US20130087160A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20130087160A1
Application number: US13/253,977
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexandru Gherghe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-06
Filing date: 2011-10-06
Publication date: 2013-04-11

Abstract

A porous ceramic atomized cartridge contains a heating element, a porous ceramic wick, and the liquid to be vaporized removably concealed within the body of an electronic simulated smoking pipe. Adjustment of the spacing of a circular disc heating element relative to the porous ceramic wick adjusts the level of atomization. All components are easily removable and replaceable and cleaned. A bowl of the pipe is used as an open battery chamber to allow any battery fumes to escape and allow easy removal and replacement of the battery. A conductive contact arm pivots between contact with the battery and the pipe body to control power. Vapor is activated by a manual push button switch or an automatic sound activated switch responsive to the puffing sound of a user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present utility patent application claims the advantage of applicant's provisional patent application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electronic smoking-substitute devices and in particular to a porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe relating to electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipes which allow the user of the device to inhale a flavored vapor which may be comprised of nicotine or other substance without a flame or smoke.

2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Conventional smoking devices function by burning tobacco with an open exposed flame and are known to be a health and safety hazard. The smoke inhaled from burning tobacco is composed from tar and other substances that are proven to cause life debilitating and life threatening diseases such cancer to the user and by a third party that may be present in a closed environment like public facilities, bars, restaurants, and work place.

The act of smoking includes a physical sensation produced by the act of inhaling and also by a “hand to mouth” reflex associated with taking the cigarette or pipe to the mouth in order to drag out of it and inhale the smoke. For tobacco smokers not smoking can produce unpleasant and dramatic psychological and physiological symptoms.

To address this issue, prior art smoking substitute devices have been developed to create as close as possible sensation of smoking without the negative consequences of open flame tobacco smoking and smoke inhalation. Some of the devices that have been successful smoking substitutes are electronic vaporizers also known as electronic cigarettes and electronic cigars.

Electronic smoking devices are battery operated units that are generally composed of three components: the battery, the atomizing/vaporizing unit, and a cartridge containing the electronic cigarette liquid. The electronic cigarette liquid is generally composed of water propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, a flavoring essence, and it may or may not contain nicotine.

The atomizer, when activated vaporizes the liquid is in contact with a heating coil element. The cartridge contains a wicking material soaked in the liquid to be vaporized. A newer generation of electronic cigarettes combines the vaporizer and cartridge in a single unit reason for which is suggestively named “Atomized Cartridge” or “Cartomizer”.

The Cartomizer is a metallic tube that contains a plastic fiber or paper uses as a wick a fiberglass tube which wraps around a wire heating coil. When the cartridge is filled with liquid the heat produced by the coil vaporizes the liquid. When the cartridge is empty or with a low level of liquid the coil will start to burn the fiberglass tube and the wicking material in it immediate vicinity of the coil producing toxic fumes.

In different configurations electronic smoking devices can closely resemble real cigarettes, and cigars.

Electronic cigarettes and cigars are activated by automatic draw or manual push button.

Prior art electronic pipes use a battery, an atomizer, (permanently fixed inside the main body of the pipe) and a reservoir for liquid to be vaporized. The prior art electronic pipe cannot be used while the battery is charging. If prior art atomizer is damaged or fails the pipe cannot be repaired and becomes unusable. A new pipe body with a build in atomizer has to be purchased. This prior art type of electronic pipe with a liquid reservoir leaks fluid inside and outside of the body of the pipe. It is an unreliable design and expensive to maintain. None of the prior art devices conceal the atomizer cartridge or provide safety switches and are susceptible to accidental activation in a pocket of a user.

Prior art pipes use a plastic cap with a metal border that is screwed to the top of the battery chamber. Prior art does not have any pressure relive space In case the battery fails. The rapid expending gas from the failed battery can create a pressure that can rapidly build up to instant shatter of the plastic cap and transform it in plastic shrapnel that can be very dangerous to the user.

Prior art devices may not be used while recharging the batteries and the batteries are not replaceable.

What is needed is a substitute smoking device which conceals the atomizer or cartomizer cartridge within the substitute smoking device, which has a safety lock switch to prevent accidental activation, which has no flammable components adjacent to the heating element thereby preventing toxic smoke, which has an open chamber housing the battery to release gases, which has means for charging the battery while the device is in use, which has separable components housing removable and replaceable parts to allow substitution or replacement, cleaning, and maintenance of any parts of the device, which provides heat adjustment for personalized the device for various levels of usage, and which favorably resembles on the exterior a normal smoking device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves many of the problems of prior art devices by providing an electronic pipe substitute smoking device which conceals the atomizer or cartomizer cartridge within the substitute smoking device, which has a safety lock switch to prevent accidental activation, which uses a porous ceramic wick element and has no flammable components adjacent to the heating element thereby preventing toxic smoke, which has separable components housing removable and replaceable parts to allow substitution or replacement, cleaning, and maintenance of any parts of the device, and which favorably resembles the exterior of a normal smoking device. The present invention utilizes the bowl of the pipe as an open battery chamber so that if the battery fails, the expanding gas is released without containment thus avoiding any sudden pressure burst or fragmentation of any components. The open bowl also allows the battery to be easily removed and replaced. The present invention is provided with a power jack and a USB power cable that can be plugged into an AC charger, a DC charger, or a USB port for recharging the battery during use, for charging the device directly and by-passing the battery, for charging the battery while the device is not in use. In one embodiment a ceramic disc heating element provides a large and uniform heat distribution on the surface of the porous ceramic wick and by changing the thickness of a ceramic base behind the ceramic disk heating element, the distance between the ceramic disk heating element and the porous ceramic wick can be changed to allow the user to adjust the vapor production as desired. Alternately, an elongated heating element, such as a heating coil, removably fits into a central opening along the length of the ceramic wick.

This type cartridge allows a level of custom individual settings and performance personalization of the vapor production nonexistent in any prior art.

The porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe is an electronic vaporizing pipe smoking substitute comprising a wooden, plastic or metal smoking pipe that has the exterior appearance of a normal tobacco pipe but has been configured and built to house inside the following components:

A power source: a low voltage battery 3.7V and 7.5V and with a capacity between 360 and 2200 mAh necessary to power the atomizing element;

An on/off momentary switch, or an automatic switch that controls the operation of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe;

A new design porous ceramic atomized cartridge that contains the heating element and the liquid to be vaporized;

A 2.5 mm power jack that is used to recharge the battery from a USB power source;

The battery is installed in tobacco camber of the pipe that has been cut to fit the battery's width and height;

At the bottom of the battery chamber a conical spring is connected to the cartomizer connector and to the negative side of the power jack.

A switch mounted on the top edge of the battery chamber has a metal conductive swivel clip that secures the battery inside battery chamber and in the same time connects to the positive terminal of the battery. The other end of the switch is connected by wire to a metal tube that holds the positive part of the porous ceramic porous ceramic atomized cartridge connector.

The positive side of the power jack is permanently connected by wire to the battery switch so if the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe is connected to a USB power supply, it will charge the battery whatever the pipe may be in use or not.

The porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe also has an automatic version where the automatic electronic switch is positioned behind the connector of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge inside the shank of the pipe.

The switch for the automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe is a miniaturized electronic microphone switch, connected to the connector and battery. When the user of the pipe sucks air thru the mouthpiece the sound of the air rushing in the body of the pipe initiates a signal from the microphone switch and activates the heating element inside the porous ceramic atomized cartridge. This switch is permanently connected by wire to the positive and negative sides of the battery.

The prior art atomized cartridge s has a number of design problems. The heating coil element inside the cartridge is insulated from the rest of the wick material by a small fiberglass tube. When the cartridge has a low level of fluid inside the heating coil element will burn the isolation and will release potentially dangerous fumes and unpleasant burnt taste.

In order to eliminate this problem the current invention the porous ceramic atomized cartridge has a porous ceramic tube placed around the length of the heating Ni-Chrome heating coil element.

The porous ceramic material acts as a wick absorbing the liquid to be vaporized from the foam insert inside the cartridge and an in the same time is an organically inert thermal insulator that will not produce fumes and will isolate the rest of the cartridge components from the heat. Also prior art porous ceramic atomized cartridges have the heating Ni-Chrome heating coil element soldered inside the cartridge and if the Ni-Chrome heating coil element fails the entire unit has to be discarded.

The cartridge in the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe Is designed without soldered connections inside the cartridge and if the Ni-Chrome heating coil element fails the negative pin from the Ni-Chrome heating coil element can be simply removed and the Ni-Chrome heating coil element replaced.

The design of the present invention allows the cartridge to be disassembled for periodical maintenance and cleaning between refills. Prior art does atomized cartridges cannot be maintained or cleaned.

The battery tube embodiment of the current invention allows the use of an atomized cartridge and has a lock safe feature that eliminates the accidental activation of the device while not in use. Momentary switches can be easily unintentionally activated while in a purse or pocket. The battery tube embodiment of the current invention has a lock safe feature design specifically to eliminate accidental activation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view and a longitudinal sectioned perspective view of the manual switch porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe of the according to a first example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectioned exploded perspective view of the manual switch of the electronic pipe and the longitudinal sectioned perspective view ofFIG. 1 from which the exploded view is taken;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectioned exploded perspective view, an exterior perspective view, and an exploded perspective view of the manual switch of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exterior perspective view and an exploded perspective view of the pipe and battery and porous ceramic atomized cartridge of the pipe of the present invention and arrows showing steps for their removal and installation;

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view and a longitudinal sectioned perspective view of the manual switch porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe according to a second example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectioned exploded perspective view of the manual switch of the electronic pipe and the longitudinal sectioned perspective view ofFIG. 5 from which the exploded view is taken showing an auto switch;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectioned view, an exploded perspective view, and an exterior perspective view of the positive connector and the swivel clip of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exterior perspective view and an exploded perspective view of the pipe and battery and porous ceramic atomized cartridge of the pipe ofFIG. 5 and arrows showing steps for their installation and removal;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectioned perspective view and an external perspective view of the momentary push button switch in locked and unlocked positions;

FIG. 10 is an exterior perspective view, an exploded perspective view, an exploded longitudinal sectioned view of the of the battery tube porous ceramic atomized cartridge and the manual momentary switch;

FIG. 11 is a series of three assembled longitudinal sectioned perspective views of the manual momentary switch in the secure locked position, the unlocked position, and the contact position according to the second example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of all of the components and an assembled longitudinal sectioned view of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view, an exploded longitudinal sectioned perspective view and an assembled longitudinal sectioned perspective view of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge connector tube of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an assembled longitudinal sectioned view, a reverse perspective exploded sectional view, and an exploded perspective view is an exploded view of the disk heater atomized cartridge of the present invention;

FIG. 14ais a perspective longitudinal sectioned view, an exterior reverse perspective view, and a perspective longitudinal sectional view showing air flow of the disk heater atomized cartridge tube of the present invention and detailed perspective and perspective longitudinal sectioned views of the components inside of the cartridge tube;

FIG. 14bis an enlarged perspective longitudinal sectioned view of the assembled disk heater atomized cartridge tube showing airflow;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the electrical components and connections of the manual porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe of the present invention with the manual button in the “on” position;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the electrical components and connections of the manual porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe of the present invention with the manual button in the “off” position;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the electrical components and connection of the automatic version of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view and reverse perspective view of the DC USB power supply plug and a perspective view and reverse perspective view of the AC USB power supply plug;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing the procedure for refilling the porous ceramic atomized electronic cartridge case;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view showing the procedure for refilling disk heater atomized cartridge case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

InFIGS. 1-20, the body of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe1 and1A is made from hardwood, plastic or metal. The mouthpiece4 is preferably made from plastic. The manual pipe1 ofFIGS. 1-4, and the automatic pipe1A ofFIGS. 5-8, each resemble a normal tobacco smoking pipe on the exterior. The interior of the pipe is custom manufactured with the dimension and compartments designed to fit all components for each particular model (as shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 5).

The bowl of the pipe of the present invention, normally used as the tobacco chamber in tobacco pipes, in the present invention is a battery chamber housing the power source, a removable and replaceable Li-ion battery8 of low 3.7 V and a capacity between 360 and 2200 mAh or more. On the rim of both pipes are drilled cylindrical holes that house the manual positive connector switch2 (as shown inFIG. 1) for the manual porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe and the positive battery contact2A for the automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe (as shown inFIG. 5).

At the bottom of the battery chamber will be aspring7 connected to the negative pole of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge connector4 and to the negative contact of the automatic switch10 for the automatic electronic pipe1A. Both the positive battery contact, the manualpositive connector switch2 will swivel sideways to allow the battery to be inserted or retrieved (FIG. 4 andFIG. 8).

A manual porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe (FIG. 1) is composed of nine components: the body of pipe1, a manualpositive switch connector2, a porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge3, a mouthpiece4, a porous ceramic atomized cartridge connector5, a DC 2.5mm power jack6, aspring7, and a battery8.

In the manual version the porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe is equipped with a manualpositive connector switch2. The mouthpiece of the pipe4 is a tube of frustoconical shape of a circular cross section tapering gradual to a blunt end. The connector tube5 (FIG. 11) is a metal tube with a threaded side containing an insulated cylinder that holds a negative pin of the connector tube in the center of the tube. The manual positive connector switch2 (FIG. 3) is composed of four parts: a button with a long pin13, a metalconductive swivel clip11, a retainingnut12 and a compression spring4.

InFIG. 1 andFIG. 2, an exterior view and an exploded longitudinal3dview of the automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe show the interior compartments and the position of the components.

In order to use the manual porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe user will draw out from the mouthpiece4 while pressing on the momentary manualpositive connector switch2. The switch will activate power to the Ni-Chromeheating coil element19 inside the porous ceramic atomized cartridge3 and the heat from the Ni-Chromeheating coil element19 will vaporize the liquid contained in the porous ceramic wick.

FIG. 4 shows that battery can be easily removed by rotating the metalconductive swivel clip12 to the either side of the battery enough for the battery to clear.

FIG. 4 also shows that in order to remove or install the porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge the only operation necessary is to pull or reinsert the mouthpiece4 which will expose or cover the porous ceramic cartomizer3 that can be screwed or unscrewed in to the or out of the porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge connector5.

InFIGS. 5 and 6, an automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe is composed of the body of pipe1, automatic positive connector2A, a porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge3, a mouthpiece4, a porous ceramic atomized cartridge connector5, an automatic switch10, a DC 2.5mm power jack6, aspring7, and a battery8.

InFIG. 5 andFIG. 6, an exterior view and an exploded longitudinal3dview of the automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe that show the interior compartments and the position of the components.

The automatic switch10 is activated (switching on the Ni-Chrome heating coil element) by airflow caused by the user sucking on the mouthpiece.

When the user will draw out from the mouthpiece4 the suction will rush air on the sides of a mini microphone10. The airflow generated sound then will activate an electronic switch that will allow power to the Ni-Chromeheating coil element19 of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge. The heat from the Ni-Chromeheating coil element19 will vaporize the liquid on the surrounding interior wall of the porous ceramic wick 121. The suction will also mix the vaporized liquid with the fresh air drawn thru.

On the automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe1A, shown inFIGS. 5-8, the simple act of suction will activate the porous ceramic atomized cartridge.

InFIG. 7 are longitudinal sections, an exterior view and an exploded longitudinal3dview of the automatic positive connector composed from a metalconductive swivel clip12, retainingnut15.

FIG. 8 shows that battery can be easily removed by rotating the metalconductive swivel clip12 to the either side of the battery enough for the battery to clear.

AlsoFIG. 8 shows that in order to remove or install the porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge3 pull or reinsert the mouthpiece4 that will expose or cover the porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge3 ready to screw or unscrew in to or out of the porous ceramic cartomizer cartridge connector5 secured inside the shank of the pipe body1.

Prior art atomized cartridges have the heating element soldered inside the cartridge and is insulated from the foam inside by absorbent paper around the Ni-Chrome heating coil element and small fiberglass tubes. Because the high temperature reaches by the Ni-Chrome heating coil element the paper and the fiberglass tubes will burn producing a burnt taste. Also all the component of the cartridge will heat up with continuous periods of usage.

This new design porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe uses a porous ceramic atomized cartridge inFIG. 13 which has been designed specifically to eliminate prior art problems. The new porous ceramic atomized cartridge3 is composed of the fallowing parts:Cartridge Pin16,Insolating rubber gasket17,Cartridge Cap18, Ni-Chrome Heating Coil19,Silicone Seal20, PorousCeramic Wick21,Cartridge tube22 andReservoir Cap23.

Prior art atomized cartridges are disposable because maintenance of the unit is not possible. If the heating coil element will burn the unit is unusable. The new porous ceramic atomized cartridge3 has been designed specifically to ensure an easy maintenance and a simple replacement procedure of the Ni-Chrome heating coil element.

When the user draws from the mouthpiece and the circuit is activated air is draw thru theCartridge Pin16 the heated Ni-Chromeheating coil element19 where it will be mixed with the vaporized e-liquid inside PorousCeramic Wick21, thru theReservoir Cap23 in to the mouthpiece4.

InFIG. 14, the connector tube5 has a thread in which the new porous ceramic atomized cartridge is screwed in. Theconnector insulator gasket24 will also hold the contact pin25. For the automatic porous ceramic atomized cartridge electronic pipe the connector tube5 also houses the electronic automatic switch9.

The porous ceramic atomized cartridge3 is structured to be refilled with the liquid. In order to refill the porous ceramic atomized cartridge, the mouthpiece4 is pulled from the main body of the pipe1, the porous ceramic atomized cartridge3 is unscrewed counter-clockwise, the rubber cap and the negative pin are removed and the liquid is added. Once thecartridge tube22 is filled with liquid thereservoir cap23 has to been place back as showed inFIG. 19. After the refilling process is completed the porous ceramic atomized cartridge is screwed clockwise in the porous ceramic atomized cartridge connector5 and the mouthpiece4 pushed back into the body of the pipe1.

The present invention has apower jack6 and a USB power cable9 that can be plugged in a AC charger, a DC charger or a USB port. This new feature does not exist with any prior art electronic smoking-substitute devices. In prior art electronic smoking-substitute devices, the battery has to be removed and recharge or the device has to be disassembled and connected to a charger making the device unusable during the recharge process. The present invention can be used while the battery is being recharged which makes the device a more practical, efficient and more reliable than any prior art.

The present invention can be also be used without the battery using the USB cable9 alone and a USB power source like a USB plug of a laptop, a USB plug desktop, a power USB hub, a wall AC USB port, a DC USB port (car cigarette lighter socket) or an external battery pack equipped with an USB power port.

In the present invention such an occurrence is not possible because of the open design of the battery chamber. If battery fails the expanding gas is released without containment thus avoiding any sudden pressure burst or fragmentation of any components.

In this second cartridge embodimentFIG. 13 and 13aof the invention is comprised of the following components: a retainingring31, a contact pin (25), a retainingscrew15, a ceramic base30, ceramic disk heating element (26), a porous ceramic wick 2 (27), a cartridge tube (21), a one way silicone air valve (29), a cartridge cap (22), and a mouthpiece (31).

In this second cartridge embodiment the cartridge is designed to use a ceramic disk heating element. The ceramic disk heating element is an electro thermal ceramic heater. The heat circuit embeds into alumina ceramic disk bodies.

In this embodiment of the inventionFIG. 11cair enters thru the center of the contact pin (25) and exits thru the mouthpiece mixed with vapor. The cartridge cap (22) has a hole between the center and the side of the cap. A one way silicone air valve (29) allows the air to enter the reservoir chamber when suction is produced true the mouthpiece. This will allow small quantities of vaporizing liquid to transfer in to the porous ceramic in order to maintain its entire surface wet. This way with every drag the wick will be able to absorb just the necessary amount of liquid to be vaporized in the next cycle.

The advantage of this embodiment is that the ceramic heating element has a large and uniform heat distribution on the surface of the porous ceramic wick. Also by changing the thickness of ceramic base30, behind the ceramic disk heating element (26), the distance between ceramic disk heating element (26) and the porous ceramic wick 2 (27) can be changed, the increased or decreased distance will allow the user to adjust the vapor production. The vapor density is increased when the distance between the ceramic disk heating element (26) and the porous ceramic wick 2 (27) is decreased.

This embodiment of the cartridge can be disassembled with ease for periodical maintenance and cleaning between refills.

The ceramic disk heater is designed with the specific purpose that there will be no component that would produce any type of toxic gas due to the high temperature in the immediate vicinity of the heating element.

The porous ceramic wick and ceramic disk heater are the two elements that are exposed to the highest temperature inside the cartridge and the production steps necessary to fabricate these too particular pars (involving baking them at well over 2000 degrees), by definition eliminate the possibility of toxic fumes during the usage of the cartridge

A third embodiment of the invention (FIG. 10) uses the same cartridges as the pipe but with a different battery enclosure and a different Momentary Push Button Switch.

This embodiment is composed of a Battery Tube40 made of food grade material that is designed to hold variety different sized of batteries and at one end and a Momentary Push Button Switch designed with a build in safety lock that will prevent accidental activation of the device while not in use. A thread to the other end of the Battery Tube will allow the user to connect a porous ceramic atomized cartridge or a ceramic disk cartridge.

The battery tube embodiment of this invention (FIG. 10) the device is composed of the fallowing elements: aswitch button34, a set of three rare earth ring magnets35 arranged in opposite direction, aswitch enclosure36, a plastic bushing37, a retaining ring38, a negative pin39, and a battery tube40.

InFIG. 11 is a longitudinal section of the momentary push button switch in looked, unlooked and contact positions. Two of the three rare earth ring magnets35 oppose a third one placed in opposition with the other two acting like a spring. The benefit of the magnetic spring like arrangement is that unlike a conventional compression spring they have a much longer life and a smoother and more comfortable operation.

FIG. 9 shows that in order to secure the push button when the device is not in use the button has been designed with a thread at its base that will be easy screwed by hand in to the tread of theswitch enclosure36

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic smoking substitute device comprising:

a body for use in substitute smoking, the body comprising separable components and having at least one concealed internal chamber not visible when the components are assembled for use;

a replaceable porous ceramic atomized cartridge removably housed within the body in the at least one concealed internal chamber and concealed from external view therein, the cartridge housing a refillable reservoir containing a liquid to be vaporized; a porous ceramic wick of a cylindrical form positioned inside the cartridge, the wick positioned adjacent to the reservoir in communication with the liquid contained therein to receive the liquid in the wick; a heating element positioned in contact with the porous ceramic wick for heating the wick to vaporize the liquid into an vapor to be breathed in by a user, the heating element being isolated from flammable materials; the cartridge being removable from the disassembled body for cleaning, refilling, replacing, and maintenance;

a vapor conduit leading out of the body to transmit the vapor to a user;

a power supply to provide power to the heating element;

at least one charging port for the power supply to enable charging of the power supply when the device is in use and when the device is not in use;

a lock safe switch to activate and de-activate the heating element and prevent accidental activation.

2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the at least one charging port comprises a port to receive a plug for a USB power cord to recharge the power supply and further comprising a detachable USB power cord.

3. The device ofclaim 2 wherein the detachable USB power cord powers the heating element directly without a power supply present in the body.

4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a replaceable rechargeable battery.

5. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a ceramic disk heating element inside the atomized cartridge.

6. The device ofclaim 5 further comprising a ceramic base behind the ceramic disk heating element to adjust the distance between the ceramic disk heating element and the porous ceramic wick to adjust the vapor production.

7. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the heating element comprises an elongated heating element inside the ceramic wick.

8. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the body is formed from at least one material taken from the list of materials including wood, metal, and plastic.

9. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising a manual push switch on the surface of the body for manually activating the porous ceramic atomized cartridge to produce the vapor.

10. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising an automatic electronic switch inside the body activated by the sound of suctioned air for automatically activating the heater of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge to produce the vapor.

11. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the body is fabricated in the shape of a smoking pipe having a bowl forming an open battery chamber housing a rechargeable battery to allow any battery fumes to escape and a stem extending from the bowl, the stem housing the removable and replaceable porous ceramic atomized cartridge concealed within the stem, wherein the end of the stem comprises a mouthpiece and the conduit comprises an opening through the mouthpiece from the end of the stem extending into the stem in communication with the cartridge.

12. The device ofclaim 11 wherein the lock safe switch comprises an electrically conductive pivot arm contact pivotally attached to a top rim of the bowl to swivel between a first position in contact with an end of the battery to provide a charge for the device and a second position in contact only with the rim of the bowl out of contact with the end of the battery to provide no charge to the device so that the device cannot be activated accidentally.

13. An electronic smoking substitute pipe device comprising:

a pipe body for use in substitute smoking, the pipe body comprising an upright bowl forming an open battery chamber housing a removable rechargeable battery to allow any battery fumes to escape, a stem extending horizontally from the bowl, and a mouthpiece removably attached to the stem, the stem having at least one concealed internal chamber not visible when the components are assembled for use;

a replaceable porous ceramic atomized cartridge removably housed within the at least one concealed internal chamber of the stem, the cartridge concealed from external view therein, the cartridge housing a refillable reservoir containing a liquid to be vaporized; a porous ceramic wick of a cylindrical form positioned inside the cartridge, the wick positioned adjacent to the reservoir in communication with the liquid contained therein to receive the liquid in the wick; a heating element positioned in contact with the porous ceramic wick for heating the wick to vaporize the liquid into an vapor to be breathed in by a user, the heating element being isolated from flammable materials, the heating element communicating with the battery to receive power for the heating element from the battery; the cartridge being removable from the disassembled body for cleaning, refilling, replacing, and maintenance;

a vapor conduit through the mouthpiece from the end of the mouthpiece extending into the stem in communication with the cartridge to transmit the vapor to a user;

at least one charging port for the power supply to enable charging of the battery when the device is in use and when the device is not in use;

14. The device ofclaim 13 wherein the lock safe switch comprises an electrically conductive pivot arm contact pivotally attached to a top rim of the bowl to swivel between a first position in contact with an end of the battery to provide a charge for the device and a second position in contact only with the rim of the bowl out of contact with the end of the battery to provide no charge to the device so that the device cannot be activated accidentally.

15. The device ofclaim 13 wherein the at least one charging port comprises a port to receive a plug for a USB power cord to recharge the battery and further comprising a detachable USB power cord, the detachable USB power cord powering the heating element directly without a power supply present in the body.

16. The device ofclaim 13 wherein the heating element comprises a ceramic disk heating element inside the atomized cartridge, and further comprising a ceramic base behind the ceramic disk heating element to adjust the distance between the ceramic disk heating element and the porous ceramic wick to adjust the vapor production.

17. The device ofclaim 13 wherein the heating element comprises an elongated heating element inside the ceramic wick.

18. The device ofclaim 13 wherein the pipe body is formed from at least one material taken from the list of materials including wood, metal, and plastic.

19. The device ofclaim 13 further comprising a manual push switch on the surface of the pipe body used for manually activating the porous ceramic atomized cartridge to produce the vapor.

20. The device ofclaim 13 further comprising an automatic electronic switch inside the body activated by the sound of suctioned air for automatically activating the heater of the porous ceramic atomized cartridge to produce the vapor.