Abstract:
A clip for or a method of clipping an electronic cigarette having a box and a tank to a person. The clip includes: an adapter interconnecting the box and the tank; a collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a washer, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box and another side adapted to engage the collar; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/092,339 filed Dec. 16, 2014, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The instant application is directed to a clip for an electronic cigarette. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The technology related to electronic cigarettes is evolving rapidly. The earlier versions (also known as the first generation electronic cigarettes or e-cigs), include the popular “blu e-cig,” that looked like conventional cigarettes; but, later versions depart from the cigarette look. The later versions include a box (generally for housing a battery and at least some of the electronics used by the cigarette), and a tank that may be coupled to the box. These later versions have a much greater capacity, meaning that they can be smoked for longer periods of time without recharging and/or refilling. See generally Electronic Cigarette, Wikipedia, Dec. 9, 2014, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0004]    The larger new versions, however, can be awkward to carry. Some have provided “clips” that are attached to the electronic cigarette and allow the cigarette to the carried on the person of the user. These clips are shown in the PRIOR ART illustrations ( FIGS. 7-13 ). These clips, however, are wanting. 
         [0005]    There is a need for a clip for an electronic cigarette, specifically an electronic cigarette having an box and tank (as described above), that is an improvement (e.g., more secure on or more difficult to dislodge from the electronic cigarette) over the previous clips offered. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A clip for or a method of clipping an electronic cigarette having a box and a tank to a person. The clip includes: an adapter interconnecting the box and the tank; a collar adapted to fit around the adapter; a washer, one side of the washer adapted to engage the box and another side adapted to engage the collar; and a fastener affixed to an exterior face of the collar. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an embodiment of the instant invention attached to an electronic cigarette. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another alternate embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of another embodiment of the fastener. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7-13  are illustrations of prior art clips for electronic cigarettes. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring to the drawings wherein like elements have like numerals, there is shown in  FIG. 1  an embodiment of the inventive clip  30  connected to an electronic cigarette  10 . 
         [0016]    In  FIG. 1 , the electronic cigarette  10 , for example, a third generation electronic cigarette, is shown. The electronic cigarette (or e-cig)  10  generally includes a box  12  and a tank  14 . Electronic cigarette  10  and its components (box  12  and tank  14 ) are conventional, unless otherwise noted. 
         [0017]    Box  12  may include, among other things, one or more batteries (not shown, but conventional) and the electronics (not shown, but conventional) necessary to the operation of the electronic cigarette  10 . The electronics may include, for example, circuitry to vary or control voltage, wattage, amperage, and temperature. Additionally, the box may include a connector plate  13  (see  FIG. 3 ). Plate  13  may include one of more grooves (these groves may act as air vents). Plate  13  may be a commercially available “510” connector. 
         [0018]    Tank (or atomizer)  14  may include a mouth piece  16 , a juice reservoir  18 , juice  20 , and a heating element  22 . These elements are arranged in a conventional fashion. Juice refers to the conventional liquid atomized to smoke by the electronic cigarette  10 . 
         [0019]    Clip  30  generally includes: an adapter  24 , a collar  32 , a fastener  34  affixed to the collar  32 , and a washer  36 . Clip  30  may be secured on the electronic cigarette  10  between box  12  and tank  14  and surrounds adapter  24  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0020]    Adapter  24  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) interconnects box  12  with tank  14 . Adapter  24  may be any adapter having a male lower section and an female upper section. The tank  12  may be screwed into adapter  24 , and then adapter  24  may be screwed into box  12  (for example via connector plate  13 ). Adapter  24  may be a commercially available “510” adapter. 
         [0021]    Collar  32 , in the embodiment best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , may be annular and include a lower open cavity  38 . Cavity  38  may be defined by an exterior annular wall, an interior annular wall (e.g., for frictional engagement with adapter  24 ), and an upper surface joining the exterior and interior walls. One or more grippers  44  (see  FIG. 4 ) may be located along an inner surface of the of the lower cavity  38  for engaging the washer  36 . Grippers  44  may be in the form of a tooth or blade connected to (or projecting from) the sides and top surfaces of the cavity  38  (see, for example,  FIG. 4 ), or in the form of spikes connected to (or projecting from) the top surface of cavity  38  (not shown). Cavity  38  may have any cross-sectional configuration. Cavity  38  may be sized, so that washer  36  fills the entire cavity. 
         [0022]    Collar  32 ′ (see  FIG. 4 ) is an alternate embodiment of the clip  30 . Collar  32 ′ includes the lower cavity  38  (described above), an upper open cavity  40  defined by exterior wall  41 , with a divider plate  42  therebetween. Upper cavity  40  may also include an inner wall (not shown) defining the adapter opening through plate  42 . Upper cavity is sized to fit tank  14 . Wall  41  may include one or more air vents  46 . Vents  46  may be cut-outs (shown) or holes (not shown) through wall  41 . 
         [0023]    Collar  32 ″ ( FIG. 5 ) is still another embodiment and may be the same as collar  32  except without the lower annular cavity  38 . In this embodiment, the washer does not fit into any cavity of the collar, but instead is fit between the collar  32 ″ (a flat annular member) and the box (or plate  13  of box  12 ). The diameter of the washer and the collar may the same or different. 
         [0024]    Fastener  34  is affixed to an exterior surface of the collar  32 . Fastener  32  may be removably affixed or permanently affixed to the collar. The fastener may be any fastener configuration. For example, the fastener  34  may be clip (see  FIGS. 1-3 and 5 ), i.e., a generally flat flexible tongue with a curve therein that may bear against box  12 , or a ring (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0025]    Collar  32  and fastener  34  may be made of any material. Such materials may include metal and/or plastic. 
         [0026]    Washer  36  is an annular ring of resilient or elastic material, for example, rubber. Washer  36  may have any cross-sectional configuration. In one embodiment, washer  36  has a square or rectangular cross-section. Washer  36  is sized to fill cavity  38 . Washer  38  may extend beyond the open end of the cavity  38 . Washer  38  may extend slightly beyond the open end of the cavity  38  (slightly means the extension beyond the open end is less than 3% of the cavity depth, or less than 1% of the cavity depth). 
         [0027]    The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.