U.S. patent application number 16/757884 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-29 for electronic cigarette.
This patent application is currently assigned to JT International S.A.. The applicant listed for this patent is JT International S.A.. Invention is credited to Robert Alizon, Andrew Robert John Rogan.
Application Number | 20200337377 16/757884 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004988678 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-29 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200337377 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogan; Andrew Robert John ;
et al. |
October 29, 2020 |
Electronic Cigarette
Abstract
An electronic cigarette includes a housing with an aperture
leading to a receiving chamber within the housing wherein the
receiving chamber is configured to receive and accommodate a
capsule; a piercing member configured to pierce the capsule within
the receiving chamber; and a slidable cover configured to be moved
between an open position in which a capsule can be introduced
through the aperture and a closed position in which the slidable
cover covers the aperture; wherein the piercing member and the
slidable cover are coupled and configured to be moved in
unison.
Inventors: |
Rogan; Andrew Robert John;
(Forres Scotland, GB) ; Alizon; Robert; (Aubonne,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JT International S.A. |
Geneva |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
JT International S.A.
Geneva
CH
|
Family ID: |
1000004988678 |
Appl. No.: |
16/757884 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/084929 |
371 Date: |
April 21, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 40/10 20200101;
A24F 40/485 20200101; A24F 40/50 20200101; A24F 40/44 20200101;
A24F 40/42 20200101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 40/485 20060101
A24F040/485; A24F 40/10 20060101 A24F040/10; A24F 40/42 20060101
A24F040/42; A24F 40/50 20060101 A24F040/50; A24F 40/44 20060101
A24F040/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2017 |
EP |
17207438.7 |
Claims
1. An electronic cigarette comprising: a housing having an aperture
leading to a receiving chamber within the housing, wherein the
receiving chamber is configured to receive and accommodate a
capsule; a piercing member configured to pierce the capsule within
the receiving chamber; and a slidable cover configured to be moved
between an open position in which a capsule can be introduced
through the aperture and a closed position in which the slidable
cover covers the aperture; wherein the piercing member and the
slidable cover are coupled and configured to be moved in
unison.
2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the piercing member
is movable between an extended position and a retracted position,
and wherein the piercing member extends into the receiving chamber
in the extended position when the slidable cover is in the closed
position and wherein the piercing member is retracted from the
receiving chamber in the retracted position when the slidable cover
is in the open position.
3. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the
piercing member is moveable in an axial direction of the electronic
cigarette.
4. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the
slidable cover is moveable in the axial direction of the electronic
cigarette.
5. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3, wherein the
slidable cover is rotatable around the axial direction of the
electronic cigarette, whereby the slidable cover can be moved
between the opened position and the closed position depending on an
angular position of the slidable cover in relation to a center axis
of the electronic cigarette.
6. The electronic cigarette of claim 2, wherein the piercing member
is provided with at least one inlet opening configured to receive
liquid from the capsule when the at least one inlet opening is
located inside the capsule.
7. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein the piercing member
further comprises a delivery structure configured to conduct the
liquid stored in the capsule from the at least one inlet opening of
the piercing member towards a vaporizer structure of the electronic
cigarette.
8. The electronic cigarette of claim 7, further comprising a liquid
intermediate storage portion, wherein the piercing member comprises
a tip with at least one outlet opening connected to the delivery
structure; and wherein the piercing member is configured such that
the at least one outlet opening is fluidically connected to the
liquid intermediate storage portion when the piercing member is in
the extended position.
9. The electronic cigarette of claim 8, wherein the liquid
intermediate storage portion is connected to a wick extending to,
or through, a heater structure of the electronic cigarette for
transporting the liquid from the liquid intermediate storage
portion to the heater structure.
10. The electronic cigarette of claim 2, wherein the piercing
member is provided with a catch configured to engage with the
capsule such that, when the piercing member is being retracted from
the extended position towards the retracted position, the capsule
is pulled from a capsule seating within the receiving chamber
11. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a
biasing structure that is arranged and configured to bias the
slidable cover into the closed position.
12. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the housing is
provided with an abutment limiting the movement of the slidable
cover.
13. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a
controlling circuit configured to activate or deactivate the
electronic cigarette based on a position of the slidable cover.
14. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the aperture is
formed in a lateral side of the housing.
15. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a
mouthpiece, wherein the slidable cover is slidable with respect to
the mouthpiece.
16. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein the piercing
member further comprises a conduit configured to conduct the liquid
stored in the capsule from the at least one inlet opening of the
piercing member towards a vaporizer structure of the electronic
cigarette.
17. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, further comprising a pad
of a fibrous or porous material, wherein the piercing member
comprises a tip with at least one outlet opening connected to the
delivery structure; and wherein the piercing member is configured
such that the at least one outlet opening is fluidically connected
to the liquid intermediate storage portion when the piercing member
is in the extended position.
18. The electronic cigarette of claim 17, wherein the fibrous or
porous material includes cotton, silica, ceramics, or silicon.
19. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a
spring that is arranged and configured to bias the slidable cover
into the closed position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to an electronic cigarette.
An electronic cigarette is a handheld electronic device that
generally emulates or replaces the experience of smoking tobacco.
Typically, a liquid is heated to generate an aerosol, or vapor,
that is then inhaled by a user. The liquid in the e-cigarette
usually comprises nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and/or
flavorings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In many electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes for short,
one can replace the supply of the aerosol-generating liquid when it
is depleted such that the electronic cigarette may continue to be
used.
[0003] US 2017/0006917 A1 describes an e-vapor device including a
capsule containing a pre-vapor formulation. The capsule is
accommodated in a mouthpiece of the e-vapor device that has to be
removed from a housing of the e-vapor device when the capsule is to
be exchanged. A puncture device such as a hollow needle is arranged
within the housing to puncture the capsule in order to release the
liquid and deliver it to a heater.
[0004] Convenience of use, and safety from injury, is an important
factor for designing electronic cigarettes. In the known electronic
cigarettes, such as the e-vapor device described above, it is often
a cumbersome process to replace the capsule. The user has, in the
example given above, to unscrew the mouthpiece from its housing
which may require considerable effort given that the connection
between the mouthpiece and the housing is preferably liquid-tight.
In addition, the puncture device may be able to injure a user when
the user tries to pry the used capsule out of the housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an
electronic cigarette that is easier, safer and more convenient to
use.
[0006] Therefore, an electronic cigarette with the features of
claim 1 is provided, as well as an electronic smoking system which
comprises the electronic cigarette with the features of claim 1 and
which further comprises a capsule configured to be used with said
electronic cigarette. An advantage of the slidable cover is that
the access to the capsule receiving chamber is facilitated, as the
user does not have to dismantle the electronic cigarette in order
to replace the capsule.
[0007] Accordingly, the invention provides, according to a first
aspect, an electronic cigarette comprising a housing having an
aperture leading to a receiving chamber which may also be
designated as a capsule receiving chamber. The receiving chamber is
configured to receive and accommodate a capsule within the
electronic cigarette, in particular to completely accommodate the
capsule within the receiving chamber in the interior of the
housing.
[0008] The electronic cigarette further comprises a piercing
member, which may also be called a puncture device, configured to
pierce the capsule within the receiving chamber, preferably when it
is accommodated in the receiving chamber or after it has been
accommodated in the receiving chamber.
[0009] The electronic cigarette further comprises a slidable cover
configured to be moved at least between an open position and a
closed position. In the closed position, the slidable cover covers
the aperture, preferably completely. A capsule is insertable into
the receiving chamber only when the slidable cover is not in the
closed position, preferably only when the slidable cover is in the
open position.
[0010] By sliding the slidable cover into the open position, in
which the aperture is preferably completely accessible from the
outside, the user is able to take the capsule out of the receiving
chamber through the aperture. In this way, the user does not have
to remove, or disconnect, any part of the electronic cigarette when
the user wants to replace the capsule.
[0011] The electronic cigarette may have a housing of generally
elongated form, e.g. a generally cylindrical housing. In this case,
the slidable cover is preferably arranged to be slid in a
longitudinal, or axial, direction along the housing. However, the
slidable cover may also be arranged to be slid along a
circumferential direction along the housing.
[0012] The aperture is preferably arranged in a lateral (or:
circumferential) side of the generally elongated housing of the
electronic cigarette. In this way, the axial continuity of the
electronic cigarette is not interrupted by the aperture, and a user
of the electronic cigarette may comfortably insert a capsule
through the aperture without having to separate any part of the
electronic cigarette from one another.
[0013] The housing may be formed integrally with a mouthpiece, with
the aperture arranged in between a distal and a proximal end of the
electronic cigarette. Preferably, the aperture is formed in a range
of between 20% and 80%, more preferably between 30% and 70%, even
more preferably between 40% and 60%, along the longitudinal
direction of the housing starting from the proximal end, i.e. at
the mouthpiece.
[0014] However, in an alternative embodiment the slidable cover is
rotatable, at least partially, around the axial direction of the
electronic cigarette, whereby the slidable cover can be opened and
closed depending on the angular position of the cover in relation
to the center axis of the electronic cigarette.
[0015] The capsule may be shaped spherically, or may have another
geometrical shape such as a bean form, a bullet form or a conical
form. The outer shell or skin of the capsule which surrounds the
liquid on the inside may comprise, or consist of, a food grade
material such as silicone. The outer shell or skin of the capsule
may consist of a single material, or may comprise multiple
materials. For example, the capsule may be formed with a rigid
outer shell having at least one opening sealed by a sealing member
made of a material that is more easily pierced by the piercing
member. For example, the sealing member may be a metal or plastic
foil.
[0016] The present invention provides, according to a second
aspect, also an electronic smoking system comprising an electronic
cigarette and a capsule configured to be inserted into the
electronic cigarette and to be pierced by the piercing member
inside the receiving chamber of the electronic cigarette.
[0017] The shape of the receiving chamber may be adapted to the
shape of the capsule so that capsules without certain geometrical
features are not able to be inserted into the receiving chamber,
thus preventing damage to the electronic cigarette and/or the use
of unsafe capsules. For example, inserting a capsule that has a
rigid, unpiercable section in a position where the capsule would be
pierced by the piercing member might result in damage to the
piercing member.
[0018] The piercing member may advantageously be formed as a hollow
needle with at least two openings, specifically at least one outlet
opening in a tip of the needle and at least one inlet opening in
the shaft, or body, of the needle.
[0019] Preferably, the piercing member is movably arranged in the
electronic cigarette. This allows, for example, to design the
receiving chamber with smaller dimensions, as the piercing member
may be moved to make room for inserting the capsule, through the
aperture, into the receiving chamber. In addition, it allows for
the piercing member to be moved into a position that might be safer
for the user during a time in which the piercing member could
otherwise be in a position to injure the user if handled
carelessly.
[0020] Further advantageous modifications and embodiments are
evident from the dependent claims and from the following detailed
description and the drawings.
[0021] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is
movable between an extended position and a retracted position,
wherein the piercing member extends into the receiving chamber in
the extended position when the slidable cover is in the closed
position. The piercing member is retracted from the receiving
chamber in the retracted position when the slidable cover is in the
open position.
[0022] In this way, the piercing member may be moved into the
extended position e.g. to pierce the capsule to release the liquid
contained therein, but may also be moved to the retracted position
where it may be easier to remove or insert the capsule, or where
there is less potential danger for injury to the user by the
piercing member. The piercing member may be provided with an
electronic or mechanical actuator to effect, or cause, the moving
of the piercing member between the extended position and the
retracted position.
[0023] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member and
the slidable cover are coupled and configured to be moved in unison
or substantially in unison. Preferably, the piercing member and the
slidable cover are coupled mechanically. In this way, the slidable
cover itself doubles as both a cover for the aperture and as the
actuator for the movement of the piercing member. The slidable
cover may even have additional functions such as a function of
activating the electronic cigarette and the like.
[0024] This design is based on the idea that, when the piercing
member is to pierce the capsule, usually the slidable cover will
have to be closed in any case, and, similarly, when the slidable
cover is opened for the capsule to be retrieved or inserted, there
is no need for the capsule to continue to be pierced by the
piercing member. On the contrary, the piercing of the capsule by
the piercing member may render retrieving the spent capsule more
difficult, or may even prevent retrieving the spent capsule. In
fact, the piercing of the capsule by the piercing member may be
one, or the only one, way to fix the position of the capsule within
the receiving chamber.
[0025] Advantageously, the piercing member and the slidable cover
are coupled linearly, i.e. a movement of the slidable cover along a
certain distance causes also the piercing member to move in the
same direction. In this way, when the slidable cover covers the
aperture, the piercing member may be disposed within the receiving
chamber, and when the slidable cover is slid to reveal the aperture
and the receiving chamber, the piercing member is, slid away from
the receiving chamber in unison with the slidable cover so that the
user may never be inconvenienced when carelessly reaching into the
receiving chamber.
[0026] In an especially simple design, the piercing member is moved
along the same distance, although along a parallel line, as the
distance the slidable cover is moved. Alternatively, the electronic
cigarette may also be designed such that movement of the slidable
cover along a certain distance in a certain direction causes the
piercing member to be moved in an opposite direction and/or along a
different, i.e. smaller or larger, distance.
[0027] The slidable cover may be permanently coupled to the housing
so that it cannot be removed from the housing. This advantageously
prevents the slidable cover from becoming lost.
[0028] The slidable cover may be moveable (in particular: slidable)
with respect to the mouthpiece of the electronic cigarette. This
allows users having the electronic cigarette inserted in their
mouths to manipulate the slidable cover at the same time. In this
way, the electronic cigarette can be stabilized by the users'
teeth, keeping their hands free for manipulating the slidable cover
and the cartridge simultaneously. This is especially advantageous
when the slidable cover is biased in the closed position so that
the user has to exert some force to keep the aperture open while
preparing the capsule for insertion, e.g. peeling away a wrapper or
foil.
[0029] With similar advantages, the slidable cover may be arranged
to be moveable with respect to the distal end of the electronic
cigarette, i.e. with respect to the end which often contains a
power section, in particular a battery. The distance between the
distal end of the electronic cigarette and the slidable cover in
any position is preferably smaller than 10 centimeters, more
preferably smaller than 5 centimeter, such that a user may hold the
electronic cigarette at its distal end with some fingers of one
hand, and may still manipulate the slidable cover with at least one
finger of the same hand. Thus, the other hand is free for
manipulating the capsule for inserting it into the aperture.
[0030] For example, when the piercing member is smaller than the
capsule in the axial direction and thus also smaller than the
receiving chamber and the aperture adapted to the size of the
capsule, it is sufficient to move the piercing member a small
distance out of the way although the slidable cover has to be moved
a larger distance in order to completely reveal, or unblock, the
aperture into the receiving chamber.
[0031] Similarly, in certain designs the piercing member may have
larger dimensions than the receiving chamber in the longitudinal
direction, for example when it is intended that the piercing member
emerges from one end of the receiving chamber (e.g. the distal end
with respect to the mouth piece), pierces the capsule from end to
end and is received by another end of the receiving chamber (e.g.
the proximal end with respect to the mouth piece). In that case, in
order to completely remove the piercing member from the receiving
chamber when the slidable cover is slid to reveal, or unblock the
aperture and the receiving chamber, the piercing member may be
configured to be moved, in unison with the slidable cover, along a
larger distance than the slidable cover is moved.
[0032] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is
configured to allow, or enable, extraction of the liquid stored in
the capsule when the capsule has been pierced by the piercing
member and the piercing member is in the extended position. In this
way, the piercing member may not only serve to pierce the capsule
but may also be used as part of a conducting system for conducting
the liquid from the capsule to a heater structure of the electronic
cigarette where the liquid is vaporized to generate the aerosol (or
vapor).
[0033] In some advantageous embodiments, the slidable cover is
moveable in the longitudinal, or axial, direction of the electronic
cigarette.
[0034] In some advantageous embodiments, the slidable cover is
rotatable around the axial direction of the electronic cigarette,
whereby the slidable cover can be opened and closed depending on
the angular position of the slidable cover in relation to a center
axis (along which the axial direction is arranged) of the
electronic cigarette.
[0035] In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette
comprises a vaporizer structure configured to vaporize the liquid
to generate the aerosol. The piercing member may comprise at least
one inlet opening in a portion of the piercing member that is
disposed within the capsule when the capsule has been pierced by
the piercing member and the piercing member is in the extended
position.
[0036] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is
provided with at least one inlet opening configured to receive
liquid from the capsule when the inlet opening is located inside
the capsule.
[0037] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member
further comprises a delivery structure such as a conduit or a
channel network or a manifold, the delivery structure fluidically
connected to the at least one inlet opening of the piercing member
and configured to conduct the liquid stored in the capsule from the
at least one inlet opening towards a vaporizer structure of the
electronic cigarette, in particular to a heater structure of the
electronic cigarette.
[0038] In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette
comprises a liquid intermediate storage portion for storing the
liquid extracted, or conducted, from the pierced capsule somewhere
between (spatially and/or with respect to the direction of flow)
the vaporizer structure and the capsule. For example, the liquid
intermediate storage may be used to more finely regulate, and/or
more uniformly distribute, the amount of liquid conducted to the
vaporizer structure.
[0039] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member
comprises a tip with at least one outlet opening fluidically
connected to the delivery structure and, therefore, via the
delivery structure to the at least one inlet opening of the
piercing member. The piercing member is configured such that the at
least one outlet is fluidically connected to the liquid
intermediate storage portion when the piercing member is in the
extended position. In particular, the piercing member may open into
or onto the liquid intermediate storage portion for conducting the
liquid stored in the capsule to the liquid intermediate storage
portion.
[0040] In some advantageous embodiments, the vaporizer structure
comprises, or consists of, a heater structure. The heater structure
may be configured to heat the liquid in order to generate the
aerosol, or vapor. The liquid intermediate storage portion may
comprise, or consist of, a fiber such as cotton, e.g. in the form
of a fiber pad such as a cotton pad.
[0041] In some advantageous embodiments, the liquid intermediate
storage is connected to a wick extending to, or through, a heater
structure of the electronic cigarette for transporting the liquid
from the liquid intermediate storage portion to the heater
structure.
[0042] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member in the
retracted position does not extend into the receiving chamber. In
this way, the possibility of any injury of the user caused by the
piercing member is minimized, or eliminated.
[0043] In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is
provided with a catch configured to engage with the capsule such
that, when the piercing member is being retracted from the extended
position towards the retracted position, the capsule is pulled from
a capsule seating within the receiving chamber. Such a capsule
seating may be provided in the receiving chamber according to any
embodiments of the electronic cigarette.
[0044] When said catch is provided, the user does not have to
manipulate, to unseat the capsule from its seating, the capsule
inside the receiving chamber where there may be little room. In
other words, the receiving chamber may be designed without
additional space for the user to reach in and grab the capsule, as
the capsule is unseated from the capsule seating by the catch. In
addition, the user may not want to manipulate the capsule directly
since the capsule might be covered by leaked liquid.
[0045] Advantageously, when the piercing member is configured to be
retracted to a retracted position such that no part of the piercing
member remains in the receiving chamber, the wall of the receiving
chamber into which the piercing member is retracted may be
configured to release, or extricate, the piercing member from the
capsule. In this way, retracting the piercing member into the
retracted position serves also to unseat the capsule from its
seating in the receiving chamber and also to release the capsule
from the piercing member. By turning the aperture towards the
ground, the user may then simply let the capsule fall out of the
receiving chamber even though the capsule has previously been held
securely and tightly by the piercing member.
[0046] When, as has been described in the foregoing, the slidable
cover and the piercing member are furthermore coupled such that the
piercing member is always in the retracted position when the
slidable cover is in the open position, then opening the slidable
cover serves also to perform the steps described before. In this
way, the user may have, at the time the user has opened the
slidable cover completely, have, at the same time and without any
additional effort, performed all necessary steps to be able to
simply let the capsule fall out of the aperture of the receiving
chamber and to insert a new capsule.
[0047] In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette
comprises a biasing structure, such as a helical spring, that is
arranged and configured to bias the slidable cover to one position,
in particular into, or towards, the closed position. Alternatively,
or additionally, the slidable cover may be provided with a
releasable catch to secure the slidable cover in the open position
and/or in the closed position. In this way, an undesired opening or
closing, respectively, of the slidable cover may be prevented.
[0048] In some advantageous embodiments, the housing is provided
with an abutment limiting the movement of the slidable cover. One
advantage of this is that the movements of the slidable cover are
more restricted and there is less, or no, chance for an
inexperienced user to handle the electronic cigarette wrongly.
[0049] In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette
comprises a controlling circuit configured to activate or
deactivate the electronic cigarette based on the position of the
slidable cover. In this way, the slidable cover, which may also
serve for a number of different functions as described in the
foregoing, may also serve as an activator/deactivator switch of the
electronic cigarette. In this way, it is possible to provide less
circuitry and less manipulatable elements at the surface of the
housing in the electronic cigarette, bringing down production cost
and allowing more design choices for the exterior of the electronic
cigarette.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] The invention will be explained in greater detail with
reference to exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings as
appended.
[0051] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0052] Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the
intended advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the
following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are
not necessarily to scale relative to each other.
[0053] In the following Figures:
[0054] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette
according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed
position;
[0055] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the electronic cigarette of
FIG. 1 in an open position;
[0056] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a needle piercing member
and slidable cover according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0057] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the function of a vaporizer
structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0058] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette
according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0059] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] In the figures, like reference numerals denote like or
functionally like components, unless indicated otherwise. Any
directional terminology like "top", "bottom", "left", "right",
"above", "below", "horizontal", "vertical", "back", "front", and
similar terms are merely used for explanatory purposes and are not
intended to delimit the embodiments to the specific arrangements as
shown in the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0061] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-section through an
electronic cigarette 10 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates the electronic
cigarette 10 in a closed state. The schematic cross-section in FIG.
1 is intended to illustrate the workings of the electronic
cigarette 10 and should not be taken as an accurate technical
drawing. The electronic cigarette 10 comprises a housing 12 with an
aperture 14 leading to a receiving chamber 16 arranged inside the
housing 12. The housing 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1 may have a
generally elongated form, although other shapes are possible.
[0062] The receiving chamber 16 is configured to receive and
accommodate a capsule containing a liquid within the electronic
cigarette 10, in particular to completely accommodate the capsule
within the receiving chamber 16 in the interior of the housing
12.
[0063] The aperture 14 substantially corresponds to the shape and
dimensions of the capsule such that the capsule can be easily
introduced into the receiving chamber 16.
[0064] The aperture 14 may, in axial direction and/or in
circumferential direction, have the same, or substantially the
same, dimensions as the receiving chamber 16 in the respective
directions. In this way, the user can comfortably insert a capsule,
through the aperture 14, into the receiving chamber 16, without
having to guide the capsule around and edge or the like.
[0065] The aperture 14 is preferably arranged in a lateral side of
the housing 12 of the electronic cigarette 10. In this way, the
axial continuity of the electronic cigarette 10 is not interrupted
by the aperture 14, and a user of the electronic cigarette 10 may
comfortably insert a capsule through the aperture 14 without having
to separate any part of the electronic cigarette 10 from one
another. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the electronic cigarette
10 of FIG. 1 in an open state, wherein a capsule 40 has been
inserted through the lateral aperture 14 and accommodated in the
receiving chamber 16. The capsule 40 is insertable into the
receiving chamber 16 only when the slidable cover 18 is in the open
position, in which the aperture 14 is preferably completely
uncovered, or unblocked.
[0066] As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, the electronic cigarette 10 of
further comprises a slidable cover 18 configured to be moved
between open position and a closed position. In the closed
position, the slidable cover 18 covers the aperture 14.
[0067] The electronic cigarette may further comprises a seal 21
located between the slidable cover 18 and the housing 12. A sealed
connection between the slidable cover 18 and the housing 12 enables
a liquid-tight connection when the slidable cover 18 is in the
closed position in order to avoid liquid from escaping from the
receiving chamber 16.
[0068] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slidable cover 18 is arranged
to be slid in the longitudinal, or axial, direction along the
housing 12. The electronic cigarette 10 further comprises a biasing
structure 22. The biasing structure 22 may be realized as a helical
spring as indicated in FIG. 1. Advantageously, the biasing
structure 22 is configured to bias the slidable cover 18 into the
closed position (FIG. 1). In the open position of the slidable
cover 18, the biasing structure 22 is compressed (FIG. 2).
[0069] The slidable cover 18 is in this embodiment moveable (in
particular: slidable) with respect to the mouthpiece 50 of the
electronic cigarette 10 and/or with respect to the distal end of
the electronic cigarette, with the advantages described in the
foregoing for either and both cases. In particular, having the
possibility to fixedly hold the electronic cigarette 10 (e.g. with
a user's teeth or mouth) at the mouthpiece 50 allows manipulating
the slidable cover 18, overcoming the biasing structure 22, with
one hand and inserting the capsule 40 with another hand.
[0070] The electronic cigarette 10 further comprises a piercing
member 20, configured to pierce the capsule 40 when the capsule 40
is accommodated in the receiving chamber 16 and the sliding cover
is moved to the closed state.
[0071] The piercing member 20 is configured to be moved in unison
with the sliding cover 18 between the extended position and the
retracted position. In the extended position, the piercing member
20 extends at least partially into the receiving chamber 16. In the
retracted position, the piercing member 20 is completely retracted
from the receiving chamber 16. When the piercing member 20 is
completely retracted, it does not extend into the receiving chamber
16, whereby it positioned out of reach from the user.
[0072] The piercing member 20 and the slidable cover 18 are
mechanically coupled such that they move in unison. Hence, when the
sliding cover 18 is moved, the piercing member 20 is moved in the
same direction, and preferably for the same distance. In this way,
the piercing member 20 is in the extended position when then
slidable cover 18 is in the closed position, and the piercing
member 20 is in the retracted position when the slidable cover 18
is in the open position.
[0073] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic detail of an exemplary
embodiment of the mechanical coupling between the sliding cover 18
and the piercing member 20. As illustrated in the figure, a
mechanical connection 19 is arranged between the slidable cover 18
and the piercing member 20. The mechanical connection 19 may be an
integral, stiff connecting element. However, the mechanical
connection 19 may also comprise a geared or mechanical translation
device.
[0074] The housing 12 may be formed with an abutment 28 configured
to limit the movement of the slidable cover 18 in the longitudinal
direction, or axial direction A, of the electronic cigarette 10.
The abutment 28 also limits the position of the piercing member 20,
in the axial (or longitudinal) direction A. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a
variant is shown in which the abutment 28 limits the movement of
the slidable cover 18 and the piercing member 20 in the forward
direction towards a mouthpiece 50 of the electronic cigarette
10.
[0075] The slidable cover 18 comprises an abutting portion 30 that
is configured to engage with the abutment 28 to restrict further
movement of the slidable cover 18 in the longitudinal
direction.
[0076] In the retraction direction, towards power section 32 of the
electronic cigarette 10, the movement of the slidable cover 18 and
the piercing member 20 may be limited by a spring retainer 26. The
power section may comprise a battery for powering the electronic
cigarette 10. The spring retainer 26 prevents a translation of the
biasing structure 22 and limits the maximum compression of the
biasing structure 22. The spring retainer 26 may be a fixed portion
on the housing 12 of the electronic cigarette 10. The spring
retainer 26 may be encircling the body 12 and provide a flange for
retaining the biasing structure 22.
[0077] In an alternative (non-illustrated) embodiment the slidable
cover is rotatable around the axial direction of the electronic
cigarette 10, whereby the slidable cover can be opened and closed
depending on the angular position of the cover in relation to the
center axis A of the electronic cigarette. The slidable cover can
be spring-biased into a closed position and the piercing member 20
can be connected to a motion translation mechanism, configured to
convert a rotary displacement of the slidable cover to a linear
displacement of the piercing member 20.
[0078] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present
invention. As seen in the figure, the electronic cigarette 10 may
comprise a slidable block 17, to which the piercing member 20 is
connected. The slidable block 17 is operationally connected to the
slidable cover 18 and moves in unison therewith. The slidable block
17 may further comprise the heater structure 46 and the wick 44, as
described in the foregoing. The slidable block 17 may be biased
into a closed position by a biasing structure 22.
[0079] As the slidable block 17 moves in the longitudinal
direction, or axial direction A, of the electronic cigarette 10,
the piercing member 20 is movable between an extended position and
a retracted position. The piercing member 20 is configured to
extend into the receiving chamber 16 in the extended position when
the slidable cover 18 is in the closed position. The piercing
member 20 is retracted from the receiving chamber 16 in the
retracted position when the slidable cover 18 is in a retracted
position.
[0080] The slidable block 17 is connected to the power section 32,
preferably through a first set of contacts 80 on the internal side
of the housing 12 and a second set of contacts 82 on the slidable
block 17. The first set of contacts 80 and the second set of
contacts 82 are configured to align when the piercing member 20 is
in the extended position. When the first set of contacts 80 and the
second set of contacts 82 are aligned, the electric circuit to the
power section 32 is established.
[0081] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette 10
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The
electronic cigarette 10 of FIG. 6 comprises a mouthpiece 50, a
vaporizer structure 24, a slidable cover 18 covering an aperture in
a lateral side of the electronic cigarette 10, a receiving portion
(not shown) and a piercing member (not shown) as described in the
foregoing, e.g. with respect to FIG. 1-5.
[0082] In some preferred embodiments and variants, the housing 12
and the mouthpiece 50 are formed integrally, i.e. in non-separably,
with the aperture 14 being formed in the lateral side of the
housing 12. Preferably, the slidable cover 18 is permanently (but
slidably) coupled to the housing 12 and the mouthpiece 50 such that
the electronic cigarette 10 comprises no, or almost no, detachable
components. In this way, there is no danger of losing any
components as the only detachable part is the capsule 40, even
during a procedure of replacing a spent capsule 40 with a new
one.
[0083] The electronic cigarette 10 further comprises a sensor
structure 49 configured to detect whether the slidable cover 18 is
in the open or in the closed position, and to emit, via an output
interface of the sensor structure 49, a signal 71 indicating the
determined position of the slidable cover 18.
[0084] The sensor structure 49 may employ any technique known in
the art to determine the position, or state, of the slidable cover
18. For example, the sensor structure 49 may comprise a capacitive
sensor in which the capacitance of an electronic element changes
with the position of the slidable cover 18, a magnetic sensor in
which a magnet field changes with the position of the slidable
cover 18, a circuit-type sensor in which an electric circuit is
closed/opened in the closed/open position of the slidable cover 18
(or vice versa), an optical sensor and so on.
[0085] The electronic cigarette 10 also comprises a controller 48
that is configured to receive the signal 71 and to activate and
deactivate the electronic cigarette 10, preferably the vaporizer
structure 24 of the electronic cigarette 10, based on the signal
71.
[0086] The controller 48 may activate (or deactivate, respectively)
the vaporizer structure 24 by transmitting (or stopping to
transmit, respectively), or allowing (or preventing, respectively)
the transmission of electrical energy, from the power section 32 to
the vaporizer structure 24. When the vaporizer structure 24 is
activated (active), it vaporizes the liquid L to create the vapor
to be inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 50.
[0087] When the vaporizer structure 24 is deactivated (inactive),
it does not vaporize the liquid L, e.g. because the heater
structure 46 is not heating and/or because no liquid L is
transmitted to the heater structure 46.
[0088] In particular, the controller 48 may be configured to
activate the electronic cigarette 10, preferably at least the
vaporizer structure 24, when (and, optionally, only when) the
signal 71 indicates that the slidable cover 18 is in the closed
position, and to deactivate the electronic cigarette 10, preferably
at least the vaporizer structure 24, when (and, optionally, only
when) the signal 71 indicates that the slidable cover 18 is in the
open position.
[0089] The controller 48 may be implemented as pure hardware, i.e.
comprising transistors, logic gates and other types or elements of
circuitry. Additionally, the controller 48 may be partially
realized in terms of software. As such, the controller 48 may
comprise a processor and a memory storing a software or a firmware
that is executed by the processor. The signal 71 may be received by
an input interface of the controller 48 and signals that the
processor of the controller 48 creates may be outputted by an
output interface of the controller 48. The controller 48 may be
implemented as a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA and so on.
[0090] Alternatively, the sensor structure 49 and the controller 48
are implemented in a purely mechanical way, e.g. in that an
electrical circuit that supplies electrical energy, or a signal
allowing the supply of electrical energy, to the vaporizer
structure 24 and/or the delivery structure, is only closed when the
slidable cover 18 is in the closed position, and is interrupted
when the slidable cover 18 is not in the closed position (e.g. in
the open position).
[0091] It should be understood that instead of the mechanical
coupling of the slidable cover 18 and the piercing member 20, both
the slidable cover 18 and the piercing member 20 may be configured
to be moved electronically, i.e. by a motor. Limits for the
movement of the slidable cover 18 and the piercing member 20 may
thus be either implemented by geometric forms as depicted in FIG. 1
and FIG. 2 and/or may be implemented by controlling the motor to
only move the slidable cover 18 and/or the piercing member 20
within certain limits.
[0092] Although other arrangements are possible, in the shown
embodiment a vaporizer structure 24 is arranged, both functionally
and spatially, between the mouthpiece 50 and the receiving chamber
16. The piercing member 20 is configured to allow the liquid stored
in the capsule 40 to leave the capsule 40 and to be delivered to
the vaporizer structure 24. The vaporizer structure 24 is
configured to vaporize the liquid to generate the aerosol, or
vapor, which is then inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 50,
according to techniques known in the art.
[0093] The functional relationship between the piercing member 20
and the vaporizer structure 24 in the electronic cigarette 10 of
FIG. 1-3 is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 4.
[0094] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a vaporizer structure 24
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0095] Herein and in the following, the term "distal" is used as
meaning "further removed from the mouthpiece 50" and the term
"proximal" is used as meaning "closer to the mouthpiece 50".
[0096] The piercing member 20 may be further configured to traverse
the whole axial length AL of the receiving chamber 16 extending
from the distal wall 38 to a proximal end 39 of the receiving
chamber 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the capsule 40 is provided
with similar dimensions as the receiving chamber 16. In this way,
the position of the capsule 40 within the receiving chamber 16 can
be held fixedly inside the capsule chamber by the contact between
the capsule 40 and the internal wall of the receiving chamber 16.
Additionally or alternatively, the receiving chamber 16 may
comprise a capsule seating insert, which fixates the capsule 40
inside the receiving chamber 16.
[0097] The piercing member 20 is further configured to contact, or
enter, a liquid intermediate storage portion 42 arranged at the
proximal end 39 of the receiving chamber 16 with a tip, in
particular a pointed tip, of the piercing member 20.
[0098] The preferably elongated, needle-like piercing member 20
comprises at least one inlet opening 34 (e.g. the three openings 34
shown in FIG. 4) and at least one outlet opening. The at least one
inlet opening 34 is arranged such that, when the capsule 40 is
pierced by the piercing member 20 and the piercing member 20 is in
the extended position, the at least inlet opening 34 is arranged
within the capsule 40, within a liquid storage portion of the
capsule 40.
[0099] Within the piercing member 20, there is a delivery structure
36 in the form of a conduit connecting the at least one inlet
opening 34 to the at least one outlet opening 35, which is arranged
at the tip of the piercing member 20. In this way, the liquid L is
transported, e.g. by capillary effect, from the storage portion of
the capsule 40, via the at least one inlet opening 34, the delivery
structure 36, and the at least one outlet opening 35 in the tip,
and to the intermediate liquid storage portion 42. The intermediate
liquid storage portion 42 may be a pad of a fibrous or porous
material such as cotton, silica, ceramics or silicon.
[0100] In the shown embodiment, the liquid intermediate storage
portion 42 is part of the vaporizer structure 24; however, the
liquid intermediate storage portion 42 and the vaporizer structure
24 may also be configured as separate parts spaced apart from each
other.
[0101] In the discussed exemplary embodiment, the liquid
intermediate storage portion 42 is fluidically connected to a wick
44 that passes through, or adjacent to, a heater structure 46 such
as a heating wire.
[0102] The liquid L is vaporized by the heater structure 46 to
generate the aerosol inhaled by the user via the mouthpiece 50. By
capillary effect, the vaporized liquid L in the wick 44 close to
the heater structure 46 is transferred from the storage portion of
the capsule 40 via the liquid intermediate storage portion 42.
[0103] It will be understood that the shown functional and
geometrical relationship between the vaporizer structure 24 and the
piercing member 20 is only exemplary. For example, the piercing
member 20 may be configured to emerge, when being extended from the
retracted position into the extended position, from the proximal
end of the receiving chamber 16. In this case, the piercing member
20 may be configured as not completely traversing the receiving
chamber 16, the tip of the piercing member 20 may be intended to be
positioned within the capsule 40 in the extended position, and the
at least one inlet opening 34 of the piercing member 20 might be
configured and arranged to deliver the liquid L from the tip to a
liquid intermediate storage portion.
[0104] While detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be
embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and
functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as
limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure. In particular, features presented
and described in separate dependent claims may be applied in
combination and any advantageous combination of such claims are
herewith disclosed.
[0105] Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended
to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable
description of the invention. The terms "a" or "an", as used
herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as
used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another,
as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms
including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising
(i.e., open language).
[0106] It will be evident that the described embodiments may be
varied in many ways. All such modifications as would be evident to
one skilled in the art starting from what is explicitly described
are intended to be included.
* * * * *