Patent Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a water pipe having an elastic body that defines an air passage. The water pipe also includes a stem having a bowl receiving portion. A groove is formed in the bowl receiving portion and an elastic lip formed adjacent to the groove. A flange formed about the upper edge of bowl fits in the groove and the elastic lip holds the flange compressively within the groove. The elastic body and the stem are formed of a heat resistant silicone. The bowl may be formed of stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass or ceramic.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the priority of an application entitled Smoking Pipe filed Oct. 7, 2015, Ser. No. 14/877,138. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to water pipes and more particularly to a water pipe having an elastic body formed of a heat resistant polymer. 
         [0004]    Background 
         [0005]    Water pipes are well known and have been in use for thousands of years by cultures spanning the globe. Pipes, including water pipes, are well known in the prior art. 
         [0006]    According to the prior art, pipes typically include a bowl attached to a stem portion. A bore extends through the stem and connects to the bottom of the bowl. The stem extends from the bowl and a bore extends through the stem. In the case of a water pipe, at some point downstream of combustion, smoke and/or vapor is delivered through an air passage at least a portion of which serves as a reservoir containing a cooling medium typically a liquid such as water. The interior of the bowl forms a combustion chamber into which a combustible or vaporizable material is placed and then heated. Smoke and/or vapor is drawn by the user through the bore, the smoke and/or vapor releasing into the air passage, rising upwardly through the cooling medium and the air passage to be inhaled by the user at a mouthpiece or other accommodation for inhalation. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,872 to Kahler discloses a water pipe having a first tube configured to retain fluid and a second tube, one end of which is inserted into the first tube and the other end extends outwardly from the first tube and is adapted to receive a reversible smoking bowl. The smoking bowl is connected to the second tube and is adapted to retain smoking tobacco. The reversible bowl is provided with two independent smoking compartments of different sizes, both smoking compartments having the same diameter such that they each fit over the open end of the second elongated tube. An orifice, connecting the first and second smoking compartments, is provided to enable the smoke to pass into the second tube, through the fluid, and out through the first tube. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,499 to McFadden discloses a water pipe or bong having a water chamber for cleaning the smoke of ash and for cooling the smoke located above an ash and contaminant trap. Smoke tubes from the trap to the water chamber end at different levels in the water. The bowl is heat insulated by refractory material from the rest of the pipe which is made of Plexiglas. 
         [0009]    At its website, Gray Labs describes a glass water pipe that includes a diffuser disc that is located within the reservoir portion of the air passage below the water line. The diffuser has a honeycomb configuration that is designed breakup the flow of air containing smoke and/or vapor as it is diffused into the cooling medium producing smaller air bubbles that are thought to cool more rapidly. See http://www.gray.com/product/44mm-grav-labs-flare-base-water-pipe-with-honey-comb-disc/. 
         [0010]    Historically pipes have been fashioned of materials that are rigid by nature. The prior art also includes pipes made of glass, various metals, ceramic materials and stone. All of these pipes have a single common feature, their relative frailty. Pipes including water pipes are known to break when subjected to forces that exceed their mechanical strength characteristics. 
         [0011]    Advantage may be found in providing a water pipe that includes parts formed of an elastic material that is readily deformable while having the capability of returning substantially to the pipe&#39;s original shape and configuration. Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe having a pipe body that includes a water pipe body formed of an elastic material so that it may be folded, bent, crushed and generally deformed while retaining the capability of returning to its original shape configuration. 
         [0012]    Advantage may also then be found in providing a water pipe that includes a stem that is readily separable from the body section and a bowl that is readily separable from the stem in order to facilitate cleaning of the water pipe. Therefore another object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe that includes a stem that is readily separable from the body section and a bowl that is readily separable from the stem to facilitate cleaning of the water pipe parts. Advantage may also then be found in providing a water pipe including a body section, a stem and a bowl that are each formed of materials that may be cleaned by immersion in a liquid that acts as a mild solvent or cleaning solution that readily removes built up residue from surfaces of the pipe components. A further object of the present invention then is to provide a water pipe wherein the body section, the stem and the bowl are each formed of a material that may be cleaned by immersion in a liquid that acts as a mild solvent or cleaning solution. 
         [0013]    Advantage may also then be found in providing a water pipe including a diffuser ring that is may be inserted or removed from the air passage at a selectable depth to serve either to hold one or more ice cubes at a selected depth within the body section to cool smoke and/or vapor as they pass through the tube. Alternately, the diffuser ring may be submerged within the cooling medium held in the reservoir portion of the air passage to function as a diffuser to make air bubbles smaller as they emerge and rise in the tube through the cooling medium to cool smoke and/or vapor as they pass through the tube. Therefore another object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe that includes a diffuser ring that may be inserted or removed from the air passage by the user, the diffuser ring being capable of being set at a depth that is selectable by the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a water pipe that includes a body section defining an air passage a lower portion of which is adaptable to serve as a reservoir for holding a cooling liquid, the body section formed of a highly elastic polymer that is heat resistant and which may be subjected to cleaning with boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material. Similarly, the present invention is directed to a water pipe that includes a stem formed of a highly elastic polymer that is heat resistant and which may be subjected to cleaning with boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material. In the preferred embodiment, the water pipe also includes a bowl that is readily insertable into or separable from the stem, the bowl formed of a material that is heat and flame resistant and which may be subjected to cleaning with boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material. 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, silicone is employed to fashion the body and the removable stem of the water pipe, as silicone is a material characterized by suitable levels of thermal stability, elasticity and chemical resistance. Also in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a food grade stainless steel is used to form the bowl of the pipe, as food grade stainless steel is characterized by suitable levels of flame and heat resistance and chemical stability. 
         [0016]    The elasticity and resilience of silicone employed in the manufacture of the body and stem distinguishes the water pipe of the present invention over historically used and know water pipes. The water pipe of the present invention is foldable, bendable and generally deformable, so that it can be used safely without fear of breakage or injury. Furthermore, the pipe will easily return to its original shape, absent any appreciable wear or fatigue to the material, thereby enabling the water pipe to be stored in a smaller space than required by water pipes formed from rigid materials. An added advantage of the choice of silicone as a forming material permits the mouthpiece of the tubular body to be formed as a “comfort” mouthpiece which is shaped and, due to the pliability of silicone material, conforms to and fits comfortably about a user&#39;s mouth when in use. 
         [0017]    The bowl may be formed of any refractory material including for example stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass or ceramic and includes a flange around its uppermost edge. The bowl is formed including one or more draft apertures formed in the lower segment of the bowl. The flange of the bowl is configured to fit snugly within a groove formed near the uppermost edge in the stem of the water pipe. An elastic lip is formed just above a groove near the uppermost edge in the bowl receiving portion of the pipe body. To insert the bowl, the uppermost edge of the bowl receiving portion is stretched about the flange of the bowl. The bowl is inserted into the bowl receiving portion of the stem until the flange seats within a groove. The bead closes snugly against the flange of the bowl forming an airtight seal between the pipe body and the bowl. 
         [0018]    Inasmuch as the water pipe of the present invention includes a removable bowl and a pipe body each formed of a material that is resistant to boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material, the water pipe may be readily cleaned when required. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a representative exploded first side view of a water pipe according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a representative cutaway first side view of a water pipe according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a representative top view of a diffuser ring for a water pipe according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a representative detail cutaway side view of a bowl and stem of a water pipe according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a representative detail cutaway side view of a stem shown inserted into the pipe body of a water pipe according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a representative detail cutaway side view of a stem shown inserted into the pipe body of a water pipe according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a preferred embodiment of water pipe  10  according to the present invention.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show water pipe  10  including tubular pipe body  11  supported by base  12 .  FIG. 2  shows pipe body  11  defining in part air passage  17 . A lower portion of air passage  17  is configured to serve as a reservoir and is shown containing a cooling fluid, in this case water W. In the preferred embodiment, pipe body  11 , including base  12  and stem receiving portion  15 , is molded as a singular piece of silicone. Pipe body  11  is formed having comfort mouthpiece  14  which due to the pliable nature of silicone fits comfortably about a user&#39;s mouth when in use. Airflow regulation aperture  19  is formed through sidewall  31  of pipe body  11  and which may be employed to regulate airflow through pipe body  11  by selectively covering or uncovering airflow regulation aperture  19 . Bowl  35  is cold formed of a food grade stainless steel and includes a plurality of airflow apertures  40 . 
         [0026]    Stem  25  is shown including trunk portion  26  in fluid communication with and extending from tapered bowl receiving portion  27 . A plurality of air vents  28  are formed about the periphery of trunk portion  26 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , trunk portion  26  is adapted for insertion into stem receiving portion  15  of pipe body  11  to extend into air passage  17 . As shown in  FIG. 1  stem  25  is separable from stem receiving portion  15  and bowl  35  is separable from stem  25 .  FIG. 1  also shows water pipe  10  including removable cap  45  configured to fit snugly over upper end  30  of tapered bowl receiving portion  27  so that a charge may be placed in bowl  35  and covered for later use. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 1  diffuser ring  20  is shown positioned above an open end of pipe body  11  for insertion into pipe body  11 .  FIG. 2  shows a pair of diffuser rings  20 A and  20 B deployed within air passage  17  of pipe body  11 . The first, diffuser ring  20 A is shown deployed to function as a diffuser and is positioned within ring retention groove  24  formed within the interior of sidewall  31  of pipe body  11 . Diffuser ring  20 A is positioned beneath an upper surface of water W such that as air bubbles, (not shown), are emitted from the plurality of air vents  28  and lower end aperture  29  of stem  25 , the air bubbles pass through the various apertures formed through diffuser ring  20 A to refine and decrease the size of the air bubbles. Diffuser ring  20 B is positioned above an upper surface of water W and is used in this instance to support one or more pieces of ice C, for cooling air flow as it passes through pipe body  11 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a top view of diffuser ring  20  shown including diffuser body  21  having primary diffuser aperture  22  and a plurality of smaller secondary diffuser apertures  23  formed there through diffuser body  21 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , primary diffuser aperture  22  is defined by inner surface  23  that is irregular in its configuration. As with pipe body  11  and stem  25 , (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), in the preferred embodiment, diffuser ring  20  is formed of an elastic, heat resistant silicone. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a detail cutaway side view showing the cooperative fit between bowl  35  and tapered bowl receiving portion  27  of stem  25 . More particularly  FIG. 4  shows bowl  35  positioned within interior  31  of bowl receiving portion  27 . Bowl  35  is shown including sidewall  36  which defines in part combustion chamber  37 . Additionally,  FIG. 4  shows bowl  35  including flange  38  formed about a circumference of upper end  39  of bowl  35 . Elastic lip  32  is formed proximate to upper end  30  of bowl receiving portion  27  and groove  33  is formed downstream of elastic lip  32  and about an inner circumference of bowl receiving portion  27 . To insert bowl  35  into bowl receiving portion  27 , elastic lip  32  is rolled back slightly allowing flange  38  of bowl  35  to be inserted and seated within groove  33  formed beneath and proximate to elastic lip  32 . Once flange  38  is seated within groove  33 , elastic lip  32  is released and returns substantially to its non-deformed configuration. Elastic lip  32  seals against flange  38  forming a secure and substantially airtight interface between bowl  35  and bowl receiving portion  27 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are detail cutaway side views of stem  25  shown inserted into stem receiving portion  15 . Stem  25  is defined in part by trunk portion  26  and tapered bowl receiving portion  27 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , trunk portion  26  is shown inserted into stem receiving aperture  16  and stem  25  is pushed firmly into stem receiving aperture  16  until tapered bowl receiving portion  27  is pressed snugly into stem receiving aperture  16 . In the preferred embodiment, stem seal  18  is adapted to form a substantially airtight fit between stem  25  and stem receiving portion  15  as it seals against stem seal detent  34 . 
         [0031]    Alternately stem  25  may be positioned in stem receiving aperture  16  with stem seal band  18  positioned above stem seal detent  34  as shown in  FIG. 6  such that stem  25  may be selectively slid into stem receiving aperture  16  such that stem seal band  18  alternately seals against an interior surface of stem receiving aperture  16  forming a substantially airtight fit between stem seal band  18  and the interior surface of stem receiving aperture  16  or stem  25  may be pulled slightly out from stem receiving aperture  16  as shown in  FIG. 6  allowing additional airflow A to be drawn through air passage  1 , (shown in  FIG. 2 ), to clear air passage  17 . In this manner airflow regulation through air passage  17  is also achieved. 
         [0032]    The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiment(s) and implementation(s) disclosed. Modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. At least one preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and a best mode of practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention and the various modifications that are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ”

Technology Classification (CPC): 0