Electronic cigarette carrier

Abstract

Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to carrying and dispensing electronic cigarettes, electronic cigarette components, and electronic cigarette accessories; and more particularly for dispensing an electronic cigarette while one or more electronic cigarettes and electronic cigarette components remain secured within a carrier; in particular an electronic cigarette enclosure, configured and arranged to enclose the electronic cigarette, extends from within a electronic cigarette carrier to an exterior surface, wherein a retention feature, e.g. a compliant material, is coupled to the exterior surface of the electronic cigarette carrier adjacent the electronic cigarette enclosure and arranged to deform in response to contact with the electronic cigarette, the deformation facilitating extraction of the electronic cigarette from the electronic cigarette enclosure.

1 . An electronic cigarette carrier for enclosing, and accessing an electronic cigarette, the electronic cigarette carrier comprising:
 an electronic cigarette enclosure that extends from within the electronic cigarette carrier to an exterior surface, the electronic cigarette enclosure configured and arranged to enclose the electronic cigarette therein;   a retention feature coupled to the exterior surface of the electronic cigarette carrier adjacent the electronic cigarette enclosure, the retention feature configured and arranged to
 deform in response to contact with the electronic cigarette ( 10 ), the deformation facilitating extraction of the electronic cigarette ( 10 ) from the electronic cigarette enclosure, and 
 enclose a portion of the electronic cigarette enclosure when the electronic cigarette is retracted into the electronic cigarette enclosure; 
 top and bottom portions which form the electronic cigarette enclosure, the top portion includes a compliant material, the bottom portion includes a non-compliant material that is less compliant than the compliant material of the top portion, and the top and bottom portions are configured and arranged to frictionally couple the electronic cigarette to the electronic cigarette enclosure; 
   a hinge rotatably couples the top and bottom portions, and is configured and arranged to provide an alternative access means to the electronic cigarette enclosed within the electronic cigarette enclosure; and   an interface, between the top and bottom portions, that extends coaxially with a length of the electronic cigarette enclosure;   
       wherein the top and bottom portions, and the interface are configured and arranged, in response to a first compression force applied transverse to a plane of the interface, to direct the first force across the interface, thereby deforming the top portion relative to the bottom portion, reducing the frictional coupling between the electronic cigarette and the electronic cigarette enclosure, and releasing the electronic cigarette from the electronic cigarette enclosure via the retention feature. 
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an external manipulation access window extending between a second exterior surface of the electronic cigarette carrier and the electronic cigarette enclosure, the external manipulation access window configured and arranged to allow for access to and external manipulation of the electronic cigarette within the electronic cigarette enclosure through the retention feature. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the external manipulation access window extends coaxially relative to a length of the electronic cigarette enclosed by the electronic cigarette enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the retention feature is further configured and arranged to deform, and allow access to the electronic cigarette enclosure in response to the external manipulation of the electronic cigarette into contact with the retention feature. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the retention feature includes one or more compliant portions, the one or more compliant portions configured and arranged to deform in response to the electronic cigarette being accessed. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is opposite the interface. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette carrier
 of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom portions are further configured and arranged, in response to the application of a second tensile force transverse to an axis of the interface, to rotatably release the top and bottom portions relative to the hinge, and thereby provide the alternative access means to the electronic cigarette enclosed within the electronic cigarette enclosure.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the retention feature is releasably coupled to the exterior surface of the electronic cigarette carrier adjacent the electronic cigarette enclosure, the retention feature is further configured and arranged to provide access to the electronic cigarette by deforming in response to an external force placing the electronic cigarette into contact with the retention feature, and returning to its natural state to enclose the electronic cigarette enclosure after the external force has dissipated. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system for enclosing and accessing an electronic cigarette comprising:
 an electronic cigarette carrier including an electronic cigarette enclosure, and an opening extending between the electronic cigarette enclosure and a first exterior surface of the electronic cigarette carrier;   a retention feature, coupled to the electronic cigarette carrier, and configured and arranged with the electronic cigarette enclosure to enclose the electronic cigarette ( 10 ) within the electronic cigarette enclosure; and   an access mechanism coupled to the electronic cigarette carrier, the access mechanism configured and arranged to actuate the retention feature, extend the electronic cigarette from out of the electronic cigarette enclosure through the opening and past the actuated retention feature, and retract the retention feature.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the access mechanism includes a control configured and arranged to activate the access mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the access mechanism is further configured and arranged to receive the electronic cigarette into the electronic cigarette enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the access mechanism is further configured and arranged to receive the electronic cigarette into the electronic cigarette enclosure by
 actuating the retention feature,   retracting the electronic cigarette into the electronic cigarette enclosure through the opening, and   retracting the retention feature to enclose the electronic cigarette within the electronic cigarette enclosure.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic cigarette carrier further includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a hinge rotatably coupling the top portion to the bottom portion, the hinge configured and arranged to provide an alternative access means to the electronic cigarette enclosed within the electronic cigarette enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the retention feature includes a compliant material configured and arranged to deform in response to the access mechanism extending the electronic cigarette out of the electronic cigarette enclosure.