U.S. patent application number 15/770734 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-08 for electronic smoking device, cartomizer and liquid reservoir.
The applicant listed for this patent is Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.. Invention is credited to Neha Daryani, Lutz Deichmann.
Application Number | 20180317551 15/770734 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54360950 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180317551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daryani; Neha ; et
al. |
November 8, 2018 |
ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE, CARTOMIZER AND LIQUID RESERVOIR
Abstract
There is provided a liquid reservoir for an electronic smoking
device. The liquid reservoir (34) has a body (110) forming a hollow
tube surrounding a central passage (32) connecting an air
inhalation port (36) with a further port for attaching the liquid
reservoir (34) to a further portion of the electronic cigarette
(10). The liquid reservoir (34) further has a nozzle (132) towards
the central passage (32), the nozzle (32) being configured to
release liquid from the reservoir (34) only when pressure drop
along the nozzle (32) exceeds a threshold pressure. A user can
produce the pressure drop by sucking at the air inhalation port
(36) and/or by manually changing a length of the central passage
(32) thereby causing compression of the liquid reservoir (34).
Inventors: |
Daryani; Neha; (Hamburg,
DE) ; Deichmann; Lutz; (Hamburg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. |
Amsterdam |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
54360950 |
Appl. No.: |
15/770734 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
October 28, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/076049 |
371 Date: |
April 24, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 40/48 20200101;
A24F 47/008 20130101; A24F 40/10 20200101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 28, 2015 |
EP |
15191933.9 |
Claims
1. A liquid reservoir for an electronic smoking device, the liquid
reservoir comprising: a body forming a hollow tube surrounding a
central passage; connecting ports for attaching the liquid
reservoir to further portions of the electronic cigarette; and a
nozzle towards the central passage, the nozzle being configured to
release liquid from the liquid reservoir only when pressure drop
along the nozzle exceeds a threshold pressure wherein the pressure
drop can be produced by a user sucking at an air inhalation port of
the electronic smoking device and/or manually changing a length of
the central passage thereby causing compression of the liquid
reservoir.
2. The liquid reservoir of claim 1 wherein the pressure drop can be
produced only by the user sucking at the inhalation port.
3. The liquid reservoir of claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir
comprises a hollow cylindrical body closed on one end with a plate
in which the nozzle is arranged and having an open end arranged
opposite to the one end wherein the piston is inserted through the
open end into the hollow cylindrical body for closing the open end
and wherein the user can move the piston with respect to the hollow
cylindrical body for causing compression of the liquid
reservoir.
4. The liquid reservoir of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical body
forms a toroidal cavity together with an axial tubal element
extending along an axis of the cylindrical body and through the
plate, and wherein the piston comprises a hollow rod at least
partly surrounding the tubal element wherein the hollow rod can be
moved along the tubal element.
5. The liquid reservoir of claim 4 wherein the tubal element and
the hollow rod at least partly surround the central passage.
6. The liquid reservoir of claim 4 wherein the piston further
comprises at least one inner gasket ring sealing the hollow rod
with respect to the tubal element and at least one outer gasket
ring sealing the hollow rod with respect to the cylindrical
body.
7. The liquid reservoir of claim 1 wherein the user can compress
the liquid reservoir from having a first volume to having a smaller
second volume.
8. The liquid reservoir of claim 7 further comprising a resilient
element for expanding the compressed liquid reservoir to the first
volume once the user stops compressing the liquid reservoir.
9. The liquid reservoir of claim 8 wherein the resilient element
comprises a spring arranged between the open end and an annular
protrusion around the hollow rod of the piston.
10. The liquid reservoir of claim 9 further comprising a limiting
element configured to prevent the piston from exiting through the
open end.
11. The liquid reservoir of claim 1 wherein the length of the
central passage is reducible by the user for compressing the liquid
reservoir.
12. A Cartomizer for an electronic smoking device, the cartomizer
comprising the liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the cartomizer
further includes an electrically operable atomizer configured for
vaporizing or atomizing liquid supplied from the liquid reservoir
and for providing vaporized or atomized liquid as an aerosol.
13. An atomizer/liquid reservoir portion for an electronic smoking
device, the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion comprising the liquid
reservoir of claim 1, wherein the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion
further includes an electrically operable atomizer configured for
vaporizing or atomizing liquid supplied from the liquid reservoir
and for providing vaporized or atomized liquid as an aerosol.
14. An electronic smoking device comprising: the liquid reservoir
of claim 1; and a battery portion comprising the battery.
15. The electronic smoking device of claim 14 wherein the liquid
reservoir is included in a cartomizer for the electronic smoking
device, and wherein the cartomizer further includes an electrically
operable atomizer configured for vaporizing or atomizing liquid
supplied from the liquid reservoir and for providing vaporized or
atomized liquid as an aerosol.
16. The electronic smoking device of claim 14 wherein the liquid
reservoir is included in an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion for
an electronic smoking device, and wherein the atomizer/liquid
reservoir portion further includes an electrically operable
atomizer configured for vaporizing or atomizing liquid supplied
from the liquid reservoir and for providing vaporized or atomized
liquid as an aerosol.
17. The electronic smoking device of claim 14 further comprising an
electrically operable atomizer configured for vaporizing or
atomizing liquid supplied from the liquid reservoir and for
providing vaporized or atomized liquid as an aerosol where the
atomizer is operable when connected to a battery of the electronic
smoking device to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir as
an aerosol.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to electronic
smoking devices and in particular electronic cigarettes as well as
cartomizers and liquid reservoirs for electronic smoking
devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An electronic smoking device, such as an electronic
cigarette (e-cigarette), typically has a housing accommodating an
electric power source (e.g. a single use or rechargeable battery,
electrical plug, or other power source), and an electrically
operable atomizer. The atomizer vaporizes or atomizes liquid
supplied from a reservoir and provides vaporized or atomized liquid
as an aerosol. Control electronics control the activation of the
atomizer. In some electronic cigarettes, an airflow sensor is
provided within the electronic smoking device which detects a user
puffing on the device (e.g., by sensing an under-pressure or an air
flow pattern through the device). The airflow sensor indicates or
signals the puff to the control electronics to power up the device
and generate vapor. In other e-cigarettes, a switch is used to
power up the e-cigarette to generate a puff of vapor.
[0003] Some electronic smoking devices comprise a cartomizer which
is a replaceable unit comprising the atomizer and the reservoir for
the liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there
is provided a liquid reservoir for an electronic smoking device.
The liquid reservoir comprises a body forming a hollow tube
surrounding a central passage connecting ports for attaching the
liquid reservoir to further portions of the electronic cigarette.
The liquid reservoir further comprises a nozzle towards the central
passage, the nozzle being configured to release liquid from the
liquid reservoir only when pressure drop along the nozzle exceeds a
threshold pressure. A user can produce the pressure drop by sucking
at an inhalation port of the electronic smoking device and/or by
manually changing a length of the central passage thereby causing
compression of the liquid reservoir.
[0005] The characteristics, features and advantages of this
invention and the manner in which they are obtained as described
above, will become more apparent and be more clearly understood in
connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments,
which are explained with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In the drawings, same element numbers indicate same elements
in each of the views:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an
exemplary e-cigarette;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration of a liquid reservoir
according to an aspect of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration of the liquid reservoir
of FIG. 2 partly dissembled;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2
when the liquid reservoir is uncompressed;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2
when the liquid reservoir is compressed;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a
further liquid reservoir according to an aspect of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a yet
further liquid reservoir according to an aspect of the invention,
and
[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an
even yet further liquid reservoir according to an aspect of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Throughout the following, an electronic smoking device will
be exemplarily described with reference to an e-cigarette. As is
shown in FIG. 1, 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. 1, 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.
[0016] The battery portion 12 and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion
14 are typically made of steel or hardwearing plastic and act
together with the end cap 16 to provide a housing to contain the
components of the e-cigarette 10. The battery portion 12 and an
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 battery portion 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. The end cap can be made of metal or other
materials that do not allow light to pass.
[0017] An air inlet may be provided in the end cap, at the edge of
the inlet 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. 1 shows a pair of air inlets 38 provided at the intersection
between the battery portion 12 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir
portion 14.
[0018] 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
are electrically connected to the LED 20 and the airflow sensor 24.
In this example the LED 20 is at the front end of the battery
portion 12, adjacent to the end cap 16 and the control electronics
22 and airflow sensor 24 are provided in the central cavity at the
other end of the battery 18 adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir
portion 14.
[0019] The airflow sensor 24 acts as a puff detector, detecting a
user puffing or sucking on the atomizer/liquid reservoir 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.
[0020] 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 26 and may be transverse
or parallel to the liquid reservoir 34. 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.
[0021] The central passage 32 is surrounded by a cylindrical liquid
reservoir 34 with the ends of the wick 30 abutting or extending
into the liquid reservoir 34. The wick 30 may be a porous material
such as a bundle of fiberglass fibers, with liquid in the liquid
reservoir 34 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.
[0022] The liquid reservoir 34 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 reservoir 34 may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be
filled with liquid and with the ends of the wick 30 extending into
the toroidal cavity.
[0023] An air inhalation port 36 is provided at the back end of the
atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 remote from the end cap 16.
The inhalation port 36 may be formed from the cylindrical hollow
tube atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 or maybe formed in an end
cap.
[0024] 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
which arises 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 activate 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 activate the LED 20 causing
the LED 20 to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap
16 mimicking 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 reservoir 34 by capillary action and thus is
available to be converted into an aerosol through subsequent
activation of the heating coil 28.
[0025] Some e-cigarette 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 reservoir 34 after
which the e-cigarette 10 is thrown away. In other embodiments the
battery 18 is rechargeable and the liquid reservoir 34 is
refillable. In the cases where the liquid reservoir 34 is a
toroidal cavity, this may be achieved by refilling the liquid
reservoir 34 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 reservoir 34
thereby replenishing the supply of liquid. In some cases, replacing
the liquid reservoir 34 may involve replacement of the heating coil
28 and the wick 30 along with the replacement of the liquid
reservoir 34. A replaceable unit comprising the atomizer 26 and the
liquid reservoir 34 is called a cartomizer.
[0026] The new liquid reservoir 34 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a liquid reservoir
according to an aspect of the invention and in FIG. 3 the liquid
reservoir of FIG. 2 is illustrated schematically in a partly
dissembled state. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional
illustration of FIG. 2 when the liquid reservoir is uncompressed
and FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2
when the liquid reservoir is compressed.
[0030] The liquid reservoir 34 comprises a body in form of a hollow
cylinder 110 into which a tubal element 120 is inserted. The tubal
element 120 has an annularly protruding ring 121 on one end. The
ring's 121 outer diameter corresponds to the hollow cylinder's 110
inner diameter such that the hollow cylinder 110 can be closed at
one end by insertion of the tubal element 120 into the hollow
cylinder 110 with a toroidal cavity remaining between the tubal
element 120 and the cylinder 110.
[0031] Through the ring 121 there is a pin hole 123. Cylinder 110,
ring 121 and pin hole 123 are configured such that once assembled
the cavity is water proof as long as pressure drop along the pin
hole 123 does not exceed a threshold pressure. I.e. to get liquid
to escape from the cavity, through the pin hole 123, pressure has
to be build up in the cavity.
[0032] For enabling a user to manually do so, the cartomizer
depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 further comprises a hollow piston 130.
The piston 130 is a further tubal element with an outer diameter
corresponding to the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder 110 and,
in addition, an inner diameter of the hollow piston 130 corresponds
to an outer diameter of the tubal element 120 such that the hollow
cylinder 110 can be closed at the other end by insertion of the
piston 130 into the hollow cylinder 110 and onto the tubal element
120. At an end of the piston 130 determined for insertion into the
cylinder there are an inner gasket ring 132 at the inner surface of
the tubal piston 130 and an outer gasket ring 131 at the outer
surface of the piston 130. The inner gasket ring 132 seals the
piston 130 with respect to the tubal element 120. The outer gasket
ring 131 seals the piston 130 with respect to the hollow cylinder
110. Alternatively, the inner gasket ring 132 is provided around
the tubal element 120 and/or the outer gasket ring 131 is provided
inside the hollow cylinder 110. The gasket rings 131, 132 may be
positioned in an annular furrow.
[0033] The user then can move the piston inside the hollow cylinder
thereby changing a volume of the cavity and thus the pressure in
the cavity.
[0034] A limiting element 140 is further comprised. The limiting
element 140 is formed to be hollow and cylindrical and comprises a
plate 142 at one end. An axial hole 119 is provided through the
plate 142, the axial hole 119 having a diameter corresponding to an
outer diameter of the piston 120. The limiting element 140 has an
inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the hollow
cylinder 110 such that the limiting element 140 can be fit on the
hollow cylinder 110. In the embodiment depicted the limiting
element 140 comprises a female thread and the hollow cylinder 110
comprises a male thread such that the limiting element 140 and the
hollow cylinder 110 can be screwed together.
[0035] In a middle section, the piston 130 comprises a thickened
part 134, also called annular protrusion throughout this
specification, which has an outer diameter larger than the axial
hole 119. Hence the thickened part 134 cannot pass through the
axial hole 119. The limiting element thereby limits movement of the
piston 130.
[0036] Between the thickened part 134 of the piston 130 and the
other end of the hollow cylinder 110 there is arranged a resilient
element which in the example illustrated is a spring 150. The
piston passes through the spring. The user, when pushing the piston
for reducing the volume of the cavity, compresses the spring which,
once the user stops holding the piston, moves the piston back. The
limiting element prevents the piston from escaping from the hollow
cylinder. Moving the piston into the hollow cylinder increases the
pressure therein with liquid squirting through the pin hole once
the pressure increase exceeds a threshold pressure. When the spring
moves back the piston air enters into the cavity through the pin
hole 123.
[0037] In one embodiment, a heating coil (atomizer) is an integral
part of a battery portion of the electronic smoking device and the
liquid reservoir is detachable from the battery portion. In one
other embodiment the atomizer is an integral part of the cartomizer
and the cartomizer is detachable from the battery portion. In yet
another embodiment the atomizer is detachable from both the liquid
reservoir and the battery portion. In the other embodiments, the
atomizer, respectively the cartomizer, and the battery portion
comprise elements for electrically connecting the atomizer,
respectively the cartomizer, to a battery comprised in the battery
portion when being attached thereto. The elements and the
counter-elements can be a pair of female and male coaxial threads,
for instance.
[0038] In another exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the
spring is arranged between the plate 142 of the limiting element
140 and the thickened part 134 of the piston 130. The user, when
pulling the piston 130, increases the volume of the cavity with air
entering through the pin hole 123 and compresses the spring 150.
Once the user stops holding the piston 130, the spring moves the
piston 130 back thereby reducing the volume again and squirting out
liquid trough the pin hole 123.
[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a
further cartomizer comprising a liquid reservoir according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0040] The cartomizer 100 comprises a hollow cylinder 110 having a
plate 111 with an axial hole 119 at one end. Through the axial hole
119 and fitting thereto passes a piston 130. The piston 130 has an
annularly protruding ring 121 on one end 122. The ring's 121 outer
diameter corresponds to the hollow cylinder's 110 inner diameter
such that the hollow cylinder 110 can be closed at one end by
insertion of the piston 130 into the hollow cylinder 110 with a
toroidal cavity remaining between the piston 130 and the cylinder
110. Around the ring there are an outer gasket ring, for instance
in an annular furrow. At an inner surface of the axial hole 119
there is an outer gasket ring. The inner gasket ring seals the
piston 130 with respect to the plate. The outer gasket ring seals
the piston 130 with respect to the hollow cylinder 110.
[0041] Alternatively, inner gasket ring is provided in the axial
hole 119 and/or the outer gasket ring is provided in the hollow
cylinder. The gasket rings may be positioned in an annular
furrow.
[0042] Through the ring 121 there is a pin hole 123. Cylinder,
ring, gasket and pin hole are configured such that once assembled
the cavity is water proof as long as pressure drop along the pin
hole does not exceed a threshold pressure. I.e. to get liquid to
escape from the cavity, through the pin hole, pressure has to be
build up in the cavity.
[0043] For enabling a user to manually do so, the piston 130 can be
moved in the hollow cylinder 110.
[0044] Using the piston 130, the user then can change volume of the
cavity and thus the pressure in the cavity.
[0045] A limiting element 140 is further comprised. The limiting
element 140 is hollow and cylindrical and comprises a plate 142 at
one end. An axial hole 143 is provided through the plate 142, the
axial hole 143 having a diameter corresponding to an outer diameter
of the piston 130. The limiting element 140 has an inner diameter
corresponding to the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder 110 such
that the limiting element 140 can be fit on the hollow cylinder
110. In the embodiment depicted the limiting element 140 comprises
a female thread and the hollow cylinder 110 comprises a male thread
such that the limiting element 140 and the hollow cylinder 110 can
be screwed together. Exemplary other ways of fitting comprise
press-fit, snap-fit and the like.
[0046] In a middle section, the piston 130 comprises a thickened
part 134, also called annular protrusion throughout this
specification, which has an outer diameter larger than the axial
holes 119 and 143. Hence the thickened part 134 cannot pass through
the axial holes. The limiting element thereby limits, together with
the plate of the hollow cylinder, movement of the piston 130.
[0047] Between the thickened part 134 of the piston 130 and the
plate 142 of the limiting element 140 there is arranged a resilient
element which in the example illustrated is a spring 150. The
piston 130 passes through the spring. The user, when pulling the
piston 130 for reducing the volume of the cavity, compresses the
spring which, once the user stops holding the piston 130, moves the
piston 130 back. By pulling the piston 130, volume of the cavity is
reduced and pressure inside the remaining cavity is increased with
liquid squirting through the pin hole once the pressure increase
exceeds a threshold pressure. When the spring moves back the piston
130 air enters into the cavity through the pin hole.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention,
the spring is arranged between the hollow cylinder and the
thickened part 134 of the piston 130. The user, when pushing the
piston 130, increases the volume of the cavity with air entering
through the pin hole 123 and compresses the spring 150. Once the
user stops holding the piston 130, the spring 150 moves the piston
130 back thereby reducing the volume again and squirting out liquid
trough the pin hole 123.
[0049] The hollow cylinder 110 may be made of transparent material.
Then the remaining liquid in the liquid reservoir 34 is well
visible.
[0050] An aspect of the invention concerns a liquid reservoir 34
for an electronic smoking device 10. The liquid reservoir 34 has a
body 110 forming a hollow tube surrounding a central passage 32
connecting an air inhalation port 36 with a further port for
attaching the liquid reservoir 34 to a further portion of the
electronic cigarette 10. The liquid reservoir 34 further has a
nozzle 132 towards the central passage 32, the nozzle 32 being
configured to release liquid from the reservoir 34 only when
pressure drop along the nozzle 32 exceeds a threshold pressure. A
user can produce the pressure drop by sucking at an air inhalation
port 36 of the electronic smoking device 10 and/or by manually
changing a length of the central passage 32 thereby causing
compression of the liquid reservoir 34.
[0051] The pressure drop can be produced only by the user sucking
at the air inhalation port 36. The pressure drop can be produced
only by compressing the liquid reservoir 34 such that a pressure in
the liquid reservoir 34 is increased at least by the threshold
pressure.
[0052] The liquid reservoir 34 may comprise a hollow cylindrical
body 110 closed on one end with a plate 121 in which the nozzle 123
is arranged and having an open opposite end opposite to the one
end. A piston 130 may be inserted through the open end into the
hollow cylindrical body 110 for closing the open end. The user may
be enabled to move the piston 130 with respect to the hollow
cylindrical body 110 for causing compression of the liquid
reservoir 34.
[0053] The cylindrical body 110 may form a toroidal cavity together
with an axial tubal element 120 extending along an axis of the
cylindrical body and through the plate 121. The piston 130 may
comprise a hollow rod 133 at least partly surrounding the tubal
element 120 wherein the hollow rod 133 can be moved along the tubal
element 120. The tubal element 120 and the hollow rod 133 may
surround the central passage 32, at least partly.
[0054] The piston 130 may further comprise at least one inner
gasket 132 sealing the hollow rod 133 with respect to the tubal
element 120 and at least one outer gasket 131 sealing the hollow
rod 133 with respect to the cylindrical body.
[0055] The user may be enabled to compress the liquid reservoir 34
from having a first volume to having a smaller second volume.
[0056] A resilient element 150 may be present for expanding the
compressed liquid reservoir 34 to the first volume once the user
stops compressing the liquid reservoir 34. The resilient element
150 may comprise a spring arranged between the open end and an
annular protrusion 134 around the hollow rod 133 of the piston 130.
A limiting element 140 may be further comprised. The limiting
element 140 may be configured to preventing the piston 130 from
exiting through the open end.
[0057] The user may be enabled to reduce a length of the central
passage 12 for compressing the liquid reservoir 34. Another aspect
of the invention concerns a cartomizer. The cartomizer comprises a
liquid reservoir 34 and an electrically operable atomizer 26
configured for vaporizing or atomizing liquid supplied from the
liquid reservoir 34 and for providing vaporized or atomized liquid
as an aerosol. The liquid reservoir 34 comprises a body 110 forming
a hollow tube surrounding a central passage 32 connecting ports for
attaching the liquid reservoir 34 to further portions of the
electronic cigarette 10. The liquid reservoir 34 has a nozzle 123
towards the central passage 32. The nozzle 123 is configured to
release liquid from the liquid reservoir 34 only when pressure drop
along the nozzle 123 exceeds a threshold pressure. A length of the
central passage 32 can be changed manually by a user thereby
causing compression of the liquid reservoir 34 such that a pressure
in the liquid reservoir 34 is increased at least by the threshold
pressure.
[0058] Yet another aspect of the invention concerns an
atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 for an electronic smoking
device 10. The atomizer/liquid reservoir 14 portion comprises a
liquid reservoir 34 and an electrically operable atomizer 26
configured for vaporizing or atomizing liquid supplied from the
liquid reservoir 34 and for providing vaporized or atomized liquid
as an aerosol. The liquid reservoir 34 comprises a body 110 forming
a hollow tube surrounding a central passage 32 connecting ports.
The liquid reservoir 34 has a nozzle 123 towards the central
passage 32. The nozzle 123 is configured to release liquid from the
liquid reservoir 34 only when pressure drop along the nozzle 123
exceeds a threshold pressure. A length of the central passage 32
can be changed manually by a user thereby causing compression of
the liquid reservoir 34 such that a pressure in the liquid
reservoir 34 is increased at least by the threshold pressure.
[0059] Even yet another aspect of the invention concerns an
electronic smoking device 10. The electronic smoking device 10
comprises one of: (a) a cartomizer comprising a liquid reservoir
34, (b) an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 14 comprising a liquid
reservoir 34, and (c) a liquid reservoir 34 and an electrically
operable atomizer 26 configured for vaporizing or atomizing liquid
supplied from the liquid reservoir 34 and for providing vaporized
or atomized liquid as an aerosol where the atomizer 26 is operable
when connected to a battery 18 of the electronic smoking device 10
to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir 34 as an aerosol.
The liquid reservoir 34 comprises a body 110 forming a hollow tube
surrounding a central passage 32 connecting ports 36, 38. The
liquid reservoir 34 has a nozzle 123 towards the central passage
32. The nozzle 123 is configured to release liquid from the liquid
reservoir 34 only when pressure drop along the nozzle 123 exceeds a
threshold pressure. A length of the central passage 32 can be
changed manually by a user thereby causing compression of the
liquid reservoir 34 such that a pressure in the liquid reservoir 34
is increased at least by the threshold pressure.
[0060] The electronic smoking device may further comprise a battery
portion 12 adapted for accommodation of one or more batteries 18 to
which the cartomizer, the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion or the
liquid reservoir may be releasably attached.
[0061] The
[0062] While this invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments,
it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
embodiments disclosed, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within
the scope of the appended claims.
TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 10 electronic smoking device
12 battery portion 14 atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 end cap
18 battery 20 light emitting diode (LED) 22 control electronics 24
airflow sensor 26 atomizer 28 heating coil 30 wick 32 central
passage 34 liquid reservoir 36 air inhalation port 38 air inlets
100 cartomizer 110 hollow cylinder 111 plate 119 axial hole 120
tubal element 121 ring protrusion 123 nozzle, pin hole 130 piston
131 outer gasket ring 132 inner gasket ring 133 hollow rod 134
thickened part, annular protrusion 140 limiting element 142 plate
143 axial hole 150 resilient element, spring
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