Abstract:
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.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This patent application claims benefit of the priority date of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/899,070 filed on Nov. 1, 2013, entitled 2n 1 Electronic Cigarette, accordingly, the entire contents of this patent application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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&#39;s not well ventilated. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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. 
         [0009]    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 
       [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    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. 
         [0014]    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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    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. 
         [0017]    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. 
         [0018]    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. 
         [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC §112, or similar applicable law, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC §112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC §112, or similar applicable law. The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a preferred hybrid electronic cigarette/vaporizer with exhale filter capability of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of the cross-section of  FIG. 3  defined by the area  4 A- 4 A; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 4A  however with the accessory piece for vaporizing leaf material; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4C  is yet another similar enlarged sectional view to that of  FIG. 4A  however with the diverter valve pressed showing exhaled air flow through the mouth piece and cooker chamber; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a side aspect view of the electronic cigarette; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5  importantly showing exhaled air flow around an outer cylindrical channel around internal components; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded view of internal and external components of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7B  is an exploded view of an accessory for vaporizing leaf material (flower cartridge) instead of liquid material; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7C  is an enlarged exploded view thereof; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7D  is an isometric view of the accessory for vaporizing leaf material with broken lines revealing internal components; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7E  and  FIG. 7F  are enlarged views of components illustrated in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8A  is an exploded view of a filter assembly of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line  8 B- 8 B in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8C  is an end view thereof; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-section view of the diverter valve assembly taken along line  9 A- 9 A in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of the diverter valve in the depressed position illustrating operation thereof; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a second embodiment having a hollow cylindrical filter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a first preferred embodiment  10  is illustrated in an isometric view and is generally cigar shaped. A mouth piece  20  is provided and is easily replaceable as it snugly mates with a diverter valve assembly  90 . The mouth piece  20  is also unique in that it is flavored with mint, vanilla or other as may be pleasing to a user. Further, the mouth piece  20  is flexible comprising thermoplastic material providing enhance feel and comfort. 
         [0043]    Additionally with regard to  FIG. 1 , a cooker chamber  40  has a glass housing and can be configured for oil/liquid material or flower/leaf material as further detailed herein. A battery compartment  70  has a housing (e.g. aluminum) configured to the cooker chamber  40  and contains apertures for the ignition  71  button and a micro (mini) USB (universal serial bus) charging port  72  additionally detailed in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 7E  and  FIG. 7F . Also with regard to  FIG. 2 , a top plan view of the invention  10  is provided with sectional lines drawn for revealing internal components. The cooker compartment housing  40  (e.g. glass), the battery compartment  70  and a filter assembly  80  together define a body portion  40 ,  70 ,  80  of the electric/electronic cigarette. Incidentally, the electric cigarette  10  may 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. 
         [0044]    Regarding  FIG. 3 , a cross sectional view is provided focusing attention to the cooker chamber  40  and diverter valve  91  assembly  90  used to divert air flow depending on an inhale or an exhale function of the present invention  10 .  FIG. 4A  provides 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 cylinder  41  is heated by an electrical heating element causing said liquid to emit a vapor for smoking 
         [0045]      FIG. 4B  illustrates 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 to  FIG. 4C , the diverter valve  91  is shown being pressed blocking air flow inside the cooker cartridge  41  and instead allowing air flow around an outer channel provided between said cooker cartridge  41  and the cooker chamber  40  housing. Intake air holes  44   a,    44   b  are provided to the cartridges  41 ,  46  and not to the cooker chamber  40  so that exhaled air will not expel out of any such holes. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  herein shows a profile view of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the cigar shaped device  10  is wider than its height in the profile view comparing  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 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. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  particularly 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 cylindrical  80  as shown and therefore could be configured around the battery compartment  70 . 
         [0048]    With regard to  FIG. 7A , is an exploded view of major components  20 ,  40 ,  70 ,  80 ,  90  of the present invention is shown. Importantly as stated, cooker chamber  40  can support two different kinds of cooker cartridges  41 ,  46  depending on user preference. The liquid cartridge  41  has a cylindrical liquid chamber  42  therein that can be seen in  FIG. 4A  for containing material to be heated. Also of note, heating element  43  is configured closer to the actual material for the liquid embodiment  41 ; and the alternative leaf embodiment  46  (flower cartridge) has additional components  47 ,  48 ,  49  for heating leaf material as detailed herein. Additionally notable regarding  FIG. 4A , liquid cartridge  41  screws onto threads surrounding the heating element  43 ; and the diverter valve assembly has complementary threads to screw around an upper end of the liquid cartridge  41 . 
         [0049]    Further with regard to  FIG. 7A , an igniter  71  is configured to the heating element having threads around an upper end thereof. Batteries  73  are electrically and physically coupled to the igniter  71  ( FIG. 4A ) and heating element  43 . 
         [0050]    Regarding  FIG. 7B , an exploded view and enlarged view  FIG. 7C  is provided to illustrate components in the flower cartridge  46  not present in the liquid cartridge  41  embodiment. In this particular interchangeable embodiment, a mesh container  49  is 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 coil  48  is provides to transfer heat from the heating element to the mesh container. This wire coil  48  is needed to dissipate heat generated by the heating element  43  to a lower temperature more suited to flower material. As stated herein, an air intake port  44   b  is configured on a side wall  47  of the flower cartridge  46  for intruding air in the smoking device inhale function. The intake air port  44   b  is not located on the cooker chamber  40  side wall as to not provide a means for exhaled air escape. 
         [0051]    Also with regard to  FIG. 7C , it should be appreciated that axis  45  defines clear and definite subject matter in an elongated electronic cigarette in that all components  20 ,  40 ,  70 ,  80 ,  90  are arranged about an elongated axis. 
         [0052]    Regarding  FIG. 7D  the flower cartridge  46  is further illustrated with internal components as dashed lines. Importantly, the flower chamber housing  47  has threads on both ends connecting to the igniter  71  having threads disposed around the heat element  43 , and further connecting to threads provided in the diverter valve  91  assembly  90 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 7E  and  FIG. 7F  shows views of igniter  71  (with igniter button) configured to rechargeable batteries  73 , which are in turn coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB)  74  via electrical contacts  75 . 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 element  43  provides a proper temperature to liquid cartridge  41  (or flower cartridge  46 ). 
         [0054]    With regard to  FIG. 8A , an exploded view of the filter assembly  80  of the present invention is provided showing components  82 ,  83 ,  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  normally housed therein.  FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line  8 B- 8 B in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the filter assembly  80  has a fibrous corrugated paper filter  85  flanked by a charcoal granules  84  filter and a first felt filter  86 . A second felt filter  83  is provided adjacent to the charcoal granules  84  and this unit  83 ,  84 ,  85 ,  86 , is flanked by first  82  and second  87  screen filters. Stated differently, the first screen filter  82  is adjacent to the first  83  of the pair of felt filters  83 ,  86 ; and the second screen filter  87  is adjacent to the second  86  of the pair of felt filter  83 ,  86 .  FIG. 8C  is an end view illustrating filter assembly  80  having an additional grated end piece  81  where ultimately exhaled air is filter discharged as shown with arrows in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8B . 
         [0055]    As stated and now turning to  FIG. 9A , a diverter valve  91  assembly  90  is provided for blocking air flow through the cooker chamber  40  and thereby allowing air forced into the mouth piece  20  to be diverted around the cooker chamber  40 . The exhaled air is then travels between the batteries  73  and the battery portion  71  housing as shown particularly in  FIG. 6 . In the relaxed, unpressed state, the diverter valve aligns with a fixed disk  92  so that the apertures on the diverter valve  91  and the fixed disk  92  allow air to pass therethrough. This is the inhale function. The exhale filter function herein is provided by  FIG. 9B  wherein when the diverter valve button  91  is depressed, the apertures are misaligned (askew) and force air around the outer portion of valve body  40 ,  70 . A pair of curved arms  94  are provided at an opposite end with respect to the button  91  wherein the pair of arms  94  are configured to deform slightly when the diverter valve button  91  is pressed. Hence when the button  91  is released the arms return to the undeformed state. 
         [0056]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of a second embodiment  10   b  having a hollow cylindrical filter  81   b.  In this example, the PCB  74   b  has a mini USB port  72   b  configured axially and the cylindrical filter  81   b  is able to filter air around an outer portion thereof with components such as batteries  73  configured inside the hollowed out portion  81   b.  An end cap  76   b  is optionally provided covering the USB  72   b.    
         [0057]    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. 
         [0058]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.