US3628542A

US3628542A - Smoker{3 s pipe cover

Info

Publication number: US3628542A
Application number: US876298A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry Drew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-13
Filing date: 1969-11-13
Publication date: 1971-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-21

Abstract

A smoker''s pipe cover includes a bowl cap and skirt formed integrally from rubber or other air-impervious, resilient material. The bowl cap has a width sufficient to span the top of the pipe bowl and is provided with a thickened, stiff central portion opposite the pipe bore for insuring proper location of the cover on the bowl. The skirt resiliently engages the exterior bowl surface, detachably mounting the cover on the pipe The central portion is arranged to project away from the opposite surfaces of the skirt such that the cover may be inverted regardless of which surface of the central portion is placed within the upper open end of a pipe bowl.

Description

United. States Patent.

[45] Patented Dec.21,l971

[54] SMOKER'S PIPE COVER 3,066,820 12/1962 Faulstich 215/41 FOREIGN PATENTS 677,495 12/1929 France 215/41 4,282 1888 Great Britain 131/176 330,539 10/1935 ltaly 215/41 285,651 l/l953 Switzerland 215/41 Primary ExaminerJoseph S. Reich ArtorneyEugene D. Farley ABSTRACT: A smokers pipe cover includes a bowl cap and skirt formed integrally from rubber or other air-impervious, resilient material. The bowl cap has a width sufiicient to span the top of the pipe bowl and is provided with a thickened. stitT central portion opposite the pipe bore: for insuring proper location of the cover on the bowl. The skirt resiliently engages the exterior bowl surface, detachably mounting the cover on the pipe The central portion is arranged to project away from the opposite surfaces of the skirt such that the cover may be inverted regardless of which surface of the central portion is placed within the upper open end of a pipe bowl.

SMOKERS PIPE COVER This invention relates to covers for smoker's pipes, specifically for covering the open mouth of the pipe bowl.

The use of open bowl smokers pipes is attended by certain well known disadvantages. After use of the pipe, because of the fire hazard, it is not possible to place the pipe in the smokers pocket without first removing all residual coals and hot ashes. Facilities are not always present to accomplish this purpose.

Similarly, it is not possible in certain circumstances to lay down the pipe after it has been lighted because of the likelihood of hot coals and ashes being blown from the pipe by the wind, or the probability of scorching an underlying piece of furniture. A further complication is presented by the presence within the pipe of condensed tar and moisture which may escape from the pipe and soil clothing or pipe-supporting surfaces.

It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide a smoker's pipe cover which is applied quickly and easily; which instantly extinguishes the burning tobacco content of the pipe; which effectively seals ofl the pipe bowl to prevent the escape of .unbumed tobacco, ashes and liquid tarry materials; and which is universallyapplicable to smokers pipes having a variety of exterior contours and configurations and a substantial range of sizes.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views in elevation, partly in section, of the herein described smokers pipe cover, FIG. 1 illustrating the cover in a preliminary stage of its application to a smoker's pipe and FIG. 2 illustrating the cover fully mounted on the pipe.

As illustrated in the drawings, the smokers pipe cover of my invention is adapted to be mounted on the bowl of a smokers pipe 10. The pipe may comprise any of the commonly available categories of pipes of the class having open bowls.

It is a particular feature of the invention that any given cover of the type described herein is universally applicable to pipes having bowls of varying diameter, bowls having exterior surfaces which are either rough or smooth, and bowls having outwardly convex exterior configurations. The latter are particularly difficult to fit with covers since the covers tend to be wedged off by the bulging configuration of the pipe bowl.

Each of the herein described pipe covers basically comprises a bowl cap, indicated generally at 12, and a peripheral skirt depending therefrom indicated generally at 14. These members are formed integrally into a pipe cover from a suitable substantially air-impervious, resilient or elastically deformable raw material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber. Various resilient plastics also may be employed. With such materials, the covers may readily be mass produced by molding them in dies of suitable contour using conventional molding techniques.

The bowl cap 12 has a central portion surrounded by a peripheral edge portion, the peripheral skirt depending from the peripheral edge portion and extending transversely of said bowl cap. The central portion of the bowl cap is thickened relative to the peripheral edge to provide a boss 16 projecting transversely from one side of the central portion. Preferably, there are two such central bosses, symmetrically arranged, one extended inwardly and the other extending outwardly with reference to the pipe bowl. This makes the cover fully reversible in its application. In other words, preferably the central portion of the bowl cap is thickened relative to the peripheral edge portion to provide a pair of opposed transversely projecting bosses 16, one of said bosses projecting from one side of said central portion and the other of said bosses projecting from the opposite side of said central portion.

The central thick portion of the bowl cap serves at least three important functions.

First, it stiffens the central portion of the cover, making it easy to apply.

Second. it assists in locating the cover'properly on the pipe bowl. This result follows from the fact that wrinkling of the central portion is prevented. Also, all that is necessary is to placethe enlarged, thickened portion centrally of the bowl and the cover automatically will be located correctly in positron.

Third, it renders the cover universally applicable to bowls having a substantial range of exterior diameters, for example from I to 1% inches, which encompasses the large majority of pipe bowl sizes. This is made possible: by the presence around the periphery of the projecting areas of a beveled surface 18, which spreads outwardly over a sufficient distance to insure that the inner edge of the pipe bowl will contact the surface over a substantial range of bowl sizes, as is particularly evident in FIG. 2. In other words, each of said bosses 16 has a peripheral surface 18 inclined away from the peripheral edge portion of the bowl cap 12.

Skirt 14 is provided with a thickened outer margin 20. This provides at the outer margin a gripping portion of stiff resiliency. It firmly secures the cover to the underlying surface and prevents it from becoming dislodged or from slipping off, until its removal is desired.

At the point of junction of bowl cap 12 and skirt 14 there lies a thin, flexible area 22. This connects the skirt to the bowl cap through the agency of a flexible connecting segment which makes the cover easily reversible, i.e. flipped from the position of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 2. It :also provides a continuous seal over the entire open area of the pipe bowl.

The application of the cover to the pipe is very simple.

First the cover is placed in its FIG. ll position, with the outwardly projecting one of projections 16 seated in the pipe bowl.

Second, with an easily accomplished movement of the fingers, the skirt section 14 is reversed until it covers and elastically grips the outer surface of the pipe bowl, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, thickened portion 20 assists in anchoring the cover to the bowl exterior, even though the latter is convex in contour and rough and irregular in configuration.

The pipe cover of my invention thus offers several important functional advantages.

It is easily positioned. When in position it is easily snapped in place. It is universally applicable to pipes having bowls of varying inside diameter. It is also widely applicable to pipes having bowls of varying exterior diameter and configuration.

It is universally applicable in either of its two positions. When in place, it instantly extinguishes any coals which may be present and efiiciently prevents the escape of ashes, unburned tobacco and tarry materials. Accordingly it is possible for the smoker to place the pipe in his pocket, pack it in various receptacles or place it on articles of furniture without danger of fire, marring or staining.

Having thus described my invention in preferred embodiments, I claim as new and desire to protect by letters patent:

l. A smokers pipe cover comprising (a) a bowl cap having a central portion surrounded by a peripheral edge portion, and (b) a peripheral skirt depending from said peripheral edge portion, said cap and skirt being integral with each other and formed from a substantially air-impervious resilient material, said bowl cap being arranged to span the top of a pipe bowl and said skirt extending transversely of said bowl cap and arranged to frictionally engage the exterior pipe bowl surface, said central portion of said bowl cap being thickened relative to said peripheral edge portion to provide a pair of opposed transversely projecting bosses, one of said bosses projecting from one side of said central portion and the other of said bosses projecting from the opposite side of said central portion so that when said pipe cover is positioned on a pipe bowl one of said bosses extends inwardly relative to the pipe bowl and the other of said bosses extends outwardly relative to said pipe bowl, each of said bosses having a peripheral surface inclined away from said peripheral edge portion whereby said boss can engage the inner edge of pipe bowls of varying diameters, said skirt being reversible to opposite sides of said peripheral skirt being sufficiently thin to facilitate said reversing of said skirt.

Claims

1. A smoker''s pipe cover comprising (a) a bowl cap having a central portion surrounded by a peripheral edge portion, and (b) a peripheral skirt depending from said peripheral edge portion, said cap and skirt being integral with each other and formed from a substantially air-impervious resilient material, said bowl cap being arranged to span the top of a pipe bowl and said skirt extending transversely of said bowl cap and arranged to frictionally engage the exterior pipe bowl surface, said central portion of said bowl cap being thickened relative to said peripheral edge portion to provide a pair of opposed transversely projecting bosses, one of said bosses projecting from one side of said central portion and the other of said bosses projecting from the opposite side of said central portion so that when said pipe cover is positioned on a pipe bowl one of said bosses extends inwardly relative to the pipe bowl and the other of said bosses extends outwardly relative to said pipe bowl, each of said bosses having a peripheral surface inclined away from said peripheral edge portion whereby said boss can engage the inner edge of pipe bowls of varying diameters, said skirt being reversible to opposite sides of said peripheral skirt being sufficiently thin to facilitate said reversing of said skirt.