Hybrid e-cigarette/vaporizer with exhale filter capability

An electronic cigarette adaptable to vaporize liquid or flower material further with exhale filter capability is disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, threads are provided to disassemble a flower and/or liquid cartridge so that they can be exchanged for either/or. The flower cartridge has a separate heat transfer element not desired in the liquid cartridge. An innovative diverter valve assembly also has threads to connect to the cartridges and provides an exhale filter function so that exhaled vapor will not be offensive to non-smokers in an enclosed environment. The electronic smoking device herein further has a mini/micro USB charging port on a side thereof for its rechargeable batteries. Also in a preferred embodiment, a mouthpiece is made of relatively soft elastomer material and is flavored for comfort and enjoyment of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to electronic smoking devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic cigarette capable of vaporizing liquid, powder, or flower material that further has an exhale function to filter exhaled vapor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Smoking tobacco or other plant material has notoriously been practiced in numerous cultures for many centuries. Devices for filtering exhaled smoke have also been introduced heretofore. One such early example was proposed by Martin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,814, entitled “Cigarette Smoke Cleansing and Smoking Device” and was awarded patent protection in 1994. Martin describes a smoking device where a traditional cigarette is smoked through a mouthpiece wherein the same mouthpiece is utilized to exhale therethrough for filtering exhaled smoke.

Importantly, in the last decade or so, traditional smoking of tobacco has been banned in places such as bars, casinos and beaches where smoking has traditionally been permitted. Smoking has additionally been banned on airline travel for at least about twenty years where no alternative has been adopted or provided. One drawback to the Martin device is that it will not completely eliminate smoke emitting from the device and any small smoke emission will be noticeable to people sensitive thereto, especially in an airline flight environment or similar enclosed space or building that's not well ventilated.

Also known heretofore are so called “electronic cigarettes” that typically use an electrical heating element to heat a liquid usually containing a mixture of nicotine and flavorings that produces a mist similar to smoke. Most electronic cigarettes however do not have complicated electronic and simply contain a battery electrically coupled to a heating element. A useful early example was proposed by Counts et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,978 entitled “Electrical Smoking System for Delivering Flavors and Methods of Making Same and was awarded patent protection in 1997. This particular prior art device has a receptacle for receiving tobacco or “tobacco flavored material” and electrical heating elements configured to the device for heating the material in order to emit vapors or aerosol for delivery to a smoker.

While these prior art devices are suitable in their idiosyncratic purposes, a need remains for an alternative to smoking cigarettes that further has exhale filter capability so that same is acceptable to somewhat sensitive environments such as airlines and enclosed places where children may be present.

In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Hybrid E-Cigarette/Vaporizer with Exhale Filter Capability that is a more versatile design the can additional provide a smoking alternative in environments that have strict bans on smoking. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inhale function and an exhale function. It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide a design comfortable to a user. Still further, it is further an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be disassembled so that different types of cartridges can be employed. It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a design that includes a variety of innovative features over prior designs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above mentioned deficiencies, more specifically, the present invention, in a first aspect, is an electronic/electric cigarette and/or vaporizer comprising: an elastomer mouth piece configured to a cooker chamber containing heated material to be vaporized such as liquid, oil, flower or leaf material; and a body portion coupled to the cooker chamber wherein an electric heating element is provided to heat the heated material. The invention is additionally characterized wherein a battery is configured inside the body portion providing current to the electric heating element; and a diverter valve assembly is provided for blocking air flow through the cooker chamber and thereby allow exhaled air forced into the mouth piece to be diverted around the cooker chamber.

The electronic cigarette herein is additionally characterized in that the diverter valve assembly further comprises a diverter valve having a button for depressing with a finger or a thumb at one end; and a fixed disk configured as an abutment to the diverter valve, the fixed disk and the diverter valve each having a plurality of apertures wherein said plurality of apertures are aligned when the diverter valve is in the open position and wherein the plurality of apertures are askew when the diverter valve is in the closed position.

The invention in this aspect is additionally characterized wherein the diverter valve further comprises a pair of curved arms at an opposite end with respect to the button wherein the pair of arms are configured to deform slightly when the button is depressed and when the diverter valve is in the closed position and wherein when the button is released the arms return to an undeformed state.

The electronic cigarette of the present invention in this aspect is further characterized as comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the battery, the battery being a rechargeable battery; a charging circuit configured to the PCB; and a micro universal serial bus (USB) port for connecting to a power source for recharging the battery. The PCB also has a cover configured adjacent to the PCB for protecting same. Also, a micro (or mini) USB port is further accessible through an aperture in a side wall (not the end wall) in the body portion.

A filter assembly is further coupled to the body portion at a distal end thereof; and the filter assembly further comprises a corrugated paper filter and a pair of felt filters configured on opposite sides of the corrugated paper filter. In a preferred embodiment the body portion has an outer wall comprising aluminum and the cooker chamber has an outer wall comprising glass. The mouth piece comprises flavored elastomer material for the enjoyment and comfort of a user. An igniter with an igniter button is electrically configured to the battery and the heating element.

The invention in this aspect is additionally characterized in that the cooker chamber further comprises a removable liquid cartridge, and the removable liquid cartridge also has a cylindrical liquid chamber therewithin for containing the liquid to be heated by the heating element.

In a second aspect the invention is a vapor smoking device comprising: a mouth piece configured to a cooker chamber containing material to be heated; a body device coupled to a the cooker chamber wherein an electric heating element is provided to heat said heated material; a battery configured inside the body portion providing current to the electric heating element; and a filter assembly coupled to the body portion at a distal end thereof.

The invention in this aspect if further characterized in that the filter assembly further comprises: a fibrous corrugated paper filter; and a pair of felt filters configured on opposite sides of the corrugated paper filter, however with a charcoal granules filter also sandwiched therebetween. Also, the filter assembly includes a first and a second screen filter, the first screen filter adjacent to the first of the pair of felt filters, the second screen filter adjacent to a second of the pair of felt filters.

Also, the vapor smoking device includes an igniter electrically configured to the battery and the heating element; and a removable liquid cartridge configured within the cooker chamber, the igniter having threads at an end thereof, the removable liquid cartridge further having complementary threads to connect to the igniter.

In a third aspect, the invention is characterized as a vapor smoking device system comprising: a cooker chamber; a mouth piece configured to a cooker chamber containing heated material; a body portion coupled to a the cooker chamber wherein an electric heating element is provided to heat said heated material; a removable liquid cartridge configured within the cooker chamber for vaporizing liquid material; a removable flower cartridge configured within the cooker chamber, interchangeable with said removable liquid cartridge, for vaporizing flower material; and a battery configured inside the body portion providing current to the electric heating element.

The vapor smoking device system herein further comprises a diverter valve assembly for blocking air flow through the cooker chamber and thereby allowing exhaled air forced into the mouth piece to be diverted around the cooker chamber and around the batteries. The removable flower cartridge herein is additionally characterized as comprising: a mesh container for holding the flower (or leaf) material; a wire coil to transfer heat from the heating element to the mesh container, the wire coil for the purposes of dissipating heat generated by the heating element to a temperature optimum for the flower material; and an air intake port on a side wall of the flower cartridge for introducing air in the smoking device inhale function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially toFIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment10is illustrated in an isometric view and is generally cigar shaped. A mouth piece20is provided and is easily replaceable as it snugly mates with a diverter valve assembly90. The mouth piece20is also unique in that it is flavored with mint, vanilla or other as may be pleasing to a user. Further, the mouth piece20is flexible comprising thermoplastic material providing enhance feel and comfort.

Additionally with regard toFIG. 1, a cooker chamber40has a glass housing and can be configured for oil/liquid material or flower/leaf material as further detailed herein. A battery compartment70has a housing (e.g. aluminum) configured to the cooker chamber40and contains apertures for the ignition71button and a micro (mini) USB (universal serial bus) charging port72additionally detailed inFIG. 2,FIG. 7EandFIG. 7F. Also with regard toFIG. 2, a top plan view of the invention10is provided with sectional lines drawn for revealing internal components. The cooker compartment housing40(e.g. glass), the battery compartment70and a filter assembly80together define a body portion40,70,80of the electric/electronic cigarette. Incidentally, the electric cigarette10may be defined broadly as to be a smoking device that uses a heating element to heat material and inhale vapors therefrom; or in a preferred embodiment the e-cigarette has a printed circuit board (PCB)74(FIG. 7F) having circuitry, namely, a charging circuit.

RegardingFIG. 3, a cross sectional view is provided focusing attention to the cooker chamber40and diverter valve91assembly90used to divert air flow depending on an inhale or an exhale function of the present invention10.FIG. 4Aprovides an enlarged view of this area with directional arrows showing air flow through the diverter valve in the natural unpressed state. In its operation, liquid material inside cylinder41is heated by an electrical heating element causing said liquid to emit a vapor for smoking

FIG. 4Billustrates the versatility of the invention in that components for smoking leaf or flower material can replace the liquid cylinder and having similar air flow. With reference toFIG. 4C, the diverter valve91is shown being pressed blocking air flow inside the cooker cartridge41and instead allowing air flow around an outer channel provided between said cooker cartridge41and the cooker chamber40housing. Intake air holes44a,44bare provided to the cartridges41,46and not to the cooker chamber40so that exhaled air will not expel out of any such holes.

FIG. 5herein shows a profile view of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the cigar shaped device10is wider than its height in the profile view comparingFIG. 2toFIG. 5. In other words, its end view (FIG. 8C) and cross-section (FIG. 9B) are elliptical or oval in shape allowing for more area for exhaled air flow around sides of the device.

FIG. 6particularly illustrates how air flows around an outer periphery of the device. Specifically around an outer portion of the cooker chamber and the battery compartment to the end filter. In an alternative embodiment, the filter is hollow and cylindrical instead of not hollow and cylindrical80as shown and therefore could be configured around the battery compartment70.

With regard toFIG. 7A, is an exploded view of major components20,40,70,80,90of the present invention is shown. Importantly as stated, cooker chamber40can support two different kinds of cooker cartridges41,46depending on user preference. The liquid cartridge41has a cylindrical liquid chamber42therein that can be seen inFIG. 4Afor containing material to be heated. Also of note, heating element43is configured closer to the actual material for the liquid embodiment41; and the alternative leaf embodiment46(flower cartridge) has additional components47,48,49for heating leaf material as detailed herein. Additionally notable regardingFIG. 4A, liquid cartridge41screws onto threads surrounding the heating element43; and the diverter valve assembly has complementary threads to screw around an upper end of the liquid cartridge41.

Further with regard toFIG. 7A, an igniter71is configured to the heating element having threads around an upper end thereof. Batteries73are electrically and physically coupled to the igniter71(FIG. 4A) and heating element43.

RegardingFIG. 7B, an exploded view and enlarged viewFIG. 7Cis provided to illustrate components in the flower cartridge46not present in the liquid cartridge41embodiment. In this particular interchangeable embodiment, a mesh container49is provided for holding flower or leaf material, that could be smoked; but instead a user desires to dry out with heat and smoke the fumes or vapor created therefrom. A wire coil48is provides to transfer heat from the heating element to the mesh container. This wire coil48is needed to dissipate heat generated by the heating element43to a lower temperature more suited to flower material. As stated herein, an air intake port44bis configured on a side wall47of the flower cartridge46for intruding air in the smoking device inhale function. The intake air port44bis not located on the cooker chamber40side wall as to not provide a means for exhaled air escape.

Also with regard toFIG. 7C, it should be appreciated that axis45defines clear and definite subject matter in an elongated electronic cigarette in that all components20,40,70,80,90are arranged about an elongated axis.

RegardingFIG. 7Dthe flower cartridge46is further illustrated with internal components as dashed lines. Importantly, the flower chamber housing47has threads on both ends connecting to the igniter71having threads disposed around the heat element43, and further connecting to threads provided in the diverter valve91assembly90.

FIG. 7EandFIG. 7Fshows views of igniter71(with igniter button) configured to rechargeable batteries73, which are in turn coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB)74via electrical contacts75. A mini or micro USB port is further provided coupled to the charging port for providing power to recharge batteries via a charging circuit provided to the PCB. In a preferred embodiment, the PCB further has a voltage regulator that together with the heating element43provides a proper temperature to liquid cartridge41(or flower cartridge46).

With regard toFIG. 8A, an exploded view of the filter assembly80of the present invention is provided showing components82,83,84,85,86,87normally housed therein.FIG. 8Bis a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line8B-8B inFIG. 1. As shown, the filter assembly80has a fibrous corrugated paper filter85flanked by a charcoal granules84filter and a first felt filter86. A second felt filter83is provided adjacent to the charcoal granules84and this unit83,84,85,86, is flanked by first82and second87screen filters. Stated differently, the first screen filter82is adjacent to the first83of the pair of felt filters83,86; and the second screen filter87is adjacent to the second86of the pair of felt filter83,86.FIG. 8Cis an end view illustrating filter assembly80having an additional grated end piece81where ultimately exhaled air is filter discharged as shown with arrows inFIG. 6andFIG. 8B.

As stated and now turning toFIG. 9A, a diverter valve91assembly90is provided for blocking air flow through the cooker chamber40and thereby allowing air forced into the mouth piece20to be diverted around the cooker chamber40. The exhaled air is then travels between the batteries73and the battery portion71housing as shown particularly inFIG. 6. In the relaxed, unpressed state, the diverter valve aligns with a fixed disk92so that the apertures on the diverter valve91and the fixed disk92allow air to pass therethrough. This is the inhale function. The exhale filter function herein is provided byFIG. 9Bwherein when the diverter valve button91is depressed, the apertures are misaligned (askew) and force air around the outer portion of valve body40,70. A pair of curved arms94are provided at an opposite end with respect to the button91wherein the pair of arms94are configured to deform slightly when the diverter valve button91is pressed. Hence when the button91is released the arms return to the undeformed state.

FIG. 10illustrates an exploded view of a second embodiment10bhaving a hollow cylindrical filter81b. In this example, the PCB74bhas a mini USB port72bconfigured axially and the cylindrical filter81bis able to filter air around an outer portion thereof with components such as batteries73configured inside the hollowed out portion81b. An end cap76bis optionally provided covering the USB72b.

While the particular Hybrid E-Cigarette/Vaporizer with Exhale Filter Capability herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.