Abstract
Device for holding and securing Electronic Cigarettes within a motor vehicle comprising a box-like structure having side panels, a rear panel, and a bottom panel, accessible from the top and the front. The device contains a plurality of upper and lower flexible constructs within the interior of the device acting as securing means to secure either cylindrical or box-type Electronic Cigarettes of varying dimensions. The device holds and secures, alternately, cylindrical or box-type Electronic Cigarettes, in the same space within the holder, as opposed to having separate compartments for each type of Electronic Cigarette. The invention also introduces a multi-bracket vehicle door panel mounting system where different size brackets are employed to conform to vehicle door panels of varying depths.
Claims
1. A holder for Electronic Cigarettes for use in a motor vehicle comprising: A structure formed by a pair of flexible spaced, parallel, side panels each comprising a centrally positioned semi-circular cutout on the front edge thereof, a vertical rear panel coupled to said side panels along their rear edges at or near right angles, a horizontal base panel coupled to each of said side panels at their bottom edge and coupled to said rear panel at its bottom edge to form a semi-enclosure with an open interior allowing device accessibility from the front and the top; Said holder further comprising an upper securing section and a lower securing section within the interior of said structure, each securing section comprising a plurality of spaced flexile securing means which graduate in length from said front of the structure to said rear of the structure, said spaced flexile securing means extending inward from each of said side panels thereby securely engaging cylindrical or multi-sided devices upon insertion into the holder.
2. The holder of claim 1 wherein said flexible side panels are displaced and deflected outward upon insertion of said cylindrical or multi-sided device.
3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the flexile securing means are manufactured of a thermoplastic elastomer.
4. The holder of claim 1 wherein the structure and the flexile securing means are manufactured of the same thermoplastic elastomer.
5. The holder of claim 1 further comprising a mounting system.
6. The holder of claim 1 further comprising a coupling means for coupling the holder to a bracket.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a left side view of the holder and a small box-type Electronic Cigarette and their positions relative to each other prior to insertion;
(2) FIG. 2 is a left side view of the holder with a small box-type Electronic Cigarette within the holder with phantom lines indicating the position of the Electronic Cigarette within the holder;
(3) FIG. 3 is a left side view of the holder and a small diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette and their positions relative to each other prior to insertion;
(4) FIG. 4 is a left side view of the holder with a small diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette with phantom lines indicating the position of the Electronic Cigarette within the holder;
(5) FIG. 5 is a left side view of the holder and a large box-type Electronic Cigarette and their positions relative to each other prior to insertion;
(6) FIG. 6 is a left side view of the holder with a large box-type Electronic Cigarette within the holder with phantom lines indicating the position of the Electronic Cigarette within the holder;
(7) FIG. 7 is a left side view of the holder and a large diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette and their positions relative to each other prior to insertion;
(8) FIG. 8 is a left side view of the holder with a large diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette with phantom lines indicating the position of the Electronic Cigarette within the holder;
(9) FIG. 9 is a top view of the empty holder;
(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of the holder containing a cylindrical Electronic Cigarette;
(11) FIG. 11 is a front view of the holder;
(12) FIG. 12 is a front view of the holder containing a cylindrical Electronic Cigarette;
(13) FIG. 13 is a front view of the holder containing a box-type Electronic Cigarette;
(14) FIG. 14 is a front view of the holder containing a large Electronic Cigarette and depicting the described deflection of the flexible side panels;
(15) FIG. 15 is a left side view of the holder and a small door panel bracket and their positions relative to each other prior to their coupling;
(16) FIG. 16 is a left side view of a holder coupled to a small door panel bracket;
(17) FIG. 17 is a left side view of a small door panel bracket;
(18) FIG. 18 is a left side view of a wide door panel bracket;
(19) FIG. 19 is a rear view of the holder showing the position of the coupling means;
(20) FIG. 20 is a top view of a small vehicle door bracket and its coupling means;
(21) FIG. 21 is a front view of a small vehicle door bracket and its coupling means;
(22) FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective illustration of the Electronic Cigarette holder and a door panel bracket separated with an arrow indicating coupling of the device and the bracket and including the interior vehicle door panel to which they are mounted;
(23) FIG. 23 is a perspective illustration of the Electronic Cigarette holder coupled to the bracket including the interior vehicle door panel to which it is mounted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(24) Referring to the drawings, FIG. 23 shows the preferred general structure of a device (designated H for holder) for holding and securing Electronic Cigarettes within a motor vehicle and its general bracket mounting position.
(25) FIG. 11 shows the empty holder H and its frame comprised of a left side panel 5, a right side panel 4, and a bottom panel 7. Also depicted are the upper flexible constructs 14 and the lower flexible constructs 15. FIG. 9 shows the holder H from the top and the upper flexible constructs 14 and their general configuration. FIG. 3 depicts the pre insertion positions of the holder H, its left side panel 5, and a small diameter Electronic Cigarette 1 with an arrow indicating direction of insertion. FIG. 4 shows the post insertion position of a small diameter Electronic Cigarette within the holder H. This particular depiction shows a small diameter Electronic Cigarette 1 long enough to rest at the bottom of the holder H and have its mouthpiece 9 extend above the top of the holder H. Also shown is the activation button 8 positioned toward the left panel 5 of the holder H. It is up to the discretion of the user where to position the activation button 8 upon insertion as the small diameter Electronic Cigarette 1 can be rotated 360 degrees anywhere along its longitudinal axis prior to insertion. FIG. 4 also shows the anticipated securing depth of a small diameter Electronic Cigarette 1 within the holder H. Note the semi-circular side cut-outs 19 allow for easy insertion and removal into and out of the holder H. FIG. 12 is a front view of a small diameter Electronic Cigarette inserted into the holder H. Shown is the left side panel 5, the right side panel 4, and the bottom panel 7, with the upper 14 and lower 15 flexible constructs engaged by the small diameter Electronic Cigarette 1. The activation button 8 is oriented toward the front opening and the mouthpiece 9 extends above the top of the holder H. FIG. 10 is a top view of a small cylindrical Electronic Cigarette 1 inserted into the holder H and engaged by the upper flexible constructs 14. Illustrated is the resulting displacement and deflection of the upper flexible constructs 14 that constitute the securing means for the Electronic Cigarette. FIG. 7 shows the holder H and a large diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette 2 and their orientation to each other prior to insertion with an arrow indicating direction of insertion. FIG. 8 shows the large diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette 2 post-insertion. Note the depth of insertion into the holder H of the large diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette 2 versus the depth of insertion into the holder H of the small diameter cylindrical Electronic Cigarette 1 as shown in FIG. 4. The depth of insertion necessary to adequately secure a cylindrical Electronic Cigarette within the holder H is a function of its diameter. The smaller the diameter of the cylindrical Electronic Cigarette, the deeper it will be required to be pushed into the holder H to be adequately secured.
(26) FIG. 1 shows the holder H and a small box-type Electronic Cigarette 3 and their orientation to each other prior to insertion with an arrow indicating direction of insertion and the activation button 8 positioned on the leading edge of the Electronic Cigarette relative to insertion. FIG. 2 shows the small box-type Electronic Cigarette 3 post-insertion. Note the insertion depth of this type of Electronic Cigarette and the semi-circular side cut-outs 19 allowing for ease of insertion and removal of box-type Electronic Cigarettes. FIG. 2 displays how this shorter version of a box-type Electronic Cigarette could be secured solely by the lower flexible constructs 18 as it is not tall enough to reach the upper flexible constructs 14. FIG. 5 shows the holder H and a large box-type Electronic Cigarette 21 and their orientation to each other prior to insertion with an arrow indicating the direction of insertion. FIG. 6 shows the large box-type Electronic Cigarette 21 post-insertion. Note that the depth of insertion necessary to adequately secure different size box-type Electronic Cigarettes is depicted by the phantom lines representing the large box-type Electronic Cigarette 21 in FIG. 6, and the small box-type Electronic Cigarette 3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 13 shows a small box-type Electronic Cigarette 3 inserted into the holder H from the front and engaging the upper 14 and lower 15 flexible constructs and the activation button 8 oriented outwardly. FIG. 14 shows a large box-type Electronic Cigarette 21 inserted into the holder H engaging the upper 14 and lower 15 flexible constructs while simultaneously causing the right 4 and left 5 side panels to deflect outwardly resulting in the deflected side panels 22 acting in concert with the interior flexible constructs to secure the Electronic Cigarette. Again, the depth necessary to insert a box-type Electronic Cigarette to be adequately secured within the holder H becomes a function of the dimensions of the box-type Electronic Cigarette.
(27) FIG. 17 is a small door panel bracket 10 including its first vertical member 16 designed to extend downward into the channel between the vehicle window glass and its molding, its horizontal member 17 attached to the top of first vertical member 16 and extending inward the vehicle, and connecting to the top of the second vertical member 18 that extends downward along the face of the interior door panel 23. Attached to the outside of the second vertical member is the door panel bracket coupling means 12. FIG. 18 is a wide door panel bracket 11 with the elongated horizontal member 17 being the only difference between it and the small door panel bracket 10 shown in FIG. 17. This illustrates the door panel mounting system designed to accommodate vehicle door panels of varying depths. FIG. 15 shows a small door panel bracket 10 and its coupling means 12, the holder H and its coupling means 13 and their orientation relative to each other prior to coupling and an arrow showing direction of coupling. FIG. 16 shows a small door panel bracket 10, the holder H, and their positions relative to each other post-coupling. Also depicted is the narrow spatial confines between the small door panel bracket 10 and the holder H represented by the coupled means 20. FIG. 19 is the rear panel 6 of the holder H and the position of the holder coupling means 13. FIG. 20 is a top view of the horizontal member 17 of a vehicle door bracket and its coupling means 12. FIG. 21 shows the front of the second vertical member 18 of a vehicle door bracket and its coupling means 12. The vehicle door bracket coupling means 12 acts as a receiver for the holder coupling means 13 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 22 shows a vehicle door panel bracket and its coupling means 12, the horizontal member 17 of the bracket, the second vertical member 18 of the bracket and its mounted position on the vehicle door panel 23. Also shown is the holder H and its position prior to coupling and an arrow showing the direction of coupling. FIG 23 is a depiction of the holder H coupled to the door panel bracket and door panel bracket mounted on the vehicle door pane 23.
