in a preselected position since sidewall outer surface 68 is keyed to fit only one way within aperture 36.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, as measured horizontally from left to right perpendicular to axis X and/or creases C1-C6, bowl 4 and flange 52 have a horizontal width W1 defined by the outer perimeter of flange 52, top panel segment 34B has a horizontal width W2 defined from crease C2 to crease C3, and stem 2 has a horizontal width W3 defined from crease C1 to crease C4 (or from the left side of stem 2 to the right side of stem 2). Width W2 may also represent the width of bottom panel segment 34E. Width W3 may also represent the width of each of upper and lower panels 33A and 33B. Width W1 is less than each of width W2 and W3. Width W2 is less than width W3.

[0041] Turning now primarily to FIGS. 1 and 2, pipe 1 is configured so that bowl 4 may be easily mounted on and dismounted from stem 2. FIG. 2 shows bowl 4 in a dismounted or separated position in which bowl 4 is separated from or out of contact with stem 2. Bowl 4 may be moved between the dismounted position of FIG. 2 and the mounted position of FIG. 1 simply by vertical and/or linear movement of bowl 4 relative to stem 2, as shown by Arrow A in FIG. 2. The user may simply move or push bowl 4 downwardly relative to stem 2 so that bowl sidewall 50 is received within aperture 36, so that this downward movement and insertion of sidewall 50 into aperture 36 may alone serve to mount bowl 4 on stem 2, that is, without further action on the user's part. This downward movement of bowl 4 may include bottom surface 64 of flange 52 coming into contact with the stem 2 outer surface 24 or top surface of upper panel 33A and top panel segment 34B, as shown in FIG. 6-7. Flange 52 is wider or larger than aperture 36, whereby flange 52 extends outwardly beyond aperture 36 and inner perimeter 38 when bowl 4 is mounted on stem 2.

[0042] During insertion of sidewall 50 into aperture 36 to mount bowl 4 on stem 2 or during removal of sidewall 50 from aperture 36 to dismount bowl 4 from stem 2, outer surface 60 may slidably engage inner perimeter 38 of stem 2. Such sliding engagement during insertion of sidewall 50 may cease when flange bottom surface 64 comes into contact with stem outer surface 24, at which point bowl 4 may be seated and retained in aperture 36 with sidewall outer surface 60 in a frictional engagement with inner perimeter 38. Bowl 4 may be mounted on or retained on tubular wall 2 only by this frictional engagement. Sliding engagement of sidewall 50 with inner perimeter 38 during removal of sidewall 50 may cease when the bottom of bowl 4 moves above the top of stem 2 and top surface 24 of panel segment 34B, and sidewall outer surface 60 moves out of contact with inner perimeter 38, whereby bowl 4 moves to the separated position of FIG. 2.

[0043] As noted previously, panels 33 and panel segments 34 are pivotally movable relative to one another via flexing of stem 2 about creases C1-C6. Such movement allows stem 2 to move between multiple positions, including an expanded smoking or deployed position (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5-7), various partially expanded positions (such as shown in FIG. 7 in dashed lines and in FIG. 9), and a fully collapsed position (FIG. 10) when bowl 4 is separated from stem 2. Inner surfaces 26 of the various panel segments 34 in the deployed position and various partially expanded positions are spaced from one another to varying degrees and at various angles relative to one another.

[0044] In the collapsed position of FIG. 10, the downwardly facing bottom surface 26 of upper panel 33A is parallel to and closely adjacent or in contact with the upwardly facing top surface 26 of bottom panel 33B from adjacent leftmost crease C1 to adjacent rightmost crease C4 and from adjacent front end 20 to adjacent back end 22. In this collapsed position, the downwardly facing bottom surface 26 of panel segment 34A is parallel to and closely adjacent or in contact with the upwardly facing top surface 26 of panel segment 34F; the downwardly facing bottom surface 26 of panel segment 34B is parallel to and closely adjacent or in contact with the upwardly facing top surface 26 of panel segment 34E; and the downwardly facing bottom surface 26 of panel segment 34C is parallel to and closely adjacent or in contact with the upwardly facing top surface 26 of panel segment 34D.

[0045] Stem 2 has a variable height which may be altered by moving stem 2 through various degrees of collapse or expansion by flexing of stem 2 along creases C1-C6. The variable height may be in a direction perpendicular to axis X. The height of stem 2 in a given position is defined between the top and bottom of stem 2, or between the top surface 24 of top panel segment 34B and the bottom surface 24 of bottom panel segment 34E. Various stem 2 heights are shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10. In particular, FIG. 7 shows in solid lines a height H1 of stem 2 in the deployed position and a height 112 of stem 2 in a partially expanded position. FIG. 9 shows a stem height 113 in the stowed position, and FIG. 10 shows a stem height 114 in the fully collapsed position.

[0046] Heights H1-H4 are progressively smaller, so that heights H2, H3 and H4 are each less than height H1, heights H3 and H4 are each less than height H2, and height H4 is less than height H3. Height H4 represents the minimum height of stem 2.

[0047] Flange 52 has a thickness or height H5 (FIG. 9) defined between surfaces 62 and 64, which may be measured perpendicular to surfaces 62 and 64 and/or vertically when bowl is in the upright or inverted positions noted below. Height H5 is less than stem 2 heights H1, H2 and H3 (FIGS. 7 and 9) but greater than stem 2 height H4 (FIG. 10). Thus, it may be said that the variable height of stem 2 has a minimum value of less than the thickness or height of flange 52.

[0048] Bowl 4 is movable between alternate positions, which may include a smoking or deployed position (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 in solid lines), the separated position (FIG. 2) and a stowed position (FIG. 9), as well as an intermediate upright position (FIG. 7 in dashed lines) and an intermediate inverted position (FIG. 8). In the deployed position of FIG. 1, bowl 4 is in an upright orientation and in the mounted position described above. In the separated position of FIG. 2, bowl 4 is separated from stem 2 and may be in any orientation. In the intermediate inverted position of FIG. 8 and the stowed position of FIG. 9, bowl 4 is in an inverted or upside down orientation which is inverted or upside down relative to bowl 4 in the upright orientation. When bowl 4 is mounted on stem 2 in the upright orientation, flange 52 is outside central chamber 28. When bowl 4 is mounted on stem 2 in the inverted orientation including in the stowed position, flange 52 is inside central chamber 28.

[0049] In the deployed position of bowl 4, bottom surface 56 of bottom wall 48 and the bottom of bowl 4 are spaced upwardly of and out of contact with the upwardly facing top surface 26 of panel segment 34E and bottom panel 33A, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 7 by Arrow B, bowl 4 is movable between the deployed position (solid lines) and the intermediate upright position (dashed lines) by flexing of the sheet material of stem 2 along creases C1-C6. This flexing movement and the associated pivotal movement of the various panel segments 34 about said creases moves top panel segment 34B and bottom panel segment 34E toward or away from one another such that top panel segment 34B carries bowl 4 with panel segment 34B. Bottom 56 of wall 48 and bowl 4 in the intermediate upright position (FIG. 7 dashed lines) is in contact with top surface 26 of bottom panel segment 34E. Thus, bottom 56 of wall 48 and bowl 4 are vertically movable into and out of contact with surface 26 of segment 34E via the pivotal movement of panel segments 34 and flexing about creases C1-C6. Bottom surface 64 of flange 52 may be in contact with top surface 24 of top panel 34B in the deployed and intermediate upright positions.

[0050] In the intermediate inverted position of bowl 4 (FIG. 8), top surface 62 of flange 52 and the top of bowl 4 (which are respectively the bottom of flange 52 and bowl 4 in the inverted orientation) are spaced upwardly of and out of contact with the upwardly facing top surface 26 of panel segment 34E and bottom panel 33A. Similar to Arrow B in FIG. 7, bowl 4 in the inverted position is movable between the intermediate inverted position of FIG. 8 and the stowed position of FIG. 9 by flexing of the sheet material of stem 2 along creases C1-C6. This flexing movement and the associated pivotal movement of the various panel segments 34 about said creases moves top panel segment 34B and bottom panel segment 34E toward or away from one another such that top panel segment 34B carries bowl 4 in the inverted position with panel segment 34B.

[0051] Top surface 62 of flange 52 and the top of bowl 4 (which are respectively the bottom of flange 52 and bowl 4 in the inverted orientation) in the stowed position of FIG. 9 is in contact with top surface 26 of bottom panel segment 34E. Thus, in the inverted position of bowl 4, bottom 62 of flange 52 and bowl 4 are vertically movable into and out of contact with surface 26 of segment 34E via the pivotal movement of panel segments 34 and flexing about creases C1-C6. Top surface 64 of flange 52 (in the inverted position of bowl 4) may be in contact with bottom surface 26 of top panel 34B in the stowed and intermediate inverted positions.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 6, flap 6 is pivotally movable (Arrow C) about crease or hinge C7 between multiple positions, including positions P1, P2 and P3. Position P1 may be referred to as a fully open position or stowed position of flap 6. In open position P1, inner and outer surfaces 46 and 44 of flap 6 may be horizontal and parallel to the inner and outer surfaces 26 and 24 of upper and lower panel segments 34B and 34E. In position P1, inner or top surface 46 of flap 6 may be coplanar with inner or top surface 26 of bottom panel segment 34E, and outer or bottom surface 44 of flap 6 may be coplanar with outer or bottom surface 24 of bottom panel segment 34E. In position P1, the outer end or edge of flap 6 opposite crease C7 is rearward of and distal carb end 22 and carb opening 32.

[0053] Position P2 (FIG. 6) may be referred to as an open or partially open position of flap 6. In open position P2, flap 6 may angle upward and rearward from crease C7 and the back end of bottom panel segment 34E so that inner and outer surfaces 46 and 44 of flap 6 likewise angle upward and rearward respectively from adjacent inner and outer surfaces 26 and 24 of lower panel segment 34E. In position P2, the outer end or edge of flap 6 is spaced rearward of and distal carb end 22 and carb opening 32 although closer than in position P1. In positions P1 and P2, inner surface 46 of flap 6 is spaced from back edge 22 so that air may flow through carb opening 32 into and out of chamber 28.

[0054] Position P3 (FIG. 6) may be referred to as a closed position of flap 6. In closed position P3, flap 6 may angle upward and rearward from crease C7 and the back end of bottom panel segment 34E so that inner and outer surfaces 46 and 44 of flap 6 likewise angle upward and rearward respectively from adjacent inner and outer surfaces 26 and 24 of lower panel segment 34E. In position P3, the outer end or edge of flap 6 is adjacent carb end 22 and carb opening 32. In closed position P3, flap inner surface 46 is in contact with back end or edge 22 of stem 2, and may completely cover carb opening 32 to block all or nearly all airflow between central chamber 28 and outside stem 2 via carb opening 32. Thus, flap 6 is foldable over carb opening 32 such that opening 32 is variably closeable with flap 6.

[0055] Before discussing the operation of pipe 1, it is first noted that the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5-7 may be referred to as an expanded smoking or deployed position of pipe 1, stem 2 and bowl 4. Pipe 1, stem 2 and bowl 4 may be moved to the stowed position shown in FIG. 9.

[0056] The user or smoker of pipe 1 may obtain pipe 1 in a separated position in which bowl 4 is separated from stem 2 and stem 2 is in the fully collapsed position of FIG. 10 or a partially collapsed position. Alternately, pipe 1 may be in the stowed position of FIG. 9 or another partially expanded position of stem 2 with bowl 4 mounted in aperture 36 in an inverted or upright position. If bowl 4 is in the stowed position, the user may apply appropriate force on stem 2 to move stem 2 to a partially or fully expanded position, for instance by squeezing stem 2 at creases C1 and C4 to move said creases toward one another and to cause pivotal movement of the various panel segments and the movement of panel segments 34B and 34E away from one another.

[0057] Once stem 2 has been moved to a partially or fully expanded position sufficient for the removal of bowl 4 from stem 2, flap 6 may be moved if needed to a partially or fully open position such as P2 or P3 shown in FIG. 6. To remove the inverted bowl 4 from stem 2, the user may then apply downward force to bowl 4 to move bowl 4 downward (Arrow D in FIG. 8) relative to stem 2 to remove bowl 4 from within aperture 36 into chamber 28. This downward movement may be vertical. The user may then grasp bowl 4 and pull or move bowl 4 out of chamber 28 through carb opening 32, as shown at Arrow E in FIG. 8, wherein the movement of bowl 4 may be horizontal. Alternately, bowl 4 may exit chamber 28 through mouthpiece opening 30, such as by the user tilting stem 2 so that front end 20 is lower than back end 22, whereby bowl 4 may be poured out of or slide out of chamber 28 through opening 30 via force of gravity.

[0058] Once bowl 4 has been removed, bowl 4 may be flipped into the upright position and inserted downwardly into aperture 36 as previously described from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 1. The insertion into aperture 36 places pipe 1 in the smoking position, whereby the user may insert smokable substances into combustion cavity 65 of bowl 4 and light the smokable substance.

[0059] With reference to FIG. 6, to assist in the lighting and inhalation of smoke from the lit smokable substance, the user or smoker may move flap 6 to and hold it in the closed position P3 and simultaneously inhale while pressing mouthpiece end 20 against the area of the user's mouth or lips. The resulting airflow into bowl 4 cavity 65 and airflow and smoke flow from cavity 65 through holes 66 into chamber 28 is shown at dashed Arrow F. The additionally resulting airflow and smoke flow within chamber 28 from bowl 4 to mouthpiece opening 20 and into the user's mouth are shown at dashed Arrow G. The user may clear chamber 28 of smoke by moving flap 6 from closed position P3 to an open position such as position P2 and inhaling while flap 6 is open so that air flows (dashed Arrow H) into chamber 28 via carb opening 32 so that smoke and air move out of chamber 28 into the user's mouth via mouthpiece opening 30.

[0060] When the user is finished using pipe 1, the user may as desired remove any remains from bowl combustion cavity 65 and move pipe 1 from the deployed position to the stowed position for easy and compact storage. More particularly, this would involve the opposite steps noted above. Thus, user may remove bowl 4 from aperture 36 as previously discussed, from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2. The user may then flip bowl 4 upside down into the inverted position and insert bowl 4 into chamber 28 via carb opening 32 (opposite Arrow E in FIG. 8) and push the inverted bowl 4 upward (opposite Arrow D in FIG. 8) so that sidewall 50 is received in aperture 36 to mount bowl 4 on stem 2 in the inverted position. Thus, bowl 4 is movable from the dismounted position to the stowed position by horizontal insertion of bowl 4 through carb opening 32 into the chamber 28 and vertical insertion of sidewall 50 upward from chamber 28 into aperture 36.

[0061] The user may then move stem 2 and bowl 4 from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 9, such as by squeezing or moving top panel 33A and top panel segment 34B toward bottom panel 33B and bottom panel segment 34E via flexing about creases C1-C6. Flap 6 may also be moved to or toward the fully open position P1 shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 to facilitate minimizing the vertical profile of pipe 1, whereby the user may insert pipe 1 in the stowed position into a pocket, purse, backpack or the like if desired.

[0062] As discussed above, stem 2 may be impregnated with live seeds. If the user desires to plant these seeds, he or she may actively do so. Moreover, if the user accidentally drops and leaves pipe 1 on the ground without subsequently picking it up, the seeds may be planted over time due to natural weather conditions. Thus, pipe 1 may be configured for the intentional or inadvertent planting of seeds to grow the associated plants therefrom. The various materials from which pipe 1 is formed may be biodegradable so that pipe 1 may decompose while also providing for new plant life via these seeds.

[0063] It is noted that the sheet material of which stem 2 and flap 6 may be formed may be scored along the length of crease C7 to facilitate removal of flap 6 by the user of pipe 1 if so desired by tearing flap 6 off from stem 2 along the scored line which may be represented by crease C7. Pipe 1 with flap 6 removed therefrom would shorten the length of pipe 1 compared to pipe 1 having flap 6, especially in the stowed position such that pipe 1 without flap 6 would fit into a smaller space lengthwise in the stowed position. Where flap 6 is removed, the user may use his or her hand as a carb opening cover to cover or uncover carb opening 32 as desired.

[0064] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may be changed or modified without departing from the general scope of the invention. The invention is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

[0065] Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:

Claims

1. A smoking device comprising: a tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis, the tubular wall having a first end defining a mouthpiece opening, and a second end longitudinally spaced apart from the mouthpiece opening; at least two creases longitudinally defined in the tubular wall; a longitudinal central chamber defined by an inner surface of the tubular wall and having a variable height in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height being adjustable by flexing the tubular wall along the creases; a bowl-receiving aperture defined in the tubular wall; a bowl having a sidewall and a flange which extends outwardly from the sidewall and is larger than the bowl-receiving aperture; a combustion cavity defined by an inner surface of the sidewall; and at least one through hole formed in the bowl in fluid communication with the combustion cavity, the longitudinal central chamber and the mouthpiece opening; wherein the bowl has a deployed position and a stowed position; in the deployed position, the bowl is in an upright orientation, the sidewall is in the aperture, and the flange is outside the longitudinal central chamber; and in the stowed position, the bowl is in an inverted orientation, the sidewall is in the aperture, and the flange is inside the longitudinal central chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein when the bowl is in the stowed position, the bowl is in contact with the inner surface of the tubular wall.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the bowl has a top and a bottom as viewed in the upright orientation of the bowl; and when the bowl is in the stowed position so that the bowl is inverted, the top of the bowl is movable into and out of contact with the inner surface of the tubular wall by flexing the tubular wall along the creases.

4. The device of claim 3 when the bowl is in the deployed position, the bottom of the bowl is movable into and out of contact with the inner surface of the tubular wall by flexing the tubular wall along the creases.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the bowl has a top and a bottom; and when the bowl is in the deployed position, the bottom of the bowl is movable into and out of contact with the inner surface of the tubular wall by flexing the tubular wall along the creases.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the second end of the tubular wall defines a carburetor opening; the bowl has a dismounted position in which the bowl is separated from the tubular wall; and the bowl is movable from the dismounted position to the stowed position by horizontal insertion of the bowl through the carburetor opening into the longitudinal central chamber and upward vertical insertion of the sidewall from the longitudinal central chamber into the bowl-receiving aperture.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a carburetor flap which is movable between closed and open positions to respectively cover and uncover the carburetor opening.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall comprises an upper panel and a lower panel; the upper panel has a bottom surface defined by the inner surface of the tubular wall; the lower panel has a top surface defined by the inner surface of the tubular wall; the bottom surface of the upper panel is movable into contact with the top surface of the lower panel when the bowl is separated from the tubular wall.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall comprises an upper panel and a lower panel; the upper panel has a bottom surface defined by the inner surface of the tubular wall; the lower panel has a top surface defined by the inner surface of the tubular wall; and in the stowed position, the flange is in contact with the bottom surface of the upper panel and the top surface of the lower panel.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall defines a polygonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each vertex of the polygonal cross section comprising a crease.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the variable height has a minimum value of less than a thickness of the flange.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the second end defines a carburetor opening that is variably closeable with a carburetor flap extending from the tubular wall, the flap being foldable over the carburetor opening.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the flap is foldable about a crease which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular wall and the flap are formed of a single piece of folded sheet material.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall has an inner perimeter which defines the bowl-receiving aperture; and the bowl is retained on the tubular wall only by a frictional engagement between the sidewall and inner perimeter.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the bowl is movable between a dismounted position in which the bowl is separated from the tubular wall and a mounted position in which the sidewall is received in the aperture and the flange is outside the longitudinal central chamber; wherein the bowl is mountable on the tubular wall solely by vertical downward movement of the bowl from the dismounted position to the mounted position to insert the sidewall into the aperture.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular wall comprises a paperboard material impregnated with live seeds of an arbitrarily preselected species of plant.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein when the tubular wall is oriented so that the longitudinal axis is horizontal, the first end of the tubular wall is concavely curved as viewed from above the tubular wall.

19. A smoking device comprising: a tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular wall has a first end which defines a mouthpiece opening and a second end which is longitudinally spaced apart from the mouthpiece opening and defines a carburetor opening; at least two creases longitudinally defined in the tubular wall; a longitudinal central chamber defined by an inner surface of the tubular wall and having a variable height in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height being adjustable by flexing the tubular wall along the creases; a bowl which defines a combustion cavity and is mounted on the tubular wall so that the combustion cavity is in fluid communication with the longitudinal central chamber and mouthpiece opening; and a carburetor flap which extends from the tubular wall and is foldable over the carburetor opening to variably close the carburetor opening.

20. A smoking device comprising: a tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular wall has a first end which defines a mouthpiece opening and a second end which is longitudinally spaced apart from the mouthpiece opening; at least two creases longitudinally defined in the tubular wall; a longitudinal central chamber defined by an inner surface of the tubular wall and having a variable height in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height being adjustable by flexing the tubular wall along the creases; and a bowl which defines a combustion cavity and is mounted on the tubular wall so that the combustion cavity is in fluid communication with the longitudinal central chamber and mouthpiece opening; wherein when the tubular wall is oriented so that the longitudinal axis is horizontal, the first end of the tubular wall is concavely curved as viewed from above the tubular wall.