PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE VAPORIZER

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20200120990
  • Publication Number
    20200120990
  • Date Filed
    October 22, 2018
    6 years ago
  • Date Published
    April 23, 2020
    4 years ago
  • Inventors
    • Truong; Garland
    • Dobson; Candice Lee
Abstract
A protective apparatus for electronic cigarette vaporizer comprising a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material. The structure having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body. The sleeve body having a thickness defining an opening between the first end and the second end. The opening being configured to removably receive a vaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette. The first opening in the first end being configured to allow a mouth piece of the electronic cigarette to pass therethrough.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is not related to any pending application.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette), and more particularly to a protective sleeve for the fluid chamber for electronic cigarette vaporizer.


Background

The electronic cigarette is sometimes referred as electronic vaporing device, personal vaporizer (PV), or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). It is a battery-powered device which simulates tobacco smoking. It generally uses a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution (e-liquid) that is located within a fluid chamber, or chamber. Some solutions contain a mixture of nicotine and a variety of flavorings, while others release a flavored vapor without nicotine. Many are designed to simulate smoking experience, such as cigarette smoking or cigar smoking. Some of them are made with similar appearance, while others are made considerably different in appearance.


Conventional electronic cigarettes are made with a mouth piece assembly, a vaporizer assembly, an electric connecting assembly, and a fluid chamber. The mouth piece is installed on top of the fluid chamber, and the vaporizer assembly is installed inside of the fluid chamber, and electrically connected to a power source through the electric connecting assembly. The mouth piece assembly is connected to the vaporizer assembly and forms an air flow passage. The e-liquid is stored in the fluid chamber. The e-liquid flows through a vaporizing chamber of the heating assembly using fiber threads. The e-liquid in the fiber threads is then heated by a heating wire of the heating assembly and therefore vaporized. The vaporized e-liquid goes up to the mouth piece such that a smoker enjoys the vaporized e-liquid.


The chamber is typically constructed from glass or other transparent material. This causes a disadvantage due to damage and/or breakage of the chamber when dropped or is subject to a fall. This leads to safety concerns due to exposure to the broken chamber to the user, third parties and animals. Further, this leads to increase costs due to the replacement of the broken chamber.


Additionally, due to inconsistent heating conditions of the e-fluid inside the chamber, the heating efficiency of the chamber is diminished. This leads to wear and tear of vaporizer assembly leading to a higher rate of replacement of the vaporizer assembly due to the burning at higher wattage levels to compensate for the energy loss.


Therefore, an unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.


BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette), and more particularly to a protective sleeve for the fluid chamber for electronic cigarette vaporizer.


In one aspect of the present invention a protective sleeve for electronic cigarette vaporizer is disclosed. The protective sleeve includes a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material. The structure has a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body. The sleeve body has a thickness defining an opening between the first end and the second end. The opening is configured to removably receive a vaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette such that to provide protection to the vaporizing chamber along with providing sufficient thermal insulation to improve the vaporizing chamber's heating efficiency. The first opening in the first end may be configured to allow a mouth piece of the electronic cigarette to pass therethrough.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a side view of a protective sleeve affixed to an electronic cigarette according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of a protective sleeve affixed to an electronic cigarette according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 3 is a top view of a protective sleeve affixed to an electronic cigarette according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protective sleeve according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 5 is a side view of a protective sleeve according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of a protective sleeve according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 7 is a cut-away side view of a protective cap according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 8 is a side view of a protective cap according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a protective cap according to certain embodiments of the present invention.



FIG. 10 is a cut-away view of a protective sleeve and cap affixed to an electronic cigarette according to certain embodiments of the present invention.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes the above-identified conventional components in a different configuration to obtain a safer, more sanitary electronic cigarette product.


As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a convention electronic cigarette with an embodiment of a protective sleeve of the present invention is disclosed. The use of this conventional electronic cigarette is illustrative and is not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize the inventive protective sleeve of the present invention may be utilized with electronic cigarettes having different configurations.


As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an electronic cigarette system 10 is shown. This system 10 includes an electronic cigarette 12 having an e-cigarette housing 14 which houses a power source, such as a battery, along with various operational circuitry; a vaporizing chamber 22 to hold e-liquid, an atomizer 18 to vaporize the e-liquid and a mouthpiece 20. The battery may be placed with housing 14 through battery cap 16.


Protective sleeve 30 is made from a flexible elastomeric material that allows it to be positioned over vaporizing chamber 22 such that it is form fits over vaporizing chamber 22. This allowed the vaporizing chamber 22 to be protected from accidental damage due to being dropped, bumped or otherwise exposed to damaging actions.


The elastomeric material further allows for the vaporization chamber to be insulated from the surrounding environment. This provides for a more efficient heating of the vaporization chamber due to a reduction of heat loss while improving the heat distribution across the vaporization chamber. This efficiency allows for the heating components operate longer due to the reduced stress and work load of heating the e-fluid.



FIGS. 4-6 illustrate an embodiment of a protective sleeve of the present invention as disclosed.


Protective sleeve 30 is a hollow cylindrical structure that is constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material. Sleeve 30 has a first end 34 with a first opening 40, a second end 36 with a second opening 42, and a sleeve body 38. Sleeve body 38 has a thickness 32 that defines a receiving space 44 between the first opening 40 and the second opening 42. Receiving space 44 is configured to removably receive a vaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette. The flexible nature of the sleeve 30 allows for it to form fit over a vaporizing chamber, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A mouth piece portion of the electronic cigarette is able to pass through the first opening 40 in the first end 34.



FIGS. 7-10 illustrate an embodiment of a protective cap of the present invention as disclosed.


Protective cap 50 is a cylindrical structure that is constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material. This material may be the same material used to construct sleeve 30. Cap 50 has a body 52 and a rim 54 with an opening 56. The diameter of cap 50 may be the same as the diameter of sleeve 30. Opening 56 is configured to removably receive a mouth piece 20 of an electronic cigarette 12. The flexible nature of cap 50 allows for it to form fit over mouth piece 20 as well as be in contact with sleeve 30, as shown in FIG. 10. Cap 50 provides for protection for mouth piece 20 from dirt and damage.


While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.

Claims
  • 1. A protective apparatus for electronic cigarette vaporizer, comprising: a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material, the structure having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body,the sleeve body having a thickness defining an opening between the first end and the second end, the opening being configured to removably receive a vaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette,the first opening in the first end being configured to allow a mouth piece of the electronic cigarette to pass therethrough.
  • 2. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow structure is further defined as being a cylindrical structure.
  • 3. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the sleeve body being sufficient thick to protect the vaporizing chamber from impact damage.
  • 4. The protective apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a protective cap having a protective body and a rim, the protective cap defining an opening configured to receive the mouth piece of the electronic cigarette.
  • 5. The protective apparatus of claim 4, wherein the protective body and the rim are further defined as being in a cylindrical configuration.
  • 6. An e-cigarette apparatus including (i) an e-liquid e-cigarette vaporizer and (ii) a flexible protective sleeve for the e-liquid e-cigarette vaporizer, the protective sleeve having a hollow cylindrical structure constructed from a flexible, elastomeric material, the structure having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a sleeve body, the sleeve body having a thickness defining an opening between the first end and the second end, the opening being configured to removably receive a vaporizing chamber of an electronic cigarette, the first opening in the first end being configured to allow a mouth piece of the electronic cigarette to pass therethrough.