ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE

• US 20150181944A1
• Filed: 12/27/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen First Union Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen First Union Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LI, YONGHAI, XU, ZHONGLI, GUO, YONGLU, WENG, JIANHUA, ZHANG, YANSHENG
• Granted Patent: US 9,861,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes an atomizer and a battery pack. A pluggable connecting means is provided between the atomizer and the battery pack. The pluggable connecting means is designed as an elastic snap connection or a detachable clip means so that the atomizer and the battery pack can be connected together pluggably to prevent the threaded connection.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

an atomizer;

a battery pack supplying power to the atomizer; and

a pluggable connecting means provided between the atomizer and the battery pack and configured to be an elastic snap or a detachable clip means so that the atomizer and the battery pack are connected together pluggably.

2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the pluggable connecting means comprises a first inserting portion formed on one of the atomizer and the battery pack, a first accommodating portion defined in the other of the atomizer and the batter pack, and the first accommodating portion is engaged with the first inserting portion elastically through a first elastic engaging member.

3. The electronic cigarette of claim 2, wherein the first inserting portion has an internal cavity, the first accommodating portion has a second inserting portion disposed therein, the first inserting portion is inserted into the first accommodating portion, and the internal cavity of the first inserting portion accommodates the second inserting portion.

4. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein the internal cavity of the first inserting portion is engaged with the second inserting portion elastically through a second elastic engaging member.

5. The electronic cigarette of claim 2, further comprising a second inserting portion and a second accommodating portion, the first inserting portion is disposed in the second accommodating portion, the first accommodating portion is formed within the second inserting portion, the first elastic engaging member is disposed on the internal wall of the first accommodating portion, and the external wall of the first inserting portion is provided with threads.

6. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the pluggable connecting means comprises a first connecting end on one of the atomizer and the battery pack, and a second connecting end on the other one of the atomizer and the battery pack;

the first connecting end comprises a non-rotational joint, the second connecting end comprises a joint cavity, the non-rotational joint is engaged in the joint cavity.

7. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein the non-rotational joint comprises two locating surfaces disposed axially and symmetrically and an arc surface connecting the two locating surfaces, the two locating surfaces are two parallel surfaces;

and the first connecting end is provided with two first electrically conductive elastic sheets, the second connecting end is provided with two second electrically conductive elastic sheets, each of the first electrically conductive elastic sheets is clamped to one of the second electrically conductive elastic sheets so as to electrically connect the atomizer to battery pack and restrict the axial displacement of the second connecting end with respect to the first connecting end.

8. The electronic cigarette of claim 7, wherein each of the first electrically conductive elastic sheets has a clamping portion, each of the second electrically conductive elastic sheets has a bent portion, and the bent portion is in close contact with the clamping portion.

9. The electronic cigarette of claim 7, wherein the first connecting end comprises a connector and a fixed base nested into the connector, the fixed base is provided with two limiting grooves that are symmetrical with each other, the connector is provided with two locating grooves correspondingly, the two limiting grooves and the two locating grooves form two locating spaces, and the two first electrically conductive elastic sheets are interposed between the connector and the fixed base and located within the two locating spaces respectively.

10. The electronic cigarette of claim 9, wherein the two locating surfaces are disposed on the connector axially and symmetrically, both the two locating surfaces are provided with openings, and the first electrically conductive elastic sheets pass through the openings so as to be clamped to the second conductive elastic sheets.

11. The electronic cigarette of claim 9, wherein the second connecting end comprises a connecting sleeve and a fixing sleeve nested into the connecting sleeve, the fixing sleeve is provided with two catching portions, and the two second electrically conductive elastic sheets are fixed on the fixing sleeve by the two catching portions respectively.

12. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the pluggable connecting means comprises a first connecting end on one of the atomizer and the battery pack, and a second connecting end on the other one of the atomizer and the battery pack;

the first connecting end comprises an internal electrode ring, an insulated ring and an elastic connecting member nested together sequentially from inside to outside;

the second connecting end comprises an elastic electrode ring, an insulated fixed base and an external connecting member nested together sequentially from inside to outside;

wherein the internal electrode ring and the elastic electrode ring are in contact with each other to conduct electricity, and the elastic connecting member and the external connecting member are in contact with each other to conduct electricity.

13. The electronic cigarette of claim 12, wherein the elastic connecting member comprises a plug portion, and the plug portion has a plurality of slots disposed axially therein so as to form an elastic wall and to fit tightly with the external connecting member.

14. The electronic cigarette of claim 13, wherein a plug-accommodating cavity is provided between the elastic electrode ring and the external connecting member to accommodate the plug portion.

15. The electronic cigarette of claim 14, wherein the elastic electrode ring comprises a holding portion, the holding portion shrinks inwardly to form a plugging hole, the internal electrode ring has a clamping portion, the clamping portion is inserted into the plugging hole so as to fixedly connect the atomizer to the battery pack.

16. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the pluggable connecting means comprises a first connecting end on one of the atomizer and the battery pack, and a second connecting end on the other one of the atomizer and the battery pack;

the first connecting portion comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode are distributed axially with respect to the first connecting portion, the second connecting portion comprises a sleeve, an insulated base disposed inside the sleeve, and a first elastic sheet and a second elastic sheet fixed between the insulated base and the sleeve, a plugging cavity is defined within the insulated base; and

when the first connecting portion is inserted into the plugging cavity, the first elastic sheet and the second elastic sheet abut against the second electrode and the first electrode respectively so that axial locking and electrical connection between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are achieved.

17. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, wherein the first connecting portion further comprises an insulated ring disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode comprises a convex portion disposed at one end thereof, the convex portion is adapted to match with the plugging cavity, the second electrode further comprises a plug portion disposed at the other end thereof, and the plug portion and the insulated ring are disposed coaxially.

18. The electronic cigarette of claim 17, wherein the first electrode is tubular shaped, and the insulated ring is nested into the first electrode.

19. The electronic cigarette of claim 18, wherein the insulated ring is provided with a flange, the first electrode is provided with a journal, and the flange is located between the convex portion and the journal so as to separate the convex portion from the journal.

20. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, wherein the first elastic sheet comprises a bent portion and two clamping portions extending outward from the bent portion, the bent portion bends towards the plugging cavity and is adapted to abut against the second electrode, and the two clamping portions are clamped and fixed onto the insulated base respectively.