Safety mouthpiece

Abstract

A safety mouthpiece which can be placed over the exit end of an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) effectively blocks the flow path of vapor through the cigarette until the mouthpiece is moved with respect to the e-cigarette in a manner to open a valve. With the valve opened in the mouthpiece, the e-cigarette is allowed to function, and the user can draw vaporized material through the safety mouthpiece.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette having a tubular body, said mouthpiece comprising:
 a sleeve extending in movable relationship to said tubular body at one end thereof; and   a valve coupled between said sleeve and said tubular body for selectively sealing the flow path of material in said tubular body when said sleeve is moved to a predetermined position with respect to said tubular body.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 1  and further including a collar at one end of said sleeve for movably supporting said sleeve with respect to said tubular body. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 2  wherein said valve includes a valve seat formed on an insert secured to an end of said tubular body, and wherein said valve seat communicates with an axially extending port. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 3  wherein said valve further includes a sealing member fixedly mounted to said sleeve at an end remote from said collar, wherein said sealing member includes a plunger having an end which selectively mates with said valve seat to seal said port. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 4  wherein said insert and said sealing member include a bayonet connection with one another. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 5  and further including a tension spring surrounding said tubular body within said sleeve, said spring coupled at one end to said collar and at an opposite end to said insert to urge said sealing member toward said insert for sealing said port. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 6  wherein said sleeve is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 7  wherein said insert, said collar, and said sealing member are made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 4  wherein said valve seat is conical and said plunger includes a mating conical end. 
     
     
         10 . A safety mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette having a tubular body, said mouthpiece comprising:
 a sleeve extending in sliding relationship at one end of said tubular body, said sleeve having a fixed collar at one end and a sealing member at an opposite end for moving between an open use position and a closed locked position;   an insert fixedly attached to one end of said tubular body within said sleeve and including a central aperture defining a port, said insert including a locking member;   a sealing member fixedly coupled to said sleeve at said opposite end, said sealing member including a valve member for selectively sealing said central aperture of said insert, said sealing member including a mating locking member, such that said insert and sealing member can be axially locked into a position in which said central aperture is sealed; and   a spring extending between said fixed collar and said insert for urging said sleeve into a position in which said sealing member engages said insert to seal said port and thus the flow path along the tubular body of said cigarette.   
     
     
         11 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 10  wherein said locking member and mating locking member each comprise a pair of axially and radially extending arcuate arms offset from one another to define a bayonet mount. 
     
     
         12 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 11  wherein said insert has a conical valve seat in communication with said port and said sealing member has a conical tip which mates with said valve seat when said sleeve is in a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . A safety mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette having a tubular body, said mouthpiece comprising:
 a sleeve extending in sliding relationship to one end of said tubular body;   an insert fixedly attached to one end of said tubular body within said sleeve and including a central aperture, said insert including a locking member; and   a sealing member fixedly coupled to one end of said sleeve and including a valve member for selectively sealing said central aperture of said insert, said sealing member including a mating locking member such that said insert and sealing member can be axially locked into a position in which said central aperture is sealed.   
     
     
         14 . The mouthpiece as defined in  claim 13  and further including a collar at an opposite end of said sleeve for slideably supporting said sleeve with respect to said tubular body. 
     
     
         15 . A safety mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette having a tubular body containing a source of material to be vaporized and an electrically actuated vaporizer in communication with said source of material, said mouthpiece comprising:
 a sleeve extending in sliding relationship to said tubular body at one end thereof, said sleeve having a fixed collar at one end which slides over said tubular body;   an insert fixedly attached to said one end of said tubular body and including a central aperture, said insert including a locking member;   a sealing member fixedly coupled to an end of said sleeve remote from said tubular body and including a valve member for selectively sealing said central aperture of said insert, said sealing member including a mating locking member such that said insert and sealing member can be axially locked into a position in which said central aperture is sealed; and   a spring extending between said fixed collar and said insert for urging said sealing member into engagement with said insert to seal a flow path along the tubular body of said cigarette.   
     
     
         16 . The safety mouthpiece as defined in  claim 15  wherein said locking member and said mating locking member include offset radially and axially extending tabs. 
     
     
         17 . The safety mouthpiece as defined in  claim 16  wherein said locking member and said mating locking member define a bayonet mount. 
     
     
         18 . The safety mouthpiece as defined in  claim 16  wherein said sleeve is made of a metal. 
     
     
         19 . The safety mouthpiece as defined in  claim 18  wherein said insert and said sealing member are made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         20 . The safety mouthpiece as defined in  claim 19  wherein said polymeric material is a high density polymer.