US20220304375A1

US20220304375A1 - Combinable and orientable electronic vaping devices

Info

Publication number: US20220304375A1
Application number: US17/702,642
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Hwang
Original assignee: Next Level Ventures LLC
Current assignee: Next Level Ventures LLC
Priority date: 2021-03-24
Filing date: 2022-03-23
Publication date: 2022-09-29
Also published as: CN117241685A; EP4312608A4; CA3213100A1; EP4312608A1; US20220378092A1; US11805810B2; WO2022204289A1

Abstract

An electronic vaping system includes a housing for holding a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device, each of the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprising a vapor outlet. The housing allows the first and second vaping devices to be vaped simultaneously in a combined configuration and separately in a separated configuration. A first, combined configuration within the housing includes the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device positioned toward a center of the housing and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device positioned toward the center of the housing. A second, separated configuration within the housing includes the vapor outlet of at least one of the first electronic vaping device and second electronic vaping device positioned away from the center of the housing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

A claim for priority to the Mar. 24, 2021 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/165,271, titled COMBINABLE AND ORIENTABLE ELECTRONIC INHALATION DEVICES (“the '271 Provisional Application”), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). The entire disclosure of the '271 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field electronic vaping devices (e.g., E-cigarettes and vaporizes), and more particularly, to combinable and orientable (e.g., reversible) electronic vaping devices.

BACKGROUND

Various electronic vaping devices, including electronic cigarettes (E-Cigarettes) and vaping devices (vaporizers), can be used to inhale different materials. Electronic vaping devices typically include a heater, batteries, a pre-vapor formulation (e.g., tobacco, an aerosol source, a flavor source, etc. or some combination thereof), and a mouthpiece. The batteries are often rechargeable from a wall outlet or USB port. The batteries power the heater, which in turn heats the pre-vapor formulation to its vaporizing point releasing inhalable vapors through the mouthpiece.
E-Cigarettes are marketed as a low-cost alternative to cigarette smoking having reduced harmful effects. As such, pre-vapor formulation used in E-Cigarettes typically includes nicotine. In many E-Cigarettes the pre-vapor formulation is included in a pre-filled cartridge requiring replacement when empty. In other E-Cigarettes (e.g., oil vaporizers) the pre-vapor formulation (e.g., e-juice or e-liquid) is contained in a pre-filled reservoir. When using pre-filled cartridges or reservoirs, nicotine concentration of the pre-vapor formulation is typically fixed. Some E-Cigarettes are designed to be disposable and are not re-fillable.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

An electronic vaping system can comprise: a housing for selectively holding a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device; the first electronic vaping device comprising a first mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned towards a first edge of the first mouthpiece; the second electronic vaping device comprising a second mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned towards a first edge of the second mouthpiece; wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a first, combined configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned towards each other and a second, separated configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned away from each other.
According to another aspect, an electronic vaping system can comprise: a housing for receiving a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device, each of the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet; wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a first, combined configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device positioned toward a center of the housing and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device positioned toward the center of the housing; and wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a second, separated configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of at least one of the first electronic vaping device and second electronic vaping device positioned away from the center of the housing.
A electronic vaping system comprising: a first vaping device having at least one magnetized side; a second vaping device having at least one magnetized side; wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a first, connected configuration wherein the at least one magnetized side of the first vaping device is magnetically connected to the at least one magnetized side of the second vaping device, and a second, separated configuration wherein the first vaping device is not connected to the second vaping device. The first, connected configuration can be for simultaneously vaping from the first vaping device and the second vaping device and the electronic vaping system can comprise a third, connected configuration for separately vaping from the first vaping device and the second vaping device.
According to yet another aspect, an electronic vaping system comprising: a first vaping device removably connectable to a second vaping device; wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a first, connected configuration wherein the first vaping device is connected to the second vaping device, and a second, separated configuration wherein the first vaping device is not connected to the second vaping device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The various elements of the invention accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. Not every element of the invention can be clearly displayed in a single drawing, and as such not every drawing shows each element of the invention. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic vaping system according to various examples.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the proximal end of the electronic vaping system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an electronic vaping system according to various examples.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another electronic vaping system according to various examples.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the proximal end of the electronic vaping system of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of an electronic vaping system according to various examples.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an electronic vaping device according to various examples.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another electronic vaping system according to various examples.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an electronic vaping device according to various examples.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an electronic vaping system in a connected configuration for simultaneous vaping according to various examples.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the electronic vaping system of FIG. 10 in a connected configuration for separate vaping according to various examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Users of electronic vaping devices can customize their vaping experience in a variety of ways. Users can create custom pre-vapor formulations, use different vaping devices for vaporizing different pre-vapor formulations, use vaping devices implementing different vaporizing techniques (conduction or convection), etc. Even with such vaping option variety, users continue search for additional vaping device customization techniques and increasingly customized vaping experiences. However, some components of electronic vaping devices are not configurable and/or interchangeable with other electronic vaping devices. In fact, companies often create proprietary device components, proprietary pre-vapor formulations, etc. to lock users into their brand(s).
Aspects of the invention include combinable and orientable (e.g., reversible) electronic vaping devices. In this description and the following clams, “electronic vaping devices” are defined to include any device (including vaporizers and E-cigarettes) configured to electrically energize a heating element to create heat and wherein the created heat is used (e.g., through conduction or convection) to transform a pre-vapor formulation into an inhalable vapor. Pre-vapor formulation is defined to include e-juice, e-liquid, oils, tobacco, dry herbs, botanical herbs, etc.
An electronic vaping device can include a mouthpiece that is biased off center towards one edge of the electronic vaping device. In one aspect, external dimensions of an electronic vaping device approximate a cuboid (i.e., a three-dimensional rectangle). A mouthpiece is included on a face at one end of the cuboid. The mouthpiece is biased off center towards one edge of the face. In other configurations, the mouthpiece is not biased towards one edge of the face, but is positioned centrally.
In one aspect, a container is configured to accept multiple electronic vaping devices. The electronic vaping devices can be similarly configured, for example, as the described cuboid. The common container can be configured to accept electronic vaping devices in different orientations. For example, the common container can be configured to accept electronic vaping devices with a mouthpiece oriented towards an edge of the common container or with a mouthpiece oriented towards the center of the common container. In one aspect, a common container is configured to accept cuboid shaped electronic vaping devices in a side-by-side arrangement. Parts that are described as being positioned “towards each other” means that they are closer to each other than they are to
FIG. 1 depicts two electronic vaping devices, 101A and 101B, in a side-by-side arrangement within container or housing 102. As depicted, mouthpieces 111A and 111B of electronic vaping devices 101A and 101B, respectively, are visible. FIG. 2 depicts electronic vaping devices 101A and 101B in more detail. FIG. 2 also depicts a reservoir window 111 permitting viewing of the pre-formulation material reservoirs of electronic vaping devices 101A and 101B. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, mouthpieces 111A and 111B are oriented towards the center of housing 102. As such, a user can simultaneously inhale vapors from both electronic vaping devices 101A and 101B. Simultaneously vapor inhalation provides an additional mixing technique for customized vaping experiences.
FIG. 3 depicts two electronic vaping devices in another side-by-side arrangement within housing 102. As depicted in FIG. 3, mouthpieces 111A and 111B are oriented towards the edges of housing 102, or away from the center of the housing. As such, a user can inhale vapors from electronic vaping device 101A and electronic vaping device 101B separately. Separate vapor inhalation, from among multiple readily available inhalation sources in a common carrier, provides an additional technique for customized vaping experiences. Also illustrated in FIG. 3 is an option side reservoir window 111. Reservoir window may be placed on a front of the housing, on a side, towards the bottom, or towards the top of the housing, as desired. In other configurations, a reservoir window is not provided.
Each electronic vaping device 101A and 101B can be a standalone electronic vaping device, such as, for example, a vaporizer or an e-cigarette, including a power source, heating element, a quantity of pre-vapor formulation, and a mouthpiece. In other configurations, each electronic vaping device comprises a quantity of pre-vapor formulation with a vaporizer, and the power source is located within the housing 102. These types of electronic vaping devices are commonly known as pods.
In general, electronic vaping devices (e.g., 101A and 101B) can be of the same, similar, or different form factors and can be mixed, matched, and/or oriented in accordance with user desires to customize the user's vaping experience. For example, different types of vaporizers can be included in a side-by-side arrangement in housing 102. One vaporizer can be an oil-based vaporizer and the other vaporized can be herb-based vaporizer, both vaporizes can be oil-based vaporizers, etc. In aspect, one electronic vaping device is a vaporizer and the other electronic vaping device is an e-cigarette. In other examples, the electronic vaping devices 101A and 101B are identical in form factor but contain different flavors of pre-vapor formulation so a user can mix and match the flavors to customize their vaping experience.
In some examples, the system also includes carriers that can receive more than two (e.g., 4 or 6) electronic vaping devices. The electronic vaping devices can include a common, for example, cuboid form factor, or may be of variable form factors. Different combinations of mouthpieces can be oriented for simultaneous inhalation and or separate inhalation. For example, two mouthpieces can be oriented for simultaneous inhalation while two other mouthpieces are oriented for separate inhalation.
Other aspects of the invention include mechanisms and techniques to connect electronic vaping devices together outside of a carrier or housing. For example, electronic vaping devices can be configured with components facilitating direct connection to one another. Electronic vaping devices can include both protrusions and protrusion receptacles. The protrusions on one electronic vaping devices can be inserted into the protrusion receptacles on another electronic vaping device and/or vice versa (e.g., in a “lego” type manner). Electronic vaping device orientation can be selected such that corresponding mouthpieces are adjacent (facilitating simultaneous inhalation) or separate from one another (facilitating multiple readily available but separate inhalation sources). In another configuration described in more detail below, one or more electronic vaping devices may be connectable via magnets.
FIGS. 4-5 show another configuration of an electronic vaping system 300. The electronic vaping system 300 includes a housing 302, for housing one or more electronic vaping devices. For example, two, three, or four or more electronic vaping devices can be positioned within housing 302. In one exemplary configuration, two electronic vaping devices 310 a and 310 b can be positioned within housing 302 and housing is shaped and sized to receive two electronic vaping devices in a side-by-side configuration.
Housing 302 may have a generally open proximal end with a void to selectively receive two or more electronic vaping devices. Electronic vaping devices may be stand-alone devices, or the electronic vaping devices may rely on a battery or power source within the housing 302 (i.e., pods). With a generally open proximal end of the housing 302, one or more vaping devices can be placed or removed by simply inserting or removing into the void of the open proximal end without the need for removing any other cap or mouthpiece. The electronic vaping devices may be held in place, for example, by friction fit, snap-fit, etc., to removably connect the electronic vaping devices to the interior of housing 302.
In some examples, housing 302 can include a battery of power source for electronic vaping devices 310. Housing 302 can include one or more viewing windows 314. In other configurations, housing 302 does not include a viewing window.
The body 320 of the electronic vaping device has at least one plane of symmetry, such that it can be placed into the housing 302 in at least two different ways. In some examples the body 320 is rectangular. This allows the body 320 of the vaping device to be placed into the housing 302 with a first edge 331 towards the middle of the housing (FIG. 5), or to be placed into the housing 302 with a first edge 331 away from the middle of the housing 302. As explained in more detail below, this gives the user the option of various configurations for separate or simultaneous vaping from the first and second electronic vaping devices.
The first electronic vaping device 310 a comprises a first mouthpiece 312 a, and the second electronic vaping device 310 b comprises a second mouthpiece 312 b. The mouthpiece 312 a,b extends upwardly from the body 320 of the electronic vaping device, and is typically placed at least partially within the user's mouth when the user inhales or vapes from the electronic vaping device. The mouthpiece 312 a,b can be formed integrally with the body of the vaping device or can be attached to a proximal end of the body of the vaping device.
Mouthpiece 312 a,b may be centered relative to the body 320 a,b of the electronic vaping device 310 a,b. Or, as shown in FIGS. 4-5, the mouthpiece 312 a,b may be positioned closer to a first edge 325 a,b of the body 320 a,b of the electronic vaping device 310 a,b.
First mouthpiece 312 a and second mouthpiece 312 b include a vapor outlet, 316 a and 316 b, respectively, positioned on the mouthpiece. Vapor outlet 316 a,b is in fluid communication with the vaporizer of the electronic vaping device, such that when a user places their mouth on the mouthpiece 312 a,b and inhales at the vapor outlet 316 a,b they inhale vapor through the vapor outlet 316 a,b created by the pre-vapor formulation contacting the vaporizer of the electronic vaping device.
Similar to various placements for the mouthpiece relative to the electronic vaping device body, the vapor outlet 316 a,b may be placed at any suitable location on the mouthpiece 312 a,b. In some configurations, the vapor outlet 316 a,b is positioned off-center, or closer to one edge of the mouthpiece than another edge of the mouthpiece. In other configurations the vapor outlet 316 a,b is positioned in the center of the mouthpiece or proximal to the center of the mouthpiece (i.e., closer to the center of the mouthpiece than an edge of the mouthpiece). Or vapor outlet 316 a can be positioned centrally on mouthpiece 312 a and vapor outlet 316 b can be positioned towards an edge of mouthpiece 312 b.
As best seen in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 5, the first mouthpiece 312 a has a vapor outlet 316 a positioned towards a first edge 331 a of the first mouthpiece 312 a, and the second mouthpiece 312 b has a vapor outlet 316 b positioned towards a first edge 331 b of the second mouthpiece 312 b. Even more specifically, the vapor outlet 316 a extends from the first edge 331 a toward a second edge 335 a, the second edge 335 a opposite the first edge 331 a. Similarly, the vapor outlet 316 b extends from the first edge 331 b towards a second edge 335 b.
With the vapor outlet 316 and/or the mouthpiece 312 positioned towards one side of the electronic vaping device, various potential configurations for simultaneous or separate vaping are possible. For example, a first, combined orientation within the housing 302 includes the vapor outlet 316 a of the first mouthpiece 312 a and the vapor outlet 316 b of the second mouthpiece 312 b positioned towards each other or positioned toward a center of the housing 302. In the first, combined orientation, the first edge 331 a of the first electronic vaping device can abut the first edge 331 b of the second electronic vaping device. In configurations with each of the vapor outlets 316 a,b positioned towards a first edge 331 a,b, in the first, combined orientation, such that the vapor outlet 316 a of the first electronic vaping device can abut the vapor outlet 316 b of the second electronic vaping device and form a unitary vapor outlet 316 c.
In other configurations, the mouthpiece and/or vapor outlets of the electronic vaping devices are asymmetrically positioned, but the vapor outlets do not form a unitary outlet in the first, combined configuration. Or, the mouthpiece and/or vapor outlets of the electronic vaping devices are centrally or symmetrically positioned, the electronic vaping devices have mouthpieces and/or vapor outlets that are centrally located. Alternatively, one of the electronic vaping systems may have a centrally positioned mouthpiece and/or vapor outlet, and one of the electronic vaping systems may have a mouthpiece and/or vapor outlet positioned toward an edge. May configurations and combinations are contemplated.
A second, separated configuration within the housing 302 is possible with one or more of the vapor outlet(s) of the first mouthpiece 312 a and the vapor outlet(s) of the second mouthpiece 312 b positioned away from each other. For example, each of the two electronic vaping devices can be rotated 180 degrees relative to their position in the first, combined configuration. In other words, each of the vapor outlets are positioned toward an edge of the housing 302 rather than toward a center of the housing 302. In configurations with asymmetric mouthpieces and/or vapor outlets, each may be positioned away from one another in this configuration. Alternatively, just one electronic vaping device can be rotated such that it is apart from the other electronic vaping device. That is, the second, separated configuration can have at least one of the first electronic vaping device and second electronic vaping device positioned away from the center of the housing.
FIGS. 6-7 illustrate another configuration of an electronic vaping system 400. First electronic vaping device 410 a and second electronic vaping device 410 b can be selectively placed in the housing 402. As seen in FIG. 6, housing 302 includes an open proximal end 440 with a void 446 for receiving at least two electronic vaping devices. Void 446 can be shaped and sized to fit two electronic vaping devices side-by-side. Void 446 can be substantially open and in some examples, void 446 lacks any additional structures. This allows simple placement and removal of electronic vaping devices. Similarly, the system 400 can lack a lid or other over-structure to ease in placement and removal of electronic vaping devices.
First electronic vaping device 410 a includes a body 420 a and a mouthpiece 412 a with a vapor outlet 416 a. The vapor outlet 416 a of the first electronic vaping device 410 a extends from a first edge 431 a toward a second edge 435 a of the first mouthpiece, the second edge 435 a opposite the first edge 431 a.
Similar to the configurations described above, the system 400 has a first, combined orientation with the vapor outlets 416 a and 416 b positioned towards each other. A second, separated configuration of the electronic vaping devices 410 a and 410 b within the housing occurs with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned away from each other. This can be done by turning the first electronic vaping device 410 a and/or the second electronic vaping device 410 b 180 degrees relative to their position in the first, combined configuration.
In other configurations, rather than seating two electronic vaping devices into a single housing, two electronic vaping devices may be connected to each other. Various ways of connecting two electronic vaping devices are possible, such as through snap fit, friction fit, mating projections and voids, etc. In the exemplary configurations show in in FIGS. 8-11, two electronic vaping systems are magnetized together.
For example, in FIG. 8, the system includes a first electronic vaping device 810 a magnetized to a second electronic vaping device 810 b. Each electronic vaping device 810 a,b includes at least one magnetized side 845 a,b. two electronic vaping systems 810 a and 810 b are magnetized together. A first, combined configuration includes the first vaping device 810 a magnetized to the second vaping device 810 b. In this configuration or orientation, the mouthpiece 812 a of the first vaping device and the mouthpiece 812 b of the second vaping device may be simultaneously drawn by a user.
The electronic vaping devices 810 a,b can have any suitable shape and size. In some examples, each device has a body 820 a,b with at least one substantially flat side 845 a,b and a curved side 847 a,b opposite the flat side. The flat side 845 a,b may be magnetized, or include magnets within or behind the flat side 845 a,b such that the flat side can be magnetized to another magnetic surface. In some examples, in the first, connected configuration, the substantially flat side 845 a of the first vaping devices 810 a is magnetically connected to the substantially flat side 845 b of the second vaping device 820 b. The curved side 847 a of the first vaping device 810 a and the curved side 847 b of the second vaping device 810 b can form a unitary body having a substantially ovular shape.
The second, separated configuration can be achieved simply by removing one electronic vaporizing device from the other electronic vaporizing device. Or, if the user desired to keep the two electronic vaping devices attached, but only use one at a time, a third, connected configuration includes the two electronic vaping devices magnetized together and turned so that they are head-to-tail rather than head-to-head.
FIGS. 9-11 illustrate another example of magnetically connectable electronic vaping devices. Each electronic vaping device 910 a,b includes a magnetized side 945 a,b. The vaping system 900 includes a first vaping device 910 a with at least one magnetized side, and a second vaping device 910 b with at least one magnetized side. Each vaping device 910 a,b can include a body 920 a,b with a first, proximal end 955 a,b with a mouthpiece 912 a,b coupled thereto and a second distal end 960 a,b, the distal end 960 a,b opposite the proximal end 955 a,b. The mouthpiece 912 a,b can be connected or coupled to the proximal end 955 a,b, or the mouthpiece 912 a,b can be integral to the proximal end 955 a,b.
A first, connected configuration (FIG. 10) allows a user to vape from both electronic vaping devices 910 a,b at the same time. That is, the mouthpiece 912 a of the first vaping device 910 a and a mouthpiece 912 b of the second vaping device 910 b can be simultaneously drawn by a user. A second, separated configuration is possible with the first vaping device 910 a not connected to the second vaping device 910 b (FIG. 9 illustrates first vaping device 910 a in a second, separated configuration).
A third, connected configuration (FIG. 11) for allows the first and second vaping devices 910 a,b to be connected separately vaped in a convenient manner. The first, proximal end 955 a of the first vaping device 910 a is connected to the second, distal end 960 b of the second vaping device 910 b.
While the vaping devices 910 a,b in FIGS. 9-11 are generally described as being selectively attached via magnetic sides, any other suitable method of attachment can be used. For example, complementary voids and projections may be used to selectively attach vaping devices.
Aspect 1: An electronic vaping system comprising: a housing for selectively holding a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device; the first electronic vaping device comprising a first mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned towards a first edge of the first mouthpiece; the second electronic vaping device comprising a second mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned towards a first edge of the second mouthpiece; wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a first, combined configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned towards each other and a second, separated configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned away from each other.
Aspect 2: The system of aspect 1, wherein the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device extends from a first edge toward a center of the first mouthpiece; and wherein the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device extends from a first edge toward the center of the second mouthpiece.
Aspect 3: The system of Aspect 1 or 2, wherein when the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device are in the first, combined configuration, the first edge of the first electronic vaping device abuts the first edge of the second electronic vaping device such that the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device abuts the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device, the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device forming a unitary vapor outlet.
Aspect 4: The system of any of Aspects 1 through 3, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises an open proximal end for selectively receiving the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.
Aspect 5: The system of any of Aspects 1 through 4, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises a void formed in the open proximal end and sized to receive the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.
Aspect 6: An electronic vaping system comprising: a housing for receiving a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device, each of the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet; wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a first, combined configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device positioned toward a center of the housing and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device positioned toward the center of the housing; and wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a second, separated configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of at least one of the first electronic vaping device and second electronic vaping device positioned away from the center of the housing.
Aspect 7: The system of Aspect 6, wherein the first electronic vaping device comprises a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned off-center and wherein the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned off-center.
Aspect 8: The system of Aspect 6 or 7, the first electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet extending from a first edge toward the center of the mouthpiece; and the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet extending from a first edge toward the center of the mouthpiece.
Aspect 9: The system of any of Aspects 6 through 8, wherein when the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device are in the first, combined configuration, the first edge of the first electronic vaping device abuts the first edge of the second electronic vaping device such that the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device abuts the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device, the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device forming a unitary vapor outlet.
Aspect 10: The system of any of Aspects 6 through 9, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises an open proximal end for selectively receiving the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.
Aspect 11: The system of any of Aspects 6 through 10, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises a void formed in the open proximal end and sized to receive the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.
Aspect 12: An electronic vaping system comprising: a first vaping device having at least one magnetized side; a second vaping device having at least one magnetized side; wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a first, connected configuration wherein the at least one magnetized side of the first vaping device is magnetically connected to the at least one magnetized side of the second vaping device, and a second, separated configuration wherein the first vaping device is not connected to the second vaping device.
Aspect 13: The system of Aspect 12, wherein, in the first, connected configuration, a mouthpiece of the first vaping device and a mouthpiece of the second vaping device can be simultaneously drawn by a user.
Aspect 14: The system of Aspect 12 or 13, wherein the first vaping device and the second vaping device have a body, the at least one magnetized side comprising a substantially flat side, and the body having a curved side opposite the flat side.
Aspect 15: The system of any of Aspects 12 through 14, wherein, in the first, connected configuration, the substantially flat side of the first vaping device is magnetically connected to the substantially flat side of the second vaping device and the curved side of the first vaping device and the curved side of the second vaping device form a unitary body having a substantially ovular shape.
Aspect 16: The system of any of Aspects 12 through 15, wherein the first, connected configuration is for simultaneously vaping from the first vaping device and the second vaping device and wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a third, connected configuration for separately vaping from the first vaping device and the second vaping device.
Aspect 17: The system of any of Aspects 12 through 16, wherein the first vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a first mouthpiece coupled thereto and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end; and wherein the second vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a second mouthpiece and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end.
Aspect 18: The system of any of Aspects 12 through 17, wherein in the first, connected configuration for simultaneous vaping, the first, proximal end of the first vaping device is connected to the first, proximal end of the second vaping device; and wherein in the third, connected configuration for separate vaping, the first, proximal end of the first vaping device is connected to the second, distal end of the second vaping device.
Aspect 19: An electronic vaping system comprising: a first vaping device removably connectable to a second vaping device; wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a first, connected configuration wherein the first vaping device is connected to the second vaping device, and a second, separated configuration wherein the first vaping device is not connected to the second vaping device.
Aspect 20: The electronic vaping system of Aspect 19, wherein the first vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a first mouthpiece coupled thereto and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end; wherein the second vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a second mouthpiece and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end; and wherein the system has a third, connected configuration for separate vaping with the first, proximal end of the first vaping device connected to the second, distal end of the second vaping device.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing measurements and quantities used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the embodiments of the present disclosure. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the present disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. In one embodiment, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” refer to numerical parameters within 10% of the indicated range.
The terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents used in the context of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments of the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. It is anticipated that one or more members of a group may be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
Specific embodiments disclosed herein may be further limited in the claims using consisting of or consisting essentially of language. Various aspects discussed in one drawing may be present and/or used in conjunction with the embodiment shown in another drawing, and each element shown in multiple drawings may be discussed only once. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. The described features, structures, or characteristics of configurations of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more configurations.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a vapor outlet” may include one or more vapor outlets, and reference to “the electronic vaping device” may include reference to one or more electronic vaping devices.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result to function as indicated. For example, a void that is “substantially” open may be either completely open or nearly completely open. As used herein the term “generally” refers to something that is more of the designated adjective than not, or the converse if used in the negative. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Additionally, the word “connected” and “coupled” is used throughout for clarity of the description and can include either a direct connection or an indirect connection.
Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments and configurations may be employed separately or in combination. Accordingly, all additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within the scopes of the claims are to be embraced thereby. The scope of each claim is indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. An electronic vaping system comprising:

a housing for selectively holding a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device;

the first electronic vaping device comprising a first mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned towards a first edge of the first mouthpiece;

the second electronic vaping device comprising a second mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned towards a first edge of the second mouthpiece; and

wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a first, combined configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned towards each other and a second, separated configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first mouthpiece and the vapor outlet of the second mouthpiece positioned away from each other.

2. The electronic vaping system of claim 1, wherein the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device extends from a first edge toward a center of the first mouthpiece; and

wherein the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device extends from a first edge toward the center of the second mouthpiece.

3. The electronic vaping system of claim 2, wherein when the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device are in the first, combined configuration, the first edge of the first electronic vaping device abuts the first edge of the second electronic vaping device such that the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device abuts the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device, the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device forming a unitary vapor outlet.

4. The electronic vaping system of claim 1, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises an open proximal end for selectively receiving the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.

5. The electronic vaping system of claim 4, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises a void formed in the open proximal end and sized to receive the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.

6. An electronic vaping system comprising:

a housing for receiving a first electronic vaping device and a second electronic vaping device, each of the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet;

wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a first, combined configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device positioned toward a center of the housing and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device positioned toward the center of the housing; and

wherein the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device have a second, separated configuration within the housing with the vapor outlet of at least one of the first electronic vaping device and second electronic vaping device positioned away from the center of the housing.

7. The electronic vaping system of claim 6, wherein the first electronic vaping device comprises a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned off-center and wherein the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet positioned off-center.

8. The electronic vaping system of claim 7, the first electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet extending from a first edge toward the center of the mouthpiece; and

the second electronic vaping device comprising a mouthpiece with a vapor outlet extending from a first edge toward the center of the mouthpiece.

9. The electronic vaping system of claim 8, wherein when the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device are in the first, combined configuration, the first edge of the first electronic vaping device abuts the first edge of the second electronic vaping device such that the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device abuts the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device, the vapor outlet of the first electronic vaping device and the vapor outlet of the second electronic vaping device forming a unitary vapor outlet.

10. The electronic vaping system of claim 6, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises an open proximal end for selectively receiving the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.

11. The electronic vaping system of claim 10, wherein the housing for selectively holding the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device comprises a void formed in the open proximal end and sized to receive the first electronic vaping device and the second electronic vaping device.

12. An electronic vaping system comprising:

a first vaping device having at least one magnetized side;

a second vaping device having at least one magnetized side;

wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a first, connected configuration wherein the at least one magnetized side of the first vaping device is magnetically connected to the at least one magnetized side of the second vaping device, and a second, separated configuration wherein the first vaping device is not connected to the second vaping device.

13. The electronic vaping system of claim 12, wherein, in the first, connected configuration, a mouthpiece of the first vaping device and a mouthpiece of the second vaping device can be simultaneously drawn by a user.

14. The electronic vaping system of claim 13, wherein the first vaping device and the second vaping device have a body, the at least one magnetized side comprising a substantially flat side, and the body having a curved side opposite the flat side.

15. The electronic vaping system of claim 14, wherein, in the first, connected configuration, the substantially flat side of the first vaping device is magnetically connected to the substantially flat side of the second vaping device and the curved side of the first vaping device and the curved side of the second vaping device form a unitary body having a substantially ovular shape.

16. The electronic vaping system of claim 14, wherein the first, connected configuration is for simultaneously vaping from the first vaping device and the second vaping device and wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a third, connected configuration for separately vaping from the first vaping device and the second vaping device.

17. The electronic vaping system of claim 16, wherein the first vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a first mouthpiece coupled thereto and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end; and

wherein the second vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a second mouthpiece and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end.

18. The electronic vaping system of claim 17, wherein in the first, connected configuration for simultaneous vaping, the first, proximal end of the first vaping device is connected to the first, proximal end of the second vaping device; and

wherein in the third, connected configuration for separate vaping, the first, proximal end of the first vaping device is connected to the second, distal end of the second vaping device.

19. An electronic vaping system comprising:

a first vaping device removably connectable to a second vaping device;

wherein the electronic vaping system comprises a first, connected configuration wherein the first vaping device is connected to the second vaping device, and a second, separated configuration wherein the first vaping device is not connected to the second vaping device.

20. The electronic vaping system of claim 19, wherein the first vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a first mouthpiece coupled thereto and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end;

wherein the second vaping device has a body comprising a first, proximal end with a second mouthpiece and a second distal end, the distal end opposite the proximal end; and

wherein the system has a third, connected configuration for separate vaping with the first, proximal end of the first vaping device connected to the second, distal end of the second vaping device.