ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE COVER

Abstract

A cover for an e-cigarette having a mouthpiece for emitting vapor, includes a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a mechanism configured to be actuated by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette. The mechanism may be a spring interconnecting the top cover part and the bottom cover part, each of which surround the e-cigarette. The spring permits the top cover part to move between an upper released position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the spring and a lower actuated position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the thumb of the user. Flexible regions, knobs, detents and recesses may also be used as the mechanism and the top part may have a cap. Disposable and rechargeable e-cigarettes may be used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cover for an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette, which allows the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette to be covered to promote cleanliness.

2. Description of the Related Art

An e-cigarette is a personal vaporizer or electronic nicotine delivery system which is battery-powered and simulates tobacco smoking. The e-cigarette uses a heating element or atomizer for a liquid solution which may contain a mixture of nicotine and/or flavorings. Most, but not all, e-cigarettes are cylindrical and look like tobacco cigarettes. Some are one-piece disposable units and some have disposable and interchangeable liquid flavor containers and rechargeable batteries.

In contrast to tobacco cigarettes which are smoked and discarded, all e-cigarettes are used over and over again. Therefore, the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette is subject to soiling and contamination by germs when touched by the hands or other objects and such soiling and contamination can easily come into contact with the mouth of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an e-cigarette cover, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which allows the mouthpiece of an e-cigarette to be covered when not in use to promote cleanliness.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a cover for an e-cigarette having a mouthpiece for emitting vapor. The cover comprises a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a mechanism configured to be actuated by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette. The mechanism may be a spring interconnecting the top cover part and the bottom cover part, each of which surround the e-cigarette. The spring permits the top cover part to move between an upper released position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the spring and a lower actuated position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the thumb of the user. Flexible regions, knobs, detents and recesses may also be used as the mechanism and the top part may have a cap. The cover may be used with disposable or rechargeable e-cigarettes.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an e-cigarette cover, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1-12 are diagrammatic, perspective and elevational views of a first embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a spring are formed in one piece;

FIGS. 13-17 are perspective and elevational views of a second embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a top cover part, a bottom ring and a spring are formed in one piece;

FIGS. 18-21 are perspective and elevational views of a third embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a spring are formed in one piece and used for a rechargeable e-cigarette;

FIGS. 22-25 are perspective and elevational views of a fourth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a top cover part, a bottom ring and a spring are formed in one piece for use with a rechargeable e-cigarette;

FIGS. 26-29 are perspective and elevational views of a fifth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which the top cover part hides the spring;

FIGS. 30-33 are perspective and elevational views of a sixth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which the cover is formed in one piece with a thin plastic part instead of a spring;

FIGS. 34-37 are perspective and elevational views of a seventh embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a soft material acting as a spring is molded in one piece with a top cover part and a bottom cover part;

FIGS. 38-45 are perspective and elevational views of a eighth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a top cover part and a bottom cover part are formed in one piece and a spring is elongated by a knob;

FIGS. 46-47 are perspective and elevational views of an ninth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, which is similar to the seventh embodiment, but is used with a flavor container for a rechargeable e-cigarette;

FIGS. 48-53 are perspective and elevational views of a tenth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which the cover is formed in one piece and a rubber ring holds the e-cigarette in exposed and recessed positions;

FIGS. 54-59 are perspective and elevational views of a eleventh embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a bump on a bottom cover part holds a top cover part and the bottom cover part in place;

FIGS. 60-67 are perspective and elevational views of an twelfth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, which is similar to the first embodiment, but has a stopper which holds the top cover part in a lowered position;

FIGS. 68-73 are perspective and elevational views of a thirteenth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a facet ring or a facet body prevents the cover from rolling; and

FIGS. 74-79 are perspective and elevational views of a fourteenth embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a cap on the top cover part covers a mouthpiece of the e-cigarette and also covers a top surface of the e-cigarette when the top cover part moves up.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1-12 thereof, there is seen a first embodiment of an e-cigarette cover 1 including a top cover part 2, a bottom cover part 3 and a spring 4 which are preferably, but not necessarily, formed together in one piece from a hard material such as plastic. In a released position shown in FIG. 1, the top cover part 2 covers a mouthpiece region 5 of an e-cigarette 7 which touches the mouth of a user and has a hole 6 from which vapor emerges. In order to use the cover 1, the user slides the top cover part 2 downward into an actuated position by using the thumb of one hand 10 which compresses the spring 4. When released, the spring pushes the top cover part 2 upward again to cover the mouthpiece region 5. The spring 4 provides a mechanism actuable by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region 5 of the e-cigarette 7.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate further details of the cover 1 in the released position, covering the mouthpiece region 5, from which it can be seen that the spring 4 may be formed in one piece with the top and bottom cover parts from a thin plastic, but may also be a metal spring molded with the plastic top and bottom cover parts 2, 3 or all three components 2, 3, 4 may be formed of metal. A body 8 of the e-cigarette 7 may be seen, as well as a cap 9 disposed at the bottom of the bottom cover part 3 or formed in one piece with the bottom cover part 3. The e-cigarette 7 is inserted into the cover 1 from the bottom and held in place by a tight fit or snap connection or adhesive and the cap 9. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate further details of the cover 1 in the actuated position and FIGS. 9-12 show the cover 1 disassembled from the e-cigarette 7. A snap connection of two cylindrical bodies is understood to mean that there is a detent or bump on one body and a recess or another detent or bump on the other body, which slide across one another and lock with the detent or bump of one body in the recess or on the other side of the detent or bump of the other body.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-17, a short cover 21 can be seen, in which an end of the spring 4 or a rim or ring 12 replaces the bottom cover part 3 of the first embodiment. The top cover part 2, the spring 3 and the rim or ring 22 are formed in one piece from plastic or metal or a combination thereof, as described above. In this case, the e-cigarette has a step 23 formed thereon on which the rim or ring 22 or the end of the spring rests. The cover 21 operates like the cover 1.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 18-21, a cover 31 can be seen as having a top cover part 2, a bottom cover part 3 and a spring 4 formed from plastic or metal or a combination thereof, as described above. However, the cover 31 is used for a rechargeable e-cigarette 32 having a flavor container 33 and a battery 34 interconnected by a threaded connection 35. In this case, the battery 34 is snapped or glued to the spring 4.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 22-25, a short cover 41 is seen to have a top cover part 2, a spring 4 and a bottom ring 42 formed from plastic or metal or a combination thereof, as described above, for use with a rechargeable e-cigarette. The bottom ring 42 is held in place on a flavor container 43 by a tight fit or snap connection or adhesive. The flavor container 43 is connected to a battery 44 by a threaded connection 45.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 26-29, a cover 51 includes a top cover part 2, a bottom cover part 3 and a spring 54 formed from plastic or metal or a combination thereof, as described above. In this case, the top cover part 2 hides the spring 54, but otherwise, the cover 51 operates like the cover 1.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 30-33, a cover 61 is formed as a one-part plastic cover which has a spring region 64 cut into strips 65. The spring region 64 divides the cover 61 into a top cover part 62 and a bottom cover part 63. The strips 65 are thin enough to deform and bulge outwardly when the top cover part 62 is pushed down by the thumb, as can be seen in FIGS. 32 and 33. A portion of the e-cigarette body 8 is exposed in the process. Once again, the top cover part 62 will assume the released position when the thumb releases it. The spring region 64 provides a mechanism actuable by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 34-37, a cover 71 is seen in which a top cover part 72, a bottom cover part 73 and a spring region 74 are molded together in one piece. The spring region 74 is formed of a soft, flexible material such as rubber, TPU, TPE or TRR. When the top cover part 72 is pushed down by the thumb of a user, the spring region 74 is deformed and bulges outward as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, but returns when released. The spring region 74 provides a mechanism actuable by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the eighth embodiment shown in FIGS. 38-45, a cover 81 has a window 86 formed therein and the e-cigarette 87 has a body 88 with a knob 89 to be actuated by the thumb of a user who reaches through the window 86. The window 86 divides the cover 81 into a top cover part 82 and a bottom cover part 83. FIG. 41 shows a spring 84 holding down the e-cigarette body 88 so that the mouthpiece 85 of the e-cigarette is covered by the top cover part 82. FIG. 45 shows that upon sliding the knob 89 upward within the window 86, the spring 84 is stretched and the mouthpiece 85 is exposed. The knob is limited in its movement by edges of the top cover part 82 and bottom cover part 83 forming stops. When released, the spring pulls the e-cigarette downward again. The window 86, the knob 89 and the spring 84 provide a mechanism actuable by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the ninth embodiment shown in FIGS. 46-47, a cover 91 operates like the cover 81, but an e-cigarette 97 has a flavor container 98 and a battery 99 which are interconnected at a threaded connection 95.

In the tenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 48-53, a cover 101 is formed in one piece and has a top end bead 102 and a bottom end bead 103, both of which have an inside diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the rest of the cover, but larger than the outside diameter of the e-cigarette 107. The cover 101 also has a bump or detent 105 on the inner surface thereof at a distance below the top end bead 102. The e-cigarette 107 has raised portions or points 106, 108, between which a recess 109 is formed. A rubber ring 104 is secured in the recess 109.

In order to move the e-cigarette 107 from the retracted position shown in FIGS. 48-50 to the exposed position shown in FIGS. 51-53, the user shakes the cover 101 and the rubber ring 104 jumps over the bump or detent 105, until it is stopped by the top end bead 102, allowing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette 107 to be exposed. In this position, the rubber ring 104 frictionally holds the e-cigarette 107 in the exposed position. Another shake will return the e-cigarette 107 into the retracted position in which the bottom of the e-cigarette 107 is stopped by the bottom end bead 103. The elements 104-106 and 108-109 together provide a mechanism, actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the eleventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 54-59, a cover 111 has a top cover part 112 and a bottom cover part 113. As is best seen in FIGS. 56 and 59, the top cover part 112 has a top end bead 114 and a bottom end 115, both of which have an inside diameter which is smaller than the basic inside diameter of the rest of the cover 111, but larger than the outside diameter of the e-cigarette 7. The bottom cover part 113 has a bump 116 with an outside diameter which is larger than the basic outside diameter of the bottom cover part 113 and larger than the inside diameter of the top end bead 114 and the bottom end 115. In the retracted position shown in FIGS. 54-56, the bottom end 115 and the bump 116 are engaged with each other and hold the top cover part 112 in a position covering the mouthpiece 5 of the e-cigarette 7. However, a user can easily overcome this hold and slide the top cover part 112 down with the thumb into the exposed position shown in FIGS. 57-59 in which the top end bead 114 and the bump 116 are engaged with each other and the bottom end 115 frictionally engages the e-cigarette 7 to hold the top cover part 112 in a position exposing the mouthpiece 5 of the e-cigarette 7. The elements 114-116 together provide a mechanism, actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the twelfth embodiment shown in FIGS. 60-67, a cover 121 is shown which is similar to the cover of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12, in that a top cover part 122, a bottom cover part 123 and a spring 124 are preferably, but not necessarily, formed together in one piece from a hard material such as plastic, although a metal spring may be molded with the plastic top and bottom cover parts or all three components may be formed of metal. However, in this embodiment, an e-cigarette 127 has a bump or detent 125 which engages into a recess or indentation 126 formed in the inner surface of the top cover part 122 to hold the top cover part 122 when pushed down by the thumb in the retracted position. When the top cover part 122 is pushed up using the thumb, the components or elements 125, 126 are released and the top cover part 122 bounces back into the released position due to the action of the spring 124. The elements 125 and 126 together provide a mechanism, actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 68-73, a cover 131, which is otherwise similar to the cover of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12, has a facet rim or ring 135 on the top cover part 132 and/or a facet portion 136 on the bottom cover part 133, which prevent the cover 131 from rolling.

In the fourteenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 74-79, a cover 141 is shown which is similar to the cover of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12, in that a top cover part 142, a bottom cover part 143 and a spring 144 are preferably, but not necessarily, formed together in one piece from a hard material such as plastic, although a metal spring may be molded with the plastic top and bottom cover parts or all three components may be formed of metal. However, in this embodiment, the top cover part 142 has a cap 145 held to the rest of the top cover part 142 by a thin plastic, elastic web 146. The cap 145 and the top cover part 142 meet at a slanted parting line 147 as shown in FIGS. 74-76. When the top cover part 142 is pushed down against the force of the spring 144, the mouthpiece 5 pushes the cap 145 away as shown in FIGS. 77-79, exposing the mouthpiece 5. When the top cover part 142 is released so that the cover assumes the released position, the web 146 springs or biases the cap 145 back into its closed position, covering the mouthpiece 5. The cap 145 is part of a mechanism, actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

Claims

1. A cover for an e-cigarette having a mouthpiece for emitting vapor, the cover comprising:

a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a mechanism configured to be actuated by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette.

2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein:

said mechanism is a spring interconnecting said top cover part and said bottom cover part;

said top cover part, said bottom cover part and said spring surround the e-cigarette; and

said spring permits said top cover part to move between an upper released position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of said spring and a lower actuated position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the thumb of the user.

3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said top cover part, said bottom cover part and said spring are formed as one piece.

4. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said top cover part, said bottom cover part and said spring are separate pieces being molded together.

5. The cover according to claim 3, wherein said one piece is formed of plastic or metal.

6. The cover according to claim 4, wherein said separate pieces are at least partly formed of plastic or at least partly formed of metal.

7. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said bottom cover part is a ring held against the e-cigarette.

8. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said bottom cover part is a ring abutting against a step of the e-cigarette.

9. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the e-cigarette has a flavor container and battery releasably connected to one another.

10. The cover according to claim 7, wherein the e-cigarette has a flavor container and battery releasably connected to one another.

11. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said spring is completely surrounded by said top cover part.

12. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism is a spring region cut into strips and dividing the cover into said top cover part and said bottom cover part, said strips deforming and bulging outward upon pushing said top cover part downward by the thumb of the user and moving inward upon being released by the thumb of the user.

13. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism is a spring region formed of flexible material dividing the cover into said top cover part and said bottom cover part, said flexible material deforming and bulging outward upon pushing said top cover part downward by the thumb of the user and moving inward upon being released by the thumb of the user.

14. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a window formed in said cover, a knob formed on the e-cigarette and accessible through said window and a spring, said spring holding down the e-cigarette upon said knob being released by the thumb of the user and being stretched upon moving said knob upward by the thumb of the user to expose the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette.

15. The cover according to claim 14, wherein the e-cigarette has a flavor container and battery releasably connected to one another, and said knob is formed on the battery.

16. The cover according to claim 1, wherein:

said mechanism includes an elastic ring held on the e-cigarette and a bump or detent formed on an inner surface of the cover and dividing the cover into said top cover part and said bottom cover part; and

said elastic ring configured to be moved between a position retained below said bump or detent with the cover covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette and a position above said bump or detent with the cover exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette, by shaking the cover.

17. The cover according to claim 1, wherein:

said top cover part has a basic inside diameter and a top end bead with an inside diameter smaller than said basic inside diameter;

said bottom cover part has a basic outside diameter and a bump with an outside diameter being larger than said basic outside diameter and larger than said inside diameter of the top end bead; and

said top end bead and said bump forming said mechanism holding said top cover part in a position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette when said bump is disposed below said top end bead and in a position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette when said bump is moved below said top end bead by the thumb of the user.

18. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said top cover part has an inner surface with a recess or indentation formed therein and configured to be engaged by a bump or detent on the e-cigarette to hold said top cover part against a force of said spring when pushed down by the thumb of the user into said actuated position.

19. The cover according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said top cover part or said bottom cover part has a facet or rim preventing the cover from rolling on a surface.

20. The cover according to claim 1, which further comprises:

a cap held on said top cover part by an elastic web, said cap and said top cover part meeting at a slanted parting line; and

said cap being pushed away from said top cover part by the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette upon pushing said top cover part downward by the thumb of the user, and said elastic web biasing said cap back into a closed position covering the mouthpiece upon upward movement of said top cover part.