Abstract:
A dual function water pipe includes a water-holding container and serves as a loose leaf tobacco pipe and as a cigarette smoking device. A bowl surmounts the container and a downspout of the bowl extends into the container an extent sufficient to submerge the free end of the downspout. A hollow adapter having a radial bore that holds the unlit end of a cigarette surmounts the bowl. A smoker applies suction to a smoke tube that draws smoke from the cigarette and the structure of the device causes the smoke to follow a path of travel that constrains the smoke to pass through the water before entering the smoke tube, removing some toxins from the smoke. The smoke tube is positioned one hundred eighty degrees from the cigarette and has a telescopically-extended configuration that positions a flame source a safe distance from a user&#39;s face.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to devices that reduce toxins in tobacco smoke. More particularly, it relates to a device that at least partially filters unhealthy substances such as tar from tobacco smoke. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art most relevant to the present disclosure is believed to be a water pipe disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,686 to Murray, Jr. The device disclosed by Murray, Jr. has utility as a pipe for smoking loose leaf tobacco. It constrains smoke from tobacco leaves to flow through water so that the smoke is cleansed by the time it reaches the smoker. However, the Murray, Jr. device has no utility in connection with cigarettes. 
     What is needed, then, is a water pipe construction that has utility as a loose leaf tobacco water pipe and as a cigarette water pipe as well. 
     Upon fulfillment of that need, there then exists a need for a water pipe that removes some tar and other undesirable toxins from loose leaf tobacco and cigarette smoke. 
     The Murray, Jr. water pipe and other known water pipes are relatively large in size. 
     As a result, they are burdensome to carry and cannot be stored in convenient places such as the inside of a cigarette pack. 
     A water pipe about a fourth or a third the size of the Murray, Jr. water pipe would be desirable for several reasons. For example, a smaller water pipe would be easier to carry and could fit into a cigarette pack. Moreover, if overturned or turned onto its side, there would be less water to spill. However, if a water pipe such as the Murray, Jr. water pipe is simply scaled down in size, then the smoke pipe thereof would be unacceptably short. A short smoke pipe would position a flame source too close to a user&#39;s face when loose leaf tobacco is lit. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a water pipe construction having a small structure but which positions the user&#39;s face a safe distance away from a flame source when the water pipe is used. 
     A small water pipe would be easily lost. A need therefore exists for a means that makes it easier for the owner of a small water pipe to avoid losing it. 
     Prior art water pipes lack means for holding a cigarette and therefore lack means for aligning a cigarette so that it is always a maximum distance from the user&#39;s face. Ideally, the face of the smoker should be diametrically opposed to the cigarette when a water pipe is in use. A need therefore exists for a water pipe structure that positions a cigarette one hundred eighty degrees (180°) from the smoker&#39;s face. 
     It is also difficult to fill a prior art water pipe to the proper level. Conventional water pipes typically include a fill-indicator line etched into the interior wall of the structure, but such line is hard to see. 
     A better means for indicating the ideal water level within a water pipe is therefore needed. 
     However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be met. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a water pipe having dual utility as a loose leaf tobacco water pipe and as a cigarette water pipe is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. The novel device also allows smokers to continue smoking loose leaf tobacco and cigarettes while having some of the negative health aspects thereof reduced. 
     The pipe includes a container having a flat, imperforate bottom wall. A substantially cylindrical sidewall is mounted about the periphery of the imperforate bottom wall and projects upwardly therefrom to define a container cavity that is adapted to hold a predetermined amount of liquid fluid, preferably water. 
     A vent means is formed in the substantially cylindrical sidewall of the container and a smoke tube is pivotally secured to the container. The smoke tube has a first, deployed position where a lumen thereof is disposed in fluid communication with the vent means and has a second, storage position where said lumen is not in fluid communication with the vent means. The smoke tube has a distal free end adapted to be placed between the lips of a smoker when the smoke tube is in the first, deployed position. 
     Significantly, the novel water pipe has about one third to one-fourth the volume of the Murray, Jr. water pipe. This is achieved, in part, by providing a smoke tube of telescopic construction. When fully extended, the length of the smoke tube is sufficient to position the water pipe at a safe distance from the smoker&#39;s face. When fully retracted, the smoke tube fits into a truncate storage area. The novel water pipe is so small that it fits into a standard cigarette pack (the pack that holds twenty cigarettes) after a few cigarettes have been removed therefrom. 
     A channel-shaped recess is formed in an exterior surface of the substantially cylindrical sidewall of the container. The recess extends from the container bottom wall to an uppermost end that is spaced slightly downwardly from an uppermost end of the container. The smoke tube is at least partially received within the recess when the smoke tube is in its collapsed, storage position. 
     A bowl surmounts the container and has a bottom wall with a longitudinally-extending passageway formed therein. A sidewall mounted about a periphery of the bottom wall defines-a bowl cavity adapted to hold loose leaf tobacco. A tubular downspout depends from the bowl; the tubular downspout has a lumen in fluid communication with the passageway. The distal end of the downspout is disposed in the container cavity in predetermined spaced relation to the imperforate bottom wall of the container. 
     A cigarette-holding adapter means having a hollow interior removably caps the bowl. A hollow neck depends from the hollow adapter means and fits into the bowl cavity. The neck has an external diameter only slightly less than an internal diameter of the bowl cavity and is received within the bowl cavity when the pipe is in a fully assembled configuration. A radial bore is formed in the adapter means and is adapted to snugly receive therein an unlit end of a cigarette. The radial bore is in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the adapter means. A stop means in the hollow interior spaces the unlit end of the cigarette away from the interior wall of the adapter means so that air can circulate through the cigarette as required for combustion. 
     When the bowl is properly attached to the container in surmounting relation thereto, the bowl is in a preselected position of rotational adjustment. 
     The adapter means, when properly installed, fits into the bowl in only one rotational position of adjustment so that the radial bore and hence the cigarette it holds are one hundred eighty degrees (180°) from the smoke tube. 
     An easily visible protrusion near the bottom of the container indicates the proper water depth for the convenience of the user. 
     A mounting member having a central opening formed therein is formed on an external surface of the container at the rim thereof so that the novel water pipe may be placed on a key ring, a necklace, or the like, to minimize the chances of loss. 
     Accordingly, the pipe has utility as a loose leaf tobacco water pipe when the adapter means is not employed and as a cigarette water pipe when the adapter means is employed. In both uses, water is introduced into the container cavity to a predetermined depth sufficient to submerge the distal end of the downspout, such predetermined depth being indicated by the easily visible protrusion. 
     To use the pipe as a loose leaf tobacco water pipe, the teachings of the Murray, Jr. disclosure are generally followed. 
     To use the pipe as a cigarette water pipe, the container is filled with water to the proper level, the bowl is screwed onto the container in surmounting relation thereto and in a preselected rotational alignment therewith, the adapter means is properly rotationally aligned with and engaged to the bowl, the unlit end of a cigarette is press fit into the radial bore formed in the adapter means until it abuts the stop member in the hollow interior of the adapter means, the smoke pipe is deployed and telescopically extended, and the cigarette is lit. 
     In a preferred embodiment, screw threads join the bowl and the container so that the preselected position of rotational adjustment of the bowl relative to the container is achieved when the bowl is fully engaged to the container. This ensures that an adapter-alignment means formed in the bowl will be properly positioned so that when the adapter means is press fit into the bowl, the radial bore into which a cigarette is inserted will be one hundred eighty degrees from a user&#39;s face. 
     A user deploys the telescoped smoke tube by extending it to its maximum length and applies suction to the distal end of the smoke tube, pulling smoke along a path of travel that begins at the burning end of a cigarette, extends through the length of the cigarette, through the radial bore and into the hollow interior of the adapter means, through the lumen of the downspout, from the submerged distal end of the downspout, through the liquid fluid, into the container cavity, and to the smoker through the vent means and the smoke tube. 
     Toxins in the smoke are collected to at least some extent by the liquid fluid so that smoke reaching the user has a reduced toxin content relative to smoke that travels directly from a cigarette to a smoker. 
     A primary:object of the invention is to provide a water pipe having utility as a loose leaf tobacco water pipe and as a cigarette water pipe. 
     Another major object is to provide a water pipe that reduces the quantity of toxins received by a smoker when smoking. 
     Another important object is to provide a water pipe that is sufficiently small to fit within a standard cigarette pack. 
     Still another object is to provide an improved smoke tube so that a smoker&#39;s face is positioned a substantial distance from the water pipe, while still maintaining the small size of the novel water pipe. 
     Yet another object is to provide a means for positioning a cigarette one hundred eighty degrees from the smoker&#39;s face. 
     Another object is to provide a water pipe having a structure that better indicates to a user how to properly charge the pipe with water. 
     Yet another object is to provide a water pipe structure that enables a user to avoid losing the water pipe. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof when the novel adapter has been removed; 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view depicting the smoke tube in its deployed configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view depicting the smoke tube in its folded, storage configuration; 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the novel adapter; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational, exploded view of the adaptor and bowl; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the adaptor and bowl in their assembled configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-6, it will there be seen that the reference numeral  10  denotes an illustrative embodiment of the present invention as a whole. 
     The major structural parts of pipe  10  include container  20 , smoke tube  40 , bowl  50 , tubular downspout  70  (FIG.  3 ), and adapter means  80 . These parts are preferably made of a heat-resistant plastic. 
     Container  20  includes imperforate bottom wall  22  and substantially cylindrical sidewall  24  mounted about the periphery of said bottom wall. Sidewall  24  projects upwardly from bottom wall  22  and cooperates therewith to define an open-topped container cavity  26  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
     An elongate, channel-shaped recess  28  is formed in an exterior surface of substantially cylindrical sidewall  24  and extends from bottom wall  22  to an uppermost end that is spaced slightly downwardly from the uppermost end of container  20 . 
     A vent means in the form of radial passageway  30  (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed in bottom wall  32  of recess  28  near the uppermost end of said recess. Vent means  30  provides a passageway from container cavity  26  to the external environment. 
     Lumen  41  of smoke tube  40  is in fluid communication with vent means  30  when said smoke tube is in a first, deployed position, as depicted in FIG.  3 . Specifically, proximal end  42  of smoke tube  40  is slightly enlarged with respect to the balance of smoke tube  40  as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Slightly enlarged proximal end  42  is secured to pivot pin  44  (FIG. 4) that is positioned at the upper end of recess  28 . Proximal end  42  is restrained from displacement along the extent of recess  28  by detent means collectively denoted  28   a  (FIG.  1 ). Said detent means do not constrain smoke tube  40  from pivoting about pivot pin  44 . In this way, smoke tube  40 .has a second, storage position where it is folded at least partially into recess  28 , as depicted in FIG. 4, said recess having a depth slightly less than the diameter of said smoke tube. When smoke tube  40  is in said second, storage position, lumen  41  is not in fluid communication with vent means  30  as depicted in FIG.  4 . 
     Detent means  28   a  are preferably spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than the diameter of the reduced diameter section of smoke pipe  40  so that said smoke pipe  40  is firmly held in its operable position by said detent means when said smoke pipe is operatively deployed as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. The detent means and the smoke tube are made of slightly compressible material so that the smoke tube is easily rotatable into its storage position when not in use. When a user rotates smoke tube  40  from its storage position (FIG. 4) to its operable, FIG. 1 position, a distinct snapping-into-position movement is felt as detent means  38   a  are collectively and momentarily compressed and released as the smoke tube is rotated into position. 
     Smoke tube  40  has a telescoping construction as depicted so that distal free end  46  of smoke tube  40  is substantially co-extensive with bottom wall  22  of container  20  when the smoke tube is telescopically collapsed to its shortest length and is in said second, storage position, as depicted in FIG.  4 . Distal free end  46  is therefore easy to manually grasp when it is desired to rotate the smoke tube into its operable position. Smoke tube  40  can be pivoted at least ninety degrees so that it forms a right angle with container  20 . Smoke tube  40  may also rotate a little more than ninety degrees if pivot member  44  is not positioned at the extreme uppermost end of recess  28 , as indicated in FIG.  3 . The smoke tube is telescopically elongated before the smoking begins so that the water pipe is a maximum distance from the smoker&#39;s lips. As depicted, smoke tube  40  extends radially relative to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of container  20  when said smoke tube  40  is deployed. 
     Bowl  50  defines a bowl cavity  52  (FIGS. 1 and 2) adapted to hold loose leaf tobacco. It surmounts container  20  and shares a common external diameter with said container. External screw threads are formed in a slightly reduced diameter neck that depends from bowl  50 . Said screw threads screw threadedly engage internally threaded screw threads formed in the uppermost end of container  20 . These screw threads and the slightly reduced diameter neck are depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 but are unnumbered to avoid cluttering the drawings. O-ring  58  is sandwiched between bowl  50  and the uppermost rim of container  20  when said bowl screw threadedly engages said container. 
     The screw threads are specifically formed so that bowl  50  has a preselected position of rotational adjustment relative to container  20  when said bowl is fully screw threaded into said container. Other means, such as a press fit, could be employed to secure bowl  50  to container  20 , but a means for aligning the bowl in a preselected position of rotational adjustment relative to container  20  must be maintained to ensure that cigarette  92  is one hundred eighty degrees (180°) from the smoker&#39;s lips during a smoking session as indicated in FIG.  1 . 
     In lieu of screw threaded engagement, bowl  50  could also be dimensioned for press fit engagement into the uppermost end of container  20 , but the diametrically opposed relation between smoke tube  40  and cigarette  92  should be maintained. 
     Bowl  50  has a bottom wall  60  having a central aperture or passageway  62  formed therein, coincident with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of container  20 . Central passageway  62  also extends through the above-mentioned reduced diameter neck. 
     Tubular downspout  70  depends from the slightly reduced diameter neck and lumen  71  thereof is in fluid communication with passageway  62 . The length of downspout  70  is preselected so that its distal free end  72  is spaced slightly above bottom wall  22  of container  20  when bowl  50  is screw threadedly engaged to container  20 . 
     Adapter means  80  has an external diameter substantially in common with that of bowl  50  and container  20 . In a commercial embodiment, its diameter is slightly less than that of container  20  because bowl  50  has a slight downward taper. 
     As best understood in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7, adapter means  80  has a main body that includes an imperforate top wall  82 , a cylindrical sidewall  84 , and a reduced diameter neck  86  that depends from the main body. The external diameter of neck  86  is slightly less than the internal diameter of bowl cavity  52  and is adapted to be press fit thereinto as depicted in FIGS. 3,  4 , and  7 . Adapter means  80  is hollow as at  88  (FIGS. 3,  4 , and  6 ) and said hollow interior is coincident with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of container  20 . Hollow interior  88  extends through neck  86  and is in fluid communication with lumen  71  of tubular downspout  70  when pipe  10  is in its assembled configuration as depicted in FIGS. 3,  4 , and  8 . 
     An annular ridge  85  is formed in circumscribing relation to sidewall  84  to provide a finger grip means to facilitate separation of adapter means  80  from bowl  50 . 
     Radial aperture  90  (FIG. 6) is formed in cylindrical sidewall  84  of adapter means  80  and extends completely therethrough so that its radially innermost end is in open communication with hollow interior  88 . The diameter of radial aperture  90  is slightly less than an external diameter of a cigarette butt or filter  92  so that the unlit end of a cigarette may be press fit thereinto. Stop member  91  (FIGS. 3,  4  and  6 ) holds the non-burning end of the cigarette away from the internal wall of hollow interior  88  so that the smoke may flow freely. A cigarette held by adapter means  80  extends radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of container  20 . 
     Adapter means  80  is positioned atop bowl  50  and is press fit thereto such that radial aperture  90  is diametrically opposed to smoke tube  40  when pipe  10  is in use, as depicted in FIG.  1 . Detent means  87  (FIGS. 1-3,  7  and  8 ) in the form of a recess is formed in an outer wall of bowl  50 . A mating detent means  89  is formed in adapter  80  in diametrically opposed relation to radial aperture  90 . Detent  87  slidingly receives mating detent means  89  when adaptor means  80  is pressed down into mating relation with bowl  50 . Significantly, adaptor means  80  cannot be press fit into bowl  50  unless the required rotational alignment of detent means  87  and  89  is made, i.e., adaptor means  80  has only one position of rotational adjustment where it will fit properly onto bowl  50 . This ensures that the cigarette will always be diametrically opposed to the smoker&#39;s face when the novel water pipe is in use. 
     In lieu of the preferred press fit engagement, adapter means  80  could be screw threadedly engaged to bowl  50 , but means for maintaining the required rotational relationship between the adapter means and the bowl must be maintained. 
     The novel device is also used as a loose leaf tobacco water pipe, in the manner taught by Murray, Jr., when adapter means  80  is not used. A screen for supporting loose leaf tobacco is positioned atop bowl  50  when loose leaf tobacco is to be smoked. The screen is not depicted because it forms no part of the invention, per se. Easily visible protrusion  27  (FIGS. 2 and 3) indicates a fill line to which water is added when the device is prepared for use. 
     A flat, centrally apertured mounting means  21  (FIGS. 2-4) is formed integrally with the uppermost rim of container  20  and provides a means whereby the novel water pipe may be secured to a key ring, bracelet, necklace, or the like so that it is not easily misplaced. The mounting means is also useful for hanging the novel water pipes in display advertising in retail stores. A split metal ring, not shown, is received within the central aperture (FIG. 2) of mounting means  21  to facilitate such mounting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.