Electronic cigarette

• US 9,326,548 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hon, Lik
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Michael H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayes, Dionne Walls
• Application Number:
  US14/244,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 131/270, 131/273, 128/202.21
• 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: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/90 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0015 located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0291 Tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0297 : Heating of fluids for non specified applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 : Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 : non-flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

a battery assembly having a cylindrical battery and an operating indicator;

an atomizer assembly in an elongated cylindrical housing, with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly, and with the cylindrical battery coaxial with the atomizer assembly;

a liquid storage component in the housing;

the atomizer assembly including a porous component set on a frame having a run-through hole;

a heating wire coil electrically connected to the battery;

an air flow path in the atomizer assembly parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, with the air flow path through the run-through hole to an outlet, with the heating wire coil wound on the porous component and in the air flow path and with the heating wire coil oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

the porous component in contact with the liquid storage component.

2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the porous component having a first section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a second section parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the frame having a cylindrical first section and a second section, with the second section between the first section and the outlet, and with the second section longer than the first section.

4. The electronic cigarette of claim 3 wherein the first section of the frame is a cylindrical base section.

5. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the battery assembly further including an air flow sensor.

6. The electronic cigarette of claim 5 with the battery assembly further comprising an electronic circuit board electrically connected to the air flow sensor.

7. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 wherein the porous component is cylindrical.

8. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

a battery assembly having a cylindrical battery and an operating indicator;

an atomizer assembly in an elongated cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis, with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly, and with the cylindrical battery coaxial with the atomizer assembly;

the atomizer assembly including a porous component having a first section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second section parallel to the longitudinal axis, with the porous component set on a frame having a run-through hole;

a heating wire coil wound on the first section of the porous component and electrically connected to the battery;

an air flow path in the atomizer assembly parallel to the longitudinal axis, with the air flow path through the run-through hole to an outlet, and the heating wire coil in the air flow path and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

a liquid storage component in the housing in contact with the porous component.

9. The electronic cigarette of claim 8 with the second section of the porous component on opposite sides of the first section of the porous component.

10. The electronic cigarette of claim 8 with the frame having a cylindrical first section and a second section, with the second section between the first section and the outlet, and with the second section longer than the first section.

11. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

an atomizer assembly and a liquid storage component in an elongated cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis;

battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly, and with the battery assembly including a cylindrical battery coaxial with the atomizer assembly;

the atomizer assembly including;

a frame comprising a cylindrical base having a run-through hole;

a fiber member in contact with the liquid storage component;

a heating wire coil wound on the fiber member and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the heating wire coil electrically connected to the battery, with the fiber member moving liquid from the liquid storage component to the heating wire coil by capillary action; and

an air flow path parallel to the longitudinal axis through the atomizer assembly, with the air flow path passing through the run-through hole, and with the heating wire coil in the air flow path and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

12. The electronic cigarette of claim 11 with a first part of the fiber member perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the heating wire coil wrapped on the first part.

13. The electronic cigarette of claim 11 with the fiber member having a first section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a second section parallel to the longitudinal axis.

14. The electronic cigarette of claim 11 with the frame having a cylindrical first section and a second section, with the second section between the first section and the outlet, and with the second section longer than the first section.