Electronic cigarette

• US 9,326,551 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2015
• 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): NGUYEN, PHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US14/723,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20150250231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly. An external thread electrode is located in one end of battery assembly. An internal thread electrode is located in one end of atomizer assembly. The battery assembly and the atomizer assembly are connected by the screwthread electrode. The cigarette bottle assembly is inserted into the other end of the atomizer assembly and both form a cigarette type or cigar type body.

Claims

1. An atomizer assembly used with a battery assembly to provide an electronic cigarette comprising:

a tubular atomizer assembly housing having a first end and a second end;

an atomizer and a liquid supply in the tubular atomizer assembly housing;

an inner electrode and an outer electrode at the first end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, with the inner electrode concentric with the outer electrode;

with the atomizer including a heater wire wound on a porous body and the porous body perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, with the heater wire having a first lead connected to the inner electrode and a second lead connected to the outer electrode; and

an airflow path through the tubular atomizer assembly housing from the atomizer to an outlet at the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing.

2. The atomizer assembly of claim 1 further including a through hole centered on the central longitudinal axis of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, and with the through hole leading to the airflow path.

3. The atomizer assembly of claim 2 with the through hole at a center of the inner electrode.

4. The atomizer assembly of claim 3 with the porous body comprising a fiber material.

5. The atomizer assembly of claim 4 further including a liquid supply in the tubular atomizer assembly housing in contact with the porous body.

6. The atomizer assembly of claim 5 with the liquid supply containing a liquid including 0.1-3.5% nicotine.

7. The atomizer assembly of claim 5 with the fiber material confined within inner cylindrical walls of the tubular atomizer assembly housing.

8. The atomizer assembly of claim 7 further including an air passageway within the tubular atomizer assembly housing around the liquid supply.

9. The atomizer assembly of claim 4 further including a mouthpiece at the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, and with the outlet in the mouthpiece.

10. The atomizer assembly of claim 9 wherein the mouthpiece is removable from the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing.

11. An atomizer assembly component of an electronic cigarette comprising:

a tubular atomizer assembly housing having a first end and a second end;

an atomizer and a liquid supply in the tubular atomizer assembly housing;

an inner electrode and an outer electrode at the first end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, with the inner electrode concentric with the outer electrode;

with the atomizer including a heater wire wound on a porous body comprising a fiber material, and the porous body perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, with the heater wire having a first lead connected to the inner electrode and a second lead connected to the outer electrode;

an airflow path through the tubular atomizer assembly housing from the atomizer to an outlet at the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing;

a through hole at a center of the inner electrode leading into the airflow path;

a liquid supply in the tubular atomizer assembly housing in contact with the porous body, with the liquid supply containing a liquid including nicotine.

12. The atomizer assembly of claim 11 further including an air passageway within the tubular atomizer assembly housing around the liquid supply.

13. The atomizer assembly of claim 12 further including a mouthpiece at the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, and with the outlet in the mouthpiece.

14. The atomizer assembly of claim 13 wherein the mouthpiece is removable from the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing.

15. An atomizer assembly component of an electronic cigarette comprising:

a tubular atomizer assembly housing having a first end and a second end;

a mouthpiece having an outlet at the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing;

an atomizer and a liquid supply in the tubular atomizer assembly housing;

an inner electrode and an outer electrode at the first end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, with the inner electrode concentric with the outer electrode;

with the atomizer including a heater wire wound on a porous body comprising a fiber material, and the porous body perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the tubular atomizer assembly housing, with the heater wire having a first lead connected to the inner electrode and a second lead connected to the outer electrode;

an airflow path through the tubular atomizer assembly housing from the atomizer to an outlet at the second end of the tubular atomizer assembly housing;

a through hole at a center of the inner electrode leading into the airflow path;

a liquid supply in the tubular atomizer assembly housing in contact with the porous body, with the liquid supply containing a liquid including nicotine.