Liquid tanks, end caps, and seals for electronic cigarettes

Abstract

An electronic cigarette system is provided. The system may use a liquid tank with a cylindrical sleeve having a bore therethrough and with first and second end caps attached to the ends of the sleeve. The end caps may be elastomeric end caps made of a soft material such as silicone and may include a body portion disposed in the sleeve bore and an outer shoulder larger in diameter than the sleeve bore and disposed adjacent an end face on the second end of the sleeve. An O-ring groove may be formed in the body portion and a soft O-ring may be used in the groove. A cylindrical volatizing element may be disposed in first and second holes in the end caps so that the volatizing element passes through the sleeve bore. The volatizing element is connected to an electronic cigarette body and a mouthpiece for use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic cigarette system comprising:
 a tank comprising:
 a sleeve, the sleeve having a generally circular lumen therethrough; 
 a first end cap attached to a first end of the sleeve; 
 a first hole through the first end cap aligned with the sleeve lumen; 
 a second elastomeric end cap, the second end cap having an outer shoulder larger in diameter than the sleeve lumen and disposed adjacent an end face on a second end of the sleeve, and a groove and an interior shoulder disposed in the sleeve lumen; 
 a second hole through the second end cap aligned with the sleeve lumen; 
 an O-ring disposed in the groove, the O-ring sealing against the sleeve lumen; and 
 a volatizing element disposed in the first hole and second hole such that the volatizing element passes through the sleeve lumen. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end cap is formed from silicone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end cap and the O-ring are between about 35 and 50 shore A durometer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is separated from the outer shoulder by a body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the body portion and the inner shoulder are approximately the same diameter and the sleeve lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an interior cavity is formed between the sleeve and the volatizing element, and wherein the interior cavity is fillable with a liquid which may be volatized and inhaled. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the volatizing element has an air passage therethrough and a heating element disposed adjacent the air passage whereby liquid may be volatized by the heating element and inhaled through the air passage. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fill port formed through the sleeve, the fill port being disposed in communication with the sleeve lumen, and a plug selectively disposable in the fill port to close the fill port. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises an elastomer end disposed in the fill port and a finger grip disposed outside of the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic cigarette body, the electronic cigarette body having a battery which is electrically connected to the volatizing element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a first end of the volatizing element is connected to the electronic cigarette body and a second end of the volatizing element is connected to a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic cigarette system comprising:
 a tank comprising:
 a cylindrical sleeve having a bore therethrough; 
 a first end cap attached to a first end of the sleeve; 
 a first hole through the first end cap aligned with the sleeve bore; 
 a second elastomeric end cap attached to a second end of the sleeve, the second end cap having a body portion disposed in the sleeve bore and an outer shoulder larger in diameter than the sleeve bore and disposed adjacent an end face on the second end of the sleeve; 
 a second hole through the second end cap aligned with the sleeve bore; 
 a cylindrical volatizing element disposed in the first hole and second hole such that the volatizing element passes through the sleeve bore. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second end cap comprises:
 an O-ring groove formed on the body portion and located inside of the sleeve bore;   an O-ring disposed in the O-ring groove to seal against the sleeve bore.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second end cap and the O-ring are both elastomeric. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second end cap and the O-ring are both between about 35 and 50 Shore A durometer hardness. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a first end of the volatizing element is attached to an electronic cigarette body having a battery disposed in electrical contact with the volatizing element, and a second end of the volatizing element is attached to a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         17 . An electronic cigarette system comprising:
 a tank comprising:
 a cylindrical sleeve having a bore therethrough; 
 a first end cap attached to a first end of the sleeve; 
 a first hole through the first end cap aligned with the sleeve bore; 
 a second end cap attached to a second end of the sleeve; 
 a second hole through the second end cap aligned with the sleeve bore; 
 a cylindrical volatizing element disposed in the first hole and second hole such that the volatizing element passes through the sleeve bore; 
 an interior cavity formed between the sleeve bore and the volatizing element; 
 a fill port formed through the sleeve between the first end cap and the second end cap and disposed in communication with the interior cavity; and 
 a plug selectively disposable in the interior cavity, the plug being removable to allow a user to add liquid through the port and insertable into the port to close the port. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plug has an elastomer end disposed in the fill port and a finger grip disposed outside of the sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second end cap is elastomeric and includes an exterior shoulder larger in diameter than the sleeve bore and disposed outside of the sleeve bore against an end face of the sleeve, a cylindrical body portion disposed in the sleeve bore, an O-ring groove formed in the cylindrical body portion and spaced apart from the exterior shoulder, and an O-ring disposed in the O-ring groove.