Do You Know The Real History of E-Cigs?

THE REAL HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

1927
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Joseph Robinson file a patent for the first “Electric Vaporizer”. Here’s an excerpt from the original document:

1927 Cig Patent
“My invention relates to vaporizing devices for holding medicinal compounds which are electronically heated to produce vapors for inhalation, and to provide a device for individual use which may be freely handled without any possibility of being burned.”
– Joseph Robinson, May 3, 1927, New York

1930
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In 1930, Robinson’s patent was approved and published by the USPTO.

While this device wasn’t invented as a tobacco alternative, its design is very similar to the more modern e cigs. We think Mr. Robinson deserves some credit!

1963
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In 1963, Herbert A. Gilbert’s patent for a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” was filed in Pennsylvania.

Gilbert in the 1960’s “The present invention relates to a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette to provide a safe and harmless means for smoking by replacing burning tobacco with heated, moist, flavored air. Another object is to provide an article of manufacture resembling a cigarette by which air may be drawn through a porous substance of a cartridge which has been moistened with a chemically harmless flavoring preparation, heated by a suitable heating element. A further object is to suitably raise the temperature of the inhalant mixture, so that it may approximate that of cigarette smoke. A further object is to insulate the heat source so that the ‘cigarette’ may be held in the fingers without discomfort to the user’s hand.”

1965
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In 1965, Gilbert’s patent was officially issued by the USPTO.

Gilbert’s invention was even featured in the December 1965 issue of Popular Mechanics.

Like modern-day e-cigarettes, these first two inventions combined heat, flavored liquid, smoke-like vapor, and a cigarette like gadget.

Between 1965 and 2000, there were several more patents filed for electronic cigarette-esque products, but none really took off until Hon Lik had a dream in 2000…

2000
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Hon Lik “The idea of the electronic cigarettes came to me in a dream in 2000. Coughing and wheezing, I imagined I was drowning, until suddenly the waters round me lifted into a fog.” 
– Hon Lik

2003
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Let’s take a trip to China, circa 2003. Hon Lik’s father had just passed away, having given in to lung cancer. Lik was a heavy smoker just like his dad, and he wanted to avoid the same fate. So, he translated his dream of water turning to fog into a revolutionary invention: The Electronic Cigarette. Hon battery.

2004
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In 2004, Hon Lik’s first patent was officially issued by the USPTO, placing the first modern e-cigarettes into the market.

“The present invention related to an electronic atomization cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece…The advantages of the present invention include smoking without tar, significantly reducing the carcinogenic risk. Futhermore, users still feel as if they are smoking and experiencing the same excitement, and the cigarette has no need to be lit and is no fire risk.”

Since being issued his first patent in 2004, Hon Lik has filed several more relating to e-cigs.

2006
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Electronic Cigarettes were first introduced for sale in Europe.

2007-2008
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Electronic cigarettes became available in the United States. One of the first American debuts was at the American Tobacco Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada where the e-cig won multiple awards.

2009-PRESENT
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The e-cig industry continues to grow exponentially, and has contributed over $1.7 billion to the economy since the end of 2013.