Smoking pipe screen

Abstract

The present application relates generally to pipes, and specifically to screens for the bowls of smoking pipes. The screen for a smoking pipe bowl of the present application includes a wire coil forming at least one ring and defining an upper side and a lower side. The wire coil is configured to be received in a smoking pipe bowl to support a quantity of fuel on the upper side and the wire coil configured to permit fluid flow therethrough between rings of the wire coil. A related method of forming a screen for a smoking pipe bowl is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A screen for a smoking pipe bowl, the screen comprising:
 a wire coil forming at least one ring, the wire coil defining an upper side and a lower side, the wire coil configured to be received in the smoking pipe bowl to support a quantity of fuel on the upper side, the wire coil configured to permit fluid flow therethrough between rings of the wire coil.   
     
     
         2 . The screen of  claim 1 , further comprising a base secured to the wire coil and extending down from the lower side of the wire coil. 
     
     
         3 . The screen of  claim 2 , wherein the wire coil and the base are formed of a single continuous wire, whereby the wire coil is stabilized by an end portion of the single wire bent at an obtuse or right angle to a fuel support plane of the wire coil. 
     
     
         4 . The screen of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one ring includes at least one inner ring and at least one outer ring. 
     
     
         5 . The screen of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one inner ring and the at least one outer ring form a bowl. 
     
     
         6 . The screen of  claim 3 , wherein the wire is a steel wire. 
     
     
         7 . The screen of  claim 3 , wherein the wire is a stainless steel wire. 
     
     
         8 . The screen of  claim 3 , wherein the wire is an 18-gauge wire. 
     
     
         9 . The screen of  claim 3 , for use in supporting a dried herb fuel. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a screen for a smoking pipe bowl, the method comprising:
 receiving a wire;   designating a crook point on the wire between a base portion and a coilable fuel support portion, the base portion being shorter than the coilable fuel support portion;   bending the wire at the crook point to form an angle between the base portion and the coilable fuel support portion; and   coiling the fuel support portion around the crook point to form a coiled fuel support platform having at least one ring, the coiled fuel support platform defining a fuel support plane and the base portion defining a base axis, the base axis forming an acute or right angle with the fuel support plane.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wire is a steel wire. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wire is a stainless steel wire. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wire is an 18-gauge wire.