EP3560357B1 - Holder for electrically operated smoking article - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a holding device for electrically operated smoking articles, in particular e-cigarettes, with at least one base, and with several receiving compartments for the smoking article in question and / or individual parts of the smoking article, for example an evaporator head, arranged on the base and separated from one another by at least one web, a liquid container or a mouthpiece, the base including a circumferential wall for the upwardly open and accessible receiving compartments being designed as a one-piece molded part.

Electrically operated smoking articles and especially e-cigarettes are enjoying increasing popularity. On the one hand, this is due to the simple handling, which in particular makes an additional lighter unnecessary. On the other hand, not only the inhaled nicotine content can be controlled via the liquid converted into smoke, but also very different flavors can be realized. Such variability in taste and nicotine content is alien to previous and conventional cigarettes.

E-cigarettes consist of an accumulator and in particular a lithium-ion accumulator, an evaporator head and finally a liquid container or tank and a mouthpiece. With the help of the accumulator, the evaporator head soaked with the liquid is heated so that the liquid evaporates. The steam can now be inhaled or smoked through the mouthpiece.

In the case of such an e-cigarette, the mouthpiece, the tank or the liquid container for the actual smoke liquid or the so-called "Liquid" and finally the atomizer head designed as removable components. As it can be removed, the evaporator head can be cleaned, for example, and the individual liquid containers can be exchanged or the associated tank can be purchased ready-made or filled yourself. These various individual parts of the smoking article or the e-cigarette must be combined with one another for the intended use. This is usually done through plug connections implemented at this point. Successful assembly, however, requires that the individual parts are completely present.

For this reason, in the prior art according to the WO 2017/079453 A1 already described solutions that work with a portable receptacle for the e-cigarette and accessories in question. The portable receptacle is essentially composed of a cover and a drawer that can be moved in relation to it. The drawer has a base and storage compartments for the individual parts of the smoking article. Consequently, the individual articles are only accessible after opening the drawer. This may be acceptable for portable solutions, but is often viewed as annoying and not really convenient by consumers. In another similar solution according to the US 2014/0041655 A1 a portable box or cassette for the individual smoking articles is implemented. In this case, too, the box must first be opened in order to be able to grasp the individual parts of the smoking article.

In addition to the sometimes complex accessibility of such boxes, it must be taken into account that the volume made available for the individual parts of the smoking article is naturally limited. However, especially advanced users of e-cigarettes want a storage system that takes their various preferences into account. One such The receiving system should be suitable, for example, to be able to accommodate a large number of different liquid containers or also mouthpieces in order to combine these optionally with one or more existing e-cigarettes. The previous and portable solutions do not allow such extensive stockpiling.

In addition, holding devices are also described in the prior art, each of which is individually set up and designed to hold the associated e-cigarette. An example of this is given in the US 2016/0213062 A1 described. Different and swiveling holders for e-cigarettes are illustrated here, among other things, which are comparable to cell phone holders for installation in similar locations.

Another solution is the utility model DE 20 2011 102 583 U1 . A holder for electronic cigarettes is provided here, in which the holder enables the cigarettes in question to be placed in a horizontal position. For this purpose, two identical mounting plates are glued to the base plates. This only prevents the respective e-cigarette from rolling away. A convincing solution for a variable recording system with large capacity and easily accessible functionality is not described.

As part of the generic teaching according to the US 2017/0341813 A1 a one-piece molded part with corresponding and upwardly accessible receiving compartments is described, inter alia, in FIG. 11 there. The receiving compartments can in principle also be used to receive smoking articles. However, the known one-piece molded part is designed to be cylindrical overall and there is no possibility of any expansion.

As part of the FR 3 051 164 A1 it is about a holding device in which individual bases can also be connected to one another via a plug connection. For this purpose, corresponding locking means are provided on the respective transverse sides of the bases, which connect the individual bases at a distance from one another. This distance is used in the known teaching, for example, to place a vertical partition between the bases.

The invention is based on the technical problem of providing such a holding device for electrically operated smoking articles and in particular e-cigarettes, which keeps the individual stored items of the smoking article easily accessible and opens up the possibility of being able to react variably to different numbers of smoking articles.

To solve this technical problem, a generic holding device within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the circumferential wall is equipped with connecting openings for receiving connecting means and for coupling several bases with associated circumferential walls to one another, the connecting means being designed as plug-in pins which, in terms of their geometry, have The connecting openings designed as pin receptacles are adapted, and two adjacent peripheral walls to be connected are equipped with corresponding pin receptacles that are open to each other and in this way a combined pin receptacle for the plug-in pin that can be inserted therein is made available so that the several bases with associated Circumferential walls can be releasably coupled to one another in the manner of a plug-in system.

In the context of the invention, in addition to the obligatory basis, a circumferential wall that runs around the entire circumference and is consequently mostly closed is used. The individual and upwardly open and upwardly accessible receiving compartments can be defined within this peripheral wall. This means that the storage compartments are directly accessible, without any lids having to be opened, drawers pulled out etc. In addition, the one-piece design of the base including at least the circumferential wall ensures cost-effective production and variable adaptation to the respectively desired storage compartments in terms of size and Number.

In fact, the procedure is usually such that the at least one web is designed as a plug-in lamella that engages in plug-in receptacles in the peripheral wall. The plug-in lamella can have an arcuate cross-section. In addition, it has proven to be advantageous in this context if the circumferential wall is designed in an arched manner at least in partial areas.

The arched shape of the partial area of the peripheral wall and the arched shape of the plug-in lamella are generally matched to one another. In this way, at least one receiving compartment with an overall approximately circular design can be defined. This approximately circular receiving compartment is advantageously adapted to the size and shape of the individual part of the smoking article received therein. This can be the evaporator head, the liquid container or the mouthpiece or other items, which are also designed to be cylindrical due to the mostly cylindrical character of the smoking article in question and consequently to a receptacle with an approximately circular design need their proper mounting. The webs, which are designed as plug-in lamellas engaging in plug-in receptacles in the circumferential wall, already achieve great variability.

In another embodiment of the invention, the procedure is such that the peripheral wall and the at least one web are designed in one piece. In this case, the base, the circumferential wall and the one web or the plurality of webs are designed as a total of one-piece component. This component can be manufactured particularly inexpensively. In addition, the invention makes use of the fact that the individual parts of the e-cigarettes or smoking articles are mostly standardized and accordingly a variability of the individual storage compartments is not absolutely necessary. Rather, it is sufficient to define different storage compartments for the individual parts. This can also be done in the context of the alternative embodiment in that the circumferential wall and the at least one web including the base are designed in one piece.

The one-piece design is particularly simple and inexpensive within the scope of the invention in that the one-piece molded part is designed as a plastic molded part. In principle, so-called wood / plastic molded parts can also be produced in this context. In this case, a mixture of wood chips and plastic granulate is ultimately extruded alone, similar to plastic molded parts. In general, however, the one-piece molded part can also be designed as a metal injection-molded part. Configurations are of course also conceivable in such a way that the base including at least the circumferential wall forms a one-piece wooden part which is combined with plastic webs, metal webs, etc.

The base is usually also equipped with a foot that supports the base. For the benefit of simple and cost-effective manufacture, the procedure can be such that the foot, the base, the at least one circumferential wall and the one or more webs are formed in one piece. In addition, in this context and in this embodiment, the procedure is usually such that the webs and the base run parallel to one another. In this context, openings in the webs in connection with the base ensure that the respective receiving compartments are defined in this way. The webs, the base and the foot can be arranged parallel to one another.

According to a proposal of the invention with particular importance, the peripheral wall is equipped with connection openings for receiving connecting means and for coupling several bases with associated peripheral walls to one another. The connecting means are plug-in pins. In terms of their geometry, the plug-in pins are adapted to the connecting openings designed as pin receptacles. In this way, different bases with the associated circumferential wall can be placed wall to wall with respect to one another.

The circumferential walls in question with the connecting openings together form pin receptacles for the plug-in pins. As soon as the plug-in pins are inserted into the pin receptacles, the individual bases with the associated peripheral walls are detachably coupled to one another. In this way, a storage system consisting of a plurality of bases and associated peripheral walls, which can be expanded by plug-in connections, is made available, which the prior art has so far not even rudimentarily provided.

The base as such can be designed as a continuous horizontal plate, optionally with openings. Through the openings u. U. leaking fluid, saliva etc. can be removed. Usually no extensions of the individual parts are included. It is also possible, however, for the base to be inclined relative to a horizontal, at least in the area of the receiving compartments. The inclination to the horizontal opens up the possibility that the individual part of the smoking article resting on the base is held in an inclined position in the associated receiving compartment and is therefore not only easily accessible, but also, for example, with regard to the liquid container that can be used in each case, an additional identification and a simple Reading, for example, the flavor allows. As an alternative or in addition, the base can also have a stepped design in the area of the receiving compartments. Combinations of the variants described above are of course also possible.

According to a further proposal of the invention with independent significance, a holding arm connected to the base is provided. With the help of the holding arm, the base including the circumferential wall can be mounted at practically any location and aligned accordingly. Attachments in the interior of a motor vehicle have proven particularly advantageous here. For this purpose, the holding arm is pivotably connected to the base. The holding arm usually has two joints in order to provide a three-dimensional adjustment of the base including the circumferential wall together with the receiving compartments.

The holding arm can be equipped with conventional devices for coupling and mounting, for example in the interior of a motor vehicle. So it is conceivable that the end of the holding arm with, for example, a suction cup is equipped to enable the holding device according to the invention to be attached to a window, in particular a front window of a motor vehicle. According to an advantageous embodiment, however, the holding arm is equipped with a plug-in pin. With the help of the plug-in pin, the holding arm can be fixed in the interior of the motor vehicle, for example inserted into a cigarette lighter which is naturally no longer required when using e-cigarettes. The design of the holding arm with two joints for a three-dimensional adjustment is usually designed in such a way that two ball joints are used in this regard. Of course, other types of joints are also conceivable. A so-called gooseneck as a holding arm is also covered by the invention.

As a result, a holding device for electrically operated smoking articles is made available which enables the individual parts of the smoking article to be stored in an immediately accessible manner. Due to the variable possibility of expanding the holding device, a plurality of, for example, liquid containers or also mouthpieces can be stored by an operator in this way. The design of the storage compartments, which is open at the top and accessible at the top, and their advantageously inclined arrangement in this area enables easy handling and identification. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Haltevorrichtung für elektrisch betriebene Rauchartikel in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 2

den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 in einer nicht zur Erfindung gehörigen abgewandelten Ausgestaltung teilweise im Schnitt und in Aufsicht,

Fig. 3A-C

eine weiter abgewandelte Ausführungsform,

Fig. 4A-C

ein viertes unabhängiges Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 5

die prinzipielle Möglichkeit zur wahlweisen Erweiterung der erfindungsgemäßen Haltevorrichtung und

Fig. 6

eine mit einem Haltearm ausgerüstete Haltevorrichtung entsprechend den zuvor dargestellten Ausführungsbeispielen.

In the following the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1

a holding device according to the invention for electrically operated smoking articles in a first embodiment,

Fig. 2

the subject Fig. 1 in a modified embodiment not belonging to the invention, partly in section and in plan view,

Figures 3A-C

a further modified embodiment,

Figures 4A-C

a fourth independent embodiment,

Fig. 5

the basic possibility of optional expansion of the holding device according to the invention and

Fig. 6

a holding device equipped with a holding arm according to the previously illustrated embodiments.

In the figures, a holding device for electrically operated smoking articles, according to the embodiment for e-cigarettes, is shown. The holding device is used to be able to receive and hold or stockpile individual parts of the smoking article in question, for example an evaporator head 1, a liquid container 2 or a mouthpiece not expressly shown, and possibly other individual parts. For this purpose, the holding device has at least one base 3. In addition, several receiving compartments 5 arranged on the base 3 and separated from one another by at least one web 4 are implemented for the said individual parts, in this case the one or more evaporator heads 1, the one or more Liquid container 2 etc.

The fact that the base 3 including at least one circumferential wall 6 for the receiving compartments 5 is designed as a one-piece molded part 3, 6 is essential to the invention. The receiving compartments 5 are overall open at the top and also accessible at the top, namely right away. That is, according to the invention, any closures, a lid, etc. are deliberately omitted. Rather, the upwardly open and accessible receiving compartments 5 allow direct access to the items, namely the individual evaporator heads 1 or liquid container 2. In addition, the individual parts in question are not only easily accessible by this measure, but can also be distinguished from one another. For example, this attachment and design enables the individual liquid containers 2 with different flavors to be easily distinguished from one another.

According to the embodiment in the Fig. 1 the at least one web 4 is designed as a plug-in lamella engaging in plug-in receptacles 7 in the peripheral wall 6. One recognizes by the Fig. 1 that the plug-in lamella 4 is designed arcuately in cross section. In addition, the circumferential wall 6 implemented in this exemplary embodiment is also designed in a curved manner, at least in partial areas, when viewed from above.

In this way, the arched shape of the partial area of the peripheral wall 6 and the arched shape of the plug-in lamella or of the web 4 define at least one generally approximately circular receiving compartment 5 and are correspondingly adapted to one another. This approximately circular receiving compartment 5 is exemplified in FIG Fig. 1 indicated and its shape and size adapted to the typically cylindrical individual parts of the smoking article. In fact, both the evaporator head 1 and the one or more liquid containers 2 according to the exemplary embodiment are each designed to be cylindrical and in this way can be accommodated in the appropriately adapted and approximately circularly designed receiving compartment 5.

Due to the possibility of the respective plug-in lamella or the web 4 in different and in the Fig. 1 To be able to optionally place the plug-in receptacles 7 to be recognized in the peripheral wall 6, individual parts of different sizes can also be stored in the relevant receptacle 5, which can even have an overall oval or elliptical cross-sectional configuration. As a result, the individual part of the smoking article in question is properly held, presented and stored with the aid of the holding device. In addition, this enables simple adaptation to different sizes and designs of the individual parts.

As part of another variant, as described in the Figures 2 to 4 is shown in principle, the peripheral wall 6 and the at least one web 4 can also be designed in one piece. In this case, the one-piece molded part 3, 6, in addition to the base 3 and the at least one circumferential wall 6, also includes the one or more webs 4, as in the exemplary embodiments of FIG Figures 2 to 4 can be seen. This molded part 3, 4, 6, like the molded part 3, 6 already described above, can be designed entirely as a plastic molded part. In principle, other one-piece variants, for example as a metal injection-molded part, are also conceivable. Likewise, mixed forms such that a wood-plastic composite is used as a one-piece molded part.

As a result of the manufacture mostly in injection molding, particularly low production costs are observed overall. In the variant according to the embodiment in FIG Fig. 2 a foot 8 supporting the base 3 is additionally provided. Here, the design is also made such that the foot 8, the base 3, the circumferential wall 6 and the one or more webs 4 are formed in one piece and in this case form a one-piece molded part 3, 4, 6, 8. Of course, this is not restrictive. The The molded part 3, 4, 6, 8 in question can be produced in a manner comparable to that previously.

In the embodiment according to Figures 2 and 3A-C the webs 4 and the base 3 run predominantly parallel to one another. As a result, openings 9 are required, which must be formed in the webs 4 and, in conjunction with the base 3, define the respective receiving compartments 5. In the example after the Fig. 2 the webs 4 in question, the base 3 and the foot 8 are arranged parallel to one another. This gives the holding device in cross section as shown in FIG Fig. 2 a shape in the manner of a lying U-profile or epsilon profile.

Based on Figures 3A-C , 4A-C , and 5 it can be seen that the peripheral wall 6 can be equipped with connecting openings 10 for receiving connecting means 11. In this way, several bases 3 with associated peripheral walls 6 can be coupled to one another, as shown in FIG Fig. 5 is shown. As a result, the holding device according to the invention can be expanded in a modular manner and adapted to the respective requirements.

The connecting means 11 are plug pins 11 in each case. According to the exemplary embodiment, the geometry of the plug pins 11 is adapted to the connection openings 10 designed as pin receptacles 10 in each case on the edge of the peripheral wall 6. In fact, the design in the exemplary embodiment is made in such a way that two circumferential walls 6 that lie against one another and are to be connected are equipped with corresponding pin receptacles or connecting openings 10 that are open to one another. In this way, a combined pin receptacle 10 is provided for the plug pin 11 which can be inserted therein, so that the several Bases 3 with associated peripheral walls 6 as in the Fig. 5 shown can be releasably coupled to one another in the manner of a plug-in system.

The base 3 is according to the embodiment in FIG Fig. 1 and 2 designed as a total continuous horizontal plate. In addition, the base 3 optionally has openings 12, which are best placed in the Fig. 2 recognizes and which serve or can serve to accommodate extensions on the individual parts of the smoking article. In the embodiment according to the Figures 3A-C the base 3 is inclined at least in the area of the respective receiving compartments 5 with respect to a horizontal H, as an angle α there indicates. The angle α of the inclination of the base 3 in the area of the receiving compartments 5 with respect to the horizontal H also indicated there is approximately 20 ° according to the exemplary embodiment. Of course, other angles of inclination in the range from 10 ° to 30 ° are also non-restrictive and are encompassed by the invention.

In this way, in the receiving compartments 5 in the embodiment according to the Figures 3A-C The liquid container 2 received there is placed and stored with the aid of the holding device according to the invention in such a way that, for example, an applied imprint with regard to the taste direction is difficult to read by an operator. In addition, the inclined position of the liquid containers 2 in this exemplary embodiment facilitates their removal and placement in the respective likewise inclined receiving compartments 5.

With the variant after the Figures 4A-C a further modification of the base 3 can be seen. In this case, the base 3 is designed in a stepped manner in the area of the respective receiving compartments 5. The gradation allows any extensions on the individual parts, specifically the ones placed in the receiving compartment 5 Evaporator head 1, easily received and placed within the receiving compartment 5 and taking into account the graduated design of the base 3.

Another variant with independent meaning is in the Fig. 6 shown. Here comes the holding device according to the embodiment in principle Fig. 1 are used, so that reference can be made to the statements there. In this exemplary embodiment, a securing arm 17 for the liquid container 2 can be seen on the base 3. In addition, this variant is equipped with a holding arm 13, 14, 15, 16 connected to the base 3. Of course, the holding arm 13, 14, 15, 16 in question can also be used with the other bases 3 in the exemplary embodiments according to the Figures 2 through 4A-C or even with the combined variant after the Fig. 5 are used.

It can be seen that the holding arm 13, 14, 15, 16 is pivotably connected to the base 3. For this purpose, the holding arm 13, 14, 15, 16 has two joints 14, 15 which provide and can provide for a three-dimensional adjustment of the base 3 including the circumferential wall 6 and consequently the individual parts of the smoking article received therein. In the exemplary embodiment, the two joints 14, 15 are ball joints 14, 15 which are coupled to one another via a connecting rod 13.

In addition, at the other end of the holding arm 13, 14, 15, 16 opposite the base 3, a plug-in pin 16. With the help of the plug-in pin 16, the holding arm 13, 14, 15, 16 and consequently the holding device as a whole can be particularly advantageously installed in a cigarette lighter be anchored inside a motor vehicle. Instead of Plug pin 16 can also be used here with other connecting means, for example with a suction cup, a screw clamp, etc. In any case, the plug pin 16 in the example ensures that the holding device can be attached as a whole, for example inside a motor vehicle. Anchoring in the interior of a cigarette lighter socket has proven to be particularly advantageous here. Of course, other attachment options are also conceivable and are encompassed by the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A holding device for electrically operated smoking articles, in particular e-cigarettes, with at least one base (3), and with a plurality of receiving compartments (5), arranged on the base (3) and separated from one another by at least one web (4), for the smoking article and for individual parts of the smoking article, for example a vaporiser head (1), a liquid container (2) or a mouthpiece, wherein the base (3) including a surrounding peripheral wall (6) for the upwardly open and accessible receiving compartments (5) is constituted as a one-piece moulded part (3, 6),
   characterised in that

   - the peripheral wall (6) is provided with connection openings (10) for receiving connecting means (11) and for coupling a plurality of bases (3) with associated peripheral walls (6) next to one another, wherein

   - the connecting means (11) are constituted as plug-in pins (11), which are matched in terms of their geometry to the connection openings (10) designed as pin receptacles (10), and wherein

   - two peripheral walls (6) adjacent to and to be connected to each other are each provided with corresponding pin receptacles (10) opened towards one another and

   - a combined pin receptacle (10) for the plug-in pin (11) able to be inserted therein is thus made available, so that

   - the plurality of bases (3) with associated peripheral walls (6) can be coupled to one another detachably in the manner of a plug-in system.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one web (4) is constituted as a plug-in slat engaging in plug-in receptacles (7) in the peripheral wall (6) .
3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that the plug-in slat is constituted arc-shaped in cross-section.
4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the peripheral wall (6) is constituted arc-shaped at least in partial areas in plan view.
5. The device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the arcuate form of the partial area of the peripheral wall (6) and the arcuate form of the plug-in slat are adapted to one another so as to define at least one receiving compartment (5) constituted approximately circular overall.
6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the peripheral wall (6) and the at least one web (4) are constituted in one piece.
7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the base (3) is constituted as a continuous horizontal plate, optionally with openings (12).
8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the base (3) is inclined with respect to a horizontal line (H) at least in the region of the receiving compartments (5).
9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the base (3) is constituted stepped in the region of the receiving compartments (5).

Images