ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE HAVING A FLEXIBLE AND SOFT CONFIGURATION
Generally described, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette intended to more effectively simulate the feel of a traditional cigarette. In one illustrative embodiment, the electronic cigarette can have a flexible and resilient housing, sufficiently strong to protect internal components and sufficient flexible to provide a more realistic user experience to user's accustomed to the pliability of traditional cigarettes. A paper label may be provided, either affixed to the flexible housing or to a prior art, rigid housing. A plastic coating may be providing of the portion of the paper label intended to be inserted into a user's mouth, so as to prevent degradation of the label while at the same time preserving a realistic feel for those portions of the device not intended to be inserted into the mouth.
1 . An electronic cigarette comprising:
a housing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device;
wherein the housing is comprised of a flexible and resilient material capable of protecting the components while allowing the housing to flex when handled by a user.
2 . The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polycarbonate.
3 . The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polystyrene.
4 . The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polyvinylchloride.
5 . The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the housing has an outer diameter in the range of about 7.59 mm to about 7.86 mm.
6 . An electronic cigarette comprising:
a housing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device;
a label adapted to be placed over at least a portion of an exterior of the housing;
wherein the label is comprised of paper;
a plastic coating positioned over a portion of the label in an area where the label is intended to enter a user's mouth during use.
7 . The electronic cigarette of claim 6 further comprising an adhesive layer contacting an underside of the label and an exterior of the housing.
8 . The electronic cigarette of claim 6 where the plastic coating is comprised of one of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate.
9 . The electronic cigarette of claim 7 wherein the label and adhesive layer form a laminate.
10 . The electronic cigarette of claim 9 wherein the laminate has a thickness in the range of about 0.06 to about 0.15 mm.
11 . The electronic cigarette of claim 6 wherein the plastic coating has a thickness in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.06 mm.
12 . The electronic cigarette of claim 6 wherein the housing is rigid.
13 . An electronic cigarette comprising:
a housing adapted to contain components of an electronic cigarette device;
wherein the housing is comprised of a flexible and resilient material capable of protecting the components while allowing the housing to flex when handled by a user;
a label adapted to be placed over at least a portion of an exterior of the housing;
wherein the label is comprised of paper; and
a plastic coating positioned over a portion of the label in an area where the label is intended to enter a user's mouth during use.
14 . The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polycarbonate.
15 . The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polystyrene.
16 . The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the flexible and resilient material is polyvinylchloride.
17 . The electronic cigarette of claim 13 wherein the housing has an outer diameter in the range of about 7.59 mm to about 7.86 mm.
18 . The electronic cigarette of claim 13 further comprising an adhesive layer contacting an underside of the label and an exterior of the housing.
19 . The electronic cigarette of claim 13 where the plastic coating is comprised of one of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate.
20 . The electronic cigarette of claim 18 wherein the label and adhesive layer form a laminate.