E-Cigarette Width Extender with Battery

Abstract

An e-cigarette holder widens the width of an e-cigarette while having a top side flush with the e-cigarette. A portal within the e-cigarette holder receives the e-cigarette such that when the top side of the e-cigarette is flush with the top of the holder, a bottom side is engaged with electrical connectors at the bottom of the portal. A battery within the e-cigarette holder provides electrical current to charge or power the e-cigarette.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology relates generally to e-cigarettes, and more specifically, to an e-cigarette holder.

BACKGROUND

E-cigarettes are the like are used as an often safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. They can come in varieties with tobacco, without tobacco, with nicotine, without nicotine, and with or without various other components found in traditional cigarettes. They can also be used to help people wean themselves off of addiction to cigarettes and control their intake of harmful drugs and chemicals.

One of the downsides to e-cigarettes, and for that matter, most hand-held electronics, is that it is battery powered and when one runs out of battery, the device becomes unusable until the battery is charged again. Separate battery packs are known in the art for use with, for example, hand-held phones. However, these battery packs require plugging in cables in most cases and can be unwieldy. A solution is needed which allows one to use an e-cigarette and have additional electric current available for use without having to open up the e-cigarette and modify or use a cumbersome external battery pack.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

An e-cigarette holder of embodiments of the disclosed technology is a housing designed to hold an e-cigarette. An e-cigarette is defined as a device which dispenses drugs or drug substitutes such as tobacco without the aid of other devices. Thus, an e-cigarette, for purposes of the disclosed technology, has all the parts needed to hold and dispense a drug or drug substitute. An e-cigarette holder, for purposes of this disclosure is a device which attaches to, abuts against, or holds an e-cigarette thereto. In embodiments of the disclosed technology the e-cigarette holder has a top side, bottom side, front side, left side, and right side. The top side has an opening into a portal where an e-cigarette can enter and be placed. It can have a length equal to that of the e-cigarette or less than that of the e-cigarette so that the e-cigarette is fully or mostly within the portal. The portal itself can extend a majority of a longest length of the holder. A small section beneath the portal and above the bottom side of the housing houses electronics, such as electrical contacts, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. A battery is hidden within in the housing in embodiments of the disclosed technology, meaning that it is out of view from an observer looking at the housing.

A window opening through the front side of the housing opens into the portal in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The window extends for at least a majority of a length of the portal in some embodiments. This window can also have rounded top and bottom extends (sides) thereof. The length of the portal is equal to a length of an e-cigarette placed therein such that an operative end of the e-cigarette is aligned with the top side of the e-cigarette holder. The window can open to buttons for operation of the e-cigarette, such as an on/off button or buttons to control the strength of the output of vapors.

A kit with the e-cigarette holder and an e-cigarette includes, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, an a e-cigarette with a longest length equal to that of a longest length of the portal. As such, the e-cigarette substantially or fully fills the portal causing the e-cigarette to be filled from top to bottom end and left to right end. A sucking end, or operative end (defined as a side of the e-cigarette to be placed within or abutting one's mouth to retrieve a drug or substitute for a drug) of the e-cigarette is flush with a top side of the housing in embodiments of the disclosed technology. This can be simultaneous to the e-cigarette abutting a bottom most extent of the portal (and being electrically coupled to the battery within the housing). The e-cigarette can have a button for operation thereof, accessible through the window. The portal can be entirely on one side of the housing, such as on the right side, while the battery is on the left side and part of the right side as the battery is much wider than the e-cigarette. One can insert an e-cigarette through the top side of the housing into the portal causing the e-cigarette to be electrically coupled with the battery and an operative end of the e-cigarette to be flush with the top side of the housing. One can then suck vapor from the e-cigarette, causing the e-cigarette to obtain electrical current from said battery. While doing so, one's lips may invariably touch the top side of the housing as well. Further, one can push a button on the e-cigarette by reaching through the window and depressing a button thereon.

An e-cigarette holder of embodiments of the disclosed technology is designed for use with a rectangular e-cigarette. A rectangular shaped portal extending through at least a majority of a length of the holder has a window through which the e-cigarette controls are accessible, and an electrical connector at a bottom side of the portal adapted to be abutted by the e-cigarette and be electrically coupled thereto. A length of the portal is substantially equal to that of the e-cigarette designed for use therewith. An operative end of the e-cigarette is flush with an end of the e-cigarette holder. One uses this e-cigarette by sucking on the end of the e-cigarette holder which is flush with the e-cigarette, in such embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. “Substantially” is defined as “at least 95% of the term being described” and any device or aspect of a device or method described herein can be read as “comprising” or “consisting” thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top and front side perspective view of an e-cigarette holder of an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom and rear side perspective thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view thereof with a position of a battery and electric leads superimposed over the figure.

FIG. 4 shows a rear elevation view thereof.

FIG. 5 shows a left or right side view thereof.

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 8 shows a top and side cutaway view thereof along section line 6-6 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows a top and side perspective view with an e-cigarette being inserted in a portal of the holder in and embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 10 shows the top and side perspective view with an e-cigarette fully inserted in the portal of the holder, the holder being cut along section line 6-6 of FIG. 6 in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

An e-cigarette holder widens the width of an e-cigarette while having a top side flush with the e-cigarette. A portal within the e-cigarette holder receives the e-cigarette such that when the top side of the e-cigarette is flush with the top of the holder, a bottom side is engaged with electrical connectors at the bottom of the portal. A battery within the e-cigarette holder provides electrical current to charge or power the e-cigarette.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following description of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a top and front side perspective view of an e-cigarette holder of an embodiment of the disclosed technology. The e-cigarette holder, herein referred to simply as the “holder” has a top side 20 opposite a bottom side 18. A left side 12 is opposite a right side 14. A front side 10 is opposite a rear side 16 (see FIG. 2). For purposes of this disclosure and the claims the “top” is referred to as the side with the portal opening 22 where an e-cigarette enters. The “bottom” is opposite the top side, and so forth as this is the most common orientation of the device when in use. The device itself can be rectangular or generally rectangular with rounded sides 12/14 making the device more comfortable to hold than, for example, an e-cigarette with sharp or abrupt edges.

The top side 20 has an opening 22 to a portal 30 such as a rectangular portal which has the same or substantially the side length and width of an e-cigarette to be placed therein, such that an e-cigarette substantially or fully fills the opening 22 to the portal 30 when it is placed therein. The bottom side 32 of the portal 30 is the furthest extent to which an e-cigarette can extend downwards. This distance between the bottom side 32 and the top portal 22 is equal to a depth (longest length) of an e-cigarette used in embodiments of the disclosed technology. A window 34 on (cut into) the front side 10 of the holder allows one to use buttons on an e-cigarette and be unobstructed by the holder when doing so. This window can have curved top and bottom extents and can extend at least a majority of a longest length of the holder and/or an e-cigarette inserted therein.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom and rear side perspective thereof. Here the back side 16 is seen as is the bottom side 18. In some embodiments, the bottom side has connectors 19 such as to connect to an external power source or attach the holder to another device. An external power source can be used to charge a battery held within the holder.

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view thereof with a position of a battery and electric leads superimposed over the figure. Here, the battery 40 takes up a majority of the interior space of the housing, such as an entire left side of the device, plus some of the right side of the device, the left and right halves of the device being on either side of an imaginary vertical line on the page showing FIG. 3, the line placed equidistant from the far left and right sides of the device, as shown in this front elevation view. A wire or electrical connector can electrically connect or couple the battery to an external power source (see FIG. 3) and/or an e-cigarette (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Electrical connectors 44, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, are on a top facing side of a bottom of the portal 30 which allow an e-cigarette and electrical connectors there-in to receive electrical current from the battery 40.

FIG. 4 shows a rear elevation view thereof. Here, the rear side 16 and part of rounded left and right sides 12/14 are viewable.

FIG. 5 shows a left or right side view thereof. The left and right side are mirror images thereof in the embodiment shown.

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view thereof. This top plan view allows one to see down into the opening 22 of the portal for the e-cigarette. At the bottom of this portal, along the bottom edge 32 are electrical contacts or connectors 44. An e-cigarette pushed fully down through the portal opening 22 until it can be pushed in no further (without breaking or changing the shape of the otherwise rigid and solid holder and/or e-cigarette), in embodiments of the disclosed technology, becomes electrically connected or coupled to the leads 44 and the battery 40 due to direct connect between electrical connectors on the e-cigarette and the leads 44. To be “electrically connected” or “electrically coupled” is defined, for purposes of this disclosure, as having a direct point of contact via an electrical conductor, such as a metal wire, with another device creating a path for electrical current to flow between the devices which are connected/coupled. For example, when the battery 40 is electrically coupled with electrical connectors of an e-cigarette, electric current can flow from the battery into the e-cigarette via the electrical connectors.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom plan view thereof. The bottom side 18 is identical in size to the top size in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Only the top side, to the exclusion of the bottom side, has an opening directly into the portal 30 in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 8 shows a top and side cutaway view thereof along section line 6-6 of FIG. 6. Here, one can see the bottom side 32 of the portal 30 having the electrical contacts 44 which connect to electrical connectors of an e-cigarette. The portal has a back side 36 forming an opposite wall from the back side 16 of the housing. In interior side wall 38 is between a front and back side of the portal 30. On the front wall, section 11 is between a top side 20 of the holder and the window 34, and section 13 is between a bottom side of the device and a bottom part of the window 34. These sections 11 and 13 can have flat ends on one side and curvilinear side opposite thereto.

FIG. 9 shows a top and side perspective view with an e-cigarette being inserted in a portal of the holder in and embodiment of the disclosed technology. Here, note that the e-cigarette 50 with a length (depth) of 42 and width of 54 is placed through the portal 22 snugly, meaning that the e-cigarette substantially or fully fills the spaced outlined by the opening 22 into the portal 30. As the e-cigarette slides downwards, the portal 30 is filled more and more until being substantially or fully filled by the e-cigarette 50. Note that the depth 52 of the e-cigarette is substantially or exactly equal to the corresponding depth (longest length) of the portal 30 and the width 54 is substantially or exactly equal to the width of the portal. That is, the longest height, width, and length (each of the three cardinal directions in a three dimensional coordinate plane) of the portal 30 are substantially or fully equal to that of the e-cigarette placed there-within in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 10 shows the top and side perspective view with an e-cigarette fully inserted in the portal of the holder, the holder being cut along section line 6-6 of FIG. 6 in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. Here, with the e-cigarette 50 placed fully in the portal 30, the e-cigarette shows through and fills the window 34 as well as touches a bottom side 32 of the portal. Buttons 58 on the e-cigarette 50 are now accessible through the portal. The button can be visible on the external side of the e-cigarette or require depressing out a case of the e-cigarette inwards. Electrical contacts 56 are on the bottom side of the e-cigarette in embodiments of the disclosed technology (but shown in outline in the Figure so that a relative position thereof can be seen). The top width 54 of the e-cigarette, or at least a portion of same can be in-line with/flush with the top 20 of the holder. To use the e-cigarette, one sucks on the operative end (top side or top section above a wider or fixed portion of the housing demarcated by the hexagon and horizontal line). Thus, one's lips, when using the e-cigarette 50 in the holder also touch at least the top side 20 of the holder in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Further, it should be understood that all subject matter disclosed herein is directed at, and should be read only on, statutory, non-abstract subject matter. All terminology should be read to include only the portions of the definitions which may be claimed. By way of example, “computer readable storage medium” is understood to be defined as only non-transitory storage media.

While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.

Claims

1. An e-cigarette holder, comprising:

a housing with a top side, bottom side, front side, left side, and right side;

a battery hidden from view within said housing;

a portal extending a majority of a longest length of said housing and opening at said top side;

an electric connector at a bottom most extent of said portal electrically coupled with said battery;

a window opening through said front side of said housing into said portal.

2. The e-cigarette holder of claim 1, wherein said window extends for at least a majority of a length of said portal.

3. The e-cigarette holder of claim 2, wherein said window has rounded top and bottom extents thereof.

4. The e-cigarette holder of claim 2, wherein said length of said portal is equal to a length of an e-cigarette placed therein such that an operative end of said e-cigarette is aligned with said top side of said e-cigarette holder.

5. The e-cigarette holder of claim 4, wherein said window opens to buttons for operation of said e-cigarette.

6. A kit comprising said e-cigarette holder of claim 1 and an e-cigarette, wherein:

said e-cigarette has a longest length equal to that of a longest length of said portal; and

a sucking end of said e-cigarette is flush with a top side of said housing simultaneous to said e-cigarette abutting a bottom most extent of said portal.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein said e-cigarette comprises a button for operation thereof accessible through said window.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein said portal is entirely on right side side of said device and said battery is on said left side of said device and at least a part of said right side of said device.

9. A method of using said e-cigarette holder of claim 1, comprising a steps of:

inserting an e-cigarette through said top side of said housing into said portal causing said e-cigarette to be electrically coupled with said battery and an operative end of said e-cigarette to be flush with said top side of said housing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein during said method said portal becomes filled by said e-cigarette.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of sucking vapor from said e-cigarette, causing said e-cigarette to obtain electrical current from said battery.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising operating said e-cigarette by reaching through said window and depressing a button thereon.

13. An e-cigarette holder designed for use with a rectangular e-cigarette comprising:

a rectangular shaped portal extending through at least a majority of a length of said holder;

a window through which said e-cigarette is accessible;

an electrical connector at a bottom side of said portal adapted to be abutted by said e-cigarette and be electrically coupled thereto;

wherein a length of said portal is substantially equal to that of said e-cigarette designed for use therewith.

14. The e-cigarette holder of claim 13, wherein an operative end of said e-cigarette is flush with an end of said e-cigarette holder.

15. A method of using said e-cigarette holder of claim 14, comprising sucking on said end of said e-cigarette holder which is flush with said e-cigarette.

16. An e-cigarette holder which extends the width of an e-cigarette comprising:

a portal having a matching length and width of said e-cigarette, through which said e-cigarette enters;

wherein a depth of maximum insertion of said e-cigarette into said portal matches a depth of said e-cigarette such that a maximally inserted said e-cigarette has an operative end in-line with a side of said e-cigarette holder with said portal.