ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE WITH MOBILE DEVICE CASE
An apparatus for coupling an electronic cigarette to a mobile device case is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device. The apparatus also includes an adapter configured to removably couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case. Another apparatus for coupling an electronic cigarette to a mobile device case is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device. The apparatus also includes an adapter configured to couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case. The apparatus further includes a battery booster configured to supply power to at least one of a mobile device attached to the mobile device case or an electronic cigarette coupled to the mobile.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/891,306, filed Oct. 15, 2013, entitled “ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE WITH MOBILE DEVICE CASE”. The content of the above-identified patent document is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present application relates generally to electronic cigarettes and, more specifically, to pairing an electronic cigarette with a mobile device case.
BACKGROUNDDue to ever expanding government regulation and political pressure on business and public entities alike, cigarette smoking is being banned in an ever increasing number of locations and establishments. In response, many smokers are turning to tobacco consumption alternatives that are not subject to such bands. One such alternative is electronic cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes are a particularly popular alternative to traditional cigarettes because they share many characteristics with traditional cigarettes, such as size, shape, and means of consuming the tobacco. Electronic cigarettes can be purchased in both disposable and reusable forms. While some electronic cigarette smokers prefer disposable electronic cigarettes due to the disposable electronic cigarette's relatively lower initial cost, many electronic cigarette smokers prefer reusable electronic cigarettes due to the lower aggregate costs of replacing cheaper individual pieces such as vapor cartridges, mouth pieces, or the like, instead of a complete electronic cigarette device. However, due to a reusable electronic cigarette's higher initial cost, any aggregate cost savings from purchasing reusable electronic cigarettes instead of disposable electronic cigarettes are lost if, for example, the reusable electronic cigarette is lost, misplaced, or even broken.
SUMMARYIn an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device. The apparatus also includes an adapter configured to removably couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case.
In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device. The apparatus also includes an adapter configured to couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case.
In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device. The apparatus also includes an adapter configured to couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case. The apparatus further includes a battery booster configured to supply power to at least one of a mobile device attached to the mobile device case or an electronic cigarette coupled to the mobile.
Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:
Below, exemplary embodiments of this disclosure provide a method and apparatus for using an electronic cigarette coupled with a mobile electronic device case or mobile electronic device cover.
As previously discussed, the PACH 100 includes a mobile device case 102, an adapter 104, and an electronic cigarette 106.
An electronic cigarette 106 includes a replaceable cartridge (or first section) 201 and a reusable fixture (or second section) 202 coupled together at a threaded connection 205 or by other convenience such as a snug-fit, detent, clamp, or clasp. In certain embodiments, the second section 202 includes an electrical connection configured to couple the battery 305 to an energy source for battery charging or recharging. The second section 202 can include a threaded coupling configured to secure the electrical connection to the energy source retaining the electronic cigarette in a fixed axial position. An alternative coupling can include connections comprising pins and releasable detents or electrical bearing surfaces with releasable detents, rotational locking devices, or the like. In certain embodiments, the detent cooperates with a raised annulus. One or more biased balls can be used in lieu of or in addition to the raised annulus.
The first section 201 includes a liquid supply region 310 that stores liquid material and a heater 315 configured to aerosolize liquid material that is drawn from the liquid supply region 310, such as, through a wick 320. The liquid material can include a tobacco-containing material having volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the liquid upon heating and can contain nicotine. The liquid can be a tobacco flavor containing material or a nicotine-containing material having no flavor. Alternatively, or in addition, the liquid can include a non-tobacco material, other flavor materials, and can be nicotine-free. For example, the liquid can include water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts and natural or artificial flavors. Preferably, the liquid further includes an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerin and propylene glycol. The liquid material also can include preservatives or pH modifying agents, such as organic and inorganic acids.
Upon completing the threaded connection 205, the battery 305 is configured for connection with the electrical heater 315 of the first section 201. Air is drawn primarily into the first section 210 through one or more air inlets 210. An alternative to threaded connection 205 includes connections with pins and releasable detents or electrical bearing surfaces with releasable detents, rotational locking devices, or the like. In certain embodiments, the detent cooperates with a raised annulus. One or more biased balls can be used in lieu of or in addition to the raised annulus.
Once the material liquid of the liquid supply region 310 is spent, the first section 201 can be replaced. An alternate arrangement includes a layout in which the electronic cigarette 106 is disposed once the liquid material is depleted. In such a case, the battery type and other features can be engineered for simplicity and cost-effectiveness, but generally embody the same concepts in which the second section is reused or recharged. In certain embodiments, the section 201 is separated from section 202 and additional liquid material can be introduced into the liquid supply region 310 so that the entire electronic cigarette 106 is re-usable. Section 201 can also include a port for introducing additional liquid material into the liquid supply region 310 so that the entire electronic cigarette 106 is re-usable.
The electronic cigarette 106 is dimensioned to be about the same size as a conventional cigarette. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette 106 is dimensioned to be about 80 mm to about 110 mm long, such as about 80 mm to about 100 mm long and about 7 mm to about 8 mm in diameter. For example, in certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette 106 is about 84 mm long and has a diameter of about 7.8 mm.
The electronic cigarette 106 includes an outer tube 215, an inner tube 335, or a combination thereof. The outer tube 215, the inner tube 335, or both the other tube 215 and the inner tube 335 can be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials include metals, alloys, plastics or composite materials containing one or more of those materials, or thermoplastics that are suitable for food or pharmaceutical applications, for example polypropylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), ceramic, and polyethylene. The material can also be light and non-brittle.
At least one air inlet 210 is formed in the outer tube 215, such as adjacent the threaded connection 205 to minimize the chance of a smoker′ fingers occluding one of the ports and to control the resistance to draw during smoking. Each of the air inlets 210 are machined into the tube 215 with precision tooling such that their diameters are closely controlled and replicated from one electronic cigarette 106 to the next during their manufacture. The air inlets 210 are drilled with carbide drill bits or other high-precision tools or techniques. The air inlets 210 provide consistent resistance to draw. The air inlets 210 can be sized and configured such that the electronic cigarette 106 has a resistance to draw in the range of from about 60 mm H2O to about 150 mm H2O, about 90 mm H2O to about 110 mm H2O, or about 100 mm H2O to about 130 mm H2O.
The air inlets 210 control the level of resistance to draw of the electronic cigarette 106, which can be set at a level that contributes a drawing experience similar to that of drawing upon a conventional, lit-end cigarette. In an embodiment, when the electronic cigarette is encased, the air inlets 210 can be larger to account for an additional air passage from the ambient into a casing a through the air inlet 210.
The first section 201 also includes a mouth end insert 330 having at least two diverging outlet passages 334 (such as three (3), four (4), five (5) or more, such as two (2) to ten (10) outlets or more, such as two (2) to six (6) outlet passages 334, such as four (4) outlet passages 334). The outlet passages 334 are located off-axis and are angled outwardly in relation to the central channel 350 of the inner tube 335 (such as divergently). Additionally, the mouth end insert (or flow guide) 330 includes outlets 334 uniformly distributed about the perimeter of mouth end insert 330 so as to substantially uniformly distribute aerosol in a smoker's mouth during use and create a greater perception of fullness in the mouth. Thus, as the aerosol passes into a smoker's mouth, the aerosol enters the mouth and moves in different directions so as to provide a full mouth feel. The mouth end insert 330 also can be removable from the electronic cigarette 106 for cleaning, replacement due to damage, or the like.
A control circuit can be configured to supply power to the heater 315 (such as an atomizer) so that when a smoker takes a puff, the heater 315 heats a portion of the liquid material from the liquid supply region 310, such as through a wick 320. The control circuit can activate the power supply in response to a smoker taking a puff. For example, the control circuit can be integrated with a puff sensor 340 and can supply power to the heater 315 in response to detecting a puff by the puff sensor 340, preferably with a maximum, time-period limiter. The puff sensor 340 detects airflow and subsequently activates the heater 315. Alternatively, the control circuitry includes a manually operable switch for a smoker to initiate a puff. The time-period of the electric current supply to the heater can be pre-set depending on the amount of liquid desired to be vaporized. Alternatively, the circuitry supplies power to the heater 315 as long as the puff sensor 16 detects a pressure drop.
As shown in
As shown in
An adapter 104 can include a recess integrated with the mobile device case 102.
The recess 642 can also include one or more slots or holes at least partially radially displaced along a portion of the recess 642 exposing a larger portion of an electronic cigarette 106 to the ambient. This configuration allows for air flow to enter air inlets so that a smoker may effectively smoke an electronic cigarette 106. The air inlets can be axially aligned with the slots or the holes so that a sufficient amount of air flow can enter the air flow inlets and exit one or more of the air flow outlets.
The adapter 104 can also including an encasing.
In certain embodiments, the encasing 743 can encase an electronic cigarette 106.
In certain embodiments, the encasing 743 includes an inner casing disposed within the encasing 743 and configured to hold or retain an electronic cigarette 106. The inner casing is retractable so that an electronic cigarette 106 can be moved a distance through encasing 743 along the encasing axis.
It should be understood that the inner casing 965 can be configured to releasably lock in a retracted position as shown in
In certain embodiments, the adapter 104 such as an adapter 104 with an encasing 743, an inner casing 965, or both, can include at least an air permeable portion 970 allowing air flow to enter air inlets of the electronic cigarette 106 permitting a smoker to pull air through the electronic cigarette 106 via the air inlets to extract or consume the vapor. Additionally, the adapter 104 can include one or more ports 975 to allow a button, lever, or the like, attached to the electronic cigarette 106 to penetrate through the adapter 104 so that, for example, the button may be accessed to activate the heater to facilitate smoking.
In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette 106 is integrated with the encasing 743 such that an outer tube of the electronic cigarette 106 includes the encasing 743 or the inner casing 965 within an encasing 743. The encasing 743, the inner casing 965, or both, can include one or more removable pieces configured to allow the replacement of one or more individual components of the integrated electronic cigarette 106. For example, a removable piece can be positioned to allow easy removal of a battery, the addition of more liquid material, or for the replacement or cleaning of a new mouth end insert. The removable piece can be located at a distal end of the encasing, via the air permeable portion 970 (such that the air permeable portion can be open or removable), or the like.
For example, an electronic cigarette 106 can be integrated with the mobile device case 102 and electrically coupled to the battery or booster battery 1080 of the mobile device case 102. At the same time a mobile device 101 can be attached to the case so that the mobile device 101 is also electrically coupled via electrical coupling 1083 to one or more of: the battery or the booster battery 1080. Thus, if either the battery of the mobile device drains, becomes low, or empties, or the battery of the electronic cigarette 106 drains, becomes low, or empties, the battery or the booster battery 1080 or combination thereof, of the mobile device case 102 can provide supplemental power to either or both the mobile device 101 or the electronic cigarette 106.
In certain embodiments, the mobile device case 102 including the battery or booster battery 1080, or both, can be configured so that the mobile device case 102 is coupled to a power outlet via a plug or USB connection 1081 and so that one or more of the mobile device case battery or booster battery 1080, the battery of the mobile device 101, the battery of the electronic cigarette 106, can be charged at the same time. Furthermore, the mobile device case 102 including the battery or booster battery 1080, or both, can also include one or more switches 1082 so that a user can activate or cut-off power transfer via electrical coupling 1083 from the battery or booster battery 1080 of the mobile device case 102 to the mobile device 101 or the electronic cigarette 106. Furthermore, circuitry within the mobile device case 102 can be configured to prioritize power transfer between the mobile device case battery, booster battery 1080, or both, and the mobile device 101 or between the mobile device case battery or booster battery 1080, or both, and the electronic cigarette 106.
Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device; and
- an adapter configured to removably couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to couple the electronic cigarette to the mobile device case using one or more straps.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to couple the electronic cigarette to the mobile device case using a recess.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the recess comprises a C-shaped configuration configured to clasp and hold the electronic cigarette in radial or axial position with respect to the mobile device case.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to couple the electronic cigarette to the mobile device case via an encasing.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the encasing houses the electronic cigarette and comprises at least one opening configured to allow at least a portion of the electronic to extend through the opening.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the adapter comprises a removable cap configured to house at least a portion of the electronic cigarette extending through the opening of the encasing.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the encasing comprises a retractable inner casing configured to move at least a portion of the electronic cigarette through the opening of the encasing.
9. An apparatus comprising:
- a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device; and
- an adapter configured to couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adapter is configured to permit the replacement of one or more components of the electronic cigarette without decoupling the electronic cigarette from the mobile device case.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adapter comprises at least two openings configured to permit air flow into and out of the electronic cigarette.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises a battery booster configured to supply power to at least the electronic cigarette.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electronic cigarette is integrated with the adapter.
14. An apparatus comprising:
- a mobile device case configured to attach to a mobile device;
- an adapter configured to couple an electronic cigarette to the mobile device case; and
- a battery booster configured to supply power to at least one of a mobile device attached to the mobile device case and an electronic cigarette coupled to the mobile.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the battery booster is configured to supply power to the mobile device and the electronic cigarette at a same time interval or at separate time intervals.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adapter is configured to couple the electronic cigarette to the mobile device case using one or more straps.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adapter is configured to couple the electronic cigarette to the mobile device case using a recess.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the recess comprises a C-shaped configuration configured to clasp and hold the electronic cigarette in radial or axial position with respect to the mobile device case.
19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adapter is configured to couple the electronic cigarette to the mobile device case via an encasing.
20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a power connection configured to couple with a power supply to charge at least one of the mobile device, the electronic cigarette, or the battery booster.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 15, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 16, 2015
Inventor: Parker Ash (Norman, OK)
Application Number: 14/515,356
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101); A24F 47/00 (20060101); A24F 15/18 (20060101);