Combination tobacco pipe and smoke dilution valve
Strong Apr. 1, 1975 COMBINATION TOBACCO PIPE AND SMOKE DILUTION VALVE [76] Inventor: Kline D. Strong, 1726 Countryside Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 [22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 404,843  
 [52] US. Cl ..131/l93,131/185,131/198 A [51] Int. Cl A24f 01/24, A24f 05/04 [58] Field of Search 131/193, 198 A, 185  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,496 10/1907 Shoner 131/193 2,967,528 1/1961 Kelter 131/198 A 3,270,751 9/1966 Tucker 131/198 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,052 0/1890 United Kingdom 131/193 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or FirmH. Ross Workman; J. Winslow Young [5 7] AB STRA&#39;CT A pipe combination including a valve interposed between (a) tobacco burning in a combustion zone at the base of a pipe bowl and (b) the mouthpiece of the pipe, the valve accommodating selective reduction of the quantity of smoke delivered from the burning tobacco while simultaneously combining the reduced volume of smoke with a make-up volume of air. A one-way check valve system is also provided whereby exhalation can be forced into the burning tobacco in the combustion zone to support the combustion. Ash from the pipe bowl is discharged from a trap door in the base of the pipe bowl.  
 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAPR Hers SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG. I  
 PATENTEB APR 1 1975 SHEET 2 0F 3 FIG. 3  
 bM&#39;ENImAPR H975 3 374,393  
 sum a 95 3 FIG. 5  
 FIG. 4  
 COMBINATION TOBACCO PIPE AND SMOKE DILUTION VALVE BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved tobacco pipe and more particularly to an improved tobacco pipe having a novel bowl design and smoke and air dilution valve.  
 2. The Prior Art It has long been recognized by many that the inhalation of tobacco smoke into the lungs has a deleterious effect on the health of the smoker. Many substitute systems have been employed by those wishing to continue to enjoy the pleasurable sensations associated with smoking while simultaneously reducing the risks associated therewith. Some of these substitute systems have included bypass valves in a cigarette holder and also including, on occasion, a dummy cigarette in a cigarette holder, elaborate filter systems, and even synthetic tobaccos.  
  Historically, however, these systems have not proven satisfactory for the person who desires to smoke a pipe whether for the pleasurable sensation it imparts or for the visual image it renders. Contrary to cigarette tobacco which continues to smolder regardless of the smokers inhalation activity, pipe tobacco may have a higher moisture content and thus tends to be selfextinguishing unless the combustion is continually forced by air being drawn into the combustion zone. Conventional bypass valves preclude an adequate volume of air being drawn into and through the tobacco combustion zone when the valve is in its bypass position with the result that it becomes very difficult to maintain satisfactory combustion of the tobacco.  
  Until this present invention, no system has been known which permits a pipe smoker to selectively reduce the volume of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece while simultaneously enabling him to maintain satisfactory combustion of the tobacco since the smoker is able to force adequate volumes of exhalation into the combustion zone even though the air drawn therein is reduced by restriction of the smoke drawn therefrom.  
 BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention advantageously provides a combination of a pipe bowl and smoke dilution valve whereby a smoker may selectively reduce the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece while simultacomparable reduction in the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco pipe bowl design wherein combustion of the tobacco occurs in the base of the bowl.  
  One still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pipe which enables a smoker to maintain satisfactory combustion of tobacco in the pipe while simultaneously enabling him to reduce the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece.  
  These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a presently preferred tobacco pipe embodiment including a smoke dilution valve.  
  FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the bowl of the pipe portions being broken away to reveal internal parts.  
  FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the smoke dilution valve with portions being broken away to reveal more clearly the interior construction of the valve.  
  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3. 7  
  FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout. The Pipe Bowl Referring to FIG. 1, the pipe generally designated 11 comprises a bowl 16, pipe stem 14 and mouthpiece 18. The valve 10 is situated, in the illustrated embodiment,  
 , within pipe stem 14 and will be hereinafter more fully neously providing make-up air to provide the smoker with a comparable total volume of inhaled gases even though the volume of smoke is diminished. A check valve system forming part of the dilution valve permits exhalation to be forced into a tobacco combustion zone at the base of the pipe bowl to maintain satisfactory combustion of the tobacco. Ash is removed from the pipe bowl through a trap door in the base.  
  Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel tobacco pipe.  
  It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved tobacco pipe combination for permitting a smoker to selectively reduce the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece.  
  Another further object of this invention is to provide a smoke dilution valve for a tobacco smoking device operable to provide make-up air to compensate for a described. The illustrated pipe configuration is illustrative only and any suitable shape or configuration could be used.  
  Referring now to FIG. 2, one presently preferred embodiment of pipe bowl 16 is shown to include a trap door 20 at the base of bowl 16 and which is hingedly connected to pipe bowl 16 by a hinge 22. A notch 24 is provided whereby trap door 20 may be selectively opened downwardly for the expulsion of ash and other debris from pipe bowl l6. Trap door 20 can be press-fit or otherwise held in the closed position such as by conventional means including a catch (not shown) or spring loading (not shown) in hinge 22.  
  The pipe is constructed so as to have combustion occur at a combustion zone near the bottom of the bowl. Fresh tobacco is supplied by gravity from a tobacco supply at the top of the bowl to the combustion zone. An ignition port 26 is provided through the wall of the base of bowl 16 to permit an igniter (not shown) to be inserted therethrough to ignite the tobacco. Combustion of the tobacco at the base of the bowl 16 is supported both by air drawn from the top of the bowl and through ignition port 26 as well as by exhalation forced into the combustion zone through a bore 28 through stem 14 as will be described more fully hereinafter.  
 The Smoke Dilution Valve Referring now to FIG. 3, the smoke dilution valve includes a housing 30 which has an inlet port 40 at its distal end and an outlet port 42 at its proximal end. A partition 44 separates housing 30 into a smoke inlet chamber 46 and a smoke mixing chamber 48. A smoke inflow opening 50 and exhalation opening 52 are formed in partition 44 and are serially restricted by a moveable cover 54. Moveable cover 54 is selectively positioned in blocking arrangement to partially or totally restrict either of openings 50 and 52 as will now be more fully described.  
  Movement of cover 54 is accomplished through a worm follower (not shown in FIG. 3 but shown as 56 in FIG. 4). The worm follower is attached to cover 54 and engages worm gear 58 on shaft 60. Shaft 60 is rotatable by means of knob 62 and, preferentially, rotation is restricted to one direction (as shown by the arrow on knob 62) by a spring detent 64 which engages notches 66 in shaft 60 in a ratchet-like manner.  
  Rotation of shaft 60 by turning knob 62 causes worm follower 56 (FIG. 4) to move to the right (FIG. 3) along the length of shaft 60 and position cover 54 progressively over opening 50 while simultaneously removing cover 54 from opening 52. An integral part of cover 54 is a flange 68 connected at right angles to cover 54 which flange serves as a hold down for reeds of reed valve 70. Movement of cover 54 to partially occlude opening 50 sequentially permits individual reeds of reed valve 70 to flutter freely as cover 54 is moved to the right (as viewed in FIG. 3). A guide 72 for cover 54 is provided to restrain the upper edge of cover 54 against partition 44 whereas worm follower 56 (FIG. 4) cooperating between worm gear 58 and partition 44 accomplishes the same function for the lower end of cover 54.  
  A diluent air inlet port 74 is shown in broken lines under reed valve 70 and functions to permit ambient air (as indicated by flow stream 75) to be drawn into mixing chamber 48 to compensate for reduction of smoke volume resulting from occlusion of opening 50 as cover 54 is moved into an occluding position over opening 50. A unitary reed valve 76 (shown in FIG. 4) prevents movement of smoke (as indicated by flow stream 49) from passing from inlet chamber 46 through opening 52 into mixing chamber 48. Unitary reed valve 76, on the other hand, extends away from partition 44 as shown by dashed lines 76a (FIG. 4) to permit the passage of exhalation (as indicated by flow stream 53) from mixing chamber 48 into inlet chamber 46 thence to inlet port 40 and on to the combustion zone as combined flow stream 51 through bore 28 (as shown in FIG. 2). Exhalation passes through opening 52 and unitary reed valve 76 only when cover 54 is moved into a restricting position over opening 50 partially blocking flow stream 55 and simultaneously uncovering opening 52. The quantity of return air flow 51 that is split between flow streams 53 and 55 is dependent upon the degree of movement of cover 54 away from opening 52 and across opening 50.  
  Partial or total blockage of opening 50 by movement of cover 54 simultaneously moves flange 68 which sequentially releases serially interleaved reeds of reed valve 70 to permit the inflow of air (flow stream 75) into mixing chamber 48 when a negative pressure condition exists therein. Maintenance of the same volume of air (flow stream 75) and/or smoke/air mixture (flow streams 75 and 49) through exit port 42 is thus accomplished through air inlet port 74 since cover 54 restricts inlet of smoke (flow stream 49) through opening 50 and unitary reed valve 76 prevents the smoke from passing through opening 52. Movement of cover 54 progressively covers opening 50 while simultaneously operating both to uncover opening 52 and release reeds of reed valve 70.  
  Referring to FIG. 5, reed valve is more clearly shown to demonstrate the concept of serially interleaved reeds which are sequentially released into operable position by movement of cover 54 and integral flange 68 toward the right in the drawing. The reeds of reed valve 70 are resilient and are spring loaded to the closed position over air inlet port 74. In FIG. 5, three reeds of reed valve 70 are shown in the raised position to more clearly point out their function. Negative pressure inside mixing chamber 48 permits outside air to force open the unrestricted reeds of reed valve 70 and allows passage of ambient air into mixing chamber 48. The Method Once having filled the pipe with tobacco, the tobacco is ignited through ignition port 26. As combustion progresses, additional tobacco from the initial charge of tobacco is supplied by gravity to the combustion zone.  
 Additional tobacco may be easily supplied to the pipe.  
 by placing it on top of that already in the bowl, thus obviating the prior art steps of snuffing, scraping and otherwise cleaning the bowl before it can be recharged. Cleaning, when necessary, is easily accomplished by removal of the residue through trap door 20.  
  It is well-known that a sustained combustion of pipe tobacco requires repeated drafts of air which are generally supplied (in conventional pipes) by the smoker sucking air into the pipe bowl. However, since the present invention is operable to reduce the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece, this will necessarily mean a lesser quantity of air being drawn into the combustion zone to support combustion of the tobacco. Structure has been provided by this invention to enable the smoker to return substantially the same quantity of oxygen via exhalation to the combustion zone while at the same time reducing the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece. Thus, by merely blowing gently into the pipe stem, the smoker is able to sustain and control the degree of combustion of the tobacco.  
  Although the quantity of smoke is selectively reduced by the smoker, the total volume of gaseous products, both smoke and diluent air, inhaled remains substantially constant since a bypass air inlet 74 is provided which permits the inrush of air into the mixing chamber 48 when the smoke opening 50 is partially restricted causing a partial vacuum to be created in mixing chamber 48. Reeds of reed valve 70 operate to permit the inflow of air into mixing chamber 48 under these conditions and also prevent the outflow of air through air inlet 74 when positive pressure is exerted upon mixing chamber 48.  
  Positive pressure in mixing chamber 48 from forceful exhalation by the smoker forces air through any portion remaining uncovered of smoke opening 50 and also forces open valve 76 into a position represented by broken lines 76a. Regardless of the position of cover 54, the smoker is, therefore, able to supply a suitable quantity of oxygen in exhalation to the combustion zone of the tobacco to maintain satisfactory combustion. The ability to force adequate exhalation to the combustion zone is of particular importance in this invention since the combustion zone is at the bottom of the tobacco and not exposed to theambient as in conventional pipes.  
  Advantageously, the present invention enables a person to continue to receive non-smoke related pleasurable sensations associated with smoking a pipe while simultaneously reducing the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece. Thus, the person is able to continue to affect a pipe as part of his personal environment, costume, image or the like, while decreasing the degree of contact that he has with the tobacco smoke.  
  Additionally, this invention enables a person who desires to completely discontinue smoking a pipe to selectively reduce the quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece. Eventually, a person is able to eliminate any smoke being delivered to the mouthpiece while continuing to use the tobacco pipe in the conventional manner. In this way, any nervous mannerisms a smoker may have will prove harmless since no smoke is delivered to the mouthpiece whenever, by force of habit, he prepares and ignites the tobacco pipe of this invention.  
  The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.  
  What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is:  
 1. A tobacco pipe comprising in combination:  
 a tobaccoreceiving bowl having a combustion zone adjacent the base thereof;  
 a smoke dilution valve comprising means for diluting smoke with make up volumes of air by obstructing delivery of smoke obtained from a combustion zone in the bowl and substituting a replacement quantity of air; and  
 means providing a unidirectional exhalation path including check valves, the path extending from a mouthpiece to the combustion zone for supplying exhalation directly to the combustion zone without significant loss of exhalation to the ambient.  
  2. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 1 wherein said tobacco pipe bowl comprises a pipe bowl with means located in the base thereof for removal of tobacco ashes from the pipe bowl.  
  3. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 1 wherein said tobacco pipe bowl has an ignition port through a wall of said tobacco pipe bowl and in communication with said tobacco combustion zone.  
  4. A tobacco pipe operable to selectively reduce and dilute with air a quantity of tobacco smoke produced in a tobacco combustion zone and delivered to a mouthpiece while simultaneously maintaining suitable tobacco combustion by permitting return air flow through the valve from the mouthpiece to the tobacco combustion zone, comprising:  
 a. a tobacco pipe bowl with a tobacco combustion zone in the base thereof;  
 b. a mouthpiece having a bore therethrough communicating between the mouthpiece and the tobacco combustion zone; and  
 c. a smoke dilution valve interposed in the bore and comprising:  
 1. a compartment, a partition separating the compartment into a smoke&#39;receiving chamber and a smoke mixing chamber;  
 2. means accommodating unidirectional displacement of exhalation from the mouthpiece through the smoke mixing chamber into the smoke dilution chamber thence toward the tobacco combustion zone, in seriatim;  
 3. means for admitting air into the smoke mixing chamber; and  
 4. means for controlling the air/smoke mixture.  
  5. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 4 wherein said partition contains means providing at least two openings wherein a first opening means serves as a smoke passageway from a smoke receiving chamber into the smoke mixing chamber and a second opening means serves to accommodate unidirectional displacement of air serially through the bore from the mouthpiece toward the tobacco combustion zone.  
  6. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 5 wherein said second opening means cooperates in conjunction with a secondary valve means operable to permit passage of air into a smoke receiving chamber from the smoke mixing chamber when a greater positive pressure exists in the smoke mixing chamber upon exhalation being forced into the smoke mixing chamber.  
  7. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 5 wherein said first opening means is selectively occludable, a moveable cover for selectively occluding the first opening means, movement of said moveable cover being accomplished by rotation of a worm gear to which the moveable cover is engaged, rotation of the worm gear being selectively controlled exteriorly of said smoke dilution valve.  
  8. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 7 wherein said moveable cover includes a worm follower which engages a worm gear, rotation of the worm gear causing longitudinal movement of the worm follower and moveable cover, said movement being in a direction parallel to the axis of the worm gear, a rachet engaging a shaft of the worm gear so as to restrict rotation of the worm gear to one direction.  
  9. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for admitting air into the smoke mixing chamber comprises a port communicating with the ambient and cooperating with means providing a third valve means comprising a reed valve comprising a series of individ ual reeds overlapping along one edge in seriatim and means for releasably restraining said reeds along one end thereof.  
  10. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for releasably restraining said reeds comprises a flange integral with said means for controlling the air/- smoke mixture.  
  11. A generally vertically directed tobacco pipe bowl having an open upper end and a stem extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom at a base portion thereof comprising means providing a tobacco combustion chamber adjacent said base; means at the base of the bowl for providing access from the exterior of the bowl to the interior of the bowl; means providing a substantially straight smoke passageway in said stem and through said base providing fluid communication therebetween; and means providing an ignition port ment quantities for obstructed quantities of smoke and the valve body including means accommodating a unidirectional exhalation path for passage of substantially all exhalation which may be forced through the valve in a second direction, the second direction being substantially reverse to the first direction and communicating directly with a combustion zone in the pipe bowl through said passage means.