Water pipe assembly

Abstract

A water pipe assembly comprises a water pipe body with a smoke chamber, water chamber, and neck for receiving a downstem. A mouthpiece assembly removably mounted at the mouthpiece of the smoke chamber includes a filter carrier for retaining a filter. A downstem assembly removably mounted at the neck opening includes a joint cap and retaining ring which together hold the downstem in position in the water pipe body, permitting a bowl insert to be inserted and removed from the downstem without dislodging the downstem. Both the mouthpiece and downstem assembly attach to the water pipe body by complementary threaded surfaces. An attachment is also removably mounted to the water pipe body with magnets embedded in the water pipe body and / or attachment.

Description

WATER PIPE ASSEMBLYTechnical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to water pipes and similar devices, and in particular to modular water pipes and associated connection mechanisms.Technical Background

[0002] A water pipe (which may also be referred to as a bong or shisha pipe) is a device that is used to filter and cool smoke produced by burning tobacco or other herbal substances. Smoke produced during combustion of these substances is generally too hot to be directly and comfortably inhaled by a user, and may cause damage to a user's respiratory tract. Further, heavy particles resident in the smoke, such as various carcinogenic tars, may also cause damage to the user’s airways and lungs. To mitigate these risks, smoke produced by combustion of the substance in the bowl of the water pipe passes through the water chamber to both cool and filter the smoke, and possibly trap heavy particles. The filtered smoke exits the water chamber and passes into a smoke chamber and thence to a mouthpiece. Optionally, diffusers, percolators, ice pinches, and the like may be included to enhance the filtration and cooling effects. However, some users may prefer to use additional filtration requiring the addition of further components.

[0003] With use, the inner surfaces of the water pipe and additional components may become coated with layers of accumulated tar or other products, and require cleaning. Typical water pipes comprise multiple parts which must be disassembled for cleaning and / or storage.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004] In drawings which illustrate by way of example only embodiments of the present disclosure, in which like reference numerals describe similar terms throughout the various figures,

[0005] FIGS. 1 and 2 are upper left and lower right perspective views of an assembled water Pipe.

[0006] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the assembled water pipe and a separate threading tool for use in assembling at least one subassembly of the water pipe.

[0007] FIG. 4 is an upper left perspective view of the body of the water pipe with base shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0008] FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are front, side, back, top, and bottom views, respectively, of the water pipe with base of FIG. 4.

[0009] FIG. 10 is an upper rear left perspective view of the body of the water pipe shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0010] FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are front, side, back, top, and bottom views, respectively, of the water pipe of FIG. 10.

[0011] FIGS. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are further upper rear left perspective, front, side, back, top, and bottom views, respectively, of the water pipe of FIG. 10.

[0012] FIGS. 22, 23, and 24 are top, perspective, and side views, respectively, of the base shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0013] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0014] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the filter carrier shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0015] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a filter.

[0016] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the neck of the water pipe of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0017] FIG. 29 is a side view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 25.

[0018] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 25 taken along the plane indicated by A-A.

[0019] FIG. 31 is a side view of the filter carrier of FIG. 26.

[0020] FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the filter carrier of FIG. 31 taken along the plane indicated by B-B.

[0021] FIG. 33 is a side view of the filter of FIG. 27.

[0022] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of the filter of FIG. 33 taken along the plane indicated by C-C.

[0023] FIG. 35 is a side view of the upper portion of the neck of the water pipe shown in FIG.

[0024] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the neck of the water pipe of FIG. 35 taken along the plane indicated by D-D.

[0025] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a further example of a mouthpiece assembly mounted on the neck of the water pipe of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0026] FIG. 38 is a top view of the further mouthpiece assembly of FIG. 37.

[0027] FIG. 39 is a side view of the mouthpiece assembly mounted on the neck as shown in FIG. 37.

[0028] FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece assembly mounted on the neck as shown in FIG. 39, taken along the plane indicated by E-E.

[0029] FIG. 41 is an illustration of assembly of the further mouthpiece assembly.

[0030] FIG. 42 is an upper left perspective view of a further assembled water pipe.

[0031] FIG. 43 is a front view of the further assembled water pipe of FIG. 42.

[0032] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of the further assembled water pipe of FIG. 42, taken along the plane indicated by F-F.

[0033] FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a downstem assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0034] FIG. 46 is an exploded view of the downstem assembly of FIG. 45.

[0035] FIGS. 47, 48, 49, and 50 are front, side, back, and top views, respectively, of a bowl component of the downstem assembly of FIG. 45.

[0036] FIGS. 51, 52, and 53 are side, top, and bottom views, respectively, of a joint cap of the downstem assembly of FIG. 45.

[0037] FIGS. 54 and 55 are a lower perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a retaining ring of the downstem assembly of FIG. 45.

[0038] FIG. 56 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining ring of FIG. 55, taken along the plane indicated by G-G.

[0039] FIGS. 57 and 58 are bottom and top views, respectively, of the retaining ring of FIG. 54.

[0040] FIG. 59 is a side view of the downstem of the downstem assembly of FIG. 45, inserted into a retaining ring.

[0041] FIG. 60 is a sectional view of the downstem assembly mounted on a water pipe as shown in FIG. 44.

[0042] FIG. 61 is a side view of the threading tool shown in FIG. 3.

[0043] FIG. 62 is a cross-sectional view of the threading tool of FIG. 61 , taken along the plane indicated by H-H.

[0044] FIGS. 63 and 64 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the threading tool of FIG. 61.

[0045] FIG. 65 is an illustration of assembly of a portion of the downstem assembly.

[0046] FIG. 66 is a front view of a water pipe with an example magnetic attachment mounted thereon.

[0047] FIG. 67 is a front view of the water pipe of FIG. 66 with the magnetic attachment removed.

[0048] FIG. 68 is a rear perspective view of the example magnetic attachment of FIG. 66.

[0049] FIG. 69 is a top view of the example magnetic attachment of FIG. 66.Detailed Description

[0050] The present disclosure provides a water pipe assembly that provides for secure attachment and easy removal of a filter, downstem, and / or bowl, together with an optional magnetic attachment that provides . These features facilitate dismantling of the water pipe for cleaning or storage, and permit the user to customize the features of the water pipe.

[0051] In a first embodiment, there is provided a mouthpiece assembly for a water pipe, the water pipe comprising a smoke chamber terminating in a mouthpiece opening, the mouthpiece assembly comprising a filter carrier comprising a substantially hollow body having an outwardly projecting support proximate to a first end and a first inwardly projecting support proximate to a second end, the outwardly projecting support for supporting the filter carrier on the mouthpiece opening, the first inwardly projecting support for supporting a filter insert; and a mouthpiece cover for engaging the smoke chamber proximate to the mouthpiece opening to retain the filter carrier in position on the mouthpiece opening.

[0052] In one aspect, the outwardly projecting support of the filter carrier comprises an outwardly projecting annular wall at or near the first end of the filter carrier.

[0053] In another aspect, the first inwardly projecting support comprises an inwardly projecting annular wall at or near the second end of the filter carrier.

[0054] In a further aspect, the filter carrier further comprises a second inwardly projecting support spaced apart from the first inwardly projecting support, the first and second inwardly projecting supports for retaining the filter insert between them.

[0055] In still another aspect, the mouthpiece cover comprises a substantially annular body having an interior threaded surface to engage a corresponding exterior threaded surface on the smoke chamber; and an inwardly projecting wall for retaining the filter carrier in position on the mouthpiece opening between the inwardly projecting wall and a rim of the mouthpiece opening.

[0056] In another aspect, the assembly includes the filter insert.

[0057] In a second embodiment, there is provided a downstem assembly for a water pipe, the water pipe comprising a neck projecting from a chamber of the water pipe and terminating in a neck opening, the downstem assembly comprising a downstem comprising a substantially tubular body and an outwardly projecting support proximate to a first end, the downstem for receiving a bowl insert at the first end; a retaining ring comprising an exterior threaded surface; a joint cap comprising a substantially tubular body having a first interior diameter at a first end transitioning at an interior shoulder to a second interior diameter greater than the first interior diameter, and first and second interior threaded surfaces, the first interior threaded surface for engaging the exterior threaded surface of the retaining ring and the second interior threaded surface proximate to the second end of the joint cap for engaging a threaded surface on the neck of the water pipe, wherein engagement of the retaining ring with the joint cap defines a recess for retaining the outwardly projecting support of the joint cap.

[0058] In one aspect, the downstem assembly comprises a bowl insert.

[0059] In another aspect, the outwardly projecting support comprises an annular flange.

[0060] In another aspect, the outwardly projecting support is located at the first end of the downstem.

[0061] In still another aspect, the retaining ring further comprises an interior notched surface for receiving torque transmitted from an assembly tool.

[0062] In a further aspect, the second interior threaded surface defines a third interior diameter of the joint cap greater than the second interior diameter.

[0063] In still a further aspect, the retaining ring comprises a bearing surface which contacts the outwardly projecting support of the downstem when the retaining ring is fully engaged in the joint cap.

[0064] In a third embodiment, there is provided a water pipe assembly, comprising a water pipe body and an attachment, one of the water pipe body and the attachment comprising at least one magnet embedded therein; and the other of the water pipe body and the attachment comprising either at least one magnet embedded therein or at least one ferromagnetic target.

[0065] In one aspect, the at least one magnet or the at least one ferromagnetic target is countersunk in an exterior wall of the water pipe body.

[0066] In another aspect, the at least one magnet or the at least one ferromagnetic target is countersunk in an interior surface of the attachment.

[0067] In a further aspect, the interior surface of the attachment is contoured to complement an exterior wall of the water pipe body comprising the at least one magnet or the at least one ferromagnetic target.

[0068] In yet another aspect, both the water pipe body and the attachment both comprise at least one magnet embedded therein.

[0069] In a further aspect, the attachment is comprised of a ferromagnetic material, the attachment thus comprising the at least one ferromagnetic target.

[0070] There is also provided a method for assembling a filtered mouthpiece on a water pipe, the water pipe comprising a smoke chamber terminating in a mouthpiece opening, the method comprising: inserting a filter insert between first and second inwardly projecting supports in a filter carrier, the filter carrier comprising a substantially hollow body having an outwardly projecting support proximate to a first end, and the first and second inwardly projecting supports proximate to a second end; inserting the filter carrier in the mouthpiece opening of the water pipe, the outwardly projecting support resting on a rim of the mouthpiece opening; and engaging an interior threaded surface of a mouthpiece cover with an exterior threaded surface of the smoke chamber proximate to the mouthpiece opening, the mouthpiece cover comprising a substantially annular body and an inwardly projecting wall for retaining the outwardly projecting support of the filter carrier in position on the rim of the mouthpiece opening.

[0071] There is also provided a method for assembling a downstem on a water pipe, the water pipe comprising a neck projecting from a chamber of the water pipe and terminating in a neckopening, the downstem comprising a substantially tubular body with a first end and a second end, the downstem comprising an outwardly projecting support proximate to the first end, the method comprising: inserting the first end of the downstem into a joint cap, the joint cap comprising a substantially tubular body having a first interior diameter at a first end transitioning at an interior shoulder to a second interior diameter greater than the first interior diameter, and first and second interior threaded surfaces, the outwardly projecting support of the downstem contacting the interior shoulder of the joint cap; engaging an exterior threaded surface of a retaining ring with the first interior threaded surface of the joint cap so that the outwardly projecting support of the downstem is retained between the retaining ring and the interior shoulder; and inserting the second end of the downstem into the neck of the water pipe and engaging a threaded surface on the neck with the second interior threaded surface of the joint cap.

[0072] In one aspect, the retaining ring comprises an interior notched surface, and engaging the exterior threaded surface of the retaining ring with the first interior threaded surface of the joint cap comprises applying torque to the retaining ring using an assembly tool configured to engage the interior notched surface.

[0073] In a further aspect, the method further comprises inserting a smoke passage end of a bowl insert in the downstem, the bowl insert comprising a receiving end and the smoke passage end.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above may be implemented in an embodiment in various combinations; for example, a water pipe assembly may comprise the mouthpiece assembly and the downstem assembly, or the mouthpiece assembly and the attachment, or the downstem assembly and the attachment, etc., or all three together, including none, some, or all of the various aspects described herein. It will further be appreciated that various aspects of an assembly may be combined with each other, and need not be used singly; further, some aspects may be excluded while others are used in combination. Additionally, in some embodiments, the water pipe assembly may include a detachable base, and / or the smoke chamber may be removably attached to the water chamber.

[0075] Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, an example embodiment of a water pipe assembly 100 is shown, including a main water pipe body 10, a base 30, a mouthpiece assembly 40, a downstem assembly 75, and an attachment 95. FIGS. 1-2 show the water pipe assembly 100 in its fully assembled form; FIG. 3 shows the same water pipe assembly 100 in an exploded viewand thus includes elements that are not readily visible in the assembled water pipe of FIGS 1-2. These views omit consumable elements such as the herbal substance and disposable mouthpiece filter insert. FIG. 3 additionally shows an assembly tool 110 which is used to engage certain pieces of the assembly 100 together. This assembly tool 100 is not part of the assembly; those skilled in the art will appreciate that other means may be used in place of the assembly tool 100. However, the assembly tool 100 may be provided as part of a kit 200.

[0076] The water pipe body 10 comprises a base chamber 18, referred to here as a water chamber 18, since this chamber is expected to be at least partially filled with water during use. A smoke chamber 12 and a neck 24 are in fluid communication with the water chamber 18. The smoke chamber 12 terminates in a mouthpiece opening 14, through which filtered smoke is inhaled, and the neck 24 terminates in a neck opening 26 through which smoke enters the water chamber 18. In most of the embodiments illustrated in the accompany drawings, the water chamber 18 is generally bulbous in form, and the smoke chamber and neck are substantially cylindrical. The particular shape of this water pipe body 10 can be better seen in the various views of FIGS. 4-9, which show various views of the water pipe body 10 and the base 30, and in FIGS. 10-21 , which show the water pipe body 10 without the base 30. FIGS. 4-15 depict threaded exterior surfaces at the mouthpiece opening, at the neck opening, and at the base, since threaded connections are used in the example embodiments to connect the mouthpiece assembly 40, downstem assembly 75, and base 30. However, since one or more of the mouthpiece assembly 40, downstem assembly 75, or base 30 may be omitted from the water pipe assembly 100, the threaded connectors water pipe body 10 are shown in phantom in FIGS. 16-21.

[0077] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the overall shape of the water pipe may vary. Some embodiments of water pipe bodies 10 are referred to as straight tubes, and are substantially cylindrical in overall shape; others are referred to as “beaker” shaped, similar in shape to an Erlenmeyer flask with a generally conical water chamber 18 and relatively elongated cylindrical smoke chamber 12. An example of the latter is illustrated in FIGS. 42-44. Any shape of water pipe body 10 is considered to fall within the scope of the embodiments discussed herein.

[0078] Typically, the smoke chamber 12, water chamber 18, neck 24, and base 30 of the water pipe is formed integrally, as a unitary piece. However, in some embodiments, two or more of these elements may be modular and may be detachable. An example of such a modular assembly is shown in published International Application WO2017096452A1 , published June15, 2017 entitled “Connector Assembly for a Modular Smoking Water Pipe and Method of Assembly”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. In that example, the smoke chamber and water chamber are connected by a threaded connector, enabling disassembly to facilitate cleaning and customization. Additionally, the base is connected to the water chamber by a threaded connection. In the embodiments illustrated herein, such as in FIGS. 1-3, the smoke chamber 12, water chamber 18, and neck 24 are formed in a single unit, and the base 30 is provided as a separate element removably attached to the water chamber 18 by a threaded connection. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the features discussed herein can be applied to a modular water pipe such as that shown in the aforementioned International Application, as well as to a water pipe having a base 30 formed integrally with the water pipe body 10.

[0079] Generally, the water pipe body 10 and the base 30, if integral with the water pipe body 10, is made of glass. The glass may be borosilicate glass, which has beneficial heat resistant properties and can endure repeated use, although other materials such as acrylic and silicone may be employed.

[0080] As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiments, the base 30 is separate from the water pipe body 10. FIGS. 22-24 depict an example of a detachable base 30, such as that shown in FIGS. 1-3. Referring first to FIG. 3, in this embodiment the water pipe body 10 includes a foot 20 projecting from the bottom of the water chamber 18 with an exterior threaded surface 22. As can be seen in FIGS. 22-23, an interior portion of the base 30 includes a complementary interior wall 34 with threading 36 so that the base 30 engages the water pipe body 10 with a threaded connection. In this example embodiment, the base 30 is a ring and is substantially hollow, having an upper surface 32 that is contoured to fit the bottom portion of the water pipe body 10, the interior wall 34, and an exterior wall 38. This reduces the volume of material required to manufacture the base. In other embodiments, the base 30 may be a solid piece; the increased weight of the base 30 would therefore shift the center of gravity of the water pipe assembly 100, which may improve stability.

[0081] Further, the bottom of the base 30 may be a solid piece rather than an open ring. In this example embodiment, the base 30 is generally circular; however, the exterior contours of the base 30 may vary. The user may thus switch the base 30 for a base of another design to change the appearance of the assembled water pipe 100. The interior wall 34 in the illustrated embodiment is annular, since a threaded connection is employed. However, if another connection mechanism is used instead, the annular profile may not be necessary.

[0082] The assembly of the mouthpiece assembly on the smoke chamber 12 is shown in FIGS. 25-28. FIGS. 25 and 26 depict an example mouthpiece cover 42 and filter carrier 50, respectively. FIG. 27 illustrates an embodiment of a filter insert 120; FIG. 28 is a view of the top of the mouthpiece 12, which is also visible in FIG. 3. FIGS. 29, 31, 33, and 35 show these components from the side, and FIGS. 30, 32, 34, and 36 are cross-sectional views of these components.

[0083] As can be seen from these drawings, the mouthpiece cover 42 is removably connected to the mouthpiece opening 14 of the smoke chamber 12 by a threaded connection. A threaded exterior surface 16 is provided on the smoke chamber 12 proximate to the mouthpiece opening 14. In this embodiment, the mouthpiece cover 42 has a generally annular or toroidal shape. The overall shape of the mouthpiece cover 42 may be any suitable shape, and need not be circular or even symmetric. As shown, however, the mouthpiece cover 42 has a substantially annular body with an inwardly projecting wall or flange 44 at an upper end. As can be seen in the cross- sectional view of FIG. 30, the inwardly projecting wall 44 and the interior surface of the annular body form an interior shoulder 46. The interior surface of the mouthpiece cover 42 is threaded 46. The interior dimensions of the mouthpiece cover 42 are sized to accommodate the smoke chamber 12 and the filter carrier 50.

[0084] The filter carrier 50 has a substantially hollow body with an outwardly projecting support 52 proximate to a first end. In this example embodiment, the outwardly projecting support 52 is an annular flange and is positioned at the first end; however, the outwardly projecting support 52 need not extend continuously around the first end of the filter carrier 50 to function as a support such that when the filter carrier 50 is inserted into the mouthpiece opening 14 of the smoke chamber 12, the outwardly projecting support 52 rests on the rim of the opening 14.

[0085] The filter carrier 50 also includes an inwardly projecting support 56 to retain a filter insert in place. In the example embodiment, the inwardly projecting support 56 is an inwardly projecting annular flange, defining a smaller interior diameter; a filter insert 120 may thus rest on the inwardly projecting support 56. The inwardly projecting support 56 may be positioned at or near the second end of the filter carrier 50.

[0086] To ensure that the filter insert 120 is not easily accidentally dislodged, a second inwardly projecting support 54 is also provided, similarly shaped but spaced apart from the first support, so that the filter insert 120 is inserted between them. The filter carrier 50 may be manufactured of plastic or silicone or any suitable material, thus providing some flexibility to enable the user toinsert and remove the filter insert. The filter insert 120 itself may comprise activated carbon or any other suitable substance.

[0087] The mouthpiece assembly 40 is assembled on the water pipe body 10 by first inserting the filter insert 120 between the first and second inwardly projecting supports 56, 54 of the filter carrier 50, then inserting the filter carrier 50 into the mouthpiece opening 14 of the water pipe body 10, so that the outwardly projecting support 52 rests on the rim of the mouthpiece opening 14. The mouthpiece cover 42 is then placed over the filter carrier 50 and the mouthpiece opening 14, and twisted so that the interior threaded surface 46 of the mouthpiece cover 42 engages the exterior threaded surface 16 on the smoke chamber 12. When the mouthpiece cover 42 is fully engaged, the outwardly projecting support 52 will be held in place by the inwardly projecting wall 44 and the rim of the mouthpiece opening 14. To change the filter insert, a user may simply unscrew the mouthpiece cover 42 and lift out the filter carrier 50. Further, users who share the use of the water pipe may each use their own mouthpiece cover 42, and optionally their own filter carrier 50 and filter insert 120.

[0088] In another embodiment, the filter carrier may be integrated with the mouthpiece cover as a single piece. In one version of this combined filter mouthpiece 62 shown in FIGS. 37-41 , the mouthpiece portion has an external shape similar to the mouthpiece cover 42, and includes an interior threaded surface 65 for engaging the exterior threaded surface of the smoke chamber 12. However, the interior of the mouthpiece portion extends to a depending wall 66, which terminates with an inwardly projecting wall 67, similar to the inwardly projecting support 56 of the previous embodiment. Unlike the previous embodiment, the interior surface of the depending wall 66 is threaded 68. After a filter insert 120 is placed in the filter mouthpiece 62, it is retained in place by a retaining ring 70. As can be best seen in FIG. 41 , the retaining ring 70 has threading 74 on its exterior wall 73, and a notched upper surface 72 comprising one or more notches. The retaining ring 70 is placed in the filter mouthpiece 62 above the filter insert 120, and then twisted so that the threading 74 of the ring 70 engages the interior threaded surface 68. The filter insert 120 is thus retained in place between the bottom surface 73 of the retaining ring 70 and the inwardly projecting support 56.

[0089] To assist the user, an assembly tool 110 is provided as shown in FIG. 41. Other views of the assembly tool 110 are provided in FIGS. 61-64 as well. The assembly tool 110 has a generally tubular body defined by a tubular wall that terminates with a notched edge. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly tool 110 has a varying exterior diameter, so that the first end 113 has a different interior and exterior diameter than the second end 116; the wall at eachend is provided with notches 114, 117 of different dimensions. This example tool 110 may thus be used on different sizes of retaining rings 70. In this example, the notches 117 are sized and spaced to fit the notched upper surface 72 of the retaining ring 70. To screw the retaining ring 70 into place, the notches 117 are fit into the notched upper surface 72, and the assembly tool 100 is twisted; torque is transmitted from the assembly tool 110 to the retaining ring 70 via the meshed surfaces of the tool 110 and ring 70.

[0090] FIGS. 42-60 depict example embodiments of the downstem assembly 75 and its components. The assembled downstem assembly 75, mounted on the neck 24 of the water pipe body 10 together with a bowl insert 76, is shown in FIGS. 42-44. FIG. 45 shows the assembled downstem assembly 75 and bowl insert 76 prior to installation on the neck 24, and FIG. 46 shows the downstem assembly 75 and bowl insert 76 in an exploded view. As can be best seen in FIG. 46, the downstem assembly 75 comprises a downstem 90, a joint cap 80, and a retaining ring 85. The bowl insert 76 may be considered to form part of the downstem assembly 75; however it is not necessarily fixed in place when the assembled downstem 90, a joint cap 80, and retaining ring 85 are installed on the neck 24, and usually can be easily removed. As those skilled in the art understand, in prior art water pipes utilizing a separate downstem and bowl insert, these components are relatively loosely fit in the neck of the water pipe. While various components may be textured (e.g., with a ground glass texture) to provide some friction to prevent some accidental dislodgement, the downstem can be slid in and out of the neck without the application of too much force. In a prior art water pipe, this presents a risk of breakage. The user may wish to temporarily remove the bowl insert (for example, to refill it); however, friction between the insertion end 79 of the bowl insert 76 and the interior of the downstem 90 may result in the downstem 90 being pulled out of the neck 24 along with the bowl insert 76. Once free of the neck 24, gravity may be sufficient to overcome the friction, causing the downstem 90 to fall and possibly break.

[0091] The downstem assembly 75 provided herein fixes the separate downstem 90 in place in the neck 24, while still permitting the bowl insert 76 to be removed. As shown in FIGS. 46-50, this example bowl insert 76 comprises a bowl portion 78, which typically has a conical or otherwise bowl-shaped appearance, in fluid communication with a generally tubular body 79 providing a smoke passage. In use, smoke resulting from combustion of matter in the bowl portion 78 enters the smoke passage 79, passes through the downstem 90, and enters the water chamber 18. The external dimensions of the tubular body 79 are designed to fit within thedownstem 90. The illustrated bowl insert 76 includes a substantially circular handle 77 provided with convex surfaces to enable a user to grip the handle.

[0092] The downstem 90, seen best in FIGS. 59 and 60, also has a typically tubular body. The downstem 90 has an exterior enlargement or outwardly projecting support 92 at or near its upper end 91, which defines a shoulder 96. The lower end 98 of the downstem, which is typically submerged in water when the water pipe assembly 100 is in use, may include perforations (not shown in the drawings). The outwardly projecting support 92 in the example embodiment is an annular flange, but may take other shapes and need not project continuously around the downstem 90.

[0093] The downstem 90 is mounted in a joint cap 80 using a retaining ring 85. The joint cap 80, as can be seen in FIGS. 51-53 and 60 has a substantially tubular body extending between first and second ends. As with the mouthpiece cover 42, the joint cap 80 need not be circular in its exterior profile. At the first, upper end of the joint cap 80, an inwardly projecting flange or wall 81 defines a first interior diameter and an interior shoulder 82 where the interior diameter increases to a second, larger, diameter. Below the interior shoulder 82, the interior wall is provided with a first threaded surface 83 for engaging a corresponding threaded surface of the retaining ring 85, and a second threaded surface 84 for engaging a corresponding threaded surface 28 proximate to the neck opening 26 of the neck 24.

[0094] The retaining ring 85, best shown in FIGS. 54-58 and 60, is similar to the retaining ring 70 described above, comprising an annular body with an external threaded wall or surface 88, one substantially flat surface, and an opposing notched surface 87; however, in this example embodiment of the retaining ring 85, the notches do not necessarily extend across the entire width of the retaining ring 85.

[0095] Assembly of the downstem assembly 75 is best seen in FIGS. 60 and 65. The downstem 90 is inserted into the joint cap 80 so that the shoulder 96 of the downstem 90 contacts the interior shoulder 82 of the joint cap. The downstem 90 is held in place in the joint cap 80 by the retaining ring 85, which is inserted and screwed into the joint cap so that the exterior threaded surface 88 of the retaining ring engages the first interior threaded surface 83 of the joint cap 80 and the substantially flat surface of the retaining ring contacts the outwardly projecting support 92 of the downstem 90, thus retaining the outwardly projecting support 92 in place in the joint cap, against the interior shoulder 82. To assist in screwing the retaining ring 85 into place, the assembly tool 110, shown in FIGS. 61-65, may be used as described above. The second end ofthe downstem 98 is then inserted into the neck opening 26, and the joint cap 80 mounted on the neck 24 by engaging the second interior threaded surface 84 of the joint cap 80 with the complementary exterior threaded surface 28 on the neck 24. Finally, the smoke passage end 79 of the bowl insert 76 can be inserted into the downstem 90. When the bowl insert 76 is removed, the joint cap 80 will keep the downstem 90 in place so that it will not be accidentally removed along with the bowl insert 76.

[0096] Turning to FIGS. 66-69, additional customization of the water pipe assembly 100 may be provided by one or more magnetic attachments 95, which may be positioned anywhere on a surface of the water pipe body 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment 95 comprises indicia such as a logo or graphic design; however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the attachment 95 may serve other purposes, such as a clip or other holder for keeping an accessory (e.g., a cleaning brush, lighter, etc.) in proximity to the water pipe assembly; or the attachment 95 may comprise the accessory itself.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, one of the water pipe body 10 or the attachment 95 is provided with one or more magnets 97 or 98, while the other of the water pipe body 10 or the attachment 95 is provided with one or more targets 98 or 97 for the magnets. In one example embodiment, both the water pipe body 10 and the attachment 95 are provided with magnets, oriented to provide mutual attraction when the attachment 95 is brought into proximity of the magnets on the water pipe body 10; thus, the one or more targets comprises at least one magnet. In another embodiment, the targets are formed of a ferromagnetic material. In still another embodiment, the attachment 95 may comprise the ferromagnetic material, so the attachment 95 comprises the target.

[0098] To provide a smooth exterior surface and close fit, the interior or water pipe-facing surface of the attachment 95 is contoured to conform to or complement the contour of the exterior wall water pipe body 10, as can be seen in FIGS. 67 and 68 , and the magnets or targets 97, 98 are countersunk or otherwise embedded into the surface of the water pipe body 10 and the attachment 95. The magnets or targets 98 provided on the water pipe body 10 are shown in FIGS. 66 and 67 as being provided on the smoke chamber portion of the water pipe body 10; however, they may instead or additionally be provided on the water chamber or neck portions as well.

[0099] The various elements of the water pipe assembly 100 may be provided in one or more kits. For example, each of the mouthpiece assembly 40 and the downstem assembly 75 may beprovided as separate kits for use with a separately provided water pipe body 10, optionally with a separate base 30 and attachment 95; or the mouthpiece assembly 40 and downstem assembly 75, attachment 95, and base 30 may be provided together as a kit for use with the water pipe body 10.

[0100] The embodiments described above are presented only by way of example and are not meant to limit the scope of the subject matter described herein or the accompanying claims. Variations of these examples and embodiments will be apparent to those in the art, and are considered to be within the scope of the subject matter described herein. For example, while the drawings illustrate particular examples of the inventive concept(s) described herein, aesthetic variations may be made without altering the function of the invention(s). As one example, the shape of the water pipe body may be varied; it may be flask or beaker shape, or any other suitable or fanciful shape. Similarly, the mouthpiece and downstem assemblies may vary in shape or aesthetic design, and certain components need not be completely cylindrical or annular to serve their function.

[0101] A portion of the disclosure of this disclosure contains material which is or may be subject to one or more of copyright, design, or trade dress protection, whether registered or unregistered. The rightsholder has no objection to the reproduction of any such material as portrayed herein through facsimile reproduction of this disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.

Claims

Claims1. A water pipe assembly, comprising: a water pipe body comprising: a smoke chamber terminating in a mouthpiece opening, the smoke chamber comprising an exterior threaded surface proximate to the mouthpiece opening; and a neck projecting from a chamber of the water pipe and terminating in a neck opening, the neck comprising an exterior threaded surface proximate to the neck opening; and a mouthpiece assembly comprising: a filter carrier comprising a substantially hollow body having an outwardly projecting support proximate to a first end and a first inwardly projecting support proximate to a second end, the outwardly projecting support for supporting the filter carrier on the mouthpiece opening, the first inwardly projecting support for supporting a filter insert; and a mouthpiece cover comprising an interior threaded surface for engaging the exterior threaded surface of the smoke chamber to retain the filter carrier in position on the mouthpiece opening.

2. The water pipe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a downstem assembly, the downstem assembly comprising: a downstem comprising a substantially tubular body and an outwardly projecting support proximate to a first end, the downstem for receiving a bowl insert at the first end; a retaining ring comprising an exterior threaded surface; a joint cap comprising: a substantially tubular body having a first interior diameter at a first end transitioning at an interior shoulder to a second interior diameter greater than the first interior diameter; and first and second interior threaded surfaces, the first interior threaded surface for engaging the exterior threaded surface of the retaining ring and the second interiorthreaded surface proximate to the second end of the joint cap for engaging the exterior threaded surface of the neck, wherein engagement of the retaining ring with the joint cap defines a recess for retaining the outwardly projecting support of the joint cap.

3. The water pipe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment, one of the water pipe body and the attachment comprising at least one magnet embedded therein; and the other of the water pipe body and the attachment comprising either at least one magnet embedded therein or at least one ferromagnetic target.

4. The water pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein: the outwardly projecting support of the filter carrier comprises an outwardly projecting annular wall at or near the first end of the filter carrier; the first inwardly projecting support of the filter carrier comprises an inwardly projecting annular wall at or near the second end of the filter carrier; and the filter carrier further comprises a second inwardly projecting support spaced apart from the first inwardly projecting support, the first and second inwardly projecting supports for retaining the filter insert between them.

5. The water pipe assembly of claim 4, wherein the mouthpiece cover comprises an inwardly projecting wall for retaining the filter carrier in position on the mouthpiece opening between the inwardly projecting wall of the mouthpiece cover and a rim of the mouthpiece opening.

6. The water pipe assembly of claim 2, wherein the retaining ring further comprises an interior notched surface for receiving torque transmitted from an assembly tool.

7. The water pipe assembly of claim 2, wherein the retaining ring comprises a bearing surface which contacts the outwardly projecting support of the downstem when the retaining ring is fully engaged in the joint cap.

8. The water pipe assembly of claim 2, further comprising the bowl insert.

9. The water pipe assembly of claim 3, wherein:the at least one magnet or the at least one ferromagnetic target is countersunk in an exterior wall of the water pipe body; the at least one magnet or the at least one ferromagnetic target is countersunk in an interior surface of the attachment; and the interior surface of the attachment is contoured to complement an exterior wall of the water pipe body comprising the at least one magnet or the at least one ferromagnetic target.

10. The water pipe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a detachable base.

11. The water pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the smoke chamber is removably attached to the water chamber.

12. The water pipe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the filter insert.

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