US20200170295A1

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Info

Publication number: US20200170295A1
Application number: US16/697,676
Authority: US
Inventors: John Grimm; Yuval Shenkal
Original assignee: Philter Labs Inc
Current assignee: Philter Labs Inc
Priority date: 2018-12-02
Filing date: 2019-11-27
Publication date: 2020-06-04
Also published as: GB202109565D0; WO2020117621A1; CA3121731A1; GB2595377A

Abstract

An accessory e-cigarette filter assembly that is essentially a protective sleeve for both a vaporizer and an exhale filter is disclosed. The device also allows for removably pairing an exhale filter to a vaporizer. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve provides for the filter and e-cigarette to be juxtaposed however a mouthpiece for the filter and a mouthpiece for the e-cigarette are at opposite ends.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application claims benefit of the priority date of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/774,276 filed on Dec. 2, 2018 entitled “Accessory E-Cigarette Filter Assembly.” Accordingly, the entire contents this U.S. provisional patent submission is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to accessories for electronic smoking devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sleeve for receiving an exhale filter further accommodating and coupling to a vaporizer or e-cigarette, the filter for cleansing and scrubbing exhaled vapor.

Description of the Prior Art

Ever increasing in popularity, “electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes” and vaporizers typically use an electrical heating element to heat a liquid usually containing a mixture of nicotine and flavorings/extract that produces a mist similar to smoke but without the excessive heat that causes combustion. A useful exemplary apparatus 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.

Over the intervening years, e-cigarettes have evolved to pen types, stick or wafer types, or larger units fitting into a user's hand with a mouthpiece coupled thereto.

Further, as e-cigarette use has expanded and gained momentum, either as an alternative to typical cigarettes or smoked flower material, so have accessory items to accompany them. One such accessory currently on the market has been branded the Smoke Buddy®. This device is specifically an external filter for receiving exhaled mist; however, it's bulky, awkward and irregular in shape. Other e-cigarette accessories on the market include holders, containers, cases, and outer protectors such as typical for smart phones. Accordingly, the present invention herein is somewhat of a combination of these accessories further providing a novel and useful mating of a commercial vaporizer or e-cigarette with an original and unique filter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above mentioned deficiencies, more specifically, the present invention, in a first aspect is an accessory sleeve for a vaporizer comprising: a first lengthwise channel in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve for receiving the vaporizer; and a second lengthwise channel parallel to the first lengthwise channel for receiving a filter device, wherein the first and second channels are configured to friction fit said vaporizer and said filter device.

The invention in this aspect is additionally characterized in that it comprises a top end wall and a bottom end wall opposite the top end wall. Also, the first lengthwise channel further comprises a race track configuration through the top end wall and the bottom end wall, the race track configuration being a rectangle with rounded ends.

Additionally further, the race track configuration is defined as having a rounded carve out in each of two opposing sides to accommodate a curved surface on the vaporizer. Also further an interior wall separates the first and second lengthwise channels.

Still further in this aspect the invention may be characterized wherein both of the first and second lengthwise channels each comprise a cut out exposing an interior of the sleeve, the cut out for assisting a user in receiving and removing the vaporizer and the filter to and from the sleeve. Also in the preferred embodiment, the sleeve is made from soft silicon rubber for providing impact protection to the vaporizer and the filter and facilitating the friction fit.

Yet further notably the filter device comprises a mouthpiece, and further wherein the filter device mouthpiece rests upon a top end wall of the accessory sleeve also within the first lengthwise channel. In other words, the top end wall is an abutment to the filter device mouthpiece. Also in this aspect, the invention may be characterized in that the top end wall and bottom end wall each comprise apertures appropriately sized and shaped to allow for the filter and vaporizer to be secured with mouthpieces at opposite ends of the accessory sleeve.

In another aspect the invention may be characterized as an accessory sleeve for an exhale filter comprising a first lengthwise channel concentric to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve for receiving the exhale filter wherein the exhale filter includes a mouthpiece wherein the mouthpiece rests upon a top surface of the first lengthwise channel. Uniquely included to this particular embodiment, an eyelet is coupled to the sleeve at an end thereof, for connecting to a lanyard, or a key chain, or a clip as preferred by a user.

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

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:

FIG. 1A is a first exploded view of an accessory sleeve mating a filter device to an e-cigarette of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a second exploded view of the sleeve prepared to receive a pen-type vaporizer;

FIG. 1C is an isometric view of the sleeve of the present invention having received a pen-type e-cigarette, the view from an opposite underneath vantage point;

FIG. 1D is an additional exploded view of the sleeve prepared to receive a stick-type vaporizer;

FIG. 1E is an isometric view of the sleeve of the present invention having received a stick-type e-cigarette;

FIG. 1F is a top plan view of the sleeve particularly showing openings for 1^stand 2^ndlengthwise channels;

FIG. 1G is a top plan view alternative embodiment to the 1^stlengthwise channel;

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of an improved version of the sleeve with a more specific geometry in the top plan view;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view thereof taken aboutline2B-2B inFIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an isometric view of the 2^ndgeneration sleeve having received a stick-type e-cigarette or vaporizer;

FIG. 2D is an isometric view of the 2^ndgeneration sleeve of the present invention having received a pen-type e-cigarette;

FIG. 2E is an isometric view thereof from a rear vantage point;

FIG. 2F is a bottom plan view particularly showing the 1^stlengthwise channel having a pair of rounded carve outs for accommodating a pen-type device;

FIG. 2G is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3A is an isometric view of an additional sleeve embodiment containing magnets;

FIG. 3B is a first exploded view thereof from a frontal vantage point;

FIG. 3C is a second exploded view thereof from a rear vantage point;

FIG. 3D is yet a third exploded view of the sleeve embodiment containing magnets;

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of an eyelet sleeve embodiment to receive a only the personal exhale filter;

FIG. 4B is an isometric view of the additional eyelet sleeve embodiment; and

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the eyelet sleeve embodiment coupled to a lanyard intended use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially toFIG. 1A, an exploded view of afilter device98 to be mated to an

e-cigarette

96,97 via a firstpreferred accessory sleeve10 is shown. Theaccessory sleeve10 is designed to integrate a Philter™ Solo/Pocket device98 with existing off the shelf commercial vaporizer pens96 (FIG. 1B,FIG. 1C), sticks96 (FIG. 1D,FIG. 1C), and dry herb vaporizers.

Also referring toFIG. 1A throughFIG. 1E, theadapter sleeve10 will receive the personalexhale filtering device98 on one side and thecommercial vaporizer pen97 orstick96 on the other side in opposing directions. That is, a mouthpiece for the vaporizer will protrude from oneend14 while amouthpiece94 for thefilter98 will protrude from theopposite end13. The user will operate the vaporizing device as normal, and then flip the device about itsaxis99 and exhale into thefilter device98. Thisadapter sleeve10 is preferably made from a compliant material such as silicone or other flexible polymer that can accommodate various sizes and geometries of commercial vaporizers. Specifically, the material will be slightly pliable to allow for a friction fit for either a pen or a stick having sizes that may vary slightly. Furthermore, thesleeve10 material will provide impact resistance to the pen, stick and filter affording protection thereto. With regard toFIG. 1C, acylindrical pen97 easily fits within arectilinear channel11 due to the pliable silicone material having elastic properties.

An important aspect of the invention is the end view aspectFIG. 1F,FIG. 1G,FIG. 2F andFIG. 2G, of the sleeve that receives either the pen or the stick. Initially, the end view of the sleeve comprises a racetrack configuration for the first

lengthwise channel

11,21 that is essentially a rectangle withrounded corners19; or the racetrack configuration could be a rectangle with rounded ends18. An improvement to the rectangular end view with rounded ends is illustrated inFIG. 2A andFIG. 2B. Herein, the racetrack configuration has a paircurved carve outs29 in the two opposing sides to accommodate a curved surface of cylindrically shapedvaporizer pen97. Importantly, regarding the present invention, the

same sleeve

10,20 can hold a cylindrical pen or rectilinear stick providing versatility. In addition it should be noted, for example inFIG. 1A andFIG. 1C, that the size of the apertures in thetop end wall13 corresponding tofirst channel11 andsecond channel12, together with apertures in bottom end wall14 (FIG. 1C) allow for the filter and vaporizer to be secured with the vaporizer mouthpiece and thefilter mouthpiece94 at opposite ends of the accessory sleeve. More specifically, large aperture for the second

lengthwise channel

12,22 in

top end wall

13,23 is larger to accommodate the body of thefilter98 and smaller aperture for the second lengthwise12,22 channel in the

bottom end wall

14,24 acts as a stop for the filter only exposing the exhale vent clearly illustrated inFIG. 1C. And, thestick96 or thepen97 may be inserted in either lengthwise direction.

Also notably, first11 and second12 channels have

end walls

13,14,23,24 formed by the

top surface

13,23 and the

bottom surface

14,24. Further with regard toFIG. 2F andFIG. 2G, apertures in the

end walls

13,14,23,24 provide a beginning and an end of the first and

second channels

11,12,21,22. The apertures for the first

lengthwise channel

11,21 have an identical shape, eitherracetrack18 or modified

racetrack

19,29. With regard toFIG. 2G, the apertures that accommodate the filter are either shaped like thefilter98 body, as in the

top end wall

13,23; or circular in shape to accommodate a filter exit vent in the

bottom end wall

14,24. The exit vent is clearly shown onFIG. 1C andFIG. 1E on thebottom surface14

end wall

14.

Particularly with regard toFIG. 1B, it should be understood that in some embodiments, thefilter device98 is separate and distinct from the

present invention

10,20,30,40; and in other embodiments, thefilter device mouthpiece94 is included because of its interrelatedness with the

sleeve

10,20,30,40; specifically in that themouthpiece94 rests upon an outside of top

surface end wall

13,23 when the filter device is inserted down into second

lengthwise channel

12,22.

Embodiments

30,40 illustrated inFIG. 3D andFIG. 4B also show this arrangement. Due to the interrelatedness in some embodiments, thefilter mouthpiece94 is shown dashed lines in some illustration and in others, it94 is not shown in dashed lines.

Also with regard toFIG. 1C,FIG. 2A, andFIG. 2E, the

channels

11,12,21,22 have

carve outs

16,17,26,27 or reliefs in the side exposing the pen or stick and the filter, These

reliefs

16,17,26,27 are useful to work either the pen, stick or filter out of

sleeve

10,20 by a user's thumb or finger. Additionally, the first11,21 and second12,22 channels are separated by awall28 at an interior to the

sleeve

10,20. In the case of the second generation embodiment and as shown inFIG. 2A therounded cut outs29 to theracetrack configuration18 extend all the way down on that side of thewall28 in the first channel.

FIG. 3A throughFIG. 3D are illustrative of anadditional sleeve embodiment30 containing magnets. In this concept variation, anadapter sleeve30 will house the personalexhale filter device98 on oneside37 and have amagnetic receiver39 the other38 that will allow the user to attach via the magnetic connection. This allows the accessory sleeve to fit various diameter and larger geometric shapedvaporizers95 and electronic cigarettes, since theaccessory filter assembly30 would not have to fit entirely over thevaporizer95 as in other embodiments. Thesleeve30 further includes acurved surface38 opposite aside37 that holds thefilter98.

A slight variation contemplated herein has the attachment mechanism as inFIG. 3A throughFIG.3D

comprising magnets

39, but instead of flipping the device around to exhale into it, the variation slides up using a slider button (or translational lever) and subsequently retracts. In this manner, thefilter mouthpiece94 is extended for exhale by a user and conveniently slides back when not in use.

FIG. 4A throughFIG. 4C illustrate anadditional sleeve embodiment40 particularly for receiving a filter98 (or possibly a

vaporizer

95,96,97) via achannel42. Thesleeve40 incorporates aneyelet44 at an end thereof for connecting to a clip, a keychain and/or alanyard93, as shown inFIG. 4C.

As detailed herein, the invention in one aspect is

accessory sleeve

10,20 for a

vaporizer

96,97 comprising: a first

lengthwise channel

11,21, parallel to alongitudinal axis99 of the sleeve, for receiving the vaporizer. Additionally, the accessory sleeve has a second

lengthwise channel

12,22 parallel or juxtaposed to the first lengthwise channel for receiving anexhale filter device98, wherein the first and second channels are configured to friction fit both the vaporizer and the exhale filter device.

The invention in this aspect is additionally characterized in that the first lengthwise channel further comprises arace track18 configuration in an end view. Further, the race track configuration comprises a rectangle with rounded ends. Alternatively, the end view racetrack has roundedcorners19 without rounded ends. An improvement to the racetrack end view, comprises a curved carve out29 in each of two opposing sides to accommodate a curved surface on a pen-type97 vaporizer.

embodiments

10,20, secondlengthwise channel12,22) parallel to alongitudinal axis99 of the sleeve, for receiving anexhale filter device98; and afirst magnet39 coupled at alateral side38 of thesleeve30 for coupling to a side of thevaporizer95.

In another aspect the invention may be characterized as anaccessory sleeve40 for an exhale filter comprising: a first lengthwise channel42 (parallel to alongitudinal axis99 of the sleeve) for receiving theexhale filter98; and aneyelet44 coupled to thesleeve40 at an end thereof, for connecting to alanyard93, or a key chain, or a clip, as preferred by a user.

While the particular Accessory E-Cigarette And Filter Sleeve Assembly 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.

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.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory sleeve for a vaporizer comprising:

a first lengthwise channel in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve for receiving the vaporizer; and

a second lengthwise channel parallel to the first lengthwise channel for receiving a filter device, wherein the first and second channels are configured to friction fit said vaporizer and said filter device.

2. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a top end wall; and

a bottom end wall opposite the top end wall, the first lengthwise channel further comprising a race track configuration through the top end wall and the bottom end wall, the race track configuration comprising a rectangle with rounded ends.

3. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 2, the race track configuration comprising a rounded carve out in each of two opposing sides for contacting a curved surface on the vaporizer.

4. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 1 further comprising an interior wall separating the first and second lengthwise channels.

5. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 1, the first and second lengthwise channels each comprising a cut out exposing an interior of the sleeve, the cut out for assisting a user in receiving and removing the vaporizer and the filter to and from the sleeve.

6. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 1 further comprising soft silicon rubber for providing impact protection to the vaporizer and the filter and for facilitating said friction fit.

7. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 1, wherein the filter device comprises a mouthpiece, and further wherein the filter device mouthpiece rests upon a top end wall of the accessory sleeve also within the first lengthwise channel.

8. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 2 wherein the top end wall and bottom end wall each comprise apertures appropriately sized and shaped to allow for the filter and vaporizer to be secured with mouthpieces at opposite ends of the accessory sleeve.

9. An accessory sleeve for an exhale filter comprising a first lengthwise channel concentric to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve for receiving the exhale filter wherein the exhale filter includes a mouthpiece wherein the mouthpiece rests upon a top surface of the first lengthwise channel.

10. The accessory sleeve for an exhale filter ofclaim 9 further comprising an eyelet coupled to the sleeve at an end thereof, for connecting to a lanyard, or a key chain, or a clip as preferred by a user.

11. An accessory sleeve for a vaporizer comprising:

a second lengthwise channel parallel to the first lengthwise channel for receiving a filter device, the first and second lengthwise channels each comprising a cut out exposing an interior of the sleeve, the cut out for assisting a user in receiving and removing the vaporizer and the filter to and from the sleeve.

12. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 11, further comprising:

a top end wall; and

13. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 12, the race track configuration comprising a rounded carve out in each of two opposing sides for contacting a curved surface on the vaporizer.

14. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 11 further comprising an interior wall separating the first and second lengthwise channels.

15. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 11 further comprising soft silicon rubber for providing impact protection to the vaporizer and the filter and for providing a friction fit between the first and second channels and the vaporizer and the filter device, respectively.

16. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 11, wherein the filter device comprises a mouthpiece, and further wherein the filter device mouthpiece rests upon a top end wall of the accessory sleeve also within the first lengthwise channel.

17. The accessory sleeve for a vaporizer ofclaim 12 wherein the top end wall and bottom end wall each comprise apertures appropriately sized and shaped to allow for the filter and vaporizer to be secured with mouthpieces at opposite ends of the accessory sleeve.