PROTECTIVE CONTAINMENT DEVICE FOR WATER PIPES

Abstract

A protective containment device installed on a water pipe is disclosed. The protective containment device, is configure to cover and seal a water pipe, either empty or full of water, from accidental spillage when not in use. The water pipe is intended to be illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit use of the device with any particular size, style, or type of water pipe. The water pipe is provided with a mouthpiece, a neck, a bowl, a water chamber, and a base at a minimum. The device consists of a consists of a top, a cord, and a ring.

Claims

1. A protective containment device for installing on a water pipe to prevent water from spilling from the water pipe, the protective containment device comprising: a top, the top has a shape; a cord, a first end of the cord being coupled to a side of the top; and a ring, the ring being coupled to a second end of the cord.

2. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the protective containment device is a I shape.

3. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the top is on the upper end, the cord is in the middle in a vertical fashion, and the ring being on the lower end.

4. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the top is made of a flexible material.

5. The protective containment device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material is rubber.

6. The protective containment device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material is latex.

7. The protective containment device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material is silicon.

8. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material is rubber.

9. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the protective containment device is made of a one-piece construction.

10. The protective containment device according to claim 9, wherein the one-piece construction is a single injection molding.

11. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the protective containment device has a first junction between the top and the cord.

12. The protective containment device according to claim 11, wherein the first junction is continuous and homogeneous.

13. The protective containment device according to claim 11, wherein the first junction is a mechanical fastener.

14. The protective containment device according to claim 11, wherein the first junction is an adhesive material.

15. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the protective containment device has a second junction between the cord and the ring.

16. The protective containment device according to claim 15, wherein the second junction is continuous and homogeneous.

17. The protective containment device according to claim 11, wherein the second junction is a mechanical fastener.

18. The protective containment device according to claim 11, wherein the second junction is an adhesive material.

19. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the top has an underside, the underside of the top has an inner top opening, wherein the inner top opening is configured to seal again a mouthpiece of a water pipe.

20. The protective containment device according to claim 1, wherein the top is sized to fit a mouthpiece of water pipe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the protective containment device 10, installed on a water pipe 15, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,

[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of the protective containment device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

[0014] 10 protective containment device [0015] 15 water pipe [0016] 20 mouthpiece [0017] 25 neck [0018] 30 bowl [0019] 35 water chamber [0020] 40 base [0021] 45 top [0022] 50 cord [0023] 55 ring [0024] 60 junction [0025] 65 inner top opening [0026] 740 inner ring opening [0027] 75 overall cord length c

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 6. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

[0029] The terms a and an herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 1, a pictorial view of the protective containment device 10 installed on a water pipe 15, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The protective containment device 10 (herein also described as the device) 10, is configure to cover and seal a water pipe 15, either empty or full of water, from accidental spillage when not in use. The water pipe 15, as depicted in FIG. 1, is intended to be illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit use of the device 10 with any particular size, style, or type of water pipe 15. The water pipe 15 is provided with a mouthpiece 20, a neck 25, a bowl 30, a water chamber 35, and a base 40 at a minimum. The device 10 consists of a consists of a top 45, a cord 50, and a ring 55. The specific attributes of the components of the device 10 will be detailed herein below.

[0031] Referring next to FIG. 2, a front view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The device 10 is provided in the overall shape of an I with the top 45 on the upper end, the ring 55 in the middle in a vertical fashion, and the ring 55 at the lower end. It is envisioned that all components of the device 10 would be made of a flexible material, such as rubber, latex, silicone, or the like. The use of any specific material of construction of the device 10 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 3, a rear view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Due to the semi-symmetrical nature of the device 10, the top 45, the cord 50 and the ring 55 remain visible in the overall I shape. It is envisioned that the device 10 would be made of a one-piece construction in which the top 45, the cord 50, and the ring 55 would be manufactured at one time in an injection molding process. As such, the junction 60 between the top 45 and the cord 50, as well as between the cord 50 and the ring 55, would be continuous and homogeneous in nature. However, other forms of construction, including independent manufacture of the top 45, the cord 50, and/or the ring 55 remain possible. Alternate means of the formation of the junction 60 including mechanical fasteners, adhesive, and the like are not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.

[0033] Referring next to FIG. 4, a top view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In this view only the top 45 and the cord 50 remain visible. The underside of the top 45 is provided with an inner top opening 65 (herein depicted by a dashed line due to its hidden nature). The inner top opening 65 would seal against the mouthpiece 20 (as shown in FIG. 1) and provide a watertight seal. This seal is possible by the elastic properties of the top 45 allowing it to stretch and seal against the mouthpiece 20. The top 45 remains in place on the mouthpiece 20 using friction fit and is easily applied and removed using moderate force using the user's hand or hands. The size of the top 45 will vary per specific size of the mouthpiece 20 upon which it is used. However, for the purposes of illustration, a typical size of the top 45 would be approximately three inches (3 in.) in diameter.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 5, a bottom view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The top 45, the cord 50, and the ring 55 are visible. The inner top opening 65, on the interior of the top 45 is also visible. The ring 55 is provided with an inner ring opening 70 which attaches to the neck 25 of the water pipe 15 (both of which are shown in FIG. 1). The size of the ring 55 and thus the inner ring opening 70 will vary per specific size of the neck 25 upon which it is used. However, for the purposes of illustration, a typical size of the ring 55 would be approximately two inches (2 in.) in diameter, with the inner ring opening 70 correspondingly smaller.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 6, a side view of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The top 45 is shown with its corresponding inner top opening 65 shown via a dashed line due to its hidden nature. Likewise, the ring 55 is shown with its corresponding inner ring opening 70 shown via a dashed line due to its hidden nature. The cord 50 runs between the junction 60 at the top 45 and the junction 60 at the ring 55. The overall cord length c 75 of the cord 50 will vary per specific size of the water pipe 15 (as shown in FIG. 1) upon which it is used. However, for the purposes of illustration, the overall cord length c 75 would be approximately eight inches (8 in.) in length.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

[0036] The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the device 10 would be constructed in general accordance with FIG. 1 through FIG. 6. The user would procure the device 10 from conventional procurement channels such as smoke shops, mail order and internet supply houses and the like. Special attention would be paid to the overall size and configuration of the device 10, such that it fits upon the intended water pipe 15 to be used.

[0037] After procurement and prior to utilization, the device 10 would be prepared in the following manner: the ring 55 portion of the device 10 would be stretched such that the inner ring opening 70 fits over the mouthpiece 20 of the water pipe 15; and the ring 55 is then positioned over the neck 25 of the water pipe 15. At this point in time, the device 10 is ready for utilization.

[0038] During utilization of the device 10, the water pipe 15 is filled with water and used with an appropriate smoking material in a conventional and transparent manner. When the water pipe 15 is not being actively used, the top 45 is placed over the mouthpiece 20 such that the inner top opening 65 forms a waterproof seal against the mouthpiece 20. This feature ensures that even if the water pipe 15 should be toppled onto its side, the contained water will not leak out.

[0039] After use of the device 10, the water pipe 15 is emptied and/or cleaned in a conventional and transparent manner. The device 10 remains attached to the neck 25 of the water pipe 15 by the ring 55, where it remains attached in place and ready for repeated use in a continual cyclic manner.

[0040] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.