Electronic Cigarette with Replaceable Soft Tip Mouthpiece

Abstract

An electronic cigarette with a selectively replaceable mouthpiece. This includes a vapor generating electronic cigarette with a rigid mouthpiece that has a vapor opening at its distal end. The rigid mouthpiece is configured with a first circumference located about its longitudinal axis, and a second circumference, which is larger than the first circumference, located distal from the first circumference. A mouthpiece cover is formed from a pliable polymeric material, and has an internal cavity that generally conform with the shape of rigid mouthpiece. The mouthpiece cover also has a vapor passage extending from the internal cavity to an outlet end, which defines a continuous passage for vapor to pass from the vapor generating electronic cigarette to the outlet end. In addition, the pliable polymeric material stretches to enable removal and replacement of the mouthpiece cover to and from the rigid mouthpiece of the electronic cigarette.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic cigarette with a selectively replaceable mouthpiece, comprising:
 a vapor generating electronic cigarette having a rigid mouthpiece with a vapor opening at a distal end, said rigid mouthpiece configured with a first circumference located about a longitudinal axis, and a second circumference, which is larger than said first circumference, located distal from said first circumference along said longitudinal axis, and   a mouthpiece cover formed from a pliable polymeric material, having an internal cavity that generally conform with said rigid mouthpiece shape, and having a vapor passage extending from said internal cavity to an outlet end, thereby defining a continuous passage for vapor to pass from said vapor generating electronic cigarette to said outlet end, and wherein   said pliable polymeric material stretches to enable removal and replacement of said mouthpiece cover with said rigid mouthpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , and wherein:
 said internal cavity includes a first engagement zone formed to be substantially compliant with said first circumference, and a second engagement zone formed to be substantially compliant with said second circumference.   
     
     
         3 . An electronic cigarette assembly, comprising:
 a housing of an electronic cigarette that generates vapor;   a rigid mouthpiece having an elongated body fixed to said housing at a proximal end, with a vapor conduit formed through a longitudinal axis to a distal end, and wherein said elongated body includes a first circumference located about said longitudinal axis, and a second circumference, which is larger than said first circumference, located distal from said first circumference along said longitudinal axis, and   a mouthpiece cover formed from a pliable polymeric material, and having an internal cavity adjacent to a first end, which is shaped to generally conform with said elongated body of said rigid mouthpiece, and which is pneumatically coupled through a vapor passage to an outlet end, and wherein   said vapor conduit and said vapor passage align to define a continuous passage for vapor to pass from said housing to said outlet end of said mouthpiece cover while said internal cavity is engaged with said elongated body of said rigid mouthpiece, and wherein   said pliable polymeric material stretches to enable removal and replacement of said mouthpiece cover with said rigid mouthpiece.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 3 , and wherein:
 said internal cavity includes a first engagement zone formed to be substantially compliant with said first circumference, and a second engagement zone formed to be substantially compliant with said second circumference.   
     
     
         5 . A mouthpiece cover for a vapor generating electronic cigarette that has an elongated rigid mouthpiece, with an vapor outlet at a distal end, and wherein the elongated rigid mouthpiece includes a first circumference located about a longitudinal axis, and a second circumference, which is larger than the first circumference, located distal from the first circumference along the longitudinal axis, the mouthpiece cover comprising:
 a body formed from a pliable polymeric material, and having an internal cavity adjacent to a first end, which is shaped to generally conform with the elongated rigid mouthpiece, and which is pneumatically coupled through a vapor passage to an outlet end, and wherein   said vapor passage aligns with the vapor outlet to define a continuous passage for vapor to pass from the vapor generating electronic cigarette to said outlet end of said body while said internal cavity is engaged with the elongated rigid mouthpiece, and wherein   said pliable polymeric material stretches to enable removal and replacement of said body with the elongated rigid mouthpiece.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 5 , and wherein:
 said internal cavity includes a first engagement zone formed to be substantially compliant with said first circumference, and a second engagement zone formed to be substantially compliant with said second circumference.