Protective cover for smoking pipe and method
A protective cover for a smoking pipe includes a generally elongate generally tubular body member formed from elastic material and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion, the body member including a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion, the body member being configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member, the body member being configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least one of the bowl portion, the shank portion and the stem portion wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension, wherein the material returns toward its original shape when the stress of pipe fitment is removed thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe.
The present invention relates broadly to smoking accessories, especially accessories for smoking pipes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective cover made from elastic material for use with a smoking pipe.
For pipe smokers, a pipe can be a unique structural vessel for supporting smoking material during use. Pipes may be uniquely configured from various materials. A common material for smoking pipes is briarwood carved into the desired configuration to form a smoking pipe. A smoking pipe will typically include a bowl defining a smoking chamber, a shank extending away from the bowl with the shank having an air passageway formed therein for communication with the chamber. A stem extends away from the shank with the stem having a similar air passageway formed there through for delivering smoke to the user of the pipe through the stem.
As stated above, a common medium for pipes is briarwood and example of such briarwood pipes are currently manufactured by the Dr. Grabow Pipe Company and sold to the general public. A more specialized smoking pipe can be made from Meerschaum which is a soft mineral found mostly in Asia that resembles sea foam. In addition, pipes could be formed from other forms of wood, corncobs or glass or other ceramic material.
Smokers typically keep pipes after smoking. Pipes may thusly be distinguished from cigars and cigarettes which are consumed by fire and the user with a remainder being reduced to ash. Therefore, owners can become collectors or otherwise be attached to their smoking pipes and seek to protect the outer surfaces thereof as much as possible. Currently, devices are available for containing pipes during transportation and non-use thereof.
It would accordingly be desirable to have a pipe cover which could protect the outer surface of a pipe during use. Further, since pipe bowls get hot from the fire within the chamber, it would be desirable to have a pipe cover which could insulate the hands of a user from the heat from the pipe bowl. In addition, some pipes are formed from configurations that do not allow self-support of the pipe in an ashtray or on a support surface. Such pipes can include curved stems and curved bowls that act to prevent the pipe from standing upright.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have some form of pipe support that allowed a pipe to stand upright on a support surface without spilling the contents of the chamber which may be hot and may actually be on fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a pipe cover that will protect the outer surface of a smoking pipe.
It is another object to the present invention to provide such a pipe cover that will insulate a user's hands from the heat of the pipe bowl.
It is another object to the present invention to provide a pipe cover having a support number from their end that will allow a pipe to stand vertically upright on a support surface.
It is another object to present invention to provide a pipe cover that is elastic for ease of attachment to and removal from a pipe and.
To those ends and according to one preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention provides a protective cover for a smoking pipe including a generally elongate generally tubular body member formed from elastic material and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion. The body member includes a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion, with the body member being configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member. The body member is configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least one of the bowl portion, the shank portion and the stem portion wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension. The material returns toward its original shape when the stress of pipe fitment is removed thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe.
Preferably, the body member is formed from an insulating resilient elastic material. It is preferable that the insulating resilient elastic material is neoprene. It is likewise preferable that the insulating resilient elastic material is silicone rubber.
It is further preferred that the body member is formed with a stabilizer portion, at least a part of the stabilizer portion being formed with a substantially planar surface for enhanced stability of the body member on a support surface.
It is preferred that the second internal dimension is different than the first internal dimension. Preferably, the body member is configured for partially covering the bowl portion of a smoking pipe to which it is attached.
The present invention is also directed to a combination smoking pipe and protective cover therefor. According to that aspect of the present invention and according to one preferred embodiment thereof, a smoking pipe and a cover for covering at least part of the pipe includes a smoking pipe having at least one wall forming a bowl defining a smoking chamber, a shank extending laterally away from the bowl and a stem extending away from the shank for engagement by a user for smoking therefrom. The cover includes a body member formed from elastic material in the general configuration of at least a portion of the outer surface of the pipe and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion. The body member includes a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion The body member is configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member, with the body member being configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least a portion of the smoking pipe wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension conforming generally to the volume of the smoking pipe covered by the body member, thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe.
Preferably, the body member is formed from an insulating resilient elastic material. It is likewise preferable that the insulating resilient elastic material is silicone rubber.
It is further preferred that the body member is formed with a stabilizer portion, at least a part of the stabilizer portion being formed with a substantially planar surface for enhanced stability of the body member on a support surface.
It is preferred that the second internal dimension is different than the first internal dimension. Preferably, the body member is configured for partially covering the bowl portion of a smoking pipe to which it is attached.
The present invention is also directed to a method for protecting a smoking pipe during use thereof. According to one preferred embodiment the present method includes the steps of:
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- providing a smoking pipe having at least one wall forming a bowl defining a smoking chamber, a shank extending laterally away from the bowl and a stem extending away from the shank for engagement by a user for smoking therefrom;
- providing a body member formed from elastic material in the general configuration of at least a portion of the outer surface of the pipe and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion, the body member including a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion, the body member being configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member, the body member being configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least a portion of the smoking pipe wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension conforming generally to the volume of the smoking pipe covered by the body member, thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe;
- inserting the smoking pipe stem first into the access opening;
- moving the pipe into the cover, while stretching the cover over the smoking pipe until the stem portion is engaged with the stem of the pipe and the bowl portion at least partially covers the bowl of the smoking pipe; and
- allowing the pipe cover to relax over the smoking pipe thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe in at least a partially gripping manner.
Preferably, the step of providing a cover includes providing a cover wherein the body member is formed with a stabilizer portion, at least a part of the stabilizer portion being formed with a substantially planar surface for enhanced stability of the pipe within the body member when the pipe is on a support surface.
Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to
The entire protective cover 10 is formed from a generally elastic resilient material. An object of invention is to provide a protective cover for the surface of a smoking pipe and the resilient material which may be neoprene, silicone rubber, or other resilient, elastic material provides a shock-absorbing barrier layer between the pipe surface and a contact surface, thereby protecting the surface of the smoking pipe within the protective cover 10. Additionally, it is intended that the present smoking pipe protective cover 10 be utilized during operation or smoking of the smoking pipe and therefore the smoking lip of the pipe at the terminus of the stem may protrude through the utility opening 22 with the pipe bowl extending through the access opening 16, as will be seen in greater detail hereinafter.
Turning now to
The present pipe cover 10 may fit a general pipe or be configured for a custom fit. With a generalized fit, only a portion of the cover will fit snuggly against the pipe but it should be sufficient to protect the pipe and insulate the user's hands against the heat of the pipe. This is particularly effective when the pipe is formed from glass or other ceramic material.
The pipe may be an unconventional shape or even a conventional shape that will not stand up on its own on a support surface and will not support itself on an ashtray. Such a pipe is illustrated in
With continued reference to
Turning now to
With reference to
By the above, the present invention provides an inexpensive, easy to produce protective pipe cover for smoking pipes which provides a resilient surface to protect the surface of the pipe, a surface of proper material and sufficient thickness to insulate the user's hands from the heat of the pipe and a pipe cover that will support a pipe in an upstanding manner on a support surface.
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. While the present invention is described in all currently foreseeable embodiments, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments and adaptations of the present invention, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, that do not depart from the substance or scope of the present invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A protective cover for a smoking pipe comprising:
- a generally elongate, generally tubular body member formed from elastic material and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion extending between the bowl portion and the stem portion, the body member including a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion, the body member being configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member, the body member being configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least one of the bowl portion, the shank portion and the stem portion wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension, wherein the material returns toward its original shape when the stress of pipe fitment is removed thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe.
2. A protective cover for a smoking pipe according to claim 1 wherein the body member is formed from an insulating resilient elastic material.
3. A protective cover for a smoking pipe according to claim 2 wherein the insulating resilient elastic material is neoprene.
4. A protective cover for a smoking pipe according to claim 2 wherein the insulating resilient elastic material is silicone rubber.
5. A protective cover for a smoking pipe according to claim 1 wherein the body member is formed with a stabilizer portion, at least a part of the stabilizer portion being formed with a substantially planar surface for enhanced stability of the body member on a support surface.
6. A protective cover for a smoking pipe according to claim 1 wherein the second internal dimension is different than the first internal dimension.
7. A protective cover for a smoking pipe according to claim 1 wherein the body member is configured for partially covering the bowl portion of a smoking pipe to which it is attached.
8. In combination, a smoking pipe and a cover for covering at least part of the pipe comprising:
- a smoking pipe having at least one wall forming a bowl defining a smoking chamber, a shank extending laterally away from the bowl and a stem extending away from the shank for engagement by a user for smoking therefrom; and
- a body member formed from elastic material in the general configuration of at least a portion of the outer surface of the pipe and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion extending between the bowl portion and the stem portion, the body member including a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion, the body member being configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member, the body member being configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least a portion of the smoking pipe wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension conforming generally to the volume of the smoking pipe covered by the body member, thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe.
9. A smoking pipe and cover combination according to claim 1 wherein the body member is formed from an insulating resilient elastic material.
10. A smoking pipe and cover combination according to claim 2 wherein the insulating resilient elastic material is neoprene.
11. A smoking pipe and cover combination according to claim 2 wherein the insulating resilient elastic material is silicone rubber.
12. A smoking pipe and cover combination according to claim 1 wherein the body member is formed with a stabilizer portion, at least a part of the stabilizer portion being formed with a substantially planar surface for enhanced stability of the body member on a support surface.
13. A smoking pipe and cover combination according to claim 1 wherein the second internal dimension is different than the first internal dimension.
14. A smoking pipe and cover combination to claim 1 wherein the body member is configured for partially covering the bowl portion of the smoking pipe.
15. A method for protecting a smoking pipe during use thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a smoking pipe having at least one wall forming a bowl defining a smoking chamber, a shank extending laterally away from the bowl and a stem extending away from the shank for engagement by a user for smoking therefrom;
- providing a body member formed from elastic material in the general configuration of at least a portion of the outer surface of the pipe and defining a bowl portion, a stem portion and a shank portion extending between the bowl portion and the stem portion, the body member including a bowl access opening formed in the bowl portion and a stem utility opening formed in the stem portion, the body member being configured for receiving a smoking pipe through the access opening for substantial envelopment of the smoking pipe by the body member, the body member being configured to stretch from a rest disposition prior to insertion of a smoking pipe through the access opening wherein the body member has a first internal volume dimension to a use disposition for gripping at least a portion of the smoking pipe wherein the body member has a second internal volume dimension conforming generally to the volume of the smoking pipe covered by the body member, thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe;
- inserting the smoking pipe stem first into the access opening;
- moving the pipe into the cover, while stretching the cover over the smoking pipe until the stem portion is engaged with the stem of the pipe and the bowl portion at least partially covers the bowl of the smoking pipe; and
- allowing the pipe cover to relax over the smoking pipe thereby substantially enveloping the smoking pipe in at least a partially gripping manner.
16. A method for protecting a smoking pipe during use according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing a cover includes providing a cover wherein the body member is formed with a stabilizer portion, at least a part of the stabilizer portion being formed with a substantially planar surface for enhanced stability of the pipe within the body member when the pipe is on a support surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 15, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2011
Inventor: Mack Hylton (Swansboro, NC)
Application Number: 12/584,906