Patent Publication Number: US-2021186089-A1

Title: Collar

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a collar used to connect components with smooth ends together. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A collar is a simple component found in many machines and applications. A collar is used as a mechanical means to connect two components together. Collars typically have threads or beads which works in connect with opposing threads or beads to secure two components together. There are virtually only a few types of collars available, however, is most circumstances collars used for glass components or components with smooth ends are problematic. Since glass is blown, having threads or beads incorporated into the end of the glass can become a challenge both in terms of having them created uniformly to match a machined collar and in terms of maintaining the seal to avoid leaks and cracks. As such, there is a need to develop a collar that is easy to use with glass components to connect multiple components together. Similarly, when a plastic or other type of component has a smooth end it is difficult to connect these together while maintaining a gas and liquid seal between the two components. When used in toys or for young children the dexterity required to tighten a tiny screw on a shaft collar is virtually impossible without an adult or teenager. Therefore, there is need for a shaft collar that can be easily used when connecting components with smooth ends and without having to blow or create threads or beads on the ends of the components, especially glass components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a collar to secure a glass component thereto, wherein the glass component has a smooth tubular end. The collar being configured to prevent a gas and liquid from leaking from the glass component. The collar includes a base with a circular side wall extending from the base to define a first opened end. A pair of channels are grooved into the interior surface of the circular side wall with a pair of O-rings separately secured within the pair of channels. The O-rings are configured in size such that when the smooth tubular end of the glass component frictionally slips into the first opened end of the collar, the pair of O-rings frictionally engages the smooth tubular end to prevent a leaking of gas or liquid. The collar further has a bore defined through the base. A base surface wall surrounding the bore has threads to secure in concert with a one or more threaded connectors. 
     In other embodiments, the pair of channels are defined to be equally spaced apart from the base and top portion of the side wall. In addition, the bore can be positioned about a quarter of the distance of the full length of the side wall and configured to accommodate double opposing threaded connectors that are secured into the bore. The bore may also be centrally positioned on the base leaving a circular table on the base between the side wall and the perimeter of the bore. 
     In a second embodiment a component collar is provided to secure glass components thereto, wherein the glass components have at least one smooth tubular end. The collar being configured to prevent a gas and liquid from leaking from the glass components. The collar includes a base with a first circular side wall extending upwardly from the base to define a first opened end and a second circular side wall extending downwardly from the base to define a second opened end. A side wall channel is grooved into each of the first and second circular side walls. A bore is defined through the base with the base surface wall surrounding the bore having a bore channel grooved into the base surface wall. O-rings are secured within each of the side wall channels and the bore channel. The O-rings are configured in size such that when smooth tubular ends of glass components frictionally slip into the first opened end, second opened end, and bore defined by the collar, the O-rings frictionally engages the smooth tubular ends to prevent a leaking of gas or liquid. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an underside perspective view of the first collar; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the first collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the first collar; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a glass assembly using the first collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the components shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an underside perspective view of the second collar; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the second collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section view of the second collar; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a glass assembly using the second collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the components shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , there is shown in a first embodiment a collar  100  used to connect components together. The components may be assembled to create a hookah or waterpipe, but this is not the function of the invention, the function is to create a gas or liquid seal between the two components. In addition, the components have smooth ends, absent threads or beads, presenting a unique challenge in connecting two ends of two separate components together. Lastly, the components may be glass, plastic or other types of materials that have substantially smooth or straight ends, devoid of threads, beads or any type of connection means. 
     The function of the collar  100  is to maintain a frictional slip on and off connection (on one end) without threads or beads on the glass and a thread connection on the other end. The collar  100  has a base  110  with a circular side wall  120  extending from the base, to define a first opened end  105 . The circular side wall  120  includes a pair of channels  130  and  135  spaced apart from each other at about an equal distance between the base  110  and the top end  142  of the side wall  120 . A pair of O-rings  140  and  145  fit within the channels. During assembly, the end of the glass frictionally slips into the first opened end of the collar  100 . The exterior surface  150  of the side wall may be bowed outwardly. 
     The base  110  includes a bore  160  that includes threads  165 . The bore is centrally positioned on the base leaving a circular table  170  on the base between the side wall  120  and the perimeter of the bore  160 . The interior well wall  175  around the bore  160  is also about a quarter of the distance of the full length of the side wall. This allows, if necessary a double opposing threaded connectors  200  to be secured into the collar as well as the frictional fitted glass components. 
     As illustrated, a glass connector tube  250  having a smooth tube end  255  is frictionally secured to the collar  100 . In addition, a first threaded connector  200 A is connected to a portion of the threaded bore  160  positioned on the inside of the side wall  120  and a second threaded connector  200 B is connected to another portion of the threaded bore  160  positioned on the bottom  112  of the base  110  of the collar  100 . The threaded connectors  200  are used to secure other glass components (also frictionally secured to the threaded connectors). In connectors between the collar to threaded connectors, an external O-ring can be used between the threaded connectors and the threaded bore  160 . As further illustrated, multiple collars  100 A and  100 B can be incorporated into the completed assembly of a waterpipe or hookah. In these assemblies, the pair of internal O-rings not only secure the glass component in position, but also eliminate leaking of smoke or liquid. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-14 , there is shown in a second embodiment a collar  300  used to connect glass components to assist in the assembling of a hookah or waterpipe. The collar  300  has an internal base  310  with a first circular side wall  320  extending upwardly from the internal base and a second circular side wall  325  extending downwardly from the internal base, to define a first opened end  330  and a second opened end  335 , respectively. The circular side walls  320  and  325  each include a channel  337  and  339  spaced along the side wall away from the internal base  310 . An O-ring  340  and  345  are configured to fit within the channel. During assembly, the end of a glass component frictionally slips into the first opened end and second opened end of the collar  300 . The exterior surface  350  of the side wall may be bowed outwardly. 
     The base  310  includes a bore  360  that includes a channel  364  and an O-ring  368  fitted therein. The bore  360  is centrally positioned on the base leaving a circular table  370  on the base between the side walls and the perimeter of the bore  360 . The interior well wall  375  around the bore  360  is also about a quarter of the distance of the full length of the side wall. 
     As illustrated, a pair of glass containers  400  have smooth walled ends  410  that frictionally secured into the collar  300 . As further illustrated, an internal glass container  420  may be secured within one of the glass containers by using the smaller bore connector defined by the collar  300 . Once assembled, the user has a waterpipe or hookah. In these assemblies, the use of internal O-rings not only secure the glass component in position, but also eliminate leaking of smoke or liquid. 
     From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it is observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims,