HOOKAH HOSE ATTACHMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

A hookah hose attachment apparatus having a centralized body attachment member with an annular sidewall having an inner surface, an outer surface, and defining a single opening spatially coupled to a receiving channel and having a plurality of arms each extending radially and outwardly away from the outer surface of the annular sidewall in different directions and having a second free end opposing the first end and defining a single arm opening spatially coupled to an arm receiving channel with an orientation substantially parallel to an orientation of the receiving channel defined by the annular sidewall and with two flange members operably configured to receive and retain a hookah hose in a safe, efficient, and desired orientation.

Claims

1. A hookah hose attachment apparatus comprising: a centralized body attachment member with an annular sidewall having an upper end, a lower end opposing the upper end of the annular sidewall, a body length separating the upper and lower ends of the annular sidewall, an inner surface, an outer surface, and defining a single opening spatially coupled to a receiving channel, the single opening and the receiving channel spanning the body length; and a plurality of arms, each having a first end directly coupled to the outer surface of the annular sidewall, having a second free end opposing the first end and defining a single arm opening defining an opening width and spatially coupled to an arm receiving channel with an orientation substantially parallel to an orientation of the receiving channel defined by the annular sidewall, and having two flange members each with a rounded outer surface and disposed within the arm receiving channel to define a first channel portion with a first arm receiving channel width separating the two flange members less than the opening width and a second arm receiving channel width of a second channel portion, wherein the first channel portion interposes the single arm opening and the second channel portion and the plurality of arms: each extend radially and outwardly away from the outer surface of the annular sidewall in different directions and in an upright orientation; forming, with the centralized body, a single unitary piece of material with the upright orientation of each of the plurality of arms configured to retain a flexible hose of a hookah smoking device in a parallel orientation with respect to a longitudinal orientation of the hookah smoking device; and having the single opening interposed the first end of at least two of the plurality of plurality of arms.

2. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of arms are each disposed in a 90, within +/15-20, configuration with respect to the outer surface of the annular sidewall.

3. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: the plurality of arms are disposed at equidistant arc lengths with respect to one another.

4. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: at least three arms, each having a first end directly coupled to the outer surface of the annular sidewall and disposed in at equidistant arc lengths with respect to one another.

5. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arms further comprises: a U-shaped mouth including the arm opening and the arm receiving channel.

6. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the annular sidewall further comprises: two side terminal ends, wherein the annular sidewall continually spans and terminates at the two side terminal ends.

7. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the receiving channel is of an annular shape and the inner surface of the annular sidewall defining the single opening is of an arcuate shape.

8. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the single opening defines a first attachment member width separating the opposing portions of the inner surface of the annular sidewall flange members less than a diameter defined by the receiving channel, wherein the single opening interposes the two side terminal ends and the receiving channel.

9. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the annular sidewall is of a flexible polymeric material.

10. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the annular sidewall further comprises: a deformably resilient material disposed thereon, spanning the body length, and substantially surrounding the inner surface of the annular sidewall.

11. The hookah hose attachment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: the deformably resilient material has a friction-inducing property.

12. In combination with a hookah smoking device having a main body having a bowl coupled thereto, at least one flexible hose coupled to the main body, and a base, wherein the improvement comprises: a centralized body attachment member with an annular sidewall having an upper end, a lower end opposing the upper end of the annular sidewall, a body length separating the upper and lower ends of the annular sidewall, an inner surface, an outer surface, and defining an opening spatially coupled to a receiving channel with the main body of the hookah smoking device disposed therein and compressively retained by the annular sidewall; and a plurality of arms, each having a first end directly coupled to the outer surface of the annular sidewall, having a second free end opposing the first end and defining an arm opening defining an opening width and with the at least one flexible hose of the hookah smoking device disposed therein and spatially coupled to an arm receiving channel, and having two flange members each disposed within the arm receiving channel to define a first channel portion with a first arm receiving channel width separating the two flange members less than the opening width and a second arm receiving channel width of a second channel portion, wherein the first channel portion interposes the single arm opening and the second channel portion and the plurality of arms: each extend radially and outwardly away from the outer surface of the annular sidewall in different directions and in an upright orientation; forming, with the centralized body, a single unitary piece of material; having the opening defined by the centralized body interposed the first end of two of the plurality of plurality of arms; and each retain the at least one flexible hose of the hookah smoking device by the upright orientation of the arm formed as a single unitary piece of material in a parallel orientation with respect to a longitudinal orientation of the hookah smoking device.

13. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of arms further comprises: a U-shaped mouth including the arm opening and the arm receiving channel.

14. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein: the opening spatially coupled to a receiving channel defined by annular sidewall is a single opening, the opening and the receiving channel spanning the body length.

15. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein: the arm opening of each of the plurality of arms is a single arm opening.

16. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein: the arm opening spatially coupled to the arm receiving channel has an orientation parallel, within +/15-20, to an orientation of the receiving channel defined by the annular sidewall.

17. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein: the two flange members on each of the plurality of arms have a rounded outer surface.

18. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein: the plurality of arms are each disposed in a 90, within +/15-20, configuration with respect to the outer surface of the annular sidewall and disposed at substantially equidistant arc lengths with respect to one another.

19. The improvement according to claim 18, further comprising: at least three arms, each having a first end directly coupled to the outer surface of the annular sidewall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hookah hose attachment apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hookah hose attachment apparatus attached to a hookah body in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 3 is an elevational front view of the hookah hose attachment apparatus in FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 is an elevational rear view of the hookah hose attachment apparatus in FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the hookah hose attachment apparatus in FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the hookah hose attachment apparatus in FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 7 is an elevational left side view of the hookah hose attachment apparatus in FIG. 1;

[0038] and

[0039] FIG. 8 is an elevational left side view of the hookah hose attachment apparatus in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

[0041] The present invention provides a novel and efficient hookah hose attachment apparatus designed to quickly, safely, and effectively attach to and remove from a hookah smoking device. Embodiments of the invention also provide users the ability to receive, retain and orient one or more hookah hoses of the hookah smoking device in a safe, effective, efficient, and desired orientation and configuration. Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, one embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective views. The figures herein show several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components.

[0042] The first example of a hookah hose attachment apparatus 100 can be seen best in FIG. 1, wherein said apparatus 100 is selectively removably couplable to an exemplary hookah smoking device 200, as seen in FIG. 2. The hookah smoking device 200 has many of the features and components described above, including a main body 202 having a bowl 204 coupled thereto, at least one flexible hose 206 coupled to the main body 202, and a base 208. To beneficially effectuate the quick and effective attachment and removal of the hookah hose attachment apparatus 100, and hookah hose(s) 206 thereto, the hookah hose attachment apparatus 100 includes a centralized body attachment member 102 with an annular sidewall 104 and a plurality of arms 106a-n. In one embodiment, the centralized body attachment member 102 and the plurality of arms 106a-n are formed of a single unitary piece of material, e.g., Teflon, Polypropylene, or another polymeric or metallic material having a hardness range of approximately 35-75 Shore D. In other embodiments, the centralized body attachment member 102 and the plurality of arms 106a-n are formed into a unitary piece or combination of components using fasteners and/or coupling techniques such as ultrasonic or thermal welding.

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the annular sidewall 104 includes an upper end 300, a lower end 302 opposing the upper end 300 of the annular sidewall 104, and a body length 304 separating the upper and lower ends 300, 302 of the annular sidewall 104. The annular sidewall 104 also includes an inner surface 108, an outer surface 110, and may define a single opening 112 spatially coupled to a receiving channel 114. In one embodiment, the single opening 112 is approximately 0.5 inches in width 404 and uniformly spans in width 404 the body length 304. The receiving channel 114 may be annular in shape and approximately 1 inch in diameter 520 (when in a static position) and may also uniformly span in width 404 the body length 304. In other embodiment, the annular sidewall 104 may define other openings thereon that are spatially coupled to the receiving channel 114 and the single opening 112 and the receiving channel 114 may be of another shape and have another length. Additionally, the single opening 112 may define a first attachment member width 518 separating the opposing portions of the inner surface 108 of the annular sidewall 104 flange members 508a-b less than a diameter 520 defined by the receiving channel 114, wherein the single opening 112 interposes the two side terminal ends 400, 402 and the receiving channel 114.

[0044] It should be understood that terms such as, front, rear, side, top, bottom, and the like are indicated from the reference point of a viewer viewing the hookah hose attachment apparatus 100 at an elevational view looking at the front opening 112. Additionally, as used herein, the term wall is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together to form a substantially continuous external surface.

[0045] When the user desires to attach the centralized body attachment member 102 or collar to the hookah device 200, the user will beneficially place the portion of the hookah device 200 desired to be retained against the portion of the collar 102 defining the opening 112 until the collar 102 dynamically expands or flex laterally to receive the hookah device 200, namely the main body 202, through the opening 112 and into the receiving channel 114. Thereafter, the collar 102 will beneficially contract to compressively retain the collar 102 to the hookah device 200 without the use of any fasteners. Said another way, the centralized body attachment member 102 is operable to flex and contract because it is beneficially of a flexible material that permits repeated expansion with minimal force, e.g., approximately 10 lbf or less, without plastic deformation or mechanical failure. When the user desires to remove the centralized body attachment member 102 from the hookah device 200, the user may either flex the two ends 400, 402 outwardly in a lateral direction and/or pull the centralized body attachment member 102 backwardly way from the opening 112 (which will cause the two ends 400, 402 and the attachment member 102, namely the sidewall 104, to flex outwardly laterally.

[0046] In one embodiment, the inner surface 108 of the annular sidewall 104 has a deformably resilient material 522, e.g., nitrile, natural rubber, etc., disposed thereon to prevent the hookah device 200 from being damaged by the compressive forces caused by the collar 102. Said another way, the deformably resilient material 522 is operably configured to compress and elastically deform in thickness when subjected to a force ranging from approximately 1-5 lbf, yet return to its static shape when the force is removed. The deformably resilient material 522 may span the body length 304 and may substantially surround the inner surface 108 of the annular sidewall 104 to provide superior coverage and protection for the hookah device 200. Additionally, the deformably resilient material 522 may also have a friction-inducing property that prevents the centralized body attachment member 102 from slipping longitudinally on the hookah device 200.

[0047] To effectuate placement and retention of the annular sidewall 104 on the hookah device 200, the sidewall 104 defines an arcuate shape spanning respectively from two side terminal ends 400, 402 thereon. The two ends 400, 402 are operably configured to laterally move to widen or shorten the width 518 of the opening 112. Said another way, the annular sidewall 104 continually spans circularly to define the receiving channel 114 that is annular, then forms a convex point or apex that is shaped like an arc to define the outermost point of the opening 112, and terminates at the two side terminal ends 400, 402.

[0048] Using arm 106a as an example, the plurality of arms 106a-n each have a first end 500 directly coupled to the outer surface 110 of the annular sidewall 104 and a second free end 502 defining a single arm opening 504 spatially coupled to an arm receiving channel 506, wherein the second free end 502 opposes the first end 500. Said another way, the arms 106a-n are of a cantilevered configuration with respect to the collar 102 and may extend approximately 3-6 inches in length from the outer surface 110 of the sidewall 104. As seen best in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the arm receiving channel 506 of each of the arms 106a-n has an orientation substantially parallel to an orientation of the receiving channel 114 defined by the annular sidewall 104. Said another way, each of the channels 506, 114 define orientation axes 116, 118 that are substantially parallel to one another, e.g., +/15-20. This coordinated orientation enables each of the arms 106a-n to retain each of the flexible hoses 206 of the hookah smoking device 200 in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to a longitudinal orientation of the hookah smoking device 200 (as best seen in FIG. 2).

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, each of the plurality of arms 106a-n also include two flange members 508a-b, each with a rounded outer surface. The two flange members 508a-b are disposed within the arm receiving channel 506 to define a first channel portion 510 with a first arm receiving channel width 512 separating the two flange members 508a-b less than a second arm receiving channel width 514 of a second channel portion 516. Said another way, the flanges 508a-n enable the user to slide the flexible hose 206 through the first channel portion 510 by deforming the flexible hose and, once in the second channel portion 516, disposed within the arm receiving channel 506 and retained by the arm. The first channel portion 510 interposes the single arm opening 504 and the second channel portion 516. The plurality of arms 106a-n each extend radially and outwardly away from the outer surface 110 of the annular sidewall 104 in different directions so that multiple users can retain their own hose 206 or a single hose can be passed around the hookah device and retained by each user safely, efficiently, and effectively.

[0050] To achieve efficient and convenient retention of each hose 206, the plurality of arms 106a-n are each disposed in a substantially 90 configuration with respect to the outer surface 110 of the annular sidewall 104. Said another way, the plurality of arms 106a-n are each disposed in an orthogonal or upright orientation with respect to the outer surface 110, e.g., +/15-20, so that the hose(s) 206 that are effectively and safely retained. Additionally, the plurality of arms 106a-n may also be each disposed at substantially equidistant arc lengths 600a-n, e.g., 8-14 inches, with respect to one another. Further, the plurality of arms 106a-n may also be each disposed at substantially equal angles, e.g., 120, with respect to one another.

[0051] In preferred embodiments, apparatus 100 includes at least three arms 106a-c, with each having a first end 500 directly coupled to the outer surface 110 of the annular sidewall 104 and disposed in at substantially equidistant arc lengths with respect to one another. Each of the plurality of arms 106a-n may also include a U-shaped mouth that includes the arm opening 504 and the arm receiving channel 506. This enables effective retention and receipt of the hose 206, which is typically of cylindrical shape. With reference specifically to FIGS. 6-7, the arms 106a-n can also be seen having a unique attachment support structure 602 effectively coupling the ends of each arm to the outer surface of the collar member, i.e., flanges 700, 702 spanning the body length.

[0052] Although a specific order of executing the process steps has been described, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more steps may occur in succession or may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps can be combined into a single process.

[0053] A hookah hose attachment apparatus has been disclosed that enables user to quickly and effectively attach the apparatus to a hookah assembly, while simultaneously enabling multiple users to effectively, safely, and conveniently receive and retain a hookah hose. That said, various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.