U.S. patent application number 15/744031 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-19 for liquid containers for electronic smoking device.
The applicant listed for this patent is FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.. Invention is credited to Min SHENG.
Application Number | 20180199628 15/744031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57883916 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180199628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHENG; Min |
July 19, 2018 |
LIQUID CONTAINERS FOR ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE
Abstract
An electronic smoking device includes a liquid supply (34) and
an atomizer in a housing. The liquid supply (34) includes at least
two container members (34a, 34b) attachable to one another through
a connection mechanism to form a liquid supply main body. Each of
the container members (34a, 34b) may have a first end (341a, 341b)
sealed by a sealing member (342a, 342b) and a second end which is
closed, and an aerosol channel (343a, 343b) formed between the
container members.
Inventors: |
SHENG; Min; (Beijing,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V. |
AMSTERDAM |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
57883916 |
Appl. No.: |
15/744031 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
July 24, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2015/085058 |
371 Date: |
January 11, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 47/008 20130101;
B05B 7/2472 20130101; B65D 85/70 20130101; H05B 1/0297 20130101;
B05B 7/1686 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00; H05B 1/02 20060101
H05B001/02 |
Claims
1. A liquid supply comprising at least two container members
attachable to one another through a connection mechanism to form a
main body of the liquid supply; each of the container members
having a first end sealed by a sealing member and a second end; and
an aerosol channel formed between the containers.
2. The liquid supply of claim 1 wherein each container member has a
semicircular cross section.
3. The liquid supply of claim 1 with the connection mechanism
comprising at least one indentation provided on one container
member and at least one protrusion provided on the other container
member.
4. The liquid supply of claim 1 wherein the container members each
have a cut-off portion extending from the first end to the second
end, the cut-off portions of the container members forming the
aerosol channel when the container members are attached to one
another by the connection mechanism.
5. The liquid supply of claim 1 wherein the aerosol channel is
provided on the perimeter of at least one of the container
member.
6. The liquid supply of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the
container members has a guiding portion for directing the container
member into a housing an electronic smoking device.
7. The liquid supply of claim 6 wherein the guiding portion is at
least one guiding grove provided on the surface of the container
member.
8. The liquid supply of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the
container members has a locking portion for fixing the container
member to a housing of an electronic cigarette.
9. The liquid supply of claim 8 wherein the locking portion is a
locking profile.
10. The liquid supply of claim 1 wherein the container members are
mirror images of each other.
11. The liquid supply of claim 1 including wadding in a
semi-annular column in each container member.
12. An electronic smoking device, comprising a liquid supply to
store and provide e-liquid; an atomizer to vaporize the e-liquid
provided by the liquid supply; an housing to accommodate the liquid
supply and the atomizer; wherein the liquid supply comprises at
least two container members attachable to one another through a
connection mechanism to form a main body of the liquid supply; each
of the container members has an first end sealed by a sealing
member and a second end which is closed; and an aerosol channel
communicating at least one of the opening ends with at least one of
the closed ends.
13. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 further comprising a
guiding mechanism to directing the liquid supply into a housing an
electronic smoking device, the guiding mechanism comprising a first
guiding portion provided at least one of the container members; and
a second guiding portion provided on the housing has a
corresponding guiding portion.
14. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 further comprising a
locking mechanism to fix the liquid supply to the housing by
turning the liquid supply at a certain angle relative to the
housing.
15. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 further comprising a
liquid guiding structure to guiding liquid within the liquid supply
to the atomizer, wherein the liquid guiding structure comprising at
least two projections to piece the seal members of the container
members.
16. The electronic smoking device of claim 15 wherein the
projections pierce the sealing member when the liquid supply is
fixed in housing by the locking mechanism.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to liquid supply of an electronic
smoking device, such as an electronic cigarette or vaporizing
device. More particularly the invention relates to An electronic
smoking device having a liquid supply with more than one type or
flavor of e-liquid.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many electronic smoking or vaporizing devices use an open
tank system which allows the tank holding the liquid supply to be
opened and refilled by the user. However, open tank systems allow
any liquid to be used, which has disadvantages. Refilling also
risks the liquid contacting the users hands, which is otherwise
better avoided. Other electronic vaporizing devices use a closed
system, where the device is either not refillable, or is refillable
using a closed or sealed container, which is opened only upon
installation of the container into the device. Although the closed
systems avoid many of the disadvantages of the open systems,
engineering challenges remain in designing liquid containers for
electronic smoking or vaporizing devices that are conveniently and
easily used, and which may also allow for simultaneous use of more
than one type of liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An electronic smoking device includes a liquid supply and an
atomizer in a housing. The liquid supply includes at least two
container members attachable to one another through a connection
mechanism to form a liquid supply main body. Each of the container
members may have a first end sealed by a sealing member and a
second end which is closed, and an aerosol channel formed between
the container members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1a is a perspective exploded view of a liquid supply
having two container members;
[0005] FIG. 1b is a perspective exploded view of a liquid supply
having two container members and with aerosol channel in the
center;
[0006] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of an exemplary container
member and the connection mechanism thereon;
[0007] FIG. 2b illustrates an assembled liquid supply having two
container members and a wick have two branches;
[0008] FIG. 3a is a top view illustrating an assembled liquid
supply within the housing and the guiding structure on the liquid
supply and the housing;
[0009] FIG. 3b illustrate the relative position of the assembled
liquid supply within the housing;
[0010] FIGS. 3c to 3e illustrate various guiding portion and
locking mechanisms on the liquid supply;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of a liquid supply and an liquid
guiding structure showing the bayonets within the liquid guiding
structure for piecing and ripping the sealing members on the liquid
supply; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an electronic cigarette or
smoking device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Electronic Cigarettes in General
[0013] As shown in FIG. 5, an e-cigarette 10 typically has a
housing comprising a cylindrical hollow tube having an end cap 16.
The cylindrical hollow tube may be single piece or a multiple piece
tube. In FIG. 5 the cylindrical hollow tube is shown as a two piece
structure having a battery portion 12 and an atomizer/liquid
reservoir portion 14. Together the battery portion 12 and the
atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 form a cylindrical tube which
is approximately the same size and shape as a conventional
cigarette, typically about 100 mm with a 7.5 mm diameter, although
lengths may range from 70 to 150 or 180 mm, and diameters from 5 to
20 mm.
[0014] The battery portion 12 and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion
14 are typically made of metal or plastic and act together with the
end caps to provide a housing to contain the components of the
e-cigarette 10. The battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid
reservoir portion 14 may be configured to fit together by a
friction push fit, a snap fit, or a bayonet attachment, magnetic
fit, or screw threads. The end cap 16 is provided at the front end
of the main body 12. The end cap 16 may be made from translucent
plastic or other translucent material to allow an LED 20 positioned
near the end cap to emit light through the end cap.
[0015] An air inlet may be provided in the end cap, at the edge of
the end cap next to the cylindrical hollow tube, anywhere along the
length of the cylindrical hollow tube, or at the connection of the
battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
FIG. 5 shows a pair of air inlets 38 provided at the intersection
between the battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir
portion 14.
[0016] A battery 18, a light emitting diode (LED) 20, control
electronics 22 and optionally an airflow sensor 24 are provided
within the cylindrical hollow tube battery portion 12. The battery
18 is electrically connected to the control electronics 22, which
is electrically connected to the LED 20 and the airflow sensor 24.
In this example the LED 20 is at the front end of the main body 12,
adjacent to the end cap 16 and the control electronics 22 and
airflow sensor 24 are provided at the other end of the battery
portion 12, adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
[0017] The airflow sensor 24 acts as a puff detector, detecting a
user puffing or sucking on the mouthpiece portion 14 of the
e-cigarette 10. The airflow sensor 24 can be any suitable sensor
for detecting changes in airflow or air pressure such a microphone
switch including a deformable membrane which is caused to move by
variations in air pressure. Alternatively the sensor may be a Hall
element or an electro-mechanical sensor.
[0018] The control electronics 22 are also connected to an atomizer
26. In the example shown, the atomizer 26 includes a heating coil
28 which is wrapped around a wick 30 extending across a central
passage 32 of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14. The coil 28
may be positioned anywhere in the atomizer and may be transverse or
parallel to the liquid reservoir. The wick 30 and heating coil 28
do not completely block the central passage 32. Rather an air gap
is provided on either side of the heating coil 28 enabling air to
flow past the heating coil 28 and the wick 30. The atomizer may
alternatively use other forms of heating elements, such as ceramic
heaters, or fiber or mesh material heaters. Nonresistance heating
elements such as sonic, piezo and jet spray may also be used in the
atomizer in place of the heating coil.
[0019] The central passage 32 is surrounded by a cylindrical liquid
supply 34 with the ends of the wick 30 abutting or extending into
the liquid supply 33. The wick 30 may be a porous material such as
a bundle of fiberglass fibers, with liquid in the liquid supply 33
drawn by capillary action from the ends of the wick 30 towards the
central portion of the wick 30 encircled by the heating coil
28.
[0020] The liquid supply 33 may alternatively include wadding
soaked in liquid which encircles the central passage 32 with the
ends of the wick 30 abutting the wadding. In other embodiments the
liquid supply 33 may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be
filled with liquid and with the ends of the wick 30 extending into
the toroidal cavity.
[0021] An air inhalation port 36 is provided at the back end of the
atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14. The inhalation port 36 may be
formed in the cylindrical hollow tube atomizer/liquid reservoir
portion 14 or maybe formed in a separate mouthpiece attached to the
atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14.
[0022] In use, a user sucks on the e-cigarette 10. This causes air
to be drawn into the e-cigarette 10 via one or more air inlets,
such as air inlets 38 and to be drawn through the central passage
32 towards the air inhalation port 36. The change in air pressure
is detected by the airflow sensor 24 which generates an electrical
signal that is passed to the control electronics 22. In response to
the signal, the control electronics 22 activates the heating coil
28 which causes liquid present in the wick 30 to be vaporized
creating an aerosol (which may comprise gaseous and liquid
components) within the central passage 32. As the user continues to
suck on the e-cigarette 10, this aerosol is drawn through the
central passage 32 and inhaled by the user. At the same time the
control electronics 22 also activates the LED 20 causing the LED 20
to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap 16
simulating the appearance of a glowing ember at the end of a
conventional cigarette. As liquid present in the wick 30 is
converted into an aerosol more liquid is drawn into the wick 30
from the liquid supply 33 by capillary action and thus is available
to be converted into an aerosol through subsequent activation of
the heating coil 28.
[0023] Some e-cigarettes are intended to be disposable and the
electric power in the battery 18 is intended to be sufficient to
vaporize the liquid contained within the liquid supply 33 after
which the e-cigarette 10 is thrown away. In other embodiments the
battery 18 is rechargeable and the liquid supply is refillable. In
the cases where the liquid supply 33 is a toroidal cavity, this may
be achieved by refilling the liquid supply via a refill port. In
other embodiments the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 of the
e-cigarette 10 is detachable from the battery portion 12 and a new
atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 can be fitted with a new
liquid supply 33 thereby replenishing the supply of liquid. In some
cases, replacing the liquid supply 33 may involve replacement of
the heating coil 28 and the wick 30 along with the replacement of
the liquid supply 33.
[0024] The new liquid supply 33 may be in the form of a cartridge
having a central passage 32 through which a user inhales aerosol.
In other embodiments, aerosol may flow around the exterior of the
cartridge 32 to an air inhalation port 36.
[0025] Of course, in addition to the above description of the
structure and function of a typical e-cigarette 10, variations also
exist. For example, the LED 20 may be omitted. The airflow sensor
24 may be placed adjacent the end cap 16 rather than in the middle
of the e-cigarette. The airflow sensor 24 may be replaced with a
switch which enables a user to activate the e-cigarette manually
rather than in response to the detection of a change in air flow or
air pressure.
[0026] Different types of atomizers may be used. Thus for example,
the atomizer may have a heating coil in a cavity in the interior of
a porous body soaked in liquid. In this design aerosol is generated
by evaporating the liquid within the porous body either by
activation of the coil heating the porous body or alternatively by
the heated air passing over or through the porous body.
Alternatively the atomizer may use a piezoelectric atomizer to
create an aerosol either in combination or in the absence of a
heater.
[0027] A liquid supply 34 used in electronic smoking devices is
disclosed. The liquid supply 34 has a first container member 34a
and a second container member 34b complementary to the first
container member to form a substantially cylindrical body.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 1a, an alternative first container
member 34a and the second container member 34b both have an outlet
341a, 341b at an end thereof. The outlets are sealed by a
respective sealing members 342a, 342b, such as metal foil or paper
or plastic film that can be attached by adhering, bonding, or
welding. These sealing members 342a, 342b can be removed, for
example by tearing off before installing the e-liquid supply 34
into the container holder of the electronic cigarette or can be
pierced by at least one bayonet or spike provided within the
housing of the electronic cigarette when the liquid supply is
installed in the electronic cigarette in place.
[0029] In one embodiment, the first container member 34a and the
second container member 34b each has a cut-off portion 343a, 343b,
along the longitudinal axial of the members. The cut-off portion
can be for example semi-cylinder shape as shown in FIG. 1b. The two
cut-off portions when brought together, form an aerosol channel,
that is, the central channel 32, for the aerosol generated at the
heating unit of the electronic cigarette to pass through.
[0030] Generally the container members are hollow and empty, so
that they may be filled with bulk e-liquid. However, the first
container member 34a and the second container member 34b may
optionally contain wadding 35 to hold the e-liquid. The wadding can
be of any shape. For example, the wadding 35 can be a semi-annular
column as shown in FIG. 1a so that an aerosol channel can be formed
by the wadding 35 and the cut off portions 343a and 343b
illustrated FIG. 1b are no longer necessary. The e-liquid contained
therein can be for example nicotine solutions with different
concentrations or with different flavors.
[0031] The first and the second container members 34a, 34b can be
made from translucent materials, such as translucent plastic such
that the remaining content of the container member can be observed
by the user. To help the user quantify the remaining amount of
e-liquid in the container members, volume marks can be applied to
the surface of the container members.
[0032] The wick 30 of the heater element can act as the bayonet
when made from materials with sufficient stiffness. For example,
the wick 30 can be made by braiding carbon fibers, glass fiber or a
combination thereof. The wick 30 can also be provided with a center
rod made from rigid material such as metal, plastics, and being
wound by carbon fibers or glass fibers.
[0033] The first and second container members 34a, 34b are
configured to fit together by a protrusion 344a formed on one
member and an indentation 345b formed on the other member. The
protrusion 344a and the indentation 345b can be shaped
complementary to one another. As can be appreciated, the protrusion
344a and the indentation 345b are not necessarily complementary to
one another, rather, a tight fit, or interference fit formed
between the protrusion and the indentation would be sufficient. The
protrusion 344a and the indentation 345b can be formed
longitudinally along each member or traverse to the longitudinal
axial of the two members. In this arrangement, the aerosol channel
formed by cut off portions 343a and 343b can be arranged offset
from the protrusion 344a and indentation 345b pair in case of a
central aerosol channel design, otherwise the liquid supply 34 can
take a peripheral aerosol channel design.
[0034] In another embodiment, more than one protrusion 344a and
indentation 345b are formed on both container members 34a, 34b. The
protrusions and the indentations can be arranged in any pattern,
for example, the first container member 34a can be formed with a
protrusion 344a and an indentation 345a, while the second container
member 34b can be formed with a protrusion 344b and an indentation
345b that mate with those on the first container member. The
protrusions and the indentions are preferably formed symmetrically
along the longitudinal axial of the members. In the arrangement
shown in FIG. 1b, the aerosol channel are provided along the
longitudinal axial of the container formed by the two members so
that the protrusions and the indentations have the same distance
from the central axial.
[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the indentation can be in
fluid communication with the internal space of the container member
it is on. In such case, the indentation 345a, 345b can be sealed by
a sealing member 36a (36b) as shown in FIG. 2a such as a plastic
film or a metal foil to avoid volatilization of e-liquid within the
member. The complementary protrusion on the other container member
then has a projection or bayonet 3441a (3441b) that is in fluid
communication with the container member it is on and is made from
wicking materials with sufficient stiffness, such as carbon fiber,
glass fiber braids, cotton fibers or a combination thereof. The
wicking material may be supported on or attached to a metal or
plastic projection, with the projection piercing the sealing member
and the wicking material then moving the liquid by capillary
action. In this case the wicking material can be soft and/or
flexible and without substantial stiffness. The protrusion is sized
and shaped so that when the two container members are brought
together, the protrusions 344a,344b and the indentations 345a, 345b
are mated and engaged to one another, the bayonet in the protrusion
penetrates the sealing member on the indentation and reached the
internal space of the container member that has the indentation. A
fluid connection is established between the two container members
through the bayonet.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2b, the wick 30 extending
from the atomizer 24 is bifurcated into two branches 301, 302 with
one branch extendable into the first container member and the other
branch extendable into the second container member. The wick draws
liquid from both container members through the two branches 301 and
302. A blend of liquids of different flavors from the two container
members 34a and 34b can be conveyed to the atomizer for
vaporization.
[0037] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a liquid guiding
structure 50 is provided within the housing for conducting liquid
to the atomizer. The liquid guiding structure has at least two
projections or bayonets 51 and 52 to piece the seal members of the
container members when the liquid supply is directed into the
housing. The bayonets 51 and 52 further puncture the sealing member
when the liquid supply is fixed in housing by the locking
mechanism.
[0038] Referring back to FIGS. 1a and 1b, each of the container
member 34a or 34b can have a first groove 346a or 346b provided
longitudinally along the outer surface of the container member. The
first grooves 346a and 346b can be used for guiding the container
members into the electronic cigarette. For example the first groove
346a or 346b can operatively mate with guiding members, such as
rails or protrusions 121 and 122 provided on the inner surface of
the main body 12 of the electronic cigarette so that the container
members 34a and 34b can be installed in the housing of the
electronic cigarette by inserting them into the housing and sliding
along the guiding member.
[0039] Each of the container members can have locking mechanism to
fix the container members to the housing. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 3c, the locking mechanism can include a second groove 347a
or 347b that joins with the first groove 346a or 346b. The
container members can be held within the housing by rotating the
container members from engaging the first groove to engaging the
second groove. For container members that are made from inflexible
materials, a transverse slot 348a or 348b connecting the first
groove and the second groove, as shown in FIG. 3d can be provided
by for example removing a portion of the container member between
the first groove 346a or 346b and the second groove 347a or 347b so
that the guiding members can move from the first groove to the
second groove via the transverse slot 348a or 348b.
[0040] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3e, the locking mechanism
can be a arcuate slot 349a or 349b extending from the first groove.
The arcuate slot can have a locking profile 350a or 350b at an end
of the arcuate slot. To fix the container members in the housing of
the electronic cigarette, the container members are guided into the
housing along the first groove and when reaches the arcuate slot
the container members are turned so that the guiding members, for
example the protrusions move along the arcuate slot and reaches the
locking profile.
[0041] In some embodiments, the container are made from flexible
materials. These container members can be held within the housing
by guiding the container members into the housing and turning them
to a predetermined angle so that the container members are deformed
and are held by the elastic restoration force of the container
members.
[0042] The number of container members can be more than two. For
example, an e-liquid supply may have three container members
connected to each other by above mentioned indentations and
protrusions. In this case, each container member is a section of a
cylinder of about 120 degrees.
[0043] Each container member can be manufactured from translucent
materials such as Acrylic or other plastic and at least partially
coated with a color or wrapped with a colored package to indicate
the flavor of e-liquid contained with the container member.
[0044] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be
made without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended
claims.
* * * * *