Vaporizer for water pipe inlet

Abstract

The vaporizer assembly includes a nail sub-assembly formed of a high rate of heat transfer material and an adapter assembly formed of a lower rate of heat transfer material. The nail sub-assembly includes a bowl at an upper end and a shaft extending down from the bowl. The shaft has a hollow bore passing therethrough. The nail sub-assembly is preferably formed of a titanium alloy which can be heated to high temperatures without damage thereto. The adapter has a hollow core sized to receive the shaft of the nail therein. The nail is preferably threaded along with portions of the adapter to facilitate height adjustability of the nail relative to the adapter. Lower portions of the adapter are configured to mate with a water pipe inlet tube or other downstream vapor handling device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vaporizer, comprising in combination:
 a heatable elongate nail having a shaft and a head;   said head having a bowl thereon; and   said bowl being domeless.   
     
     
         2 . The nail of  claim 1  wherein said bowl has a sidewall extending from a floor to a lip, said floor defined by said head of said nail, said lip having a width greater than a width of said floor. 
     
     
         3 . The nail of  claim 2  wherein said bowl is frustoconical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The nail of  claim 1  wherein said shaft is hollow. 
     
     
         5 . The nail of  claim 4  wherein at least one port extends through a portion of said bowl and into said hollow interior of said shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The nail of  claim 1  wherein said nail is formed of a unitary mass of material. 
     
     
         7 . The nail of  claim 6  wherein said nail is formed of titanium. 
     
     
         8 . A vaporizer, comprising in combination:
 a vaporizer assembly supported by said water pipe inlet;   said vaporizer assembly having an elongate shaft and a bowl, said shaft and said bowl affixed to each other;   said shaft having a hollow bore extending from a lower tip of said shaft to an upper tip of said shaft, said upper tip open into an interior of said bowl; and   said bowl having a domeless open upper end opposite a floor, with walls extending from the floor to a lip at the open upper end, the floor open adjacent the shaft.   
     
     
         9 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  wherein said bowl is free to be removed from the water pipe inlet and to be brought adjacent to a heat source without disassembly of said vaporizer assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  wherein said shaft and said bowl are formed of a unitary mass of material. 
     
     
         11 . The vaporizer of  claim 10  wherein said shaft and said bowl are formed of titanium. 
     
     
         12 . A method for vaporizing a substance, including the steps of:
 bringing a heatable elongate nail having a shaft and a head adjacent to a heat source for heating of the head to a vaporizing temperature;   placing a vaporizable substance upon the head to vaporize it; and   breathing the vaporized substance.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said bringing step includes the heat source including a flame. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the head of the nail of said bringing step is domeless. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said bringing step and said placing step are performed without disassembly of the nail. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  including the further step of placing the nail into a pipe inlet after said bringing step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said bringing step includes the nail having a bowl adjacent to the head, the bowl having a sidewall extending from a floor to a lip, with the lip being wider than a width of the floor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said placing step further includes the bowl being frustoconical in shape with a hollow interior. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said placing step includes the shaft being hollow, and with at least one port extending from an interior of the bowl into the hollow interior of the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said placing step includes the nail being formed of a unitary mass of titanium material.