Folding smoking pipe

• US 20030178035A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrenalin Rush Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fab-HK Limited
• Inventors: Miller, Kenneth C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,698,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/192
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 1/00 Tobacco pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 1/32 Selection of materials for pipes

Abstract

A foldable smoking pipe is constructed from a flat blank of metal, small enough to fit in a wallet, that can be folded into a functional smoking pipe with an integrated bowl, screen, and stem. The stem is formed by multiple flat panels folded to create a passageway having an opening at one end. The stem has an upper panel with holes in it to form the screen. The bowl is formed by multiple flat panels folded to surround the screen. The flat blank of metal has a number of fold lines, which preferably are etched to about one-half the thickness of the metal blank, joining adjacent panels.

Claims

1. A smoking pipe comprising:

an elongated hollow stem formed of multiple flat panels enclosing a passageway having an opening at one end, the stem having an upper panel;

a perforated screen integral to the upper panel of the stem at an end opposite the opening, wherein the screen is open to the passageway of the stem; and

a bowl formed of multiple flat panels surrounding the perforated screen;

wherein the pipe is constructed by folding a unitary, flat blank of metal, and wherein each panel is joined to at least one other adjacent panel by fold lines formed in the blank.

2. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 1 wherein the fold lines are scored areas of the flat blank of metal that facilitate folding of adjacent panels.

3. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 2 wherein the scored areas are areas of reduced thickness of the flat blank of metal.

4. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 2 wherein the scored areas are formed by photo-chemical machining to a thickness of about one-half the thickness of the flat blank of metal.

5. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 4 wherein the flat blank of metal is formed by photo-chemical machining both sides of a piece of metal to define the perforated screen and edges of the panels.

6. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 1 wherein the unitary, flat blank of metal has a substantially uniform thickness except at the fold lines.

7. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tab attached to a stem panel, wherein the tab retains a panel of the bowl.

8. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tab attached to a panel of the bowl, wherein the tab engages a slot in the upper panel.

9. A smoking pipe as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper panel of the stem includes holes that form the perforated screen.

10. A smoking pipe comprising:

an elongated hollow stem formed of multiple flat panels enclosing a passageway having an opening at one end, the stem having an upper panel;

said upper panel having holes that form a perforated screen at an end opposite the opening of the stem, wherein the screen is open to the passageway of the stem; and

a bowl formed of multiple flat panels surrounding the perforated screen;

wherein the pipe is constructed by folding a unitary, flat blank of metal, and wherein each panel is joined to at least one other adjacent panel by fold lines formed in the blank, and

wherein the fold lines are areas of reduced thickness of the flat blank of metal that facilitate folding of adjacent panels and are formed by photo-chemical machining to a thickness of about one-half the thickness of the flat blank of metal.

11. A foldable blank for forming a smoking pipe, comprising:

a flat sheet of metal composed of stem panels and bowl panels, the sheet of metal having fold lines between adjacent panels, wherein the fold lines allow adjacent stem panels to be bent along the fold lines to form a hollow stem of a smoking pipe, wherein the fold lines allow adjacent bowl panels to be bent along the fold lines to form a bowl of the smoking pipe, and wherein one stem panel has holes that form a perforated screen disposed between the bowl and hollow stem of the smoking pipe.

12. A foldable blank as recited in claim 11 wherein the fold lines are areas of reduced thickness of the flat sheet of metal.

13. A foldable blank as recited in claim 11 wherein the fold lines are formed by photo-chemical machining to a thickness of about one-half the thickness of the flat sheet of metal.

14. A foldable blank as recited in claim 13 wherein the flat sheet of metal is formed by photo-chemical machining both sides of a piece of metal to define the perforated screen and outside edges of the panels.

15. A foldable blank as recited in claim 11 wherein the flat sheet of metal has a substantially uniform thickness.