Article carrier for an electronic vaping device

At least one example embodiment discloses an article carrier for an electrical vaping device. The article carrier may include a base portion, a lid portion and a hinge. The base portion may include a first edge region and the lid portion includes a second edge region. The hinge may include a connector band and first and second anchors. The connector band connects the first edge region of the base portion to the second edge region of the lid portion and may include a recessed top portion and a relieved lower portion. The recessed top portion may include a recess. And the relieved lower portion may include a relief for receiving the first and second edge regions.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an article carrier for an electronic vaping device.

BACKGROUND

Recently, various articles of electronic appliances are available due to development of electronic industries. In particular, the electronic appliances are gradually becoming smaller, leaner and lighter in order to meet demand of consumers while functions thereof are becoming more various. Electronics manufacturers are focusing upon small electronic function groups and problem free interaction with electronics including safekeeping and handling of the same.

Electronic vaping devices are subject to the same effects of the rest of the electronics industry. It is possible to carry electronic vaping devices in a person's clothing or clothing article such as a pocket or a handbag.

In some instances, an electronic vaping device that is kept in a person's clothes or clothing article is kept in an electronic article carrier. These electronic article carriers are made of various materials and the articles of the electronic article carriers are connected in various ways. Some carriers include a base portion and a lid or cover. The base portion may be connected to the lid by a hinge so a person can access the electrical device inside of the carrier.

SUMMARY

Hinges typically protrude from a surface of an electronic article carrier. However, in such designs, the protruding hinge could cause cuts, scratches and clothing snags to people reaching in a pocket to grab the article carrier.

Disclosed is an article carrier for an electrical device. The article carrier may include a base portion, a lid portion and a hinge. The base portion may include a first edge region and the lid portion may include a second edge region. In an example embodiment, the hinge may include a connector band and first and second anchors. The connector band connects the first edge region of the base portion to the second edge region of the lid portion and may include a recessed top portion and a relieved lower portion. The recessed top portion may include a recess. And the relieved lower portion may include a relief for receiving the first and second edge regions.

Some example embodiments are configured such that a width of the connector band is at least as long as a thickness of the first edge region together with a thickness of the second edge region and the width of the connector band is about equal to the thickness of the second edge region; the connector band may further include a first end region and a second end region, the first end region opposes the first end region. The connector band may be made of an elastomeric material such as rubber or plastic.

In a yet further example embodiment, the recessed top portion may be configured to be generally planar when the first end region is repositioned one hundred and eighty degrees relative to the second end region. And a surface of the connector band is generally tangential to a surface of the first edge region when the first edge region is positioned one hundred and eighty degrees relative to the second end region, i.e., when the article carrier is in a closed configuration.

In further example embodiments, the article carrier includes a plurality of device receptacles on an interior of the base portion. At least one of the receptacles is configured to retain a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) device. At least one of the receptacles is configured to retain an electronic vaping device pre-vapor formulation cartridge. And at least one of the receptacles is configured to retain an electronic vaping device power cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, articles, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, articles, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, article, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, article, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, article, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

FIG. 1illustrates an example embodiment of an article carrier100for securing an electronic device. The article carrier100includes a base portion102, a lid portion106, latches103and105and a hinge110(shown inFIG. 2). The base portion102and lid portion106are configured to rotate about the hinge110.

FIG. 2illustrates an additional view of the article carrier100. The base portion102includes a first edge region104and the lid portion106includes a second edge region108. The first edge region104of the base portion102is generally an area defined by any of the extreme edges of the base portion102and the center of the base portion102. For example, the first edge region104may be a portion of the base portion102that is at or near an edge104aof the base portion102. The first edge region104may, but does not necessarily include, the edge104aof the base portion102. The first edge region104is generally any portion of the base portion102between a center of the base portion102and any edge of the base portion102. The first edge region104may also include two adjacent edges such as a corner of the base portion102. In the example embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the edge region104of the base portion102is generally limited by the edge104aof the base portion102.

With continued reference toFIG. 2, the second edge region108of the lid portion106is generally an area defined by any of the extreme edges of the lid portion106and the center of the lid portion106. For example, the second edge region108is a portion of the lid portion106that is at or near an edge108aof the lid portion106. The second edge region108may, but does not necessarily include the edge108aof the lid portion106. The second edge region108is generally any portion of the lid portion106between a center of the lid portion106and any edge of the lid portion106. The second edge region108may also include two adjacent edges such as a corner of the lid portion106. The edge region108of the lid portion106is generally limited by the edge108aof the lid portion106.

FIG. 3illustrates an example embodiment of the article carrier100in an open configuration. As shown, the base portion102is a generally concave or cupped structure. The lid portion106is similarly shown as a concave or cup shaped structure.

As shown inFIG. 4, the base portion102may securely retain the electronic device (e.g., an electronic vaping device) in place. For example, the article carrier100may have retaining structures on an interior of the base portion102for sections of the electronic vaping device. A first receptacle122may retain a battery section of an electronic vaping device. A second receptacle124may retain a charging section (e.g., a USB charging device) for the electronic vaping device. And third receptacles126a,126band126cmay retain replacement pre-vapor formulation cartridges for the electronic vaping device.

Each of the receptacles122,124, and126a-126cmechanically retains electronic vaping device sections in place. For example, the first receptacle122is a clip that includes opposing arms128and130. At the end of each arm128and130is a retention head132. The retention head132of arm128, for example, faces an opposing retention head (not shown) of the arm130. An electronic device section that is placed between the opposing arms128and130may be retained in the receptacles by the retention heads.

With further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, a depth of the base portion102may be dependent on the use of the article carrier100or it may be dependent on the specifications set by the carrier designer. For example, the depth may be sized to fit only an electronic vaping device. Or, the depth may be sized so that it may accommodate a plurality of electronic vaping devices and/or other electronic devices.

The depths of the base portion102and the lid portion106may be equal or the depths of the base portion102and the lid portion106may differ. For example, one of the base portion102or the lid portion106may be cupped while the other portion may be relatively flat. Regardless of which portion is cupped—the base portion102, the lid portion106or both the lid portion102and the base portion106—the article carrier100is shaped to house electronic devices when the base portion102and the lid portion106are joined together in a closed configuration.

Referring toFIG. 2, when the article carrier100is in the closed configuration, the base portion102forms a seam134with the lid portion106. For example, the edges of the base portion102contact edges of the lid portion106. In the present example embodiment, the seam134encircles the entire article carrier100. It is not required that the seam extend continuously around the article carrier100. In alternative example embodiments, the seam134may be intermittent in that the base portion102may be in intermittent contact with the lid portion104. The edge104aof either the base portion102or the edge108aof the lid portion106may be lipped so that the either the edge104aof the base portion102or the edge108aof the lid portion106is in a nested configuration when the article carrier100is in a closed configuration, i.e., when the edges104aand108aare brought in contact with each other.

When the article carrier100is closed, clips144aand144block the base portion102to the lid portion106. For example, when an elastomeric material is used for the hinge110, the hinge may be configured to be biased in an open configuration. In the case that the article carrier100may be molded of a single material, any biasing of the lid portion104relative to the base portion102is in an open position. As such, to maintain the article carrier in a closed configuration, the clips144aand144bmay engage with the latches103and105. The clips144aand144bprovide a locking force to oppose the biasing nature of the lid portion104. It is not necessary that the case open to as wide as possible. A slight opening via the biasing of the lid portion may be helpful to a holder of the article carrier100.

With continued reference toFIG. 2, the hinge110connects the base portion102to the lid portion106at the edge regions104and108. The hinge110may be attached to each of the edge regions104and108any number of ways. For example, the hinge110may be attached to the base portion102and the lid portion106by being directly molded to the edge first and second edge regions104and108. It is not necessary that the hinge be attached to the edges104aand108a.

The hinge110may also be a separate article that is attached by an adhesive or by a mechanical connection such as a grommet-recess connection. For example, a grommet on the hinge110may engage a hole or recess on the edge region104and/or108or vice versa—a grommet on the edge region104and/or108may engage a hole or recess on the hinge110.

Referring toFIG. 5, the hinge110includes a first anchor portion136and a second anchor portion138and a connector band112. The anchor portions136and138connect the hinge to the first edge region104of the base portion102and the second edge region108of the lid portion106. The anchor portions136and138are integral with the edge regions104and108and therefore are similarly sized. In alternative embodiments where the anchor portions136and138are heterogeneous to the edge regions104and108, the size of the anchor portions may differ from the size of the edge regions.

In the present example embodiment, the article carrier100is a one-piece molded material. However, as discussed in more detail below, other embodiments may be configured with the hinge110as an article separate from the base portion102and/or the lid portion106.

The connector band112of the hinge110may have a non-uniform cross-section. For example, the connector band112may have a recessed top surface114and a relieved lower surface118.

The hinge110is made of a generally resilient material such as rubber or some other elastomer. The connector band112may be made to undergo significant deformation after which it may return to its original shape. The anchor portions136and138may be made of the same material as the connector band112or they may be made of a different material such as plastic or a non-elastic material. For example, the article carrier100may be made entirely of polypropylene.

The recessed top surface114includes a recess116. And the relieved lower surface118includes a relief120for receiving the first edge region104and the second edge region108.

The recess116is generally semi-circular and is equidistant between the anchor portions136and138. The semi-circular configuration is present when the article carrier100is in an open configuration as shown inFIG. 5. However, when the article carrier100is in a closed configuration, the recessed top portion116is deformed as discussed in more detail below.

FIG. 6shows a cross-sectional view of the example embodiment shown inFIG. 2. InFIG. 6, the relieved lower surface118has a relief120that has a generally rectilinear cross section. The cross-section of the relief120may be any shape other than rectilinear, e.g., arcuate or polygonal. The relief should be able to receive the edge regions104and108of the base portion102and lid portion106.

As shown inFIG. 6, cross-section of the relief120may have a configuration similar to that of a cross-section of the edge regions104and108. The connector band112has a width that is at least as long as a thickness of the first edge region104plus a thickness of the second edge region108. For example, edge regions104and108that are generally rectangular may be configured to have a similar cross-section as the section of the relief120. The edge regions104and108may fit snugly into the relief when the carrier100is in a closed configuration. The cross-section of the relief120, therefore, may correspond with the shape of the edge regions104and108.

The connector band112of the present example embodiment is sufficiently thick to provide a strong hinge. For example, in an article carrier having a base portion that is nine millimeters deep and a lid portion that is also nine millimeters deep, it is acceptable for the hinge to have a 0.2 millimeter thickness, within about ±0.05 mm, at its shallowest point between the recess116and the relief120(measured from a recess nadir142to a relief upper surface112a). The anchor portions may have a thickness of more than about 0.5 mm. In an example embodiment having these dimensions, a width of the relief120is about equal to a diameter of the recess116. I.e., the relief120may have a width of about 1.5 millimeters (measured from a first relief end112bto second relief end112c) and the recess116may have a radius of about 0.75 millimeters measured on a curve extending from a first recess edge116ato a second recess edge116bbetween 0.2 and 0.4 millimeters deep. The entire hinge, including both anchor portions, may have a width of about 2.25 millimeters, which represents the distance between the edge104aof the first base portion104and the edge108aof the second base portion108a. These dimensions serve as an example to aid in understanding dimensional relationships in the article carrier100and are not limiting.

The present connector band112withstands shear and torsional forces more easily than a hinge having a thin, uniform cross-section. Regardless of the thickness of example embodiments, however, the hinge110has an extremely low profile when the article carrier100is in a closed configuration.

Whether the hinge is visible from a perspective parallel to the axis of rotation of the base portion102and the lid portion106depends on how the hinge is anchored in the edge region104and the edge region108. For example, when the article carrier100is closed, the recess116is stretched from its curved configuration into a flat configuration as shown inFIG. 6. There are three flex points in the hinge110—a first flex point140athat connects a first side of the connector band112to the first anchor portion136, a second flex point140bthat connects a second side of the connector band112to the second anchor portion138, and the recess nadir142. For example, when the connector band112is responding to a closing action of the article carrier100, the connector band112stretches out the recessed top surface114.

As can be seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, the recess116extends from a first recess edge116ato a second recess edge116b. The recess116is curved into the recessed top surface and extends between the first and second recess edges116aand116b. When the article carrier100is closed, the first and second recessed edges116aand116bare stretched apart and move toward creating a linear relationship with the recess nadir142

The flat configuration of the recess116, i.e., the linear relationship between first and second recessed edges116aand116band the recess nadir142, causes the recessed top surface114of the connector band112to deform such that it is tangential or near to tangential to a surface of the edge regions104and108. The result is that the recessed top surface114is generally flush with the surface of the article carrier100. This flushness provides a smooth, uniform surface around the entire article carrier100. Previous article carriers incorporated hinge designs having two flaps. Each flap extended from a base and a lid, respectively. The flaps were joined together in a lambda configuration. The point of the “lambda” extended away from the base and lid and created an incongruous protrusion on the surface of the container preventing any flushness on the container.