FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to protective containment devices, and particularly to a protective containment device for a water pipe.
BACKGROUND
A water pipe (also known as a bong) is a filtration device generally used for smoking herbal substances. A water pipe may be constructed from any air- and water-tight vessel by adding a bowl and stem apparatus (or slide) which guides air downward to below water level whence it bubbles upward (“bubbler”) during use. To get fresh air into the bong and harvest the last remaining smoke, a hole known as the “carburetor”, “carb”, “choke”, “bink”, “rush”, “shotty”, “kick hole”, or simply “hole”, somewhere on the lower part of the bong above water level, is first kept covered during the smoking process, then opened to allow the smoke to be drawn into the respiratory system. On water pipes without such a hole, the bowl and/or the stem are removed to allow air from the hole that holds the stem.
The water pipe itself, a single-piece construct consisting of the bowl-stem, the water container, and a drawtube at least 3 inches, but some can be up to 12 inches in length. Some are straight with a “Joint” (Sandblasted top part of stem, usually about 1 inch long, and all the way around, tapered or cone shaped, so the tapered, or “cone shaped” bowl will fit in) some are bent to resemble a crane. The size of the bowl is typically the width of a thumbnail or smaller. A container exists with a lid where the herbal substance is placed for smoking. A pipe rack small enough to be held by one hand and consisting of two large holes for the tobacco container and the water pipe. It may have smaller holes to hold various pipe tools.
During a smoking session, the user may keep all equipment inside the rack and just hold the entire assembly (rack, pipe, and container) in one hand, lighting the bowl with a slow-burning paper wick.
Water pipes are often either glass or plastic that use a bowl, stem, and water to produce smoke. Most glass water pipes are made from heat resistant borosilicate glass, allowing the bong to withstand repeated use and heat exposure without breaking. After the bowl has been packed and water has been inserted into the bong, the substance is lit, and the smoke is drawn through water to produce a smoother smoke than other methods of smoking do. To smoke a water pipe, the smoker must inhale in the water pipe so bubbles containing smoke begin to come from the stem. Once the water pipe has a fair amount of smoke built up, either the carb is uncovered or the stem is separated from the water pipe, allowing the remaining smoke to be inhaled.
Accordingly, and in light of the foregoing, it would be desirable to be able to cover and seal the top of a water pipe either empty or full preventing accidental spillage of the liquid when not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the protective containment device 10, installed on a water pipe 15, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,
FIG. 6 is a side view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTIVE KEY
10 protective containment device
15 water pipe
20 mouthpiece
25 neck
30 bowl
35 water chamber
40 base
45 top
50 cord
55 ring
60 junction
65 inner top opening
740 inner ring opening
75 overall cord length “c”
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 6. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
1. Detailed Description of the Figures
Referring now to FIG. 1, a pictorial view of the protective containment device 10 installed on a water pipe 15, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The protective containment device 10 (herein also described as the “device”) 10, is configure to cover and seal a water pipe 15, either empty or full of water, from accidental spillage when not in use. The water pipe 15, as depicted in FIG. 1, is intended to be illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit use of the device 10 with any particular size, style, or type of water pipe 15. The water pipe 15 is provided with a mouthpiece 20, a neck 25, a bowl 30, a water chamber 35, and a base 40 at a minimum. The device 10 consists of a consists of a top 45, a cord 50, and a ring 55. The specific attributes of the components of the device 10 will be detailed herein below.
Referring next to FIG. 2, a front view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The device 10 is provided in the overall shape of an “I” with the top 45 on the upper end, the ring 55 in the middle in a vertical fashion, and the ring 55 at the lower end. It is envisioned that all components of the device 10 would be made of a flexible material, such as rubber, latex, silicone, or the like. The use of any specific material of construction of the device 10 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a rear view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Due to the semi-symmetrical nature of the device 10, the top 45, the cord 50 and the ring 55 remain visible in the overall “I” shape. It is envisioned that the device 10 would be made of a “one-piece” construction in which the top 45, the cord 50, and the ring 55 would be manufactured at one time in an injection molding process. As such, the junction 60 between the top 45 and the cord 50, as well as between the cord 50 and the ring 55, would be continuous and homogeneous in nature. However, other forms of construction, including independent manufacture of the top 45, the cord 50, and/or the ring 55 remain possible. Alternate means of the formation of the junction 60 including mechanical fasteners, adhesive, and the like are not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.
Referring next to FIG. 4, a top view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In this view only the top 45 and the cord 50 remain visible. The underside of the top 45 is provided with an inner top opening 65 (herein depicted by a dashed line due to its hidden nature). The inner top opening 65 would seal against the mouthpiece 20 (as shown in FIG. 1) and provide a watertight seal. This seal is possible by the elastic properties of the top 45 allowing it to “stretch” and seal against the mouthpiece 20. The top 45 remains in place on the mouthpiece 20 using friction fit and is easily applied and removed using moderate force using the user's hand or hands. The size of the top 45 will vary per specific size of the mouthpiece 20 upon which it is used. However, for the purposes of illustration, a typical size of the top 45 would be approximately three inches (3 in.) in diameter.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a bottom view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The top 45, the cord 50, and the ring 55 are visible. The inner top opening 65, on the interior of the top 45 is also visible. The ring 55 is provided with an inner ring opening 70 which attaches to the neck 25 of the water pipe 15 (both of which are shown in FIG. 1). The size of the ring 55 and thus the inner ring opening 70 will vary per specific size of the neck 25 upon which it is used. However, for the purposes of illustration, a typical size of the ring 55 would be approximately two inches (2 in.) in diameter, with the inner ring opening 70 correspondingly smaller.
Referring to FIG. 6, a side view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The top 45 is shown with its corresponding inner top opening 65 shown via a dashed line due to its hidden nature. Likewise, the ring 55 is shown with its corresponding inner ring opening 70 shown via a dashed line due to its hidden nature. The cord 50 runs between the junction 60 at the top 45 and the junction 60 at the ring 55. The overall cord length “c” 75 of the cord 50 will vary per specific size of the water pipe 15 (as shown in FIG. 1) upon which it is used. However, for the purposes of illustration, the overall cord length “c” 75 would be approximately eight inches (8 in.) in length.
2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the device 10 would be constructed in general accordance with FIG. 1 through FIG. 6. The user would procure the device 10 from conventional procurement channels such as smoke shops, mail order and internet supply houses and the like. Special attention would be paid to the overall size and configuration of the device 10, such that it fits upon the intended water pipe 15 to be used.
After procurement and prior to utilization, the device 10 would be prepared in the following manner: the ring 55 portion of the device 10 would be stretched such that the inner ring opening 70 fits over the mouthpiece 20 of the water pipe 15; and the ring 55 is then positioned over the neck 25 of the water pipe 15. At this point in time, the device 10 is ready for utilization.
During utilization of the device 10, the water pipe 15 is filled with water and used with an appropriate smoking material in a conventional and transparent manner. When the water pipe 15 is not being actively used, the top 45 is placed over the mouthpiece 20 such that the inner top opening 65 forms a waterproof seal against the mouthpiece 20. This feature ensures that even if the water pipe 15 should be toppled onto its side, the contained water will not leak out.
After use of the device 10, the water pipe 15 is emptied and/or cleaned in a conventional and transparent manner. The device 10 remains attached to the neck 25 of the water pipe 15 by the ring 55, where it remains attached in place and ready for repeated use in a continual cyclic manner.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Patent Application
20240389647
