Electronic cigarette container

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic cigarettes, and more particularly, to a container for storing the electronic cigarette. In one embodiment, the container includes a cover coupled to a base through a hinge. The hinge can provide three settings: opened, closed and middle. Within the base of the container, a number of sections can be provided. One section can enclose the hinge. At a distal end from the hinge, another section can include a portion where an electronic cigarette can be held. The section can incorporate a spring loaded mount whereby the electronic cigarette can be held firmly into place or loosely removed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to electronic cigarettes, and more particularly, to a container for an electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes currently available on the market are an increasingly popular smoking alternative for users of traditional cigarettes. These cigarettes are designed to be stand alone products removing the need for packaging associated with a “pack” of cigarettes. Nevertheless, users tend to be both consumers of traditional and electronic cigarettes. A need therefore exists for a container to carry both types of smoking devices as well as provide additional features which will become apparent from the description provided below.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic cigarette container is provided. The container can include a cover, a base coupled to the cover and a pivoting hinge coupled to the cover and the base positioned at one end for opening and closing the electronic cigarette container. In addition, the container can include a slot positioned at a distal end within the base to hold an electronic cigarette.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a container is provided. The container can include a top and a base coupled to the top. In addition, the container can include a hinge for raising and lowering the top from and to the base, wherein the base is sectioned into at least three sections, one section for securing the hinge, another section configured to hold an electronic cigarette and a middle section.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for providing an electronic cigarette with at least one traditional cigarette is provided. The method can include sectioning a base into at least three compartments, one compartment housing the electronic cigarette. In addition, the method can include coupling the base to a top through a pivoting hinge, the pivoting hinge fitted into another compartment of the at least three compartments of the base, the pivoting hinge configured to place the top in an open, middle and closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic cigarettes, and more particularly, to a container for storing the electronic cigarette. In one embodiment, the container includes a cover coupled to a base through a hinge. The hinge can provide three settings: opened, closed and middle. Within the base of the container, a number of sections can be provided. One section can enclose the hinge. At a distal end from the hinge, another section can include a portion where an electronic cigarette can be held. This section can incorporate a spring loaded mount whereby the electronic cigarette can be held firmly into place or loosely removed.

A number of advantages can be provided by the electronic cigarette container. The container can allow a user to carry both an electronic cigarette as well as a traditional cigarette. The container can also maintain a flame source for lighting the traditional cigarette. When sealed, the container prevents other liquids from entering in that could potentially damage the electronic cigarette and other contents therein. Furthermore, the shape of the container allows it to be placed within a pocket of a user. The container can also prevent the components within from being contaminated. A number of additional advantages will become apparent from the description provided below.

Turning toFIG. 1, a side view of an exemplary container100having a closed lid102in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. While the container100can have a clear or opaque covering, other types of colors can be used. Labels can be provided over the container100that can cover the entire container100or portions of it. Brands can be displayed on the container100. The container100can be made of a variety of materials including plastic and metal, to name a few.

The dimensions of the container100can be sized according to its contents. Typically, the container100has a very narrow depth. By way of a non-limiting example, the dimensions correspond to an electronic cigarette150. The width of the electronic cigarette150can define the depth of the container100. The length of the electronic cigarette150can define the height of the container100. The width of the container100can be defined by the number of items placed within it. The width of the container100can be greater if the user intends to add other items into it.

When closed, the container100can protect the contents within it, which can include a traditional cigarette or other electronic cigarette150. The shape of the cigarette150can include relatively flat portions surround by slender curved sections. The container100can include a cover102and base104. The cover102can also be referred to as a top or top portion and the base104can be defined as a bottom or bottom portion. The cover102and base104can be designed such that when closed, a tight seal can be formed. This seal can prevent liquid from entering in and destroying the contents therein.

Within the interior of the container100, a number of sections106,108and110can be provided. The sections can extend along a length of the base104and partitioned to separate them. A first section106can be used to hold a hinge112. The hinge112can also be referred to as a latching mechanism, closing and opening device, etc. The hinge112can extend to a portion within the section106or in the alternative, all the way to the bottom of the container100. A section114within the cover102can also be provided that maintains a top portion of the hinge112.

The container100can also include a middle portion108. In some implementations of the container100, the middle portion108is absent making the container100smaller and having less of a width. The middle portion108can be filled with a number of different items that will be described in further details below. On one end of the container100was the hinge112. On a distal end from the hinge112, as shown inFIG. 1, another section110, or slot, can be provided. This section110can hold and maintain an electronic cigarette150. Other items can also be placed within this section110as well.

In section110, where the electronic cigarette150is placed, a spring loaded mount can be provided. The spring loaded mount can be used to hold and retain the electronic cigarette150or be used to extend the cigarette150outwards.FIG. 2is a side view of the exemplary container100ofFIG. 1opened. As shown, the hinge112can be manipulated such that the cover102and base104is opened. At the point where the cover102and base104are connected, a pivot can be used. The pivot can allow the hinge112to open and close the container100. When opened through the hinge112, the contents of the container100can be exposed.

FIG. 3is a side view of the exemplary container100ofFIG. 1having the alternative smoking device150extracted. The electronic cigarette150can be pulled from the base104while the cover102is opened through the hinge112. This can be accomplished by the user using their finger and sliding the cigarette150out. Alternatively, the spring loaded mount can be used. By way of a non-limiting example, the mount can be used to retain the cigarette150through a clasp. When pressed down, the clasp would be released at the same time being raised. The raised electronic cigarette150can then be easily extracted out of the container100. When the user wishes to store the cigarette150, the user can simply slide it into the section110and press it against the spring loaded mount. The clasp can then retain and hold the cigarette while lowering it into the container100. Both traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes150can be used with the spring loaded mount.

FIG. 4is a side view of the exemplary container100ofFIG. 1showing a sample closing mechanism112for the holder, or hinge. The hinge112can be fit within the section106closest to the pivot connecting the base104to the cover102. The hinge112, as shown, is distal from the electronic cigarette150. The hinge112can include a segment406, lever404and spring402. The segment406can provide a base for the spring402. The segment406can be fitted into the section106of the container100. It can either extend all the way into the section106or a portion thereof. The lever404can be fit into the cover102. The cover102can have its own section114for placing the lever404into so that it catches when the container100is being opened and closed. The lever404may have a first position when the container100is closed as shown inFIG. 1, and a second position (different from the first position) when the container100is opened as shown inFIG. 2. When the container100is closed, the top end of the lever404farthest from the base104may be spaced from the top of the cover102as shown inFIG. 1, and when the container100is opened, the space between the top end of the lever404and the top of the cover102may be larger than when the container100is closed as shown inFIG. 2. When the container100is closed, the entire lever404may be within the cover102as shown inFIG. 1. When the container100is opened, a portion of the lever404may be outside the cover102as shown inFIG. 2.

The spring402within the hinge112can provide tension to the hinge112. This tension can be used to manipulate the cover102of the container100such that it is in a closed, opened and middle position. In an opened position, the cover102is flipped back as shown inFIG. 4, shut as shown inFIG. 1and halfway between when in a middle position. Depending on the tension of the spring402, different positions of the cover102can be achieved.

FIG. 5is a side view of the exemplary container100ofFIG. 1having the alternative smoking device150inserted along with other products. As described earlier, a middle section108can be provided within the container100. Through this middle section108a number of different items can be stored. While the container100was broken into multiple sections106,108and110, the container100does not have to be separated. Furthermore, those dividers that extend along the length of the container100can be fully extended (as shown) or partially extended.

Often times, smokers tend to carry tobacco cigarettes502as well as electronic cigarettes150, or other implements. When the user is inside, they can smoke the smoking device150and when they are outside they can smoke tobacco cigarettes502carried within the container100. The container100can thereby provide a smoker with a variety of choices. The traditional cigarettes502can be placed within the middle section108as described above. Preferably, middle section108is dimensioned to be able to accommodate more than one cigarette, whether more than one (e.g., two) electronic cigarettes150, more than one (e.g., two) tobacco cigarettes502, or a combination of electronic cigarettes150and tobacco cigarettes502(e.g., one of each). Of course, it would also be possible to dimension middle section108so that it can hold only a single electronic cigarette150or a single tobacco cigarette502.

FIG. 6is a side view of the exemplary container ofFIG. 1having the electronic cigarette150inserted along with other products and an ignition source602. The container100can also provide a flame through the ignition source602for traditional tobacco cigarettes502that can be stored within the middle segment. In one embodiment, the flame can be automatically started when the container100is opened. A switch can be provided to turn on and off the flame such that when it is opened, but the switch is turned off, the flame would not start. Through this, a user can carry an electronic cigarette150and traditional cigarette502with ignition source602.

The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.