US20020074006A1

US20020074006A1 - Telescoping water pipe

Info

Publication number: US20020074006A1
Application number: US09/961,546
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory Gunn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-14
Filing date: 2001-09-24
Publication date: 2002-06-20

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved water pipe assembly for delivering smoke from burning tobacco and the like to the operator thereof. The water pipe assembly includes a water chamber defined by an outer pipe member seated in a base member and having one or more foam pads disposed in the lower portion thereof; an inner pipe member telescopically inserted into said outer pipe member and reciprocatable relative thereto; a plug member having a base defined therethrough and adapted to fit within the upper end of the inner tube; a hollow stem member having a flared end for supporting burning tobacco thereupon and dimensioned for snug insertion into the base of the plug member to permit smoke to pass into and collect within the water chamber in response to the upward movement of the inner pipe member relative to the outer pipe member, the subsequent removal of the flared end from the stem and the downward movement of the inner pipe member relative to the outer pipe member allowing the smoke collected in the water chamber to pass up through the upper opening of the inner tube for inhalation by the user of the water pipe assembly.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/255,127 filed Dec. 14, 2000.[0001]

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of water pipes and more specifically, water pipes that employ a telescoping construction and have a quantity of water contained therein to expel the smoke generated thereby for subsequent inhalation by a smoker.

PRIOR ART

Various pipe constructions have been devised to contain and burn or ignite tobacco and other smokable products to generate smoke, which is then inhaled by one or more smokers. Some constructions employ a fluid, such as water or other liquids, which is contained within a holding vessel and which vessel is connected to a tube and burning chamber. Upon lighting of the tobacco, or tobacco-like material, the smoke generated by the burning of the material is first drawn into and through the fluid to cool and filter the smoke by and thereafter it is expelled by the pipe for inhalation by a smoker(s). One version of such a pipe is known as a hookah in which a long tube passes through a container of fluid, which cools the smoke as it is drawn through and expelled by said tube. Another version that has become commonplace is based upon the Oriental “water pipe” in which a vertically aligned cylindrical tube is employed as a combination water and smoke chamber. A first smaller tube, which serves at one end as a combustion chamber, is inserted at a second end into the cylindrical tube. An orifice for admitting air is formed within the tube above the fluid so that air may be excluded or admitted directly to the smoke chamber as desired by the smoker. Other pipe constructions, which do not employ liquid as described previously, consist of conventional smoking pipes which generally comprise: a bowl or combustion chamber; a narrow, elongated pipe stem; and a mouth portion. In each of these constructions, it is necessary for the smoker to light or ignite a portion of tobacco or other product in order to generate smoke, and draw, pull, suck or otherwise produce negative pressure or a vacuum within the pipe to transfer smoke from the combustion chamber to the mouthpiece of the pipe. Depending upon the type of pipe, the smoke passes through a quantity of fluid, either liquid and air or exclusively air. At any rate, it is necessary for the smoker to expend a certain degree of effort to light and draw smoke through the various parts of the pipe, so that an adequate amount of smoke is inhaled for smoking satisfaction while ensuring that the tobacco or other product remains ignited. This process may become more difficult over time as the inner surface walls and components of the pipe become coated with layers of accumulated tar which will eventually restrict the flow of smoke through the pipe, necessitating either regular cleaning or the generation of increased vacuum by the smoker in order to ensure that the smoke overcomes the constricted internal passages of the pipe smoking device.

What is needed to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional smoking pipes is the provision of a smoking pipe that does not require the smoker to draw smoke through the pipe or otherwise produce a vacuum or negative pressure in order to deliver smoke from the combustion chamber to the mouthpiece. Such a smoking pipe would expel smoke at a rate and or quantity that can be inhaled by a smoker employing a normal rate of breathing or inhalation.

Among the numerous designs for pipe constructions which have been heretofore provided, most are suitable for the specific purpose for which they were intended. However, all of them require the smoker to generate the vacuum or negative pressure within the pipe in order to draw smoke from a combustion chamber to a mouthpiece. Typical of such designs are: U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,785, Water Pipe or Bong, Erickson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,095, Bubble Pipe, Rushing et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,113, Water Pipe, Bui; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,110, Water Pipe, Baig et al.

From the foregoing it is apparent that what is needed to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional smoking pipes is the provision of a smoking pipe that does not require the smoker to draw smoke through the pipe or otherwise produce a vacuum or negative pressure in order to deliver smoke from the combustion chamber to the mouthpiece. Such a smoking pipe would expel smoke at a rate and or quantity that can be inhaled by a smoker employing a normal rate of breathing or inhalation. In this respect, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need.

As will be seen, the present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, which will be later described in greater detail, relates to the field of water pipes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new water pipe which employs a unique telescoping construction and has a quantity of water contained therein. The telescopic construction is active to expel smoke generated therein to a preselected location for inhalation by the smoker using the pipe.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a telescoping water pipe having an outer elongated cylindrical tube; an inner cylindrical tube; a plug; a glass stem, and a base. The outer tube comprises a first end having a bottom side wall and a second end having a top side wall; and a centrally formed aperture disposed therethrough. A circular foam pad is then disposed within the outer tube adjacent the bottom side wall. The inner tube is formed with a central opening having apertures at each end thereof, to provide ingress and egress for entry the interior of the tube. The plug is configured as a cork-like member having a centrally aligned bore into which the stem is placed. The stem is flared at one end thereof and has an internal bore formed therethrough.

The plug is inserted into the upper aperature of the inner tube. A cylindrical base receives the lower end of the outer cylinder and includes means to support that cylinder in an upright position and when the inner cylinder is telescopically inserted thereinto the outer and inner cylinders and base can be manufactured of any suitable light weight, durable material, such as clear plastic, acrylic, and the like. The plug can be manufactured of rubber or cork.

For use, the outer cylinder is disposed within the base and partially filled with a suitable fluid, such as water. The inner cylinder is then telescopically inserted into the outer cylinder until its lower end makes contact with a foam pad disposed therein to absorb the shock thereof. The plug having the glass stem inserted thereinto is then placed within the aperture at an upper end of the inner cylinder above the top side wall of the outer cylinder. A portion of the desired tobacco or tobacco-like product is then placed onto the glass stem and ignited. Upon ignition, the inner tube is slowly raised within the outer tube, thereby causing the smoke generated by the burning tobacco product to flow downwardly through the stem and into the inner tube. Once the inner tube is fully extended in respect to the outer tube without the lower end of the inner tube losing contact with the water contained in the outer tube, the plug and stem are simultaneously removed from the inner tube and the smoker can place his/her lips around the upper end of the inner tube. The inner tube is then pressed downwardly in the outer tube and the smoke contained in the inner tube slowly leaves the inner tube for introduction into the mouth of the smoker who can then inhale the smoke during the natural breathing process. In this manner, it is unnecessary for the smoker to create a vacuum or internal negative pressure within the pipe in order to draw smoke from the combustion chamber to the mouthpiece. The amount of smoke the smoker receives can be controlled by adjusting the rate at which the inner tube is lowered in the outer tube.

The foregoing outlines rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture, and easy-to-use telescoping water pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide and easy-to-use and versatile telescoping water pipe which can be used to smoke a variety of tobacco and tobacco-like products.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping water pipe that allows a smoker to receive a desired quantity of smoke for inhalation without the necessity or strain of personally creating the vacuum or negative pressure required within the interior of a conventional smoking pipe in order to draw smoke from the combustion chamber to the mouthpiece.

These and still further objects as shall hereinafter appear are fulfilled by the present invention in a remarkably unexpected manner as can readily be discerned from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like reference throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings: [0017]
FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a telescoping water pipe in accordance with the present invention; [0018]
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the telescoping water pipe of the present invention shown in its assembled configuration and having a volume of water disposed therewithin. [0019]
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an assembled telescoping water pipe showing the inner tube in a partially withdrawn position having the stem and plug displaced therein and a portion of a tobacco product disposed thereupon and generating tobacco smoke within the inner tube; [0020]
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a telescoping water pipe of FIG. 3 with the plug and stem separated therefrom; and [0021]
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a telescoping water pipe of the present invention showing the smoke generated therein being released from the water pipe in response to the downward movement of the inner pipe within the outer pipe.[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1, the telescoping water pipe of the present invention, indicated by the [0023] general reference 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical outer tube 12, a hollow cylindrical inner tube 14, a plug 16, a cylindrical stem 18, and cylindrical base 20. Outer tube 12 is a narrow and elongated hollow cylinder having a bottom side wall 22 at one end thereof and at a top side wall 24 at the other end thereof. Top side wall 24 is fitted with a centrally aligned 0 ring 26 having an opening 27 therein defining access to the interior passage way 29 in outer tube 12. One or more shock absorbing resilient foam pads 28 are disposed within the outer tube 12 adjacent the inner surface 31 of bottom side wall 22. Which is preferably formed of a durable solid plastic inner tube, 14 is approximately the same length as outer tube 12 but is provided with an outer diameter so that inner tube 14 can be readily passed through opening 27 of O ring 26 into outer tube 12. Inner tube 14 is provided with an upper opening 30 a, and a lower opening 30 b at opposite ends thereof to provide entry to the space enclosed therein. Plug 16, which is constructed of lightweight, resilient material such as rubber, cork and the like, comprise parallel upper and lower surfaces 16 a, 16 b joined by an inwardly tapered body portion 17, similar in shape and construction to that of the conventional cork. Plug 16 is also provided with a centrally aligned bore 32 which is disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to upper and lower surfaces 16 a, 16 b. Bore 32 extends through plug 16 and is accessible at either end thereof.
[0024] Stem 18, which is preferably formed of glass, or aluminum, is thin, hollow and elongated in shape and has a flared or expanded tip 19 formed at one end thereof. A central passage 34 extends through stem 18 from flared tip 19 to the other end thereof. Base 20 is cylindrical in shape and is provided with a concentric depression 36 within the mouth 21 thereof. Base 20 is preferably constructed out of ceramic.
The [0025] outer tube 12, inner tube 14, and base 20 can each be fabricated of material that is light weight, durable, attractive in appearance, and economical to acquire and manufacture, such as clear plastic, acrylic, and the like.
Referring to FIG. 2, telescoping [0026] water pipe 10 is shown assembled for use by a smoker. The outer tube 12 is inserted into base 20 so that bottom side wall 22 fits into depression 36 of the base 20 which allows base 20 to support outer tube 12 in an upright position. The outer tube is filled with water 38 to approximately three-fourths of its interior volume. The inner tube 14 is then inserted in telescoping fashion into the outer tube 12 through the opening in O-ring 26 until the bottom of tube 14 makes contact with foam pad 28. The plug 16 with the stem 18 secured within the bore 32 is fitted within the top aperture 30 a of the inner tube 14. An appropriate amount of a tobacco product 40 is then placed onto the flared tip 19 of the stem 18 and ignited. As shown in FIG. 3, the smoke 42 (shown as circles) generated by the burning tobacco product 40 passes down stem 18 and begins to fill the interior volume of the inner tube 14. As the inner tube 14 is grasped and raised gently upward, the smoke 42 continues its downward flow until the interior space of inner tube 14 is filled with smoke 42, extending from the plug 16 to the surface of the water 38.
Referring now to FIG. 4, smoking or inhalation of [0027] smoke 42 is accomplished by first removing plug 16, stem 18, and tobacco product 40 from inner tube 14 while ensuring that inner tube 14 remains in a fixed position. The mouth (not shown) of the smoker is then positioned around the upper opening or aperture 30 a of inner tube 14 with the lips making contact with inner tube 14. Smoke 42 is then inhaled by the action of natural breathing through the mouth of the smoker. In FIG. 5, additional smoke 42 may be introduced to the mouth of the smoker by sliding inner tube 14 downwardly into outer tube 12 toward foam pad 28. This downward motion in conjunction with the water 38 surface forces smoke 42 to be expelled from the inner tube 42 for easy and unforced inhalation by the smoker. The amount of smoke 42 introduced into the mouth of the smoker can be varied by adjusting the rate at which the inner tube 14 is lowered relative to the outer tube 12.
While one version of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is understood that this description is illustrative and not restrictive, it being understood that such modifications, alterations and adaptation as may be deduced herefrom by one having ordinary skill in the art are intended within the spirit of this disclosure which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. It is further submitted that the optimal dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. [0028]

Claims

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. A telescoping water pipe assembly comprising:

(a) a first cylindrical member having an inner and an outer diameter and extending between a first open end and a second closed end disposed at opposite ends thereof;

(b) a second cylindrical member having an inner and an outer diameter and extending between a first opening and a second opening disposed at each end thereof, said outer diameter of said second cylindrical member being dimensional to enable said second cylindrical member to be inserted into said first cylindrical member to engaged said closed end and reciprocate relative thereto;

(c) a cylindrical base member comprising a body portion having an upper surface and a bottom surface in generally parallel relationships to each other, said upper surface having a cylindrical opening defined therein, having a diameter of dimension sufficient to receive said first cylindrical tubular member therewithin in a stable seated relationship thereto;

(d) a cylindrical resilient pad having a diameter compatible with said inner diameter of said first cylindrical member and disposed therein at the bottom thereof to provide a cushion upon which said second cylindrical member can rest when in a fully inserted position relative to said first cylindrical member;

(e) a plug member having an inwardly tapered body portion and a central opening defined therethrough, the lower part of said body portion having a diameter of such dimension as to enable it to be snugly inserted into said upper opening of said second cylindrical member;

(f) a stem member having a tubular body portion, a tubular end portion and a flared end portion, said tubular end portion being insertable into said central opening of said plug member in communicative relationship with the interior of said second cylindrical member when said plug member is inserted into said upper opening of said second cylindrical member;

(g) means for supporting a burnable product upon said stem member at said flared end portion and capable, when said first cylindrical member is firmly seated in said cylindrical base member with said cylindrical foam pad disposed therewithin and a suitable quantity of liquid is disposed thereupon and said second cylindrical member is telescopically inserted thereinto, of directing smoke from said burnable product when lit, through said second cylindrical member into and adjacent to said liquid; and means for reciprocating said second cylindrical member relative to said first cylindrical member to expel a preselected amount of said smoke within said first cylindrical member via said second cylindrical member for selective inhalation by the user of said assembly.

2. A telescoping water pipe assembly comprising a first and a second cylindrical member, said second member being telescopically disposed within said first member for reciprocatable movements relative thereto; means for closing one end of said first cylindrical member to enable said member to receive and contain water therein; means for creating smoke and directing said smoke into and in superposition to said water when said water is present; and means for moving said second cylindrical member upwardly relative to first cylindrical member to cause said smoke to exit said first cylindrical member via said second cylindrical member for selective inhalation by the user of said assembly.

3. A telescoping water pipe assembly according to claim 2 further compromising a plug member mounted into said second cylindrical member at the upper end thereof and having an opening defined there through between the upper and lower surface thereof; a stem member having a tubular body portion, a flared end portion, and a tubular end portion, said tubular end portion being insertable within opening in said plug member and in communicative relationship with the interior of said second cylindrical member when said plug member is inserted in the upper end thereof; and means for supporting a burnable product upon said flared end of said stem member into said second cylindrical member.

4. A telescoping pipe assembly according to claim 3 further compromising means for reciprocating said second cylindrical member relative to said first cylindrical member to expel a preselected amount of said smoke therefrom for selective inhalation by the user of said assembly.