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We've seen our fair share of eyebrow-raising patent filings from Apple, but this one from Cupertino might be the most unexpected yet.

The company has filed a patent application for a vaporizer, yes a vaporizer.

SEE ALSO:iPhone 8 might ditch the aluminum body for a stainless steel frame

The application, which was first spotted by Digital Trends, was published on Thursday, although it was originally filed in July 2016. It describes "an apparatus for vaporization or sublimation of a substance." The filing doesn't speculate how the vaporizer may be used or what type of substances would be vaporized.

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Though vaporizers have been used in a number of settings for decades, vaping -- the act of consuming nicotine or marijuana via personal vaporizers -- has become its own kind of subculture as technology costs have dropped.

But while the thought of a Jony Ive-designed vape is intriguing, that may not be what Apple has in mind. The image accompanying the patent looks more like a device that would be used in an industrial setting than toking on your couch.

Credit: USPTO

It also goes without saying that a personal vaporizer wouldn't exactly be "on brand" for the controversy-adverse Apple, which is rumored to be eyeing a bigger play in the healthcare industry.

Still, if Apple ever did decide to make a company-branded vaporizer, we're pretty sure it would be an instant hit.

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TopicsAppleGadgets

(责任编辑：知識)