Electronic cigarette

• US 8,689,805 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• 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): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US13/426,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 131/273
• 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 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders

Abstract

An atomizing electronic cigarette has an atomizing core component and a liquid storage component, including an electric heater. The electric heater may have a through hole aligned with a channel passing through the liquid storage component. The cigarette can heat and uniformly vaporize liquid from the liquid storage component, with the user inhaling the vaporized liquid. The vapor generated by the atomizing process may be cooled as it flows through the channel.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

a housing having an inhalation port;

a battery and a liquid storage component within the housing;

an atomizing core within the housing including an electric heater comprising a wire coil electrically connectable to the battery for atomizing liquid from the liquid storage component, and;

a channel extending through and surrounded by the liquid storage component, with the channel and the inhalation port forming an airflow path centrally located within the housing, and with the channel providing a continuous passageway from the electric heater to the inhalation port.

2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 further including a liquid permeating component sleeved on the electric heater.

3. The electronic cigarette of claim 2 further including a liquid conduction component in contact with the liquid permeating component, and the liquid storage component.

4. The electronic cigarette of claim 3 with the electric heater arranged on an inner surface of the liquid permeating component.

5. The electronic cigarette of claim 2 further comprising a liquid conducting component in contact with the liquid storage component and the liquid permeating component around the electric heater.

6. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 further including a sensor in the housing for sensing airflow in the airflow path.

7. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the liquid storage component including a fiber material.

8. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, with the liquid storage component comprising an elongated cylinder having an annular cross section.

9. The electronic cigarette of claim 1 with the channel extending entirely through the liquid storage component.

10. The electronic cigarette of claim 3 with the channel having a uniform circular cross section.