VAPE DEVICE

Abstract

A vape device has a main housing that includes a storage chamber adapted for receiving a quantity of vape product, and a heating chamber having a heating chamber opening for receiving the vape product, and a heater for heating the vape product. An upper slide unit is mounted on a top end of the main housing has a mouthpiece connected to a cooling chamber with a plurality of baffles, that leads to a vape inlet. An ejection mechanism can eject vape product from the storage chamber. The upper slide unit slides between retracted position wherein the ejection mechanism may be used to eject some of the vape product through the storage opening, and a closed position wherein the vape product is pushed through the heating chamber opening and into the heating chamber, where it is heated and vaporized.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application for a utility patent claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/409,495 filed Sep. 23, 2022, and Provisional Application No. 63/517,552, filed Aug. 3, 2023.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to vaporization devices, and more particularly to an all-in-one vaporization device that can be combined with a smart phone case, smart money clip, and related accessories.

Description of Related Art

Breiwa, U.S. Pat. No. 11,213,073, teaches a volatizer including a multifunction cap secured over the open end of a body or other device, the chamber or other part of the device holding an amount of material to be extracted by selective volatization therein and including a thermo-indicator thereon or therein capable of deforming, actuating or otherwise indicating upon heating to a preselected temperature to provide an indication of the proper temperature for volatilization and extraction of the selected and or target compound from the material within the device.

Breiwa, U.S. 2022/0087327, teaches an indirect exothermal vaporization matrix for selective vaporization and/or atomization of compounds. The matrix may incorporate any one or more of the following features: capillary structures, vapor relief pathways, carbon filtering, recessed receiving areas, torus and tori geometry to provide uniform loading and/or reloading of the indirect exothermal vaporization matrix with various compounds, and the like.

Klurfeld, U.S. Pat. No. 10,799,660, teaches a compact wearable inhaler, vaporizer and/or atomizer that is incorporated into a smart watch. The smart watch may be worn by a user, and may also include additional features, such as a pulse monitoring mechanism, and may include a thermometer, and a solar cell for charging the watch.

Stanimirovic, U.S. Pat. No. 9,197,726, teaches a protective case for a mobile phone that incorporates an electronic cigarette (vape device). The device includes a rechargeable battery located within a housing of the protective case, which is conductively coupled to the mobile phone power port, and to a heating element of the vape device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a vape device for storing and vaporizing a vape product. The vape device comprises a main housing having a top end and a bottom end. The main housing comprises a storage chamber that is adapted for receiving a quantity of the vape product, the storage chamber having a storage opening for accessing the storage chamber. A heating chamber is adapted to receive the vape product, the heating chamber having a heating chamber opening for receiving the vape product. A heater is also included for heating the vape product to vaporize it, and a battery. The main housing further includes an upper slide unit mounted on the top end of the main housing, the upper slide unit having a mouthpiece connected to a cooling chamber having a plurality of baffles, that leads to a vape inlet. An ejection mechanism is included for ejecting some of the vape product from the storage chamber. The upper slide unit slides between retracted position and closed position, such that when the upper slide unit is in the retracted position the ejection mechanism may be used to eject some of the vape product through the storage opening, and when the upper slide unit slides back to the closed position, it pushes the vape product through the heating chamber opening and into the heating chamber, where it is heated and vaporized, and the vaporized vape product flows through the vape inlet, around the plurality of baffles of the cooling chamber, and out of the mouthpiece.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a vape device having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a vape device that can store a vape product, move it to a chamber for vaporization, and then provide a flow of vape gasses which is cooled for inhalation.

A further objective is to provide a vape device that is easy to use.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vape device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vape device, illustrating an upper slide unit in a fully retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the vape device of FIG. 2, illustrating the upper slide unit in the fully retracted position, and also showing a front portion of the vape device in cross-section to illustrate internal construction of the vape device, and to illustrate a first step in a method of use of the device.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof, illustrating a second step of the method.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view thereof, illustrating a third step of the method, and also illustrating airflow through the upper slide unit.

FIG. 6 is an up-close perspective view of a top end of the vape device when a heating cap is hinged open.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the vape device, the vape device including a smartphone case and a smart money clip device.

FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the smart money clip device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a charging station holding the vape device, along with a grinder and a funnel.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the charging station, vape device, grinder and funnel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a vape device for storing and vaporizing and inhaling a vape product such as dry cannabis flower or pellets, or any other dry product a user may which to vaporize and inhale. The vape device may further include a smartphone case and a smart money clip device. These three components are adapted to be removably attached to each other for providing multiple features in a single assembly that is easy to carry and use.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vape device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, illustrating an upper slide unit 33 in a fully retracted position. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the vape device 10 comprises a main housing 20 which in this embodiment is cuboid in construction and extends from a top end 22a to a bottom end 22b.

An upper slide unit 33 is mounted on the top end 22a, in this embodiment it is slidably mounted via a slide housing 32A so that it can slide between a retracted position (shown in FIG. 2) and a closed position (shown in FIG. 1). The upper slide unit 33 includes a mouthpiece 24 connected to a cooling chamber 26 that leads to a vape inlet 30 for receiving vapor, this construction being discussed in depth below. The vape inlet 30 may be partially surrounded by a dome 35 that helps direct vaporized product into the vape inlet 30. The top end 22a may further include a cover 32B that may hingedly mounted on the slide housing 32A with a hinge 32C, so that it may be opened to allow access to a storage opening 38 of a storage chamber 36, and a heating chamber opening 38 of a heating chamber 40, as discussed in greater detail below.

In this embodiment, the mouthpiece 24, the cooling chamber 26, and the vape inlet 30 are formed as the upper slide unit 33 such that they may be operably slid laterally along the top end 22a of the main housing 20, to expose or cover the openings 34 and 38. In this embodiment, the vape inlet 30 is connected to the cooling chamber 26 via a tubular connection 31, and the cooling chamber 26 includes a plurality of baffles 28 for directing airflow, the baffling 28 being best shown in FIG. 5. As illustrated, the cooling chamber 26 may include a removable chamber cap 29 having some of the baffling 28 extending downwardly therefrom, wherein the chamber cap 29 may be removed for cleaning as needed. In some embodiments, the upper slide unit 33 of the top end 22a is also fully removable for cleaning.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom end 22b includes a battery cover 42 that covers an opening to a battery chamber 44 that is shaped to receive a battery 45. The bottom end 22b in this embodiment also includes a first gear 46 that is operably connected with an ejection mechanism 47 that raises and lowers a platform 58 for ejecting a vape product 12, as discussed below.

In this embodiment, the ejection mechanism includes a gear base 48 that is operably connected with the first gear 46 to rotate a tube 50, wherein the tube 50 extends upwardly into the storage chamber 36 of the main housing 20. In this embodiment, the tube 50 includes an outer threaded tube 52 telescopically engaged with an inner tube 54, wherein the inner tube 54 includes elongated L-shaped cutouts 56. A platform 58 or container may have a pair of protrusions 59 that engage both the threads of the outer tube 52 and the cutouts 56 of the inner tube 54, such that upon rotation of the first gear 46, the gear base 48 turns the tube 50, causing the platform 58 to move upwardly or downwardly within the storage chamber 36. While one example of the ejection mechanism 47 is shown and described, any form similar or equivalent mechanism may be implemented, i.e., as in any standard Chapstick tube, and any such similar or equivalent mechanism should be considered within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the vape device 10 of FIG. 2, illustrating the upper slide unit 33 in the fully retracted position, and also showing a front portion of the vape device in cross-section to illustrate internal construction of the vape device 10, and to illustrate a first step in a method of use of the device. As shown in FIG. 3, the vape device 10 includes the storage opening 38, mentioned above, which opens to a storage chamber 36 that is adapted for receiving a quantity of the vape product 12. The heating chamber opening 34 opens to a heating chamber 40 that is adapted to heat the vape product 12 and vaporize it. The heating chamber 40 is operably associated with a heater 41 which may use either conductive or convection heating to vaporize the product 12 in the heating chamber 40.

In use, the user hinges the cover 32 open and retracts the upper slide unit 33 of the top end 22a so that the openings 34 and 38 are exposed. In this configuration with the storage opening 38 to the storage chamber 36 exposed, the user may fill the storage chamber 36 with vape product 12 to be vaped.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the vape device 10, illustrating a second step of the method. As shown in FIG. 4, once the storage chamber 36 has been loaded with vape product 12, the user may rotate the first gear 46, causing the tube 50 to rotate and push the vape product 12 upwardly and out of the storage opening 38. The user may then slide the upper slide unit 33 towards a closed position so that the dome 35 pushes the vape product 12 into the heating chamber opening 34 and thereby into the heating chamber 40.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the vape device 10, illustrating a third step of the method, and also illustrating airflow through the upper slide unit 33. As shown in FIG. 5, once the upper slide unit 33 has been slid to the closed position, the cover 32 may be hinged closed for use. In this position, the user may actuate the heating element 41 for heating the heating chamber 40, so that the vape product 12 within the heating chamber 40 begins to be vaporized. The user inhales through the mouthpiece 24, causing the vapor to be pulled up through the heating chamber opening 34, into the vape inlet 30 of the dome 35, and into the cooling chamber 26, so that the vapor must travel around the baffling 28 before exiting the cooling chamber and then the mouthpiece 24. Obviously, other embodiments of the baffling 28 of the cooling chamber may be constructed, i.e., with a different number of baffle walls in various different configurations, as determined by one skilled in the art.

FIG. 6 is an up-close perspective view of the dome 35 of the vape device 10 when the cover 32 is hinged open. As shown in FIG. 6, the dome 35 may include a mesh filter 60 at the vape inlet 30, to prevent vape product 12 from being pulled out of the heating chamber 40 and into the cooling chamber 26. FIG. 6 further illustrates the structure of the top end 22a of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment 70 of the vape device, including a smartphone case 71 and a smart money clip 80. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the vape device 70 includes a phone fastening system 72 for removably connecting the vape device 70 with the smartphone case 71, so that the vape device 70 may be readily carried with a smartphone (not shown). In this embodiment, the phone fastening system 72 includes a first fastener 72a disposed on the smartphone case 71, and a second fastener 72b disposed on the side of the vape device 70. In this embodiment, the first and second fasteners 72 are in the form of one or more magnets (in this case, 4 magnets), but any number of fasteners known in the art may be used (e.g., hooks and loops fasteners, snaps, hooks, etc.). In this embodiment, the magnets 72 may be disposed in a generally rectangular configuration, with opposite charges, so that they self-center the vape device 70 on the smartphone case 71. With suitably powerful magnets, this results in the vape device being securely fastened in a preferred configuration so that the vape device 70 closely abuts the smartphone case 71 and is aligned with the case 71 so that no parts of the vape device 70 extend laterally further than the smartphone case 71 by more than ½ inch. As illustrated, in the second embodiment of FIG. 7, the vape device 70 may further include a rechargeable battery 75, an on/off switch 74, and temperature controls 76, located on any suitable location of the vape device 70. A display screen 78 for displaying battery life and temperature of the heating chamber may further be included.

FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the smart money clip device 80. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, in this embodiment, the smart money clip device 80 has a clock 84, a compass 86, and a smart tag 88 (e.g., “Air Tag”) for tracking the location of the smart money clip device 80. In another embodiment, one or more of these features may also or alternatively included on the vape device 70 and/or the smartphone case 71, and such alternatives should be considered within the scope of the present invention. As illustrated, a money clip fastening system 82 is included for removably connecting the vape device 70 with the smart money clip device 80, so that the vape device 70 may be readily carried with a smart money clip device 80 (containing cash, credit cards, and other important items). In this embodiment, the money fastening system 82 includes a first fastener 82a disposed on the smart money clip device 80, and a second fastener 82b disposed on the vape device 70. In this embodiment, the first and second fasteners 82 are in the form of one or more magnets (in this case, 4 magnets), but any number of fasteners known in the art may be used (e.g., hooks and loops fasteners, snaps, hooks, etc.). In this embodiment, the magnets 82 may be disposed in a generally rectangular configuration, with opposite charges, so that they self-center the vape device 70 on the smartphone case.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a charging station 90 holding the vape device 70, along with a grinder 92 and a funnel 94. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view thereof. In this embodiment, the rechargeable battery 75 of the vape device 70 may be removed for charging in the charging station 90, or alternatively charged via a charging cable or similar method (e.g., induction charging, etc.), or any other mechanism known in the art. One embodiment of the charging station 90 is illustrated for holding the vape device 70 and for charging it when not in use (although the vape device 70 may also be functional while being charged). As illustrated, the grinder 92 may further be included, and the funnel 94 which may be mounted on top of the grinder 92. A neck 96 of the funnel 94 may have a diameter that is sized (slightly smaller than) for being inserted into the storage chamber 36, so that ground vape product 12 may be poured though the funnel and into the storage chamber 36.

The title of the present application, and the claims presented, do not limit what may be claimed in the future, based upon and supported by the present application. Furthermore, any features shown in any of the drawings may be combined with any features from any other drawings to form an invention which may be claimed.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention.

Claims

1. A vape device for storing and vaporizing a vape product, the vape device comprising:

a main housing having a top end and a bottom end, the main housing comprising: a storage chamber that is adapted for receiving a quantity of the vape product, the storage chamber having a storage opening for accessing the storage chamber; a heating chamber that is adapted to receive the vape product, and a heater for heating the vape product to vaporize it, the heating chamber having a heating chamber opening for receiving the vape product; and a battery;

an upper slide unit mounted on the top end of the main housing, the upper slide unit having a mouthpiece connected to a cooling chamber having a plurality of baffles, that leads to a vape inlet;

an ejection mechanism for ejecting some of the vape product from the storage chamber; and

wherein the upper slide unit slides between retracted position and closed position, such that when the upper slide unit is in the retracted position the ejection mechanism may be used to eject some of the vape product through the storage opening, and when the upper slide unit slides back to the closed position, it pushes the vape product through the heating chamber opening and into the heating chamber, where it is heated and vaporized, and the vaporized vape product flows through the vape inlet, around the plurality of baffles of the cooling chamber, and out the mouthpiece.

2. The vape device of claim 1, further comprising a battery cover that covers an opening to a battery chamber that contains the battery, the battery chamber being positioned adjacent to the storage chamber.

3. The vape device of claim 1, further comprising a first gear that is operably connected with the ejection mechanism.

4. The vape device of claim 3, wherein the first gear raises and lowers a platform for ejecting the vape product.

5. The vape device of claim 4, wherein the ejection mechanism includes a gear base that is operably connected with the first gear to rotate a tube, wherein the tube extends upwardly into the storage chamber of the main housing.

6. The vape device of claim 5, wherein the tube includes an outer threaded tube telescopically engaged with an inner tube, wherein the inner tube includes elongated L-shaped cutouts; and the platform includes a pair of protrusions that engage the threads of the outer tube and the cutouts of the inner tube, such that upon rotation of the first gear, the gear base turns the tube, causing the platform to move upwardly or downwardly within the storage chamber.