WATER PIPE WITH CONNECTION BETWEEN RECEPTACLE AND HOUSING

Abstract

A water pipe comprises a housing into which a receptacle, which has a suction connection and which can be filled with a liquid medium, and a heating chamber, which is connected to the receptacle via a suction hose, are integrated. The receptacle and a housing part, which is located between the receptacle and the heating chamber and accommodates an electronic unit, are detachably connected to one another. Furthermore, a valve is mounted in the area where the mouth of the suction hose leads into the receptacle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a water pipe with a housing into which a tank that is to be filled with a liquid medium and having at least one suction connection and a heating chamber connected with this for holding a smoke medium and fitted with an air inlet are integrated.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY

Water pipes of this type, which originate from the Orient and are also known as shishas, have become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to cigarettes, in particular among young people and adolescents. A water pipe has a container that is to be filled partly with water or another liquid medium. Sucking on a mouthpiece leads to negative pressure in this container. In addition, a smoke shaft projects to an extent into the water having a head piece at the upper end to hold tobacco that is heated with coal on the upper side. The mixture of air, vapour and smoke particles that is generated through heating the tobacco is then inhaled by the smoker. It is obvious that heating with glowing coal may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, burns injuries or in extreme cases even to fire breaking out. Because of manual filling, qualitative equipping of the shishas that is also in conformity with the law is not guaranteed. For this reason, shishas that are familiar today should only be operated in the open air or in rooms with a guaranteed supply of fresh air. In addition, shishas according to the state of the art are quite heavy and voluminous, must be put together from several parts and are inconvenient to transport in their individual parts. Their cleaning is complicated as well and frequently does not satisfy hygiene standards. Electronic shishas are familiar from U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,318 or US 2012/0199572 with which some of the above-mentioned problems could be reduced but in a not yet satisfactory manner.

For this reason, the present invention approaches the task of creating a water pipe that is characterised through particular compactness and safe use. The invention presented also has the task of creating a water pipe that is characterised by a high level of leak tightness and thus effectiveness for the smoking experience.

This task is solved in that the heating chamber has a receptacle for a capsule for holding a smoke medium. There is also a housing part containing an electronic unit being connected so as to be detachable, and having a valve in the area where the mouth of the suction hose opens into the receptacle.

This means that the conception for such a water pipe is completely new. It consists of a compact appliance with a tank-like container that is to be filled with water or another liquid medium and having at least one suction device through which the user draws in the mixture. There is a heating chamber for receiving a smoke medium, for example tobacco, that is located at the opposite end of the housing and has an air inlet. This principle enables a completely new, simple, direct and genuine smoking feeling thanks to compact modules and a particularly direct, effective and low loss connection between heating chamber and water tank.

In the end, the smoker draws in air at the mouthpiece, which is connected to the lid of the water tank by a tube. Ambient air flows in through the air inlet at the end of the housing opposite to the water tank. Here, the air passes through the heater-type heatable chamber and the smoke medium that is kept there and regulated to a temperature ideal for smoking. Because the heating chamber and the water tank are connected, the mixture is then drawn into the container and finally drawn in by the user through the water, the tube and the mouthpiece. It is therefore particularly expedient that the heating chamber is situated underneath the container.

One significant advantage of the shisha according to the invention is its simple, quick and also hygienically advantageous ease of use. For this purpose, the invention provides that the heating chamber has a receptacle for a capsule intended to hold a smoke medium. A capsule is thereby inserted for example from below into the oven-type heating chamber in which the smoke medium is heated up. Such capsules can contain tobacco or non-tobacco smoke media in greatly differing variants, for example as a solid, dry, fermented or moist medium with or without tar or nicotine, with differing intensity and flavours or with additives. The capsule is simply inserted into the heating chamber and after use can be just as easily removed without residue and disposed of appropriately.

The medium in the capsule is heated naturally in the heating chamber, whereby one embodiment of the invention provides that a heating element is used as the heating device in the heating chamber, preferably a heating spiral made from a flexible material, which is supplied with power by the accumulator insulated from the housing.

As an alternative it is recommended that the heating element is designed adapted to the shape of a capsule, preferably a conical shape, which in addition simplifies inserting and removing after use, in particular if the receptacle has a side wall tapering in the direction of the container and surrounding the capsule or an opening on its side towards the container. The receptacle takes over the function of a type of heating cover here. The heat input takes place advantageously in a lateral direction to the direction of the smoke.

The fact that the receptacle is designed at the same time as a heating element for the capsule proves to be an advantage in that an assembly can be saved. This receptacle forms as it were the external housing for the capsule, corresponds with the latter after insertion into the heating chamber in such a way that an unrestricted extraction effect can be achieved. Thanks to the design of the heating chamber in this section, there is no possibility that smoke medium will penetrate into the suction tube in the direction of the container.

It has already been said that the capsules are positioned in the heating chamber. With respect to this there is a suggestion according to which the heating chamber can be closed by means of a base plate, whereby the air inlet is integrated into the heating chamber, either into the base plate or the chamber wall. When the base plate, and therefore the chamber, is closed, the capsule according to the invention finds its function position itself, i.e. the end position of an inserted, latched or screwed-in base plate corresponds to the capsule in its function position, so that smoking can start.

A particularly suitable variant of the invention stipulates that, if the base plate is removed, the capsule can be inserted into the heating chamber from below. The capsule is then enclosed completely by the shisha's housing. This means that for the purpose of replacing the used cartridges with smoke medium, the base plate is detached from the heating chamber; conceivable here is a connection by means of a thread, a latch, magnet, etc. The used cartridge is then removed from the chamber and replaced by one filled with new medium and the base plate is then fixed in place again.

Put another way, the base plate is designed corresponding to a capsule for holding a smoke medium in such a way that when the base plate is fixed, inserted, screwed or latched into the housing, the capsule takes up its function position in which the smoke medium can come into contact with the drawn in air.

A particularly intensive heating effect can be achieved if an accumulator that serves to supply the heating chamber with power is integrated into the housing above the heating chamber. It is important to heat up the lower chamber, and thus the smoke medium contained there, in an effective manner with the help of the accumulator and to maintain the optimum smoke temperature.

The compactness and the high safety level when handling the shisha according to the invention is also achieved in that heating the smoke medium is not done by burning coal, as is the case with previously known shishas. Instead, electronics are used, through which the heat development can be controlled naturally much more effectively, safely and selectively. The suggestion according to which an electronic control unit is positioned between the container or the heating chamber and the accumulator is to be understood in this sense.

It is also conceivable that an electronic measuring, control and/or regulating unit is positioned between the container or the heating chamber and the accumulator that serves to monitor, control and/or regulate the heating function in the heating chamber and the temperature in the heating chamber. Therefore, if appropriate sensors are employed, the control unit can also influence the heating function in the bottom chamber, i.e. in the first place started and closed down and regulated. This is also associated with a completely new enjoyment factor when smoking with the shisha, because input values such as the temperature in the chamber, and thus in the end the quality of the tobacco product, can be varied by the user and/or automatically through the control unit when given limit values are reached. Alternatively, or in supplement, it is conceivable that the control unit is used to switch the shisha on and off and for standby switching. This means that automatism is possible through the air flow. For example, a sensor can be used for monitoring, which then forwards the appropriate signals to the control unit.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the water pipe is equipped with a communication interface, so that the control unit serves communication with the user and/or external appliances, for example via NFC or Bluetooth technology. Influence on the controller can then be exercised through an interface of this type via an external control unit, for example a smartphone or a Tablet PC. This means it is possible to draw up a user profile or to communicate the smoking experience, for example via Facebook or other social media. Reordering tobacco capsules in this way is also conceivable.

The connection between the water tank and the heating chamber is necessary in order to draw the smoke medium through suction initially into the heating chamber and then into or through the tank. The most expedient is an embodiment in which the heating chamber and the container are connected by means of at least one suction tube. For this purpose it is necessary that the suction tube passes through the accumulator and/or the electronic control unit or that the suction tube is led past the accumulator and/or control unit.

It is understood that in the housing according to the invention the mixture is intended to stream or flow in one direction only, i.e. through the air inlet into the lower heating chamber and from there through the intake tube into the tank, in order to be inhaled there finally by the smoker. For this reason, it is recommended that a unidirectional valve is provided between the suction tube and the container that prevents the penetration of liquid medium from the container into the suction tube.

In an embodiment of the invention air is drawn from outside into the heating chamber and the air then actually comes into contact with the smoke medium provided in the capsules as intensively as possible and with an optimum mixing together of air and smoke medium. For this purpose, a capsule must have one or more holes at least at one end or even be perforated. The opening of the smaller upper hole is produced expediently in that the suction tube serves at the same time as a mandrel, that is, when the capsule is inserted into the lower chamber the suction tube penetrates into the capsule and in this way enables the smoke medium to enter the suction tube and thus in the end the water tank and can be released there.

To simplify disposing of the waste water from the container and filling it with fresh water it is planned that the container and the housing are connected detachably, for example by means of a plug-in, a latched or a magnetic connector. This creates a modular structure with the components capsule, heating chamber, power/electronics, water tank, lid, tube and mouthpiece.

The invention is characterised in particular in that a water pipe or shisha is created that is noticeable through special compactness, safety, user-friendliness, easy cleaning and numerous possible variations. The user sucks air through an inlet on the underside of the housing first of all into a heating chamber, in which the tobacco or non-tobacco smoke medium is located, expediently in a capsule that is to be inserted into the heating chamber like an oven. The capsule therefore lies in the air flow, which the user generates at the upper end of the housing by breathing in, i.e. by creating negative pressure. At the same time, the smoke medium is heated up in the capsule by means of a heating mechanism supplied through an accumulator. From the heating chamber, or more exactly from the capsule inserted there, the mixture of air and smoke medium passes through a suction tube into the upper container, also to be referred to as water tank, where it passes through the water and can then be inhaled via a suction device. The capsule for holding the medium is here an integral component of the heat and air stream with no loss of aroma with regard to the smoke medium. Thanks to its electronic controller, the shisha according to the invention opens up completely new possibilities, because the heating processes can be monitored, controlled and/or regulated. In any case, the air flow is defined through the prefabricated openings/holes on the top and underside, heating takes place preferably on the side surface in the heating chamber. The use of capsules creates further possibilities in the form of variants for the smoke medium, its composition and intensity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details and advantages of the subject of the invention can be seen in the following description of the associated drawing, in which an example of a preferred embodiment is shown with the necessary details and individual parts. Respectively:

FIG. 1 Shows a side view of a water pipe,

FIG. 2 Shows a water pipe in an exploded view and

FIG. 3 in the longitudinal section,

FIG. 4 in a view at an angle from above and

FIG. 5 in a view at an angle from below.

FIG. 6 Shows an exploded view of a capsule,

FIG. 7 shows the capsule in the heating chamber,

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of FIG. 9 and

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the capsule in the heating chamber.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of a further water pipe,

FIG. 11 shows a cross section of the water pipe of FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 shows a cross section of the mouth of the suction hose,

FIG. 13 shows a receptacle and a housing part containing the electronic unit in perspective view,

FIG. 14 shows a cross section of the receptacle and housing part,

FIG. 15 a longitudinal section of the receptacle and housing part

FIG. 16 a receptacle in perspective view,

FIG. 17 a longitudinal section of the receptacle,

FIG. 18 a cross section of the receptacle,

FIG. 19 a more detailed view of FIG. 11,

FIG. 20 connection ring, holding fixture and capsule, and

FIG. 21 a spring-mounted suction hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 already makes the particular compactness of the water pipe 1 clear with its lengthways housing 2 and the modular structure. The container 3 is closed above through the cover 15. A suction tube 28 is connected with its integral end with the connecting pieces 5 as part of the cover 15 and is fitted at the other end with an interchangeable mouthpiece 16. The connection of several tubes 28, 29 is conceivable. By means of a magnetic connector the mouthpiece 16 of the tube 28 can be fixed detachably to the outer wall of the housing or the cover 15. The water level for the water in reserve in the container 3 is designated 20, because only partial filling of the container 3 is expedient. Heating chamber and accumulator and control unit are concealed by a casing 27, which along with many other details characterises the design of a water pipe 1 of this type, among other things through the possible impression or engraving 26 for advertising purposes. The on and off and standby switch for controlling the shisha is designated 32. Two capsules with perforations 33 holding smoke medium are indicated with 13, 13′. The air inlet in the form of several air slots 19 has the reference number 6.

In an exploded drawing, FIG. 2 then shows a shisha 1 according to the invention. With the air inlet in the form of slits 19 indicated with the reference number 6 the user sucks air from outside into the heating chamber 4, where smoke medium is kept in an exchangeable capsule 13. A heating spiral 14 whose conical shape is adapted to that of the capsule 13—or vice versa—is provided as heating medium in the lower chamber 4. An adapter disc that guarantees the correct fixing of the capsule 13 is marked 25. The lower chamber 4 in the form of a small oven is connected through the suction tube 11 with the container 3, which itself is covered on the top by the cover 15 and has a connection 5 for a tube 28, 29 with mouthpiece 16 at the other end. The walls of the container 3 that serves as a tank consist preferably of acrylic glass. The cover 15, panelling 27 and heating chamber 4 or its walls consist preferably of brushed or sandblasted stainless steel, aluminium or ceramics. The intake tube 11 guarantees that the mixture of air and smoke medium can pass from the lower chamber 4 into the container 3. An additional seal or separator is provided by means of a unidirectional valve 12, an O-ring 21 and a cover plate 22. The suction tube 11 is sealed by means of Teflon discs 24, 23 on the one hand as against the lower chamber 4 and on the other as against the accumulator 8 or its chamber 7. A measuring, regulating and/or control unit is shown with 9 that, for example in interplay with a sensor, serves for monitoring, controlling and regulating the heating chamber 4. The capsule 13 for holding the medium here an integral component of the heat and air flow, by which means the aroma of the smoke medium is retained in full.

In the longitudinal section FIG. 3 shows a shisha 1 according to the invention, whose container 3 is filled with water up to the water level 20. The unidirectional valve 12 that is integrated in the bottom of the container 3 can be seen clearly here as well. In addition, the longitudinal section shows the electrics shaft with the measuring, regulating and/or control unit 9 and the suction tube 11, with is led in the middle through the accumulators 8 and finally ends in the heating chamber 4. If a capsule is now inserted into the heating chamber 4, the suction tube 11 penetrates into the capsule 13 with its lower end 18 and releases the mixture. The capsule 13 is fixed in the heating chamber 4 through the base plate 17, the air supply is guaranteed through the air slits 30 found in the heating chamber 4.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified representation of the housing 3 with the upper container 3 for the water and the unidirectional valve 12 in the direction of the suction tube 11.

In the drawing in FIG. 5 the focus is on the view of the housing 2 from below with the air slit 19 in the heating chamber 4 for sucking in ambient air into the inside of the housing 2.

FIG. 6 shows a exploded representation of a capsule 13 with two end plates 36, 39 at the inlet 50 and outlet 51 respectively. The capsule 13 has a taper 37 that passes into the front end plate 36. An aroma protection foil 41 with a handle 43 serves to seal the holes 45 in the end plate 36 and must be removed directly before use. In supplement, the capsule 13 comprises an additional aroma protection foil 40 with handle 42 that corresponds to the rear end plate 39 and therefore to the holes 46 etc. The collar 38 serves to fasten the aroma protection foil 40 and capsule 13 in place.

As an alternative to FIG. 3, FIG. 7 shows a capsule 13 in the heating chamber 4 of the smoking appliance that is otherwise not shown here. The heatable receptacle 34 approx. 2 mm thick for the capsule 13 with its wall 35 has a taper 37; capsule 13 and receptacle 34 are formed to correspond with each other, capsule 13 sits firmly in the receptacle 34. Because the receptacle 34 ends on connection to the taper 37 or has an opening 52, an advantageous free space 48 remains for the extraction process.

This is also made clear in the section in accordance with FIG. 8 that shows the opening 52 in the area of the receptacle 34. The base plate for sealing the heating chamber 4 has the number 17. A drill hole 47 serves to lead power to the receptacle 34, which also serves as a heating element.

Finally, FIG. 9 illustrates the view from above onto the receptacle 34 and the capsule 13 with its front end plate 36. This also illustrates the centre 49 of connection plate 36, which has a particularly high number of holes, one of which is numbered 55 by way of an example, in order to guarantee the intended optimal extraction without the risk that smoke medium could penetrate into the suction tube.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a further example water pipe 100, also known as a shisha or hookah, with its housing 102. The receptacle 103 is closed at the top by lid 123. A suction tube 155 is connected at its proximal end to the connecting piece 156 as part of the lid 123 and is fitted at the other end with a replaceable mouthpiece 157. The connection of several hoses is possible. 158 indicates the water level for the water stored in receptacle 103, especially since only partial filling of receptacle 103 is advisable.

The heating chamber, accumulator and control unit are concealed by casing 159. 160 indicates the on, off and stand-by switch for operating the water pipe. The capsules 13 containing solid or liquid smoke media have perforations 31 as described above. The air inlet in the form of several air slits is marked 162.

In addition, FIG. 11 shows a cross section of the water pipe 1. In the centre marked 107 is the housing part containing the control unit, underneath is the heating chamber 104 with the holding fixture 105 for a capsule and the removable base plate 130. The thread 122 between the receptacle 103 and the housing part 107 containing the electronics is clearly visible, so that when these two components are assembled there is automatic positioning of the centrally positioned valve 109, which is located in the base 112 of the receptacle or protrudes partly into the receptacle interior 119.

The receptacle 103 is screwed onto the housing part 107 containing the electronic unit, which involves establishing the connection between the suction hose 106 and the valve 109.

FIG. 12 first illustrates the solid, multi-layered design of the base 112 of receptacle 103. The mouth 108 of the suction hose 106 is secured by three seals in the form of O-rings 116, 117 and 118. Valve 109 and suction hose 106 are positioned on a common longitudinal axis 115. A hollow space integrated into base 112 is marked 113 and serves to hold a central mounting plate 114, into which the suction hose 106 then opens very precisely.

FIG. 13 shows a housing part 107, which serves to contain an electronic unit, connected to the receptacle 103. A switch for operating this electronic unit and thus the water pipe is marked with the reference 131.

A cross section of the receptacle is shown in FIG. 14, with the central valve 109 and thread 122 on the outer edge 120.

This partial solution is additionally illustrated in FIG. 15 with the receptacle 103 and the housing part 107, connected via valve 109.

FIG. 16 shows a receptacle 103 with valve 109 at its lower end 126.

122 marks the thread on the outer edge of the receptacle 13. Its opposite upper end 125 offers the connection possibility for the lid not shown here. Here, the housing 103 has an inwardly facing collar 127, on the underside 128 of which a sealing component, here in the form of an O-ring 129, can be found. The lid can then be screwed to receptacle 103 via the inner thread 124. The O-ring 129 surround a central opening defined by the collar 127.

In addition, this is shown in FIG. 17, with receptacle 103 featuring the connection to the housing part not shown here containing the electronic unit on one side and the connection for the lid on the other side.

FIG. 18 again shows a cross section of the housing 102 of the water pipe 100 with the central valve 109 and the outer thread 122.

In addition, FIG. 19 shows the detailed view circled in FIG. 20 in the form of the integration of the holding fixture in the closing ring 141. The closing ring 141 is connected to the collar 142 on the holding fixture. At the same time, the capsule with its collar 143 lies in the holding fixture 105 and is particularly tight thanks to the uniform cone of approx. 7°. It should also be mentioned that in order to adjust to the closing ring 141, the capsule 13 has a section 145 between the collar 143 and its actual wall 144, in which the wall of the capsule runs exactly parallel to the longitudinal axis 146.

Finally, FIG. 12 represents a cross section. The reference 106 indicates the suction hose, which can be moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis 163 by applying pressure to the suction hose 106 in the direction of arrow 150, either manually or via the control unit. The suction hose 6 has two hose sections 152 and 153 of different diameters. The section 153 of the suction hose 106 facing the heating chamber 104 has a smaller diameter than section 153 facing the receptacle not shown here, so that a collar 151 or stop is formed which acts on the spring 148 when the suction hose 106 is moved. It is conceivable to provide an inner hose 419 here. Otherwise, the second hose section 153 is surrounded by the pressure spring 148 at its end facing the first hose section 152, or the spring housing 164 is integrated into the wall 147 of heating chamber 104 facing the receptacle. It is clearly visible that the front end 165 of the second hose section 153 protrudes into heating chamber 104. A guide pin for the suction hose 106 is marked 154.

In view of the foregoing description, the invention presented has the task of creating a water pipe that is characterised by a high level of leak tightness and thus effectiveness for the smoking experience. This task is solved by the receptacle and a housing part containing an electronic unit being connected so as to be detachable, and by providing a valve in the area where the mouth of the suction hose opens into the receptacle.

The housing of the water pipe consists essentially of the receptacle as the first housing part, the second housing part containing the electronics and the suction hose, and the third housing part containing the heating chamber for the capsule, preferably in the order mentioned from top to bottom. The receptacle and the housing part containing the electronic unit are connected to each other so as to be detachable and are additionally connected by a valve that ensures an improved seal, which is a particularly effective way of protecting the water pipe from secondary air escaping, according to the invention.

Preferably, the valve is arranged centrally for this purpose and, if necessary, part of the valve protrudes or opens into the receptacle interior.

The suggestion is that the valve should fit precisely on the suction hose protruding from the housing part. The suction hose, the lower end of which opens into the heating chamber and which passes through the housing part containing the electronic unit, is connected at its upper end to the valve in a precisely fitting manner, so that no secondary air can escape in this entire area. The receptacle wall facing the housing must be solid enough overall to form a stable mounting for the valve and the end of the hose. An advisable design of the invention is one in which the wall/end of the receptacle has a hollow space with an integrated central mounting plate for fixing the suction hose. The mounting plate centrally positioned in the hollow space of the otherwise comparatively solid base serves as the mounting for the suction hose.

In addition, the suction hose is designed to open into the mounting plate. The suction hose thus ends in the receptacle, and, in a particularly advantageous way, in the mounting plate integrated into the receptacle wall/end.

The suction hose and the valve are arranged on the longitudinal axis of the water pipe, so that the suction hose directly finds its position in the valve when the receptacle and the housing are assembled, e.g. after cleaning.

This type of mounting between suction hose and valve makes it seem advantageous if the mouth of the suction hose is provided with seals in the wall of the receptacle. These provide a seal between the suction hose and the receptacle and/or the mounting plate located in the hollow space, so as to definitely ensure a reliable and safe air path via the suction hose and its connections without losses.

It has been considered, for example, that the receptacle and the housing part containing the electronics are connected to each other via an all-round thread. The receptacle is screwed onto the housing part containing the electronic unit, which involves establishing the connection between the suction hose and the valve. The receptacle, housing, suction hose and valve are synchronised in such a way that the firm external connection and the secure positioning of the valve are inevitable.

The receptacle is closed at the end facing away from the suction hose. It is advisable for the receptacle to have an inwardly protruding collar at its upper end and for a sealing component to be integrated into the lid on its underside facing the collar. An O-ring is preferred, so that a seal is already in place the moment that the lid is connected to the receptacle. Here, too, the preferred design is a screw connection.

The fact that the housing part containing the electronics has switches, indicator lights, connections, etc. on its upper side is advantageous in that these switches, indicator lights and connections are only easily accessible once the receptacle has been dismantled and they do not otherwise get in the way or impair the design.

The aim is to ensure a high degree of efficiency in heat transfer between the heating chamber and the capsule inserted in the heating chamber, which is made possible by the precise fit between the holding fixture or parts of this holding fixture on the one hand and the capsule on the other. This allows a particularly targeted heat transfer due to a precise fit between the side wall of the holding fixture that surrounds the capsule and the capsule itself. The more firmly the capsule is positioned in the holding fixture, the more effectively the heat from outside, i.e. from the direction of the heating chamber, travels in the direction of the capsule. A particularly advantageous variant for such a precise fit is one in which the side wall of the holding fixture tapers conically towards the interior of the heating chamber, with the cone having an angle of approx. 5° to 10°, preferably approx. 7°. An ideal geometry is achieved when the diameter of the holding fixture between the front and the back of the holding fixture or capsule increases constantly by a factor of about 1.1 to 1.25, preferably about 1.17. According to one design of the invention, the holding fixture has on its outside a closing ring extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing, into which the holding fixture for the capsule is integrated, i.e. the closing ring or heating chamber are arranged and designed to correspond to each other in such a way that the closing ring has a central opening in which the capsule is positioned in the holding fixture. Depending on the arrangement of the receptacle, heating chamber, etc., the closing ring also forms the upper or lower end of the housing or heating chamber. In addition, the closing ring also functions as a stop for a collar on the capsule when the capsule is inserted into the heating chamber. The closing ring thus ensures that the capsule is positioned in the heating chamber, not least because the capsule has a collar with which it strikes against the closing ring.

Thanks to a mechanism for pushing the used capsule out of its position in the holding fixture in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion, used capsules can be pushed out of their position in the holding fixture in the heating chamber without the user coming into contact with parts of the water pipe that may be exposed to high temperatures. Such health impairments due to the high temperatures of up to 200° C., which heated water pipe capsules can assume, are thus ruled out, as is jamming of the capsule when pulled out. Any capsule expansion processes are also irrelevant, because the capsules can be pushed out of the holding fixture from the direction of the receptacle in a particularly effective way. The fact that the mechanism can be operated from outside the heating chamber has the same aim, specifically to create a sufficient distance between the operator's hand and the heating chamber, or the capsule inside it.

An advantageous design of the invention provides for the suction hose to be mounted so that it can be moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis. This is a particularly optimal solution for such a mechanism, as the already existing suction hose has the additional function of serving as a mechanism for removing the capsules. This is done from a completely safe distance with regard to the high temperature of the used capsules in the heating chamber. By simply pressing the suction hose, a force is applied to the capsule in the opposite direction to which it was inserted. Consequently, the capsule inevitably releases from its position in the holding fixture in the heating chamber.

For ease of handling, it has been considered that the suction hose is mounted so that it can be moved against the force of a spring, so that the suction hose returns to its starting position after use to release the capsule and the play of the suction hose during operation is limited.

The invention is characterised in particular by the fact that the water pipe ensures an optimum total air supply from the capsule to the air exiting through the mouthpiece. This is thanks to a special connection between the water tank and the housing of the water pipe, specifically the central housing part containing the electronics.

Claims

1. A water pipe with a housing including a housing part having an electronic unita receptacle to be filled with a liquid medium and provided with at least one suction connection, anda heating chamber connected to the receptacle via a suction hose ending in the receptacle, whereby the heating chamber has a holding fixture for a capsule which serves to contain a smoke medium,whereinthe receptacle and a housing part containing an electronic unit are detachably connected and a valve is provided in the vicinity of where the suction hose enters the receptacle.

2. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the valve fits precisely on the suction hose protruding from the housing part.

3. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the valve opens into an interior of the receptacle.

4. The water pipe according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that a base of the receptacle has a hollow space with an integrated central mounting plate for fixing the suction hose.

5. The water pipe according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that the suction hose opens into the mounting plate.

6. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the suction hose and the valve are arranged on the longitudinal axis of the housing of the water pipe.

7. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that a mouth of the suction hose is provided with seals in the base of the receptacle.

8. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the receptacle and the housing part containing the electronics are connected to each other at the edges.

9. The water pipe according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that the receptacle and the housing part containing the electronics are connected to each other via a thread, a snap-in connection, a bayonet lock or a plug-in connection.

10. The water pipe according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that the receptacle and its lid are connected to each other via a connector such as a thread, a snap-in connection, a bayonet lock or a plug-in connection.

11. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the receptacle has an inwardly protruding collar at its upper end and a sealing component is provided between the lid and the collar.

12. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the lid comprises an O-ring seal.

13. The water pipe according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the housing part containing the electronics has switches, indicator lights and/or connections, on its side facing the receptacle.

14. The water pipe according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises both a base and a lid when detached from the housing part.

15. The water pipe according to claim 14 wherein the base is integrally formed with the receptacle.

16. The water pipe according to claim 1, further comprising a seal where the suction hose enters the receptacle.

16. The water pipe according to claim 16, where at least one seal for the suction hose is carried on the receptacle and at least one further seal for the suction hose is carried on the housing part.

18. The water pipe according to claim 1, wherein the valve is provided between the suction tube and the container comprises a unidirectional valve configured to prevent penetration of liquid medium from the container into the suction tube.