Device for protecting a glass smoking apparatus and method

Abstract

A device for protecting a smoking apparatus; the device has a jacket constructed of a semirigid and/or shock absorbent material configured receive a glass body of the smoking apparatus and may cover at least 50% of the outer surface of the glass body when on an open state. The jacket further may be configured to protect, at least 80% of the outer surface of the glass body against impacts against the outer surface of the glass body while in the closed state. Additionally, a fastener may be fixed to the jacket, and configured to secure the jacket to the smoking apparatus. The device for protecting the smoking apparatus is useful for providing a reusable covering/jacket for protecting the smoking apparatus against impacts.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . A device ( 100 ) for protecting a smoking apparatus ( 10 ), the smoking apparatus including a mouth interface ( 12 ), at least one air inlet ( 14 ), and a glass body ( 16 ) between the mouth interface and the at least one air inlet, the glass body having an outer surface ( 17 ) defining an internal volume ( 19 ), the device comprising:
 a jacket ( 110 ) configured receive the glass body, and to cover at least 50% of the outer surface of the glass body, the jacket further configured to protect against impacts against the outer surface of the glass body; and   a fastener ( 120 ) fixed to the jacket and configured to secure the jacket to the glass smoking apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket has an open state and a closed state, the jacket configured to receive the glass body when in the open state and to protect the glass body when in the closed state. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the jacket is further configured to cover at least 80% of the glass body when in the closed state. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener is releasably couplable, and is further configured to secure the jacket in the closed state. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket includes a shock absorbent, semirigid shell having an exterior wall and an interior wall, said interior wall defining an internal cavity configured to receive the glass body. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the jacket further includes an internal liner coupled to the interior wall of the internal cavity and made of a shock absorbent material, said internal liner configured to nest the glass body within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the shock absorbent material is an elastomer material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket is made of a shock absorbent skin having a thickness between ⅛ of an inch and one inch. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket includes at least one inlet aperture configured to align and permit air to flow into the at least one air inlet, the at least one inlet aperture sized and dimensioned to provide a thermal separation of at least 1/32 of an inch between the at least one aperture and the at least one air inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the jacket has an open state and a closed state, the jacket configured to receive the glass body when in the open state and to protect the glass body when in the closed state; and
 wherein the at least one inlet aperture is structured and arranged to align with said at least one air inlet when the jacket is in the closed state.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the jacket further includes an outlet aperture configured to align and permit air to flow out of the mouth interface, the outlet aperture sized and dimensioned to provide a gap of at least ⅛ of an inch between the outlet aperture and the mouth interface. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket is divided into a plurality of sub-jackets; and
 wherein each sub-jacket is configured to receive a predefined portion of the glass body.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined portions of the glass body include a bowl portion, a base portion, a water-chamber portion, a stem portion, and a smoke-chamber portion. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of sub-jackets are configured to have an open state and a closed state; and
 wherein each sub-jacket has two halves configured to inter-lock into its respective closed state.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener is divided into a plurality of sub-fasteners fixed to a plurality of the sub-jackets, each sub-fastener configured to secure its respective sub-jacket to its respective the predefined portion of the glass body, each sub-fastener being biased in its respective closed state. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is made of an impact resistant material. 
     
     
         17 . A device ( 100 ) for protecting a smoking apparatus, the smoking apparatus including a mouth interface ( 12 ), at least one air inlet ( 14 ), and a glass body ( 16 ) between the mouth interface and the at least one air inlet, the glass body having an outer surface ( 17 ) defining an internal volume ( 19 ), the device comprising: a jacket ( 110 ) configured receive the glass body, and to cover at least 50% of the outer surface of the glass body, the jacket further configured to protect against impacts against the outer surface of the glass body; and
 a fastener ( 120 ) fixed to the jacket, and configured to secure the jacket to the glass smoking apparatus;   wherein the jacket has an open state and a closed state, the jacket configured to receive the glass body when in the open state and to protect the glass body when in the closed state;   wherein the jacket is further configured to cover at least 80% of the glass body when in the closed state;   wherein the fastener is releasably couplable, and is further configured to secure the jacket in the closed state;   wherein the jacket includes a shock absorbent, semirigid shell having an exterior wall and an interior wall, said interior wall defining an internal cavity configured to receive the glass body;   wherein the jacket further includes an internal liner coupled to the interior wall of the internal cavity and made of a shock absorbent material, said internal liner configured to nest the glass body within the internal cavity;   wherein the shock absorbent material is an elastomer material;   wherein the jacket is made of a shock absorbent skin having a thickness between ⅛ of an inch and one inch;   wherein the jacket includes at least one inlet aperture configured to align and permit air to flow into the at least one air inlet, the at least one inlet aperture sized and dimensioned to provide a thermal separation of at least 1/32 of an inch between the at least one aperture and the at least one air inlet;   wherein the jacket has an open state and a closed state, the jacket configured to receive the glass body when in the open state and to protect the glass body when in the closed state; and   wherein the at least one inlet aperture is structured and arranged to align with said at least one air inlet when the jacket is in the closed state;   wherein the jacket further includes an outlet aperture configured to align and permit air to flow out of the mouth interface, the outlet aperture sized and dimensioned to provide a gap of at least ⅛ of an inch between the outlet aperture and the mouth interface; and   wherein the fastener is made of an impact resistant material.   
     
     
         18 . The device ( 100 ) for protecting a smoking apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising set of instructions; and
 wherein the device is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         19 . A method of use for a device ( 100 ) for protecting a smoking apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the device ( 100 ) for protecting a smoking apparatus ( 10 ), the smoking apparatus including a mouth interface ( 12 ), at least one air inlet ( 14 ), and a glass body ( 16 ) between the mouth interface and the at least one air inlet, the glass body having an outer surface ( 17 ) defining an internal volume ( 19 ), the device comprising: a jacket ( 110 ) configured receive the glass body, and to cover at least 50% of the outer surface of the glass body, the jacket further configured to protect against impacts against the outer surface of the glass body; and a fastener ( 120 ) fixed to the jacket, and configured to secure the jacket to the glass smoking apparatus;   positioning the jacket in an open state;   inserting the smoking apparatus;   closing the jacket; and   coupling the fastener to secure the jacket in the closed state.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 releasing the fastener; and   removing the smoking apparatus.