Electronic-cigarette filter

Abstract

An electronic-cigarette filter including a tube housing a vaporizing device, wherein walls of the tube are substantially fluid impermeable. The electronic-cigarette filter includes a fluid permeable matrix disposed adjacent to an exterior of the tube and is in fluid communication with the vaporizing device. The electronic-cigarette filter includes a vaporizing liquid disposed throughout the matrix. The electronic-cigarette filter includes a substantially flexible outer housing enveloping the matrix and the tube. The electronic-cigarette filter includes a sealing member consisting essentially of a substantially fluid impermeable material that is shaped and sized to prevent direct fluid communication between the matrix and the hole of the mouthpiece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic-cigarette filter, comprising:
 a) a tube housing a vaporizing device, wherein walls of the tube are substantially fluid impermeable, and wherein the tube includes a first open end and a second open end each distal from the other;   b) a fluid permeable matrix disposed adjacent to an exterior of the tube and in fluid communication with the vaporizing device through a region of the tube spaced from the second open end of the tube;   c) a vaporizing liquid disposed throughout the matrix;   d) a substantially flexible outer housing enveloping the matrix and the tube, the outer housing having a first end including a coupling structure and a second end, distal from the first end, the second end including a mouthpiece having a hole therethrough in fluid communication with the vaporizing device; and   e) a sealing member adjacent the second open end of the tube, the sealing member consisting essentially of a substantially fluid impermeable material that is shaped and sized to prevent direct fluid communication between the matrix and the hole of the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix encircles the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece is selectably removably coupled to the outer housing. 
     
     
         4 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is a nipple extending between the hole of the mouthpiece and the second open end of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member forms a conduit between the hole of the mouthpiece and the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The filter of  claim 4 , wherein the nipple is fixedly coupled to the mouthpiece and seats into the second open end of the tube when the mouthpiece is coupled to the flexible outer housing. 
     
     
         7 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is annular and encircles the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is a hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling structure of the first end of the outer housing includes both a physical coupling structure and an electrical coupling structure, each configured to couple to corresponding components of an electronic-cigarette battery housing. 
     
     
         10 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is highly elastic. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic-cigarette filter, comprising:
 a) a tube housing a vaporizing device, including a first open end and a second open end each distal from the other;   b) a fluid permeable matrix disposed adjacent to an exterior of the tube and in fluid communication with the vaporizing device through a region of the tube spaced from the second open end of the tube;   c) a vaporizing liquid disposed throughout the matrix;   d) a substantially flexible outer housing enveloping the matrix and the tube, the outer housing having a first end and a second end, distal from the first end, the second end including a mouthpiece having a hole therethrough in fluid communication with the vaporizing device; and   e) a sealing member adjacent the second open end of the tube, the sealing member consisting essentially of a substantially fluid impermeable material that is shaped and sized to prevent direct fluid communication between the matrix and the hole of the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         12 . The filter of  claim 11 , wherein the matrix is a hollow cylinder that encircles the tube. 
     
     
         13 . The filter of  claim 12 , wherein walls of the tube are substantially fluid impermeable. 
     
     
         14 . The filter of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing member is annular and encircles the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The filter of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member is flush with the second open end of the tube and is spaced from an interior wall of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The filter of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing member forms a conduit between the hole of the mouthpiece and the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The filter of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing member is a nipple extending between the hole of the mouthpiece and the second open end of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The filter of  claim 17 , wherein the nipple is fixedly coupled to the mouthpiece and seats into the second open end of the tube when the mouthpiece is coupled to the flexible outer housing. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic-cigarette filter, comprising:
 a) a tube housing a vaporizing device, wherein walls of the tube are substantially fluid impermeable, and wherein the tube includes a first open end and a second open end each distal from the other;   b) a fluid permeable matrix shaped as a hollow cylinder disposed adjacent to an exterior of the tube, encircling the same, and in fluid communication with the vaporizing device through a region of the tube spaced from the second open end of the tube;   c) a vaporizing liquid disposed throughout the matrix;   d) a substantially flexible outer housing enveloping the matrix and the tube, the outer housing having a first end including a coupling structure and a second end, distal from the first end, the second end including a mouthpiece having a hole therethrough in fluid communication with the vaporizing device; and   e) a sealing member adjacent the second open end of the tube, the sealing member consisting essentially of a substantially fluid impermeable material that is shaped and sized to prevent direct fluid communication between the matrix and the hole of the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         20 . The filter of  claim 19 , wherein the sealing member is selected from the group of sealing members consisting of an annular plug and a seating nipple.