Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/06—Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/17—Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
  • A61M2205/82—Internal energy supply devices
  • A61M2205/8206—Internal energy supply devices battery-operated

Definitions

• This disclosure generally relates to alternative smoking devices, and more particularly, to an electronic cigarette configured to simulate the filter of a traditional cigarette.
• electronic cigarette components are presented.
• the disclosure presents an electronic cigarette configured to simulate the look and feel of the filter of a traditional cigarette.
• an electronic cigarette comprises a conduit adapted to contain internal components of an electronic cigarette device; and a filter section located within a proximal end of the conduit; wherein the filter section comprises a porous material dimensioned to allow vapor passage; and wherein the porous material is continuous across an entire surface diameter thereof.
• an electronic cigarette comprises a conduit adapted to contain internal components of an electronic cigarette device; and a filter section located within a proximal end of the conduit; wherein the filter section comprises a porous material dimensioned to allow vapor passage; wherein the porous material is continuous across an entire surface diameter thereof; wherein the porous material comprises an acidic fiber; and wherein the porous material directly contacts an interior surface of the conduit.
• an electronic cigarette comprises a conduit adapted to contain internal components of an electronic cigarette device; and a filter section located within a proximal end of the conduit; wherein the filter section comprises: a housing inserted into the proximal end of the conduit; and a porous material positioned within the housing; wherein the filter section comprises a porous material dimensioned to allow vapor passage; wherein the porous material is continuous across an entire surface diameter thereof; wherein the porous material comprises an acidic fiber; and wherein the porous material directly contacts an interior surface of the conduit.
• FIGURE 1 is a side view of an electronic cigarette in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
• FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a filter portion of an electronic cigarette in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
• FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of a porous material, housing, and conduit of an electronic cigarette in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
• FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of a porous material and a conduit of an electronic cigarette in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
• an electronic cigarette can have a conduit for protecting its internal components and a section ("filter section") insertable into a mouth of a user and having the physical appearance of a traditional cigarette filter.
• filter section a section
• a number of advantages can be provided by the electronic cigarette components described herein. A number of additional advantages will become apparent from the description provided below.
• Prior art alternative smoking devices can include a number of components consisting of a power source such as a battery, vaporizing unit, and a unit containing liquid that contains nicotine.
• the battery can be a pre-charged, disposable type of device that is not rechargeable or, alternatively, a rechargeable battery.
• negative pressure causes a sensor to activate the vaporizing unit, which then causes the liquid to vaporize, permitting it to be inhaled through an end of the electronic cigarette.
• the tip of the device can light up simulating the effects of a traditional cigarette. It should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the use of alternative configurations of the internal components.
• the filter section of traditional electronic cigarettes is discontinuous across a surface diameter thereof, and has a channel or aerosol passage therethrough, which leaves a visible hole in the end of the filter section.
• the vapor passes through the channel/passage in the filter section and out of the hole into the user's mouth.
• One clear drawback of that construction is that an obvious hole in the filter section of the electronic cigarette is present, resulting in an unrealistic simulation of the filter of a traditional cigarette.
• Traditional tobacco cigarettes have a relatively smooth and solid end with no visible hole.
• FIGURES 1 through 4 show an electronic cigarette 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
• the conduit 14 may cover the components of the electronic cigarette 10 which may include: a vaporizing unit (not shown), battery (not shown), unit containing liquid (not shown), integrated circuit (not shown), light source (not shown), and an end piece 28.
• the conduit 14 may also cover a portion or the entirety of the filter section 12.
• the conduit 14 may be constructed of polycarbonate or some other suitable material so that the conduit 14 may have a soft, flexible feel similar to the feel of a traditional tobacco cigarette.
• a filter section 12 replicating that used in traditional tobacco cigarettes may be used with the present electronic cigarette 10.
• the filter section 12 is continuous across an entire surface diameter thereof (i.e., does not include a visible hole or passageway extending through a length thereof) and may be a porous material 52 inserted into to the proximal end 16 of the conduit 14.
• An outer wrapper or label 30 may be adhered to the outer surface of the conduit 14 in order to provide the look of the filter of a traditional tobacco cigarette.
• the filter section 12 has typically had a channel/aerosol passage for allowing smoke/vapor to pass therethrough, leaving a very obvious visible hole.
• the filter section 12 of the present invention is continuous across the entire surface diameter thereof and has the appearance of being fully enclosed; i.e. having no obvious visible hole.
• the filter section 12 would be porous to allow enough of the vapor to pass through, thereby simulating the amount of sucking required by the user to mimic a traditional cigarette filter, without providing an unsightly aerosol passage/channel therethrough as in prior art devices.
• the porous material 52 may be comprised of any suitable porous or membrane-type of material, including for example acidic fiber, polyurethane, ceramic, silicone, or any of a variety of other polymers or plastics. It may, by way of example, be disk or cylindrical shaped.
• the porous material 52 may have an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the conduit 14 which would allow the porous material 52 to be held in place by the friction created between the outer surface of the porous material 52 and the inner surface of the conduit 14.
• glue or other adhesive means could be utilized.
• the filter section 12 may comprise a molded housing 34 that is inserted into a proximal end 16 of the conduit 14.
• the housing 34 may have an outside diameter slightly less than an inside diameter of the conduit 14 which would allow the housing 34 to be held in place by the friction created between the outer surface of the housing 34 and the inner surface of the conduit 14. For example, if the conduit has an inside diameter of about 7.7 mm, then the outside diameter of the housing 34 would be slightly less than 7.7 mm.
• the housing 34 may also have an annular flange (not shown) at its proximal end to help hold the housing 34 in place within the conduit 14.
• the annular flange would abut the proximal end of the conduit 14 and would have the same outside diameter as the outside diameter of the conduit 14 so that the electronic cigarette 10 has a uniform outside diameter throughout its entire length.
• the housing 34 may be made of silicon or other similar suitable material so that it has the same soft pliable feel of the filter of a traditional tobacco cigarette.
• the filter section 12 may also comprise a porous material 52; e.g. a porous molded disc, acidic fiber, or other suitable material that may be inserted into a proximal end 36 of the housing 34.
• the porous material 52 may have an outside diameter slightly smaller than an inside diameter of the housing 34 so that the porous material 52 may be held in place by the friction created between the outer surface of the porous material 52 and the inner surface of the housing 34. (Alternatively, glue or other adhesive means could be utilized.)
• the housing 34 containing the porous material 52 may then together be inserted into the proximal end 16 of the conduit 14. It should also be clearly understood that substantial benefit may also be obtained from the porous material 52 being integral to the housing 34 that is inserted into the proximal end 16 of the conduit 14. It should also be understood that further substantial benefit may be achieved from a porous material 52 having an alternative configuration than a disc shape.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=49223436

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (13)

Families Citing this family (46)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2013
  • 2013-01-18 US US13/744,812 patent/US20130276802A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-02-20 WO PCT/US2013/026944 patent/WO2013141998A2/fr not_active Ceased

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