Vape Apparatus With Child Lock

Abstract

A vape apparatus 10 comprising a mouthpiece 12, a body 14, a battery 28 housed in the body, and an e-liquid housing 32 in communication with a heating element 30. A control circuit 36 communicates wit

Description

The present invention relates to a vape apparatus suitable for use as an electronic cigarette. A vape apparatus is a type of electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, which heats a flavoured liquid, typically containing nicotine and referred to as e-liquid, for inhalation. The vape apparatuses are typically battery operated using a small, handheld device which performs the heating necessary to create a vapour. E-cigarettes are largely age-restricted products, and there is therefore a desire to prevent unauthorised access or use of the device by children. The present invention seeks to provide a vape apparatus with an improved child lock function. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vape apparatus comprising: a mouthpiece; a main body having a battery housed therein; an e-liquid housing in communication with a heating element, the heating element being powered by the battery; a control circuit in communication with the battery, the control circuit comprising a sensor for sensing an air flow from the mouthpiece; and a child-lock control associated with the control circuit to control an activation of the sensor to activate or deactivate the vape apparatus. Child locking of a vape apparatus prevents unauthorised access to the vape apparatus by a child. This can be achieved in various ways by deactivating the onboard sensor to prevent heating of the e-liquid therein. Optionally, the child-lock control may be a child-lock control button for electrically activating or deactivating the sensor. Button activation and deactivation of the control circuitry to prevent heating element startup is one suitable means of preventing use. Preferably, the child-lock control button may be held for a pre-determined duration to activate or deactivate the sensor. Making the input command challenging for a child to use is a desirable outcome, and prolonged holding of a control button may be one means of achieving this, as this is a challenging action for a child. In one embodiment, the child-lock control may comprise a slider engaged with a body piece of the vape apparatus. Sliding operation of a child lock may be simpler to operate and reduce the cost of electronic components of the vape apparatus. Optionally, the slider may block a sensor air path. Using the slider to block the air path to the sensor inhibits operation thereof, in turn, preventing start-up of the device for use. Preferably, the body piece may comprise an arcuate guide slot for receiving the slider. A rotational motion for the slider to follow is a simple and obvious means of operation for an adult, making the child lock easily performed. Optionally, the slider may extend through an end face of an end cap of the main body. Additionally, or alternatively, the slider may extend through a side face of an end cap of the main body. Ergonomic positioning of the child lock is helpful for user engagement, simplifying the operation of the child lock for a user. Two said sliders may be provided. In one embodiment, one of the sliders may block an auxiliary air path through the main body. The use of two sliders means that release of the child lock may become more challenging for a child, since both locks will need to be opened in order for the vape apparatus to correctly function. Optionally, the child-lock control may be provided on an end cap of the main body. Positioning of the child lock on an end cap, distal to the mouthpiece, is a user-friendly means of operating the vape apparatus for the user. Preferably, the end cap may be sealed to the main body via a silicone seal. One of the difficulties of providing an air block to perform child lock function is that manufacturing issues with the main body can lead to air leaks into the device. This means that the child lock will fail, as an air flow will still be registered past the sensor. A seal, such as a silicone seal, will provide a means for overcoming this where an end cap is provided. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A shows a side view of a first embodiment of a vape apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 1B shows an end view of the vape apparatus of Figure 1A; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the vape apparatus of Figures 1A and 1B; Figure 3A shows an exploded view of an end cap of a second embodiment of a vape apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 3B shows a plan view of the end cap of Figure 3A; Figure 4A(i) shows an end view of the end cap of Figure 3A in a locked condition; Figure 4A(ii) shows a cross-section view through the end cap of Figure 4A(i); Figure 4B(i) shows an end view of the end cap of Figure 3A in an unlocked condition; Figure 4B(ii) shows a cross-section view through the end cap of Figure 4B(i); Figure 5A shows an exploded view of an end cap of a third embodiment of a vape apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 5B shows a plan view of the end cap of Figure 5A; Figure 6A(i) shows an end view of the end cap of Figure 5A in a locked condition; Figure 6A(ii) shows a cross-section view through the end cap of Figure 6A(i); Figure 6B(i) shows an end view of the end cap of Figure 5A in an unlocked condition; Figure 6B(ii) shows a cross-section view through the end cap of Figure 6B(i); Figure 7A shows an exploded view of an end cap of a fourth embodiment of a vape apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 7B shows a plan view of the end cap of Figure 7A; Figure 8A(i) shows a perspective view of the end cap of Figure 7A in a locked condition; Figure 8A(ii) shows an end view of the end cap of Figure 8A(i); and Figure 8A(iii) shows a cross-section view through the end cap of Figure 8A(ii) Figure 8B(i) shows a perspective view of the end cap of Figure 7A in an unlocked condition; Figure 8B(ii) shows an end view of the end cap of Figure 8B(i); and Figure 8B(iii) shows a cross-section view through the end cap of Figure 8B(ii). Referring to Figures 1A and 1B, there is a shown a vape apparatus, referenced globally at 10, which has an improved child lock function. There is a mouthpiece 12 attached to a main body 14. Here, the mouthpiece 12 is sealed for transit with a plug 16. An end cap 18 of the main body 14 includes a charge point 20, here a USB-C connector, a child-lock control button 22, and an indicator light 24, which indicates whether the child lock for the device is active or otherwise. Figure 2 shows the vape apparatus 10 in internal. There is a battery housing 26 which couples to the main body 14, so that a battery 28 thereof can provide electrical current to a heating element 30 for heating e-liquid in the vape apparatus 10. This e-liquid is stored in an e-liquid housing 32 having an absorbent medium 34 in contact with the heating element 30. The child-lock control button 22 is in communication with a PCB control board 36, onto which the indicator light 24 is mounted. Said PCB control board 36 is powered by the onboard battery 28. The child-lock control button 22 provides control over airflow through the mouthpiece 12. Holding the child-lock control button 22, here for three seconds, will cause the mouthpiece 12 to be usable. Holding the child-lock control button 22 can result in availability of the mouthpiece 12. This is realised by the child-lock control button 22 activating or deactivating an air sensor 38 onboard the PCB control board 36. Power is only supplied to the heating element 28 on detection of an air flow at the air sensor 38, and the child-lock button 22 activates and deactivates the air sensor 38. The term air sensor is used here, but this could be a microphone, detecting the sound of suction by the user, or a pressure sensor, detecting the pressure change achieved by suction. A flow sensor could also be considered, for instance. A silicone seal, or similar sealing material, is provided to seal the end cap 18 relative to the main body 14. This inhibits leaking of air through the auxiliary air path in the main body 14. Alternative mechanisms for providing child lock function are also feasible. Identical or similar reference numerals to those used above will be used to refer to identical or similar components of the additional embodiments, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity. Figures 3A and 3B show an alternative end cap 118 arrangement, in which the child-lock control 122 is provided as a pivotable slider 140, a hinge member 142 of which engages with a body piece 144 of the PCB control board 136. The child-lock control 122 can be pivoted so as to cover a sensor air path 146 and thus prevent sucking of air into the vape apparatus 110. Rather than activating or deactivating the sensor 138, this instead prevents flow through the sensor air path 146 so that the effects being measured which result from the sucking action cannot occur. As shown in Figure 3B, the child-lock control 122 follows an arcuate guide slot 148 in the end cap 118, ensuring that correct covering of the sensor air path 146 is achieved. The nubs and projections on the side of the body piece 144 provide a compression surface against which any silicone seal can abut to seal the end cap 118 in use as part of the vape apparatus 110. Figures 4A(i), 4A(ii), 4B(i), and 4B(ii) show the pivoting of the child-lock control 122 to permit covering and uncovering of the sensor air path 146 with respect to the sensor 138. Figures 5A and 5B show another alternative end cap 218 arrangement, in which the child lock control 222 is provided as a pair of sliders 240 which are receivably engaged in arcuate guide slots 250 of the body piece 244. The two components can be moved independently of one another. One of the sliders 240 is designed to cover the sensor air path 246 to block the air flow across the sensor 238, and the other block an auxiliary air path 252 through the entire end cap 218, which then communicates with an air flow region in the main body of the vape apparatus 210. The locked arrangement is shown in Figures 6A(i) and 6A(ii), with the unlocked condition in Figures 6B(i) and 6B(ii). A further end cap 310 arrangement is shown in Figures 7A and 7B, in which the child lock control 322 has two inputs. Firstly, there is a slider 340 receivably engaged in an arcuate guide slot 350 of the body piece 344. There is also a side lock component 354 which extends through a side wall of the end cap 310, and which is receivably engagable with a tapered recess 356 of the body piece 344 in a pivotable manner. The slider 340 blocks the auxiliary air path 352, whilst the slide lock component 354 is designed to cover a sensor air path 346 to the sensor 338 of the vape apparatus 310. Figures 8A(i), 8A(ii), and 8A(iii) show the locked state of the end cap 310, whilst Figures 8B(i), 8B(ii), and 8B(iii) show the unlocked condition. It is therefore possible, within the teachings of the present invention, to provide a vape apparatus having an improved child lock arrangement. The words ‘comprises / comprising’ and the words ‘having / including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

1. A vape apparatus comprising:a mouthpiece;a main body having a battery housed therein;an e-liquid housing in communication with a heating element, the heating element being powered by the battery;a control circuit in communication with the battery, the control circuit comprising a sensor for sensing an air flow from the mouthpiece; anda child-lock control associated with the control circuit to control an activation of the sensor to activate or deactivate the vape apparatus.

2. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the child-lock control is a childlock control button for electrically activating or deactivating the sensor.

3. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the child-lock control button is held for a pre-determined duration to activate or deactivate the sensor.

4. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the child-lock control comprises a slider engaged with a body piece of the vape apparatus.

5. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slider blocks a sensor air path.

6. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the body piece comprises an arcuate guide slot for receiving the slider.

7. A vape apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the slider extends through an end face of an end cap of the main body.

8. A vape apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the slider extends through a side face of an end cap of the main body.

9. A vape apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein two said sliders are provided.

10. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein one of the sliders blocks an auxiliary air path through the main body.

11. A vape apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 5 child-lock control is provided on an end cap of the main body.

12. A vape apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end cap is sealed to the main body via a silicone seal.

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