# US 10,117,457 B1 · Removable filter for a smoking pipe

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- Number: US 10,117,457 B1
- Document ID: US10117457B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/787,602
- Filed: 2017-10-18
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-18
- Assignees: Joseph S. Kleitman
- Applicants: Joseph S. Kleitman
- Inventors: Joseph S. Kleitman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117457B1

## CPC

- A24F 5/08: with grates, sieves, or the like
- B01D 29/01: with flat filtering elements (B01D29/39 takes precedence)
- B01D 2201/586: using regenerative sources, e.g. wind, sun
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

A device to be placed in the bowl of a pipe that permits smoke to pass while blocking the material of a burning charge is described. The device includes a screen with a U-shaped staple passing through two holes in the center of the screen. The two points of the staple may be temporarily compressed to pass through the screen, then the points spread so as to make a friction connection with the insides of the bowl, which removably secures the screen in place. The device is free of other holding structures, such as straps. The device is adapted so that a thumb and forefinger may easily grasp the top of the staple for insertion and removal in a bowl. In an embodiment the points of the staple are adapted to push through the screen, creating the holes. An embodiment is adapted to be used in a drainpipe.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A filter assembly comprising:
a screen;
a staple in the form of a letter shape U comprising two pins and a central bend;
wherein each of the two pins of the staple penetrates the screen through two respective holes, wherein the holes are separated by a first distance;
wherein each of the two pins comprises a pin tip;
wherein each of the two pins comprises a penetration region between the pin tips and the central bend;
wherein a first spacing of the pin tips is a second distance, larger than the first distance;
wherein the two pins of the staple may be temporarily compressed together such that the first spacing at the tips narrows such that the two pin tips may pass through the two screen holes;
wherein a third distance between the screen and the central bend of the staple is appropriate for an average adult human to grasp the staple in the region between the screen and the central bend using the average adult human's thumb and forefinger of one hand.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a radial slit in the screen from a point on the perimeter of the screen extending inward towards the center of the screen.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein:
a plane of the screen, at the two holes, passes through the penetration region of each pin.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a rim on a perimeter of the screen.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the screen comprises a mesh.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the screen comprises a wool.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the dimensions of the screen are suitable for use in a water drainpipe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method of smoking comprising the steps:
placing, by hand, the assembly of claim 1 into a smoking pipe bowl;
placing a smokable material in the smoking pipe bowl, above the screen;
lighting the smokable material; and
drawing smoke from the smokable material through the screen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of smoking of claim 8 comprising the further steps:
extinguishing the smokable material;
grasping the central bend of the staple using a thumb and forefinger;
removing the assembly by pulling the central bend of the staple.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the screen and the staple are adapted to be placed into a bowl and an orifice, wherein an inside diameter of the orifice is less than an inside diameter of the bowl;
wherein the inside of the bowl and the inside of the orifice are fluidly connected; and
wherein the inside diameter of the orifice is less than the second distance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein:
the bowl is a bowl of a smoking pipe; wherein an internal path from the bowl to a mouthpiece of the smoking pipe comprises the orifice.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein:
a shape of the screen, when inserted into the bowl, is an inverted cone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein:
a shape of the screen, when inserted into the bowl, is curved downward.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein:
the screen is adapted to be bent downward by a finger of an average adult human as the screen is placed into the bowl.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein:
the staple is adapted to hold the filter assembly in the bowl solely by friction of the pin tips against the inside of the orifice.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The filter assembly of claim 10 wherein:
the filter assembly is adapted to be positioned in the bowl such that a charge of burnable material is in the bowl and above the screen;
wherein openings in the screen are sufficiently small that solid elements the charge are blocked from passing through the filter; and
wherein openings in the screen are sufficiently large that smoke from a burning charge passes through the screen.

### Claim 17

A filter kit comprising:
a screen;
a staple in the form of a letter shape U comprising two parallel pins spaced a first distance, connected at one end by a central curve;
wherein the two pins are adapted to puncture the screen, creating two holes in the screen, spaced at the first distance, through which the pins pass, when the staple is pushed with average adult human fingers into the screen;
wherein a portion of the pins of the staple that have passed through the screen are adapted to be splayed apart by average adult human fingers such that the ends of the two pins are then separated by a second distance, larger than the first distance;
wherein the screen is adapted to be placed into a smoking pipe bowl with an orifice, wherein an inside of the bowl and an inside of the orifice are fluidly connected; and
wherein an inside diameter of the orifice is smaller than an inside diameter of the bowl;
wherein the screen is adapted to block solid particles from the smokable charge from passing through the screen while permitting smoke from a burning charge to pass through the screen into the orifice; and
wherein the screen, staple, bowl and orifice are adapted so that the screen and staple may be removed from the bowl by grasping and pulling with an average adult human thumb and forefinger a portion of the staple above the screen.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The filter kit of claim 17, further comprising:
a smoking pipe bowl and orifice, wherein an inside of the bowl and an inside of the orifice are fluidly connected; and
wherein an inside diameter of the orifice is smaller than an inside diameter of the bowl; and
wherein the second distance is larger than the inside diameter of the orifice;
wherein the screen is adapted to be held in place inside the bowl, when inserted by average adult human fingers, entirely by friction between the ends of the pins and an inside surface of the orifice; and
wherein, when the screen is so placed inside the bowl, the screen and smoking pipe bowl are adapted so that a smokable charge fits inside the bowl, above the screen; and
wherein the screen is adapted to block solid particles from the smokable charge from passing through the screen while permitting smoke from a burning charge to pass through the screen into the orifice; and
wherein the screen, staple, bowl and orifice are adapted so that the screen and staple may be removed from the bowl by grasping and pulling with an average adult human thumb and forefinger a portion of the staple above the screen.