Electronic smoking apparatus having plasma arc mechanism

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a portable electronic smoking apparatus (e.g., pipe) that emits a plasma arc powered by a rechargeable battery. The plasma arc heats/burns combustible material held in a removeable pod or chamber and can be drawn through a mouth-piece. The heating element produces a plasma art that is wind resistant and can reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees. In this way, the combustible material is quickly and efficiently heated to produce smoke to be inhaled by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smoking apparatus, said smoking apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   an energy storage device disposed within said housing;   a user interface device disposed on said housing;   a plasma arc emission device disposed within said housing and coupled to said energy storage device and to said user interface device, wherein said plasma arc emission device is operable to emit a plasma arc responsive to user activation of said user interface device; and   a removable assembly comprising a removable pod and a bit, wherein said removable assembly is attachable to said housing to bring said pod proximity to said plasma arc emission device.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said energy storage device comprises a rechargeable battery and wherein further said user interface device comprises a push button. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said removable assembly further comprises a filter disposed between said bit and said pod and wherein said pod is configured to receive and contain an ignitable substance therein, and wherein further said filter is operable to remove toxins from inhaled combusted material. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said plasma arc emission device comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed below the removeable pod. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said plasma arc device comprises a plurality of electrodes and wherein said pod is configured to receive an ignitable substance therein, and wherein further said pod comprises receiving holes for receiving heat generated by said plurality of electrodes when said removable assembly is attached to said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking apparatus as described in  claim 5 , wherein, responsive to an activation of said user interface device, said electrodes are configured to emit a plasma arc across said plurality of electrodes to provide heat to the pod to ignite said ignitable substance. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said removable assembly is attachable to said housing using magnetic elements and wherein said housing further comprises an illumination element for indicating a setting. 
     
     
         8 . An electronic smoking pipe that is portable, said electronic smoking pipe comprising:
 a housing that is cylindrically shaped;   a rechargeable battery disposed within said housing;   a user interface device disposed on said housing;   a plasma arc emission burner disposed at an end of said housing and coupled to said rechargeable battery and coupled to said user interface device, wherein said plasma arc emission burner is operable to emit a plasma arc responsive to user activation of said user interface device; and   a removable assembly comprising:
 a removable pod; 
 a filter; and 
 a bit, wherein said pod is disposed proximate to said plasma arc emission burner, and wherein said removable assembly is attachable to said housing. 
   
     
     
         9 . The electronic smoking pipe as described in  claim 8 , wherein said user interface device comprises a mechanical push button and further comprising magnetic elements and wherein further said removable assembly is attachable to said housing using said magnetic elements. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic smoking pipe as described in  claim 8 , wherein said pod is configured to receive and contain an ignitable substance therein. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic smoking pipe as described in  claim 10 , wherein said ignitable substance comprises one of: tobacco; CBD material; marijuana flower/leaf; marijuana oil; and
 hemp flower.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic smoking pipe as described in  claim 10 , wherein said plasma arc burner comprises a plurality of electrodes and wherein further said pod comprises holes for receiving heat generated by said plurality of electrodes therein when said removable assembly is attached to said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic smoking pipe as described in  claim 12 , wherein responsive to an activation on said user interface device, said electrodes are configured to emit a plasma arc below said pod to ignite said ignitable substance. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic smoking pipe as described in  claim 13 , wherein said housing further comprises a light emitting diode (LED) element for indicating a mode of operation. 
     
     
         15 . A method of smoking, said method comprising:
 placing a pod comprising an ignitable substance into an assembly comprising: said pod; a bit; and a filter;   attaching said assembly to an end of a housing that is cylindrically shaped, wherein said housing comprises: a rechargeable battery; a button; and a plasma arc emission device disposed at said end of said housing and coupled to said rechargeable battery and to said button, wherein said plasma arc emission device is operable to emit a plasma arc to generate hot air that enters said pod responsive to user activation of said button; and   activating said button and contemporaneously drawing smoke from said ignitable substance through said filter and said bit from said pod.   
     
     
         16 . The method of smoking as described in  claim 15 , wherein said pod is configured to receive and contain said ignitable substance therein and wherein further said ignitable substance comprises one of: tobacco; CBD material; marijuana leaf; marijuana oil; and hemp flower. 
     
     
         17 . The method of smoking as described in  claim 15 , wherein said plasma arc device comprises a plurality of electrodes and wherein further said pod comprises holes for receiving hot air generated by said plurality of electrodes therein when said assembly is attached to said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of smoking as described in  claim 17 , wherein responsive to said activating, said electrodes are configured to emit a plasma arc to heat said ignitable substance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of smoking as described in  claim 15 , wherein said housing further comprises a light emitting diode (LED) element for indicating a mode of operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of smoking as described in  claim 15 , wherein said attaching is performed magnetically.