Electronic cigarette

Abstract

A heating device for an electronic smoking apparatus has a heating element encased in a bulb so that e-liquid does not come in contact with the heating element, but rather is heated indirectly by the bulb. The heating element is in electrical communication with electrical contacts exterior of the bulb, which contacts are placed in electrical communication with a power source such as a batter. The bulb can be made of glass, quartz, or similar inert silica-based compositions. The bulb can be shaped and sized to accommodate the components of a variety of electronic smoking apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating device for an electronic smoking apparatus, comprising:
 a heating element disposed and encased inside a bulb, wherein a portion of the heating element is exposed exterior of the bulb, the portion delimiting at least one electrical contact.   
     
     
         2 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb comprises a material selected from the list of glass, quartz, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a wire. 
     
     
         4 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a coil. 
     
     
         5 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a ribbon. 
     
     
         6 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb comprises beveled ends. 
     
     
         7 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element extends from both ends of the bulb, thereby delimiting an anode and a cathode. 
     
     
         8 . The heating device of  claim 1 , further comprises a sealing element sealing the heating element inside the bulb. 
     
     
         9 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is flush with an end of the bulb. 
     
     
         10 . The heating device of  claim 9 , wherein a magnetic connector is disposed about the electrical contact. 
     
     
         11 . A heating device for an electronic smoking apparatus, comprising:
 a heating element disposed and encased inside a bulb;   at least one electrical contact exterior of the bulb, the electrical contact in electrical communication with the heating element.   
     
     
         12 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the bulb comprises a material selected from the list of glass, quartz, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element comprises a wire. 
     
     
         14 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element comprises a coil. 
     
     
         15 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element comprises a ribbon. 
     
     
         16 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the bulb comprises beveled ends. 
     
     
         17 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the heating device includes two electrical contacts each in electrical communication with the heating element and delimiting a respective anode and cathode. 
     
     
         18 . The heating device of  claim 11 , further comprises a sealing element sealing the heating element inside the bulb. 
     
     
         19 . The heating device of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical contact is flush with an end of the bulb. 
     
     
         20 . The heating device of  claim 19 , wherein a magnetic connector element is disposed about the electrical contact.