BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pipes for smoking require the smoker to manually load the smoking bowl with tobacco. In this instance, the smoker must carry with them a pouch of tobacco as a supply for loading their pipe. To overcome the need to carry two separate items and avoid manually loading the smoking bowl, self-loading pipes have been developed.

The current self-loading pipes have relatively complicated mechanisms which may involve several different moving parts. With several moving parts, the self- loading pipe is at greater risk of failure. In addition, many of the current self-loading pipes are bulky and fail to provide the smoker with a similar aesthetically-pleasing smoking experience in using the pipe compared with conventional pipes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative self-loading smoking bowl assembly that overcomes at least in part one or more of the problems mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a smoking bowl assembly for the self-loading of tobacco or other smoking products including

a smoking bowl having a burning chamber for the burning of a product; a bowl housing pivotally mountable to the smoking bowl and including a housing portion and a storage portion, said storage portion is integral with or detachable from the housing portion, wherein when assembled, the bowl housing can pivot about the smoking bowl between a closed position where an opening in the storage portion is substantially closed and a loading position where the opening in the storage portion is substantially above an opening in the smoking bowl and the product can pass from the storage portion to the smoking bowl under the influence of gravity.

Preferably, the storage portion is substantially directly above an opening in the smoking bowl when it is in the loading position.

Preferably, the bowl housing is pivotally mounted to the smoking bowl so that it can move from a closed position where the storage portion is substantially parallel with a stem of a smoking implement to a loading position where the storage portion is substantially vertical above the smoking bowl with the opening of the storage portion substantially adjacent the opening of the smoking bowl.

When the storage portion is in the closed position, the opening in the storage portion is preferably substantially closed by the side of the smoking bowl.

Alternatively, the opening in the storage portion may be closed by a closure member.

The closure member preferably slides along guide rails to open and close the opening.

The pivotal mounting of the bowl housing to the smoking bowl is preferably formed by two opposed mounting means on either side of the smoking bowl. The mounting means may be in the form of complementary locating means such as a

complementary lug or axle and recess or pivot pins engaging the bowl housing with the smoking bowl.

When the storage portion moves from the loading position to the closed position, it preferably has a guillotining action which stops further product from entering the opening of the smoking bowl because of its location relative to the smoking bowl. In one embodiment, an edge of the storage portion may be beveled or sharpened to facilitate the guillotining action. The guillotining action is particularly useful when the product in the form of a cigarette is loaded into the storage portion.

In other embodiments, loose tobacco may serve as the product.

Where the storage portion is integral with the housing portion, the bowl housing may be a disposable item with reloaded product in the storage portion.

Alternatively, the bowl housing with a storage portion that is integral with the housing portion may have a storage portion with a second opening for the refilling of product in the storage portion.

Where the storage portion is detachable from the housing portion, the product can be reloaded through the opening in the storage portion to refill the bowl housing.

Preferably, product moves under the influence of gravity from the storage portion to the smoking bowl when the storage portion is in the loading position.

Alternatively, there may be a metering means to provide a predetermined amount of product to the smoking bowl when the storage portion is in the loading position. The metering means may be activated by movement or independently activated such as by a spring loaded shutter.

The smoking bowl assembly may also include a cover means to cover the smoking bowl opening when it is not in use to prevent ash and burnt tobacco smell escaping from the smoking bowl. Preferably, the cover means is a sliding cover.

The sliding cover is preferably detachable and may be used to clean the smoking bowl. The sliding cover is preferably extendable from the bowl housing to cover the opening of the smoking bowl so that it prevents pivoting of the bowl housing about the smoking bowl.

Preferably, the smoking bowl assembly is modular and has a connection means for fixing onto the stem of a smoking implement. Preferably, the bowl has a suitable connection means for fixing onto the stem of a smoking implement. A suitable connection means may include complementary rails and retaining means for sliding the smoking bowl assembly onto the stem of a smoking implement.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a smoking implement with the smoking bowl assembly as described above. The smoking bowl assembly is preferably modular and adaptable to fit on smoking implements with complementary engagement members. Engagement members preferably allow the smoking bowl assembly to slide in position on the smoking implement. The smoking implement is preferably a stem of a pipe. The smoking bowl assembly may be retrofitted on traditional pipes that have been suitably adapted for the fitting.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a smoking implement with the smoking bowl assembly as described above and includes a lighter mountable with the smoking bowl assembly. The lighter is preferably mountable by means of complementary sliding members. The lighter preferably also serves as a cover member that can cover the opening in the smoking bowl when not in use and prevent pivoting of the bowl housing about the smoking bowl.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a smoking implement with the smoking bowl assembly as described above and includes an ashtray member mountable with the smoking bowl assembly. The ashtray member is preferably

mountable by means of complementary sliding members. The ashtray member preferably also serves as a cover member that can cover the opening in the smoking bowl when not in use and prevent pivoting of the bowl housing about the smoking bowl. The ashtray member preferably has an ashtray cover that serves to close the opening of the ashtray member when not in use. The ashtray cover may also be used to clean the smoking bowl.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a smoking implement with the smoking bowl assembly as described above and includes an ashtray member and a lighter mountable to the smoking bowl-assembly. The ashtray member and lighter are preferably as described above. The ashtray member and lighter are preferably mountable by means of complementary sliding members. Preferably, the ashtray member and the lighter are mountable to the smoking bowl assembly in any suitable arrangement or order.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a smoking implement with the smoking bowl assembly as described above and includes a second storage member. The second storage member is preferably mountable by means of complementary sliding members. The second storage member preferably also serves as a cover member that can cover the opening in the smoking bowl when not in use and prevent pivoting of the bowl housing about the smoking bowl. The second storage member preferably has a storage cover that serves to close the opening of the ashtray member when not in use. The storage cover may also be used to clean the smoking bowl.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a smoking implement with the smoking bowl assembly as described above and includes a second storage member and a lighter. The second storage member and lighter are preferably

described above. The second storage member and lighter are preferably mountable by means of complementary sliding members. Preferably, the second storage member and the lighter are mountable to the smoking bowl assembly in any suitable arrangement or order.

The smoking bowl assembly, lighter, ashtray member and second storage member are preferably modular and can be interchanged and used with suitable smoking implements. One or more of the exposed surfaces of the various components may serve for logo placement for brand recognition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly with a smoking stem where (a) is a diagrammatic side view, (b) is a diagrammatic plan view, (c) is a diagrammatic front view and (d) is a diagrammatic rear view; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the smoking stem where (a) is a diagrammatic side view, (b) is a diagrammatic plan view, (c) is a diagrammatic front view and (d) is a diagrammatic rear view ; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the smoking bowl assembly and the smoking stem with the storage portion in the loading position; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly and smoking stem where (a) is a diagrammatic view of the bowl

housing, (b) is a diagrammatic view of the smoking bowl and (c) is a diagrammatic view of the stem; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of another alternative embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly where (a) is a diagrammatic view of the assembled smoking bowl assembly, (b) is a diagrammatic view of the bowl housing, (c) is a diagrammatic view of the smoking bowl and (d) is a diagrammatic view of a bowl cover; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a further alternative embodiment of the bowl housing assembly where (a) is a diagrammatic side view and (b) is a diagrammatic plan view; and Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the movement of the bowl housing between a closed and loading position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a smoking stem 10, bowl 11 with screw thread 12 and bowl housing 13. The bowl housing 13 has a storage chamber 16 for storing tobacco. The bowl housing 13 has stub axles 18,19 pivotally mounted to opposing outer sides of the bowl 11 within complementary recesses 20, 22. The bowl 11 has an opening 15 for the burning chamber 14. At the base of the burning chamber 14, there is an aperture 23 which is in communication with an internal passage 17 within the stem 10. Within the internal passage 17, there may be one or more filters for the filtering of smoke passing from the burning chamber 14 along the internal passage 17. The stem 10 also includes a mouth piece 24 from which the smoker inhales the smoke. The bowl 11 is semi-spherical and shaped to fit within a complementary shaped base 25 on the stem 10. The bowl 11 is fixed in

position by screwing the thread 12 within a complementary receiving portion (not shown) in the base 25.

In use, the bowl housing 13 is pivoted about the bowl 11 from a closed position which is substantially parallel with the stem 10 to a loading position which is substantially upright allowing tobacco or the like to pass from the storage chamber 16 through opening 26 in the storage chamber 16 and into the burning chamber 14.

When the burning chamber 14 is loaded, the bowl housing 13 is returned to the closed position and tobacco between opening 26 of the storage chamber 16 and the opening 15 of the burning chamber 14 is guillotined by the returned movement of the bowl housing 13. In the closed position, the outer wall 27 of the bowl 11 serves as a cover to close opening 26 of the storage chamber 16.

With reference to Figure 4, there is shown another embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly 100 with a stem 101. The smoking bowl. assembly 100 includes a bowl housing 102 and a bowl 103. The bowl housing 102 has a storage chamber 104 and pivotal mounting portion 105 for mounting to the bowl 103. The pivotal mounting portion 105 has opposing stub axles 106,107 for engagement with complementary recesses 108,109. The storage chamber 104 has an opening 110 from which tobacco or other product is discharged. The bowl 103 is substantially semi-spherical with an opening 111 to the burning chamber 112. At the base of the burning chamber 112, there is an aperture 113 which serves as an exit port for smoke. The bowl 103 has a mounting member 115 that allows the bowl 103 to mount and be fixed to stem 101. The mounting member 115 preferably has a beveled edge complementary to the edges 116 in the stem 101. The internal passage along the length of the stem 101 is not shown.

When all the tobacco and the other product is used from storage chamber 104, the storage chamber 104 can be reloaded with tobacco or other product via opening 110. The movement of the bowl housing about the bowl 103 is similar to the embodiment described above.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a similar embodiment as disclosed in Figure 4 except that the bowl 103 has a bowl cover pivotally mounted to move about the bowl and cover the opening 111 to the burning chamber 112.

With reference to Figure 6, there is shown a further preferred embodiment of the bowl housing assembly 150 including a detachable storage chamber 151 and housing portion 152. The housing portion 152 is pivotally mounted to a bowl. The detachable storage chamber 151 is fitted to the housing portion 152 by an interference type fitting or suitable mating fitting whereby the parts can be connected and locked together.

With reference to Figure 7, there is shown a further view of the self-loading arrangement of tobacco or similar product from the storage chamber 102 to the burning chamber 112.

The preferred embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly is modular and adapted to fit on suitable pipes or traditional pipes suitably adapted for retrofitting.

The associated accessories including a lighter, additional storage chamber and ashtray chamber have mounting arrangements and fittings that allow them to be mounted to each other in any suitable arrangement and order. The additional storage chamber and the ashtray chamber are similar modules except that the ashtray module has a covering plate to retain the ash and associated burnt tobacco smells. These modules fit together by a sliding arrangement with the use of complementary guiding rails. Each accessory has a first guiding rail arrangement

along the top surface of the accessory and a second guiding rail arrangement along the bottom surface of the accessory so that one accessory may attach to a second accessory on the top surface and a third accessory on the bottom surface. Other embodiments may have complementary fitting arrangements.

ADVANTAGES The preferred embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly provides the advantage that it allows a smoking implement whether a pipe or another device to self-load product such as tobacco into the smoking bowl. The preferred embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly is a relatively simple mechanism compared with those of current self-loading pipes. The preferred embodiment of the smoking bowl assembly and its other accessories are modular and can be fitted or retrofitted to any suitable smoking implement.

VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word"comprise" and variations of that word such as"comprises"and"comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.