Is this the father of e-cigs???

[CaptSteve]

Hey fellow members,

A friend found this Patent Office application and I thought of posting this bit of e-cig history here where it will surely be appreciated. The man was way ahead of his time and quite a visionary. Herbert filed his application April 17th 1963, amazing !!!

Patent US3200819 - SMOKELESS NON-TOBACCO CIGARETTE - Google Patents

 

[jjkanto]

Wow! I never knew the concept had been imagined so long ago! Thanks Capt. Steve!

 

[phdillard]

and I bet this guy is getting no residuals

 

[Mitey F]

That is awesome! Did your friend somehow stumble upon it? Or was he looking for nic-related things?

 

[Grumpus]

He, unfortunately at this point, shares this honor with the guy in China. I see 2 distinct issues here. 1 is the overall idea and concept, that goes to Herbert. 2 is the modernization and practicality of the concept, that goes to the China guy. And yes, I don't know his name >_<

 

[stevegmu]

.

 

[UntamedRose]

Not really...for one obvious reason is it didnt go anywhere

But mostly b/c its design is functionally different. It's suppose heat the AIR to then be sucked through a flavor filter, and wouldn't produce the vapor effect we get by heating the liquid directly. They only share "battery powered"(though i'm pretty sure the batteries are functionally different to) and the name. They are different enough that Mr Gilbert wouldnt be able to press this in court, might be able to keep his inventions name copyright in all but thats a totally different legal standard.

Hon Lik, is the legitimate inventor of the ecigs we use today. IMO

 

[CaptSteve]

That is awesome! Did your friend somehow stumble upon it? Or was he looking for nic-related things?

No he actually did a serious search and came up with this. Additionally Herbert is still alive and well and in his 80's, I wonder if he vapes?

 

[CaptSteve]

He, unfortunately at this point, shares this honor with the guy in China. I see 2 distinct issues here. 1 is the overall idea and concept, that goes to Herbert. 2 is the modernization and practicality of the concept, that goes to the China guy. And yes, I don't know his name >_<

The Chinese guy is Mr Hon Lik and he is a Pharmacist. The company that Hon Lik worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, changed its name to Ruyan, and started exporting its products in 2005–2006 before receiving its first international patent in 2007.

First e-cig Hon Lik produced was in 2003

 

[CaptSteve]

Not really...for one obvious reason is it didnt go anywhere

But mostly b/c its design is functionally different. It's suppose heat the AIR to then be sucked through a flavor filter, and wouldn't produce the vapor effect we get by heating the liquid directly. They only share "battery powered"(though i'm pretty sure the batteries are functionally different to) and the name. They are different enough that Mr Gilbert wouldnt be able to press this in court, might be able to keep his inventions name copyright in all but thats a totally different legal standard.

Hon Lik, is the legitimate inventor of the ecigs we use today. IMO

Sadly I agree with you UntamedRose but still I believe Herbert deserves recognition for his groundbreaking thinking for 1963.

 

[kaddigart]

Kudos to old Herb for sure, but the biggest factor is that US patents don't mean squat in China. It kind of does suck that the most Herbie can get is an "atta boy!" for his cleverness. Or glory from people that take the time to research the history. I agree with grumpus about Mr. Hon though, who incidentally wouldn't be able to claim the design any more than Mr. Gilbert.

 

[Stingbk]

Kinda makes you think of the crazy futuristic ideas that people come up with nowadays. Will they be looking back on us 100 years from now saying this guy had the idea way back then. I'm still waiting for by personal jet pack and meal pills.

 

[Mitey F]

Kinda makes you think of the crazy futuristic ideas that people come up with nowadays. Will they be looking back on us 100 years from now saying this guy had the idea way back then. I'm still waiting for by personal jet pack and meal pills.

Meal pills take all the fun out of eating. Would you really want an empty cupboard, sans a few pill bottles?

Jet packs on the other hand... sign me up for that ....!