Abstract:
An essential oil vertical vaporizer pipe with a heat resistant removable protective sleeve that provides protection from the hot tip after the pipe is used. The vaporizer pipe has a built in heat resistant removable protective sleeve that can be slid back over the hot tip after each use to protect the user and the user&#39;s surroundings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/305,184, filed Mar. 8, 2016. the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to vaporizer pipes and, more particularly, to vaporizer pipes for use with essential oils. 
         [0003]    With other essential oil vertical vaporizer pipes the operator has to handle them carefully after each use due to the tip of the pipe needing to cool down. 
         [0004]    Other vertical vaporizer pipes have to be handled cautiously after each use because the tip will still be hot enough to harm the user or the user&#39;s surroundings. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for an improved vaporizer pipe with a built in heat resistant removable protective sleeve that can be slid back over the hot tip after each use to protect the user and the user&#39;s surroundings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a vaporizer pipe for essential oils, includes a mouthpiece formed of an elongate tube of thermally resistant material and an interior channel extending between a first end and a second end. A vaporizer tube formed of a length of thermally conductive material is received in the interior channel and extends from the first end of the mouthpiece. A protective sleeve may be formed of an elongate tube of thermally resistant material and has an interior cavity extending through a portion of the protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is removably coupled to the vaporizer pipe and is operable between a protective position of attachment to the vaporizer pipe by receiving a free end of the vaporizer tube and an operating position in which the protective sleeve is detached from the vaporizer pipe. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the vaporizer pipe has a retainer for removably holding the protective sleeve in the protective position. The retainer may be formed by an interference fit between a portion of the free end of the vaporizer tube and the inner channel extending through the protective sleeve. In other embodiments, the retainer may include a mating surface defined on the first end of the mouthpiece and a cooperating mating surface defined at an end of the protective sleeve. The retainer may also include a slot defined in the mating surface and a magnetically attractive element carried in the slot. In other embodiments, the retainer may also include a cooperating slot defined in the cooperating mating surface and a magnetically attractive element carried in the cooperating slot. 
         [0008]    In other aspect of the invention a vaporizer pipe for an essential oil, has a mouthpiece formed of a thermally resistant material having an inner channel extending between a first end and a second end. A vaporizer tube is formed of a thermally conductive material and is received in the interior channel and extending from the first end of the mouthpiece. The vaporizer tube has a free end configured to receive a predetermined quantity of the essential oil. A protective sleeve that formed of a thermally resistant material has an interior cavity extending through a portion of the protective sleeve corresponding to a length of the free end of the vaporizer tube. The protective sleeve is removably coupled to the vaporizer pipe and is operable between a protective position covering the vaporizer tube and an operating position in which the free end of the vaporizer tube is removed from the protective sleeve. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the vaporizer pipe may have a mating surface defined on the first end of the mouthpiece and a cooperating mating surface defined at an end of the protective sleeve. A magnetic element may be coupled to the mating surface and a cooperating magnetic element is coupled to the cooperating mating surface. The mating surface and the cooperating mating surface may have a slot defined therein configured to receive the cooperating magnetic element therein. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vaporizer pipe shown in use. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vaporizer pipe. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the vaporizer pipe. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a section view of the invention taken from  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a section view illustrating the movement of  12 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged section view showing a mating surface and a cooperating mating surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an improved vaporizer pipe for use with essential oils. The vaporizer pipe includes a removable protective sleeve to permit rapid handling and transportability of the pipe after use. 
         [0019]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a vaporizer pipe of the present invention is shown in use by a user  32 . The vaporizer pipe includes a mouthpiece  10  and an elongate vaporizer tube  14  having a free end that is extends from a first end of the mouthpiece  10 . A second end of the mouthpiece  10  is held in position next to the lips of the user  32 . 
         [0020]    The vaporizer tube  14  is formed from a thermally conductive material, such as metal, glass, or ceramic. In typical use, a heat source, such as a match, lighter, or the like is applied to a tip of the free end of the vaporizer tube  14  so as to vaporize the essential oil  24  when contacted by the heated tip of the vaporizer tube  14 . The user  32  would then draw a breath through the vaporizer tube  14  via the mouthpiece  10 , thereby drawing in the essential oil vapors  30  with their breath, as shown in reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0021]    As will be appreciated, the vaporizer tube  14  will become extremely hot during use and will remain hot for a time after such use. Accordingly, the mouthpiece  10  is formed of a thermally insulating material so as to protect the user&#39;s lips during use. A preferred material is wood, which has good insulating properties and provides a natural look to the pipe. An interior channel is defined between the first end and the second end of the mouthpiece  10 . As further shown in reference to  FIG. 4 , the end of the vaporizer tube  14  is offset from an opening in the second end of the mouthpiece  10  so as to keep the heat of the vaporizer tube  14  offset from the user&#39;s lips. 
         [0022]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 2 , the vaporizer pipe is provided with a protective sleeve  12  that has an interior cavity that is dimensioned to receive the free end of the vaporizer tube  14  within the cavity. The protective sleeve  12  may be configured with an interference fit with interior cavity and the free end of the vaporizer tube  14 . The protective sleeve  12  is also formed from a thermally insulating material, which may be immediately applied to the vaporizer tube  14  after use to permit the vaporizer pipe to be readily handled or carried, such as by placing it in a user&#39;s pocket, bag, or carried in the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0023]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , the mouthpiece  10  and protective sleeve  12  each have a cooperating mating surface so that the ends thereof may be joined. The cooperating mating surfaces may be configured to releasably retain the protective sleeve  12  in attachment to the vaporizer pipe. The mating surface of the mouthpiece  10  has one or more slots  16  configured to receive a magnetically attractive element  18 . Similarly, the cooperating mating surface of the protective sleeve  12  has one or more slots  20 , which are also configured to receive a cooperating magnetically attractive element  22 . The magnetically attractive elements  18  and  22 , may each be magnets with attracted polarities or one may be a magnet while the other is formed of a ferrous material that is attracted to the magnet. The magnetically attractive elements  18  and  22 , are each held into their corresponding slots  16  and  20 , by use of an adhesive  26 . 
         [0024]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.