Mouthpiece connectors for electronic vaping systems and methods of manufacture

Abstract

An vaping system may include a locking sheath to lock the mouthpiece onto the tank with a reservoir for holding a liquid to be vaporized. The locking sheath includes at least one tooth extending inwardly from the interior side of the locking sheath facing the lumen of the locking sheath, the at least one tooth for interfacing with a central lumen of a cartridge tank to lock the central lumen of the cartridge tank to the locking sheath.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vaping system comprising:
 a tank with a reservoir for holding a liquid to be vaporized, the tank having a proximal end for connection to a mouthpiece and a distal end for connection to a cartridge base;   an atomizer housing within the tank, the atomizer housing comprising a distal base portion for receiving the liquid to be vaporized, and a central lumen for a vapor to be drawn proximally, the central lumen extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the proximal end of the central lumen comprising a first ridge, a second ridge, and a third ridge, each of the first, second and third ridges extending circumferentially laterally from the central lumen;   the first ridge for interfacing with a locking sheath, the second a third ridges for receiving a gasket between the second and third ridges;   a mouthpiece having an external wall and an interior guide lumen for receiving vapor from the proximal end of the central lumen, a slot formed between the interior guide lumen and the external wall, the slot for receiving a proximal end of the locking sheath;   the locking sheath comprising the proximal end for interfacing with the mouthpiece, and a distal end, an interior side defining a lumen and an exterior side, a distal flange extending from the exterior side, a medial ridge extending from the exterior side, the distal flange and the medial ridge forming a space for receiving a sealing gasket between the distal flange and the medial ridge, the medial ridge for interfacing between the proximal end of the tank and the base of the mouthpiece;   the locking sheath further comprising exactly three teeth extending inwardly from the interior side of the locking sheath facing the lumen of the locking sheath, the exactly three teeth for interfacing with the first ridge of the central lumen of the atomizer housing within the tank, the three teeth spaced equidistant apart.   
     
     
         2 . The vaping system of  claim 1 , further comprising an interior shelf formed on the interior side of the lumen, and wherein the three teeth extend inwardly and proximally from the interior shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The vaping system of  claim 1 , wherein the exactly three teeth each have a width of one-sixth of a circumference of the lumen. 
     
     
         4 . A locking sheath for an vaping system, the locking sheath comprising:
 a proximal end for interfacing with a mouthpiece, a distal end, an interior side forming a lumen and an exterior side, a distal flange extending from the exterior side, a medial ridge extending from the exterior side, the distal flange and the medial ridge forming a space for receiving a sealing gasket between the distal flange and the medial ridge, the medial ridge for interfacing between a top of a cartridge and a base of the mouthpiece;   the locking sheath further comprising at least one tooth extending inwardly from the interior side of the locking sheath facing the lumen of the locking sheath, the at least one tooth for interfacing with a central lumen of a cartridge tank to lock the central lumen of the cartridge tank to the locking sheath.   
     
     
         5 . A vaping system comprising:
 a tank with a reservoir for holding a liquid to be vaporized, the tank having a proximal end for connection to a mouthpiece and a distal end for connection to a cartridge base;   an atomizer housing within the tank, the atomizer housing comprising a distal base portion for receiving the liquid to be vaporized, and a central lumen for a vapor to be drawn proximally, the central lumen extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the proximal end of the central lumen comprising a ridge extending circumferentially laterally from the central lumen, the ridge for interfacing with a locking sheath,   a mouthpiece having an external wall and an interior guide lumen for receiving vapor from the proximal end of the central lumen, a slot formed between the interior guide lumen and the external wall, the slot for receiving a proximal end of the locking sheath;   the locking sheath comprising the proximal end for interfacing with the mouthpiece, and a distal end, an interior side defining a lumen and an exterior side, a distal flange extending from the exterior side, a medial ridge extending from the exterior side, the distal flange and the medial ridge forming a space for receiving a sealing gasket between the distal flange and the medial ridge, the medial ridge for interfacing between the proximal end of the tank and the base of the mouthpiece;   the locking sheath further comprising at least one tooth extending inwardly from the interior side of the locking sheath facing the lumen of the locking sheath, the at least one tooth for interfacing with the ridge of the central lumen of the atomizer housing within the tank.   
     
     
         6 . The vaping system of  claim 5 , wherein the central lumen comprises a second ridge and a third ridge, the second and third ridges for receiving a gasket between the second and third ridges. 
     
     
         7 . The vaping system of  claim 6 , wherein the locking sheath comprises three teeth extending inwardly, the three teeth for interfacing with the first ridge of the central lumen of the atomizer housing within the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The vaping system of any one of  claim 7 , wherein the locking sheath comprises exactly three teeth extending inwardly. 
     
     
         9 . The vaping system of  claim 8 , wherein the three teeth are spaced equidistant apart.