E-liquid separation mechanism and electronic cigarette having the same

• US 9,907,341 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Kanger Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Kanger Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Zhu, Xiaochun
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US15/456,529
• Time in Patent Office: 359 Days
• Field of Search: 131328, 131329, 131330
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an E-liquid separation mechanism and electronic cigarettes having the E-liquid separation mechanism. The E-liquid separation mechanism includes an E-liquid storage tank assembly, and a vaporizer assembly. The E-liquid storage tank assembly and the vaporizer assembly are slidedly and rotatably connected through an E-liquid storage tank connector and a silicone gel sealing cover. When a user uses the electronic cigarette, the user pushes the E-liquid storage tank assembly down from an up position, and rotates the vaporizer assembly using an E-liquid separation control handler from a first position to a second position to allow E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank to flow into a cylindrical E-liquid storage medium to be vaporized by one or more heating elements formed between a first E-liquid storage tank base opening and a first vaporizer E-liquid opening, and a second E-liquid storage tank base opening and a second vaporizer E-liquid opening.

Claims

1. An E-liquid separation mechanism for an electronic cigarette, comprising:

an E-liquid storage tank assembly having an E-liquid storage tank storing E-liquid and an E-liquid storage tank base, wherein the E-liquid storage tank base defines a first E-liquid storage tank base opening, and a second E-liquid storage tank base opening; and

a vaporizer assembly having a heating element base having one or more heating elements, wherein the heating element base defines a first vaporizer E-liquid opening and a second vaporizer E-liquid opening,

wherein the E-liquid storage tank assembly and the vaporizer assembly are slidedly and rotatably connected through an E-liquid storage tank connector and a silicone gel sealing cover, and when a user uses the electronic cigarette, the user pushes the E-liquid storage tank assembly down from an up position when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the up position, and rotates the vaporizer assembly using an E-liquid separation control handler from a first position to a second position when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the first position such that the first E-liquid storage tank base opening and the second E-liquid storage tank base opening coincide with the first vaporizer E-liquid opening and the second vaporizer E-liquid opening, respectively, and the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank flows into a cylindrical E-liquid storage medium to be vaporized by the one or more heating elements through E-liquid paths formed between the first E-liquid storage tank base opening and the first vaporizer E-liquid opening, and the second E-liquid storage tank base opening and the second vaporizer E-liquid opening, respectively.

2. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 1, wherein the E-liquid storage tank assembly further comprises:

the E-liquid storage tank storing the E-liquid between an external tube and an internal tube, wherein the internal tube forms a vapor output;

a mouthpiece positioned on a top end of the E-liquid storage tank and connected to the vapor output; and

an E-liquid storage tank sealing ring to prevent the E-liquid from the E-liquid storage tank from leaking into the vaporizer assembly.

3. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer assembly further comprises:

a vaporizer cover to cover the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium;

the one or more heating elements connected to a positive terminal, and a negative terminal to receive electrical power from a battery to vaporize the E-liquid in the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium, wherein the one or more heating elements are positioned on the heating element base having a first vaporizer air intake, and a second vaporizer air intake;

a heating element sealing ring to prevent the E-liquid in the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium from leaking out of the vaporizer assembly; and

a vaporizer base defining a first vaporizer base air intake and a second vaporizer base air intake to allow outside air to flow into the vaporizer assembly.

4. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 3, wherein when the user pushes down the E-liquid storage tank assembly to the down position, and rotates the vaporizer assembly from the first position to the second position to allow the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank to flow into the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium, turns on an electrical power supply and sucks from the mouthpiece, outside air flows through the first vaporizer base air intake and the second vaporizer base air intake into the two airflow paths, goes up to the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium and the one or more heating elements, and the vapor output, and finally exits from the mouthpiece.

5. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 3, wherein a connection between the battery and the vaporizer base comprises:

a T-shaped groove connector;

a dovetail shaped slot connector;

a magnetic attachment connector;

a threaded connector; and

a multi-threaded connector.

6. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 3, wherein the E-liquid separation control handler is positioned on the heating element base to operate the E-liquid separation mechanism when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is in the down position, wherein the user rotates the heating element base from the first position to the second position to turn on the E-liquid flow and from the second position to the first position to turn off the E-liquid flow.

7. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 3, wherein the one or more heating elements comprise a positive terminal electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the battery through the positive terminal of the vaporizer base, and a negative terminal electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery through the negative terminal of the vaporizer base.

8. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 1, wherein the one or more heating elements comprise:

one or more grid shaped heating elements;

one or more mesh shaped heating elements;

one or more net shaped heating elements;

one or more spiral heating elements; and

any combination thereof.

9. The E-liquid separation mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium comprises:

cotton fibers;

polypropylene fibers;

terylene fibers;

nylon fibers; and

porous ceramic materials.

10. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

an E-liquid separation mechanism, wherein the E-liquid separation mechanism comprises;

an E-liquid storage tank assembly having an E-liquid storage tank storing E-liquid and an E-liquid storage tank base, wherein the E-liquid storage tank base defines a first E-liquid storage tank base opening, and a second E-liquid storage tank base opening; and

a vaporizer assembly having a heating element base having one or more heating elements, wherein the heating element base defines a first vaporizer E-liquid opening and a second vaporizer E-liquid opening,

wherein the E-liquid storage tank assembly and the vaporizer assembly are slidedly and rotatably connected through an E-liquid storage tank connector and a silicone gel sealing cover, and when a user uses the electronic cigarette, the user pushes the E-liquid storage tank assembly down from an up position when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the up position, and rotates the vaporizer assembly using an E-liquid separation control handler from a first position to a second position when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the first position such that the first E-liquid storage tank base opening and the second E-liquid storage tank base opening coincide with the first vaporizer E-liquid opening and the second vaporizer E-liquid opening, respectively, and the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank flows into a cylindrical E-liquid storage medium to be vaporized by the one or more heating elements through E-liquid paths formed between the first E-liquid storage tank base opening and the first vaporizer E-liquid opening, and the second E-liquid storage tank base opening and the second vaporizer E-liquid opening, respectively.

11. The electronic cigarette of claim 10, wherein the E-liquid storage tank assembly further comprises:

the E-liquid storage tank storing the E-liquid between an external tube and an internal tube, wherein the internal tube forms a vapor output;

a mouthpiece positioned on a top end of the E-liquid storage tank and connected to the vapor output; and

an E-liquid storage tank sealing ring to prevent the E-liquid from the E-liquid in storage tank from leaking into the vaporizer assembly.

12. The electronic cigarette of claim 10, wherein the vaporizer assembly further comprises:

a vaporizer cover to cover the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium;

the one or more heating elements connected to a positive terminal, and a negative terminal to receive electrical power from a battery to vaporize the E-liquid in the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium, wherein the one or more heating elements are positioned on the heating element base having a first vaporizer air intake, and a second vaporizer air intake;

a heating element sealing ring to prevent the E-liquid in the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium from leaking out of the vaporizer assembly; and

a vaporizer base defining a first vaporizer base air intake and a second vaporizer base air intake to allow outside air to flow into the vaporizer assembly.

13. The electronic cigarette of claim 12, wherein when the user pushes down the E-liquid storage tank assembly to the down position, and rotates the vaporizer assembly from the first position to the second position to allow the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank to flow into the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium, turns on an electrical power supply and sucks from the mouthpiece, outside air flows through the first vaporizer base air intake and the second vaporizer base air intake into the two airflow paths, goes up to the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium and the one or more heating elements, and the vapor output, and finally exits from the mouthpiece.

14. The electronic cigarette of claim 12, wherein a connection between the battery and the vaporizer base comprises:

a T-shaped groove connector;

a dovetail shaped slot connector;

a magnetic attachment connector;

a threaded connector; and

a multi-threaded connector.

15. The electronic cigarette of claim 12, wherein the E-liquid separation control handler is positioned on the heating element base to operate the E-liquid separation mechanism when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is in the down position, wherein the user rotates the heating element base from the first position to the second position to turn on the E-liquid flow and from the second position to the first position to turn off the E-liquid flow.

16. The electronic cigarette of claim 12, wherein the one or more heating elements comprise a positive terminal electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the battery through the positive terminal of the vaporizer base, and a negative terminal electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery through the negative terminal of the vaporizer base.

17. The electronic cigarette of claim 10, wherein the one or more heating elements comprise:

one or more grid shaped heating elements;

one or more mesh shaped heating elements;

one or more net shaped heating elements;

one or more spiral heating elements; and

any combination thereof.

18. The electronic cigarette of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium comprises:

cotton fibers;

polypropylene fibers;

terylene fibers;

nylon fibers; and

porous ceramic materials.

19. A method of using an electronic cigarette having an E-liquid separation mechanism, comprising:

determining, by a user, whether an E-liquid storage tank assembly is in an up position;

pushing down, by the user, the E-liquid storage tank assembly against a vaporizer assembly from the up position to a down position, when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the up position;

determining, by the user, whether the E-liquid storage tank assembly is in a first position;

rotating, by the user, the E-liquid storage tank assembly against the vaporizer assembly from the first position to a second position, when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the first position such that a first E-liquid storage tank base opening and a second E-liquid storage tank base opening defined on a vaporizer base of the vaporizer assembly coincide with a first vaporizer E-liquid opening and a second vaporizer E-liquid opening defined on a heating element base, respectively, and the E-liquid filled in an E-liquid storage tank flows into a cylindrical E-liquid storage medium to be vaporized by one or more heating elements through E-liquid paths formed between the first E-liquid storage tank base opening and the first vaporizer E-liquid opening, and the second E-liquid storage tank base opening and the second vaporizer E-liquid opening, respectively;

turning on, by the user, an electrical power supply to provide electrical power to the one or more heating elements of the vaporizer assembly to vaporize the E-liquid flowed to the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium; and

sucking, by the user, E-liquid vapor from the vaporizer assembly through a mouthpiece, wherein air outside of the electronic cigarette enters the vaporizer assembly through a first vaporizer air intake and a second vaporizer air intake to be vaporized by the vaporizer assembly, and the vapor formed by the vaporizer assembly exits through a vapor output and the mouthpiece.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein when the user finish using the electronic cigarette, the method further comprises:

determining, by the user, whether the E-liquid storage tank assembly is in the second position;

rotating, by the user, the E-liquid storage tank assembly against the vaporizer assembly from the second position to the first position, when the E-liquid storage tank assembly is determined to be in the second position; and

pulling up, by the user, the E-liquid storage tank assembly against the vaporizer assembly from the down position to the up position to terminate the E-liquid flow and separate the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank from the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium.