Patent Application
20180325171
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of electronic cigarette, and more particularly to replaceable cartridge, rotatable USB charger, and electronic cigarettes having the replaceable cartridge and the rotatable USB charger.
It is well known that smoking cigarette is harmful to smoker's health. The active ingredient in a cigarette is mainly nicotine. During smoking, nicotine, along with tar aerosol droplets produced in the cigarette burning, are breathed into the alveolus and absorbed quickly by the smoker. Once nicotine is absorbed into the blood of the smoker, nicotine then produces its effect on the receptors of the smoker's central nervous system, causing the smoker relax and enjoy an inebriety similar to that produced by an exhilarant.
The electronic cigarette is sometimes referred as electronic vaporing device, personal vaporizer (PV), or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). It is a battery-powered device which simulates tobacco smoking. It generally uses a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution (E-liquid). Some solutions contain a mixture of nicotine and a variety of flavorings, while others release a flavored vapor without nicotine. Many are designed to simulate smoking experience, such as cigarette smoking or cigar smoking. Some of them are made with similar appearance, while others are made considerably different in appearance.
Conventional electronic cigarettes have an E-liquid storage tank, and a vaporizer. Refilling the E-liquid storage tank and replacing the vaporizer involve separate processes to refill E-liquid into the E-liquid storage tank and to replace the vaporizer. These processes are troublesome and tedious. It is desirable that the electronic cigarettes have a replaceable cartridge having both the E-liquid storage tank and the vaporizer so when the E-liquid storage tank is empty, and when the electronic cigarette needs a new vaporizer, the current cartridge may be removed, and a new cartridge may be installed as a one step process.
Therefore, an unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vaporizer assembly having a replaceable cartridge for an electronic cigarette. In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge includes: an E-liquid storage tank for storing E-liquid inside the replaceable cartridge, an E-liquid storage medium horizontally positioned inside of the replaceable cartridge for receiving the E-liquid from the E-liquid storage tank, and a heating element in contact with the E-liquid storage medium to vaporize the E-liquid received by the E-liquid storage medium. The heating element includes a first vaporizer electrical power connector and a second vaporizer electrical power connector for connecting to an electrical power supply assembly of the electronic cigarette. When the heating element is powered by the electrical power supply assembly, the E-liquid stored in the E-liquid storage medium is vaporized by the heating element and E-liquid vapor is then generated for a user to enjoy.
In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electrical power supply assembly for an electronic cigarette having a rotatable USB charger. In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly includes an electrical power supply assembly base, a rechargeable battery, an air flow activated switch, and the rotatable USB charger. The electrical power supply assembly base houses the electrical power supply assembly. The rechargeable battery is positioned inside the electrical power supply assembly base and provides electrical power to the electronic cigarette. The air flow activated switch positioned on a switch support to turn on or turn off electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly to the electronic cigarette. The rotatable USB charger receives electrical charge from any standard USB connector to charge the rechargeable battery. The rotatable USB charger is rotatable between a closed position (0°) and a fully open position (180°).
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette. In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette includes: a mouthpiece, an electronic cigarette body, a vaporizer assembly having the replaceable cartridge, and an electrical power supply assembly. The mouthpiece has a first mouthpiece clip, and a second mouthpiece clip to attach the mouthpiece to a replaceable cartridge, and a mouthpiece sealing ring to prevent vapor leaking. The electronic cigarette body defines a front E-liquid display opening on a front side of the electronic cigarette body, and a rear E-liquid display opening on a rear side of the electronic cigarette body for displaying E-liquid level in an E-liquid storage tank. The replaceable cartridge is positioned on a cartridge installation base of the electronic cigarette inside the electronic cigarette body. The electrical power supply assembly is also positioned inside the electronic cigarette body and has a rotatable USB charger for charging a rechargeable battery. The electrical power supply assembly also includes an air flow activated switch. When a user sucks air through the mouthpiece, outside air enters a closed air passage through an air intake opening, the air flow activated switch powers on the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly to the vaporizer assembly to vaporize E-liquid in the vaporizer assembly, and when the user stops sucking air through the mouthpiece, the air flow activated switch powers off the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. The drawings do not limit the present disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure, and wherein:
The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” or “has” and/or “having” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom”, “upper” or “top,” and “front” or “back” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. The exemplary term “lower”, can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of “lower” and “upper,” depending of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or “beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
As used herein, “around”, “about” or “approximately” shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximates, meaning that the term “around”, “about” or “approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated.
Many specific details are provided in the following descriptions to make the present disclosure be fully understood, but the present disclosure may also be implemented by using other manners different from those described herein, so that the present disclosure is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed in the following.
The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 includes a heating element support 1033. The heating element support 1033 is in a cylindrical shape. The center opening is used to allow the vaporized E-liquid (or E-liquid vapor) to exit through a vapor outlet 10311. The heating element support 1033 also include two slits, one on each side for installing the heating element 1035 and the E-liquid storage medium 1034. In one embodiment, the heating element 1035 is wounded around the E-liquid storage medium 1034 and positioned inside the two slits. The E-liquid enters the E-liquid storage medium 1034 from both ends of the E-liquid storage medium 1034, and is heated by the heating element 1035 to generate the E-liquid vapor.
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 has: the vapor outlet 10311 for providing the E-liquid vapor generated by the vaporizer assembly 103 to the user, and a first mouthpiece groove 10313 and a second mouthpiece groove 10314 to install a mouthpiece 101 on the replaceable cartridge 1031. As shown in
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 includes: a first vaporizer sealing ring 1032 to prevent the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank 10312 to leak into the vapor outlet 10311, and a second vaporizer sealing ring 1036 to prevent the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank 10312 to leak into the vaporizer assembly 103.
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge has an E-liquid filling opening 10383 defined on a vaporizer base 1037 for filling and refilling the E-liquid into the E-liquid storage tank 10312, an E-liquid plug 10382 to close the E-liquid storage tank after filling and refilling the E-liquid, and a third vaporizer sealing ring 10381 positioned between the vaporizer base 1037 and the E-liquid plug 10382 to prevent the E-liquid from leaking after filling and refilling E-liquid. The E-liquid filling opening 10383 is designed to fill the E-liquid during the manufacturing process, and to allow user to refill the E-liquid. When the E-liquid inside the E-liquid storage tank 10312 is empty, the user may check the condition of the vaporizer. When the condition of the vaporizer including the E-liquid storage medium 1034 and the heating element 1035 are still in good working condition, the user may decide to refill the E-liquid storage tank 10312 and reinstall the replaceable cartridge 1031 to continue use the replaceable cartridge 1031. When the condition of the vaporizer including the E-liquid storage medium 1034 and/or the heating element 1035 are not in good working condition, the user may choose to replace the replaceable cartridge 1031.
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 has a first vaporizer electrical power connector 10391, and a second vaporizer electrical power connector 10392. The first vaporizer electrical power connector 10391 connects to a first electrical power connector 10221 (not shown in
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, the air flow activated switch 1044 is positioned on a switch support 1045 to power on or power off electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104 to the electronic cigarette 10. The rotatable USB charger 1047 receives electrical charge from any standard USB connectors to charge the rechargeable battery 1041. The standard USB connectors may include USB power cubes, computer USB ports, USB power converters or any standard USB ports that has a direct current power source. The rotatable USB charger 1047 is rotatable between a closed position (0°) and a fully open position (180°). In one embodiment, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly includes a first locking pin 10421 and a second locking pin 10422 for stop the rotatable USB charger 1047 when the rotatable USB charger 1047 is in the closed position. The rotatable USB charger 1047 includes a first USB charger rotating axel 10471 and a second USB charger rotating axel 10472 for allowing the rotatable USB charger 1047 to rotate between the closed position and the open position. The rotatable USB charger 1047 also includes a first USB side panel 10461 and a second USB side panel 10461 to form a USB connector. In certain embodiments, the rotatable USB charger 1047 may include a first USB connector recovery spring 10475 positioned on the first USB charger rotating axle 10471 and a second USB connector recovery spring 10476 positioned on the second USB charger rotating axle 10472 for keep the rotatable USB charger 1047 in the closed position when it is not plugged into a USB port for charging, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly 104 has an air intake opening 10441 defined on the switch support 1045 for allowing outside air to pass through a closed air passage to a vaporizer assembly 103, and the air flow activated switch 1044 positioned on the switch support 1045. When the outside air enters the closed air passage through the air intake opening 10441 as a user sucks air through a mouthpiece 101, the air flow activated switch 1044 powers on the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104 to the vaporizer assembly 103 to vaporize E-liquid in the vaporizer assembly 103, and when the user stops sucking air through the mouthpiece 101, the air flow activated switch 1044 powers off the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104. The closed air passage includes a space over the air intake opening 10441, inside an electronic cigarette body 102 and between the rechargeable battery 1041 and the electrical power supply assembly base 1042, through the cartridge installation base 1023, a center air passage of the replaceable cartridge and the vapor outlet 10311 as show in
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly 104 includes: a printed circuit board 1046 for installing electronic components of the rotatable USB charger 1047, and a first USB electrical power connector 10473 and a second USB electrical power connector 10474 to receive electrical charge through the rotatable USB charger 1047. The electrical power supply assembly 104 may also include: a power supply back panel 1043 for closing a back side of the electrical power supply assembly 104, one or more power supply display light emitting diodes (LED) 10432 for displaying current electrical power remaining in the rechargeable battery 1041, and a power supply display cover 10431 for covering the power supply display light emitting diodes (LED) 10432.
Referring now to
In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette body 102 defines a front E-liquid display opening 1024 on a front side of the electronic cigarette body 102, and a rear E-liquid display opening 1025 on a rear side of the electronic cigarette body 102 for displaying E-liquid level in an E-liquid storage tank 10312. The replaceable cartridge 1031 is positioned on a cartridge installation base 1023 of the electronic cigarette 10 inside the electronic cigarette body 102.
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly 104 is also positioned inside the electronic cigarette body 102 and has a rotatable USB charger 1047 for charging a rechargeable battery 1041. The electrical power supply assembly 104 also includes an air flow activated switch 1044. When a user sucks air through the mouthpiece 101, outside air enters a closed air passage through an air intake opening 10441, the air flow activated switch 1044 powers on the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104 to the vaporizer assembly 103 to vaporize E-liquid in the vaporizer assembly 103, and when the user stops sucking air through the mouthpiece 101, the air flow activated switch 1044 powers off the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104.
Referring back to
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 has: the vapor outlet 10311 for providing the E-liquid vapor generated by the vaporizer assembly 103 to the user, and a first mouthpiece groove 10313 and a second mouthpiece groove 10314 to install a mouthpiece 101 on the replaceable cartridge 1031. As shown in
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 includes: a first vaporizer sealing ring 1032 to prevent the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank 10312 to leak into the vapor outlet 10311, and a second vaporizer sealing ring 1036 to prevent the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank 10312 to leak into the vaporizer assembly 103.
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge has an E-liquid filling opening 10383 defined on a vaporizer base 1037 for filling and refilling the E-liquid into the E-liquid storage tank 10312, an E-liquid plug 10382 to close the E-liquid storage tank after filling and refilling the E-liquid, and a third vaporizer sealing ring 10381 positioned between the vaporizer base 1037 and the E-liquid plug 10382 to prevent the E-liquid from leaking after filling and refilling E-liquid. The E-liquid filling opening 10383 is designed to fill the E-liquid during the manufacturing process, and to allow user to refill the E-liquid. When the E-liquid inside the E-liquid storage tank 10312 is empty, the user may check the condition of the vaporizer. When the condition of the vaporizer including the E-liquid storage medium 1034 and the heating element 1035 are still in good working condition, the user may decide to refill the E-liquid storage tank 10312 and reinstall the replaceable cartridge 1031 to continue use the replaceable cartridge 1031. When the condition of the vaporizer including the E-liquid storage medium 1034 and/or the heating element 1035 are not in good working condition, the user may choose to replace the replaceable cartridge 1031.
In certain embodiments, the replaceable cartridge 1031 has a first vaporizer electrical power connector 10391, and a second vaporizer electrical power connector 10392. The first vaporizer electrical power connector 10391 connects to a first electrical power connector 10221 of the electrical power supply assembly 104, and the second vaporizer electrical power connector 10392 connects to a second electrical power connector 10222 of the electrical power supply assembly 104, respectively.
Referring back to
The air flow activated switch 1044 positioned on a switch support 1045 to power on or power off electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104 to the electronic cigarette 10. The rotatable USB charger 1047 receives electrical charge from any standard USB connectors to charge the rechargeable battery 1041. The standard USB connectors may include USB power cubes, computer USB ports, USB power converters or any standard USB ports that has a direct current power source. The rotatable USB charger 1047 is rotatable between a closed position (0°) and a fully open position (180°). In one embodiment, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly 104 includes a first locking pin 10421 and a second locking pin 10422 for stop the rotatable USB charger 1047 when the rotatable USB charger 1047 is in the closed position. The rotatable USB charger 1047 includes a first USB charger rotating axel 10471 and a second USB charger rotating axel 10472 for allowing the rotatable USB charger 1047 to rotate between the closed position and the open position. The rotatable USB charger 1047 also includes a first USB side panel 10461 and a second USB side panel 10461 to form a USB connector. In certain embodiments, the rotatable USB charger 1047 may include a first USB connector recovery spring 10475 positioned on the first USB charger rotating axle 10471 and a second USB connector recovery spring 10476 positioned on the second USB charger rotating axle 10472 for keep the rotatable USB charger 1047 in the closed position when it is not plugged into a USB port for charging, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly 104 has an air intake opening 10441 defined on the switch support 1045 for allowing outside air to pass through the closed air passage to a vaporizer assembly 103, and the air flow activated switch 1044 positioned on the switch support 1045. When the outside air enters the closed air passage through the air intake opening 10441 as a user sucks air through a mouthpiece 101, the air flow activated switch 1044 powers on the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104 to the vaporizer assembly 103 to vaporize E-liquid in the vaporizer assembly 103, and when the user stops sucking air through the mouthpiece 101, the air flow activated switch 1044 powers off the electrical power of the electrical power supply assembly 104. The closed air passage includes a space over the air intake opening 10441, inside an electronic cigarette body 102 and between the rechargeable battery 1041 and the electrical power supply assembly base 1042, through the cartridge installation base 1023, a center air passage of the replaceable cartridge and the vapor outlet 10311 as show in
In certain embodiments, the electrical power supply assembly 104 includes: a printed circuit board 1046 for installing electronic components of the rotatable USB charger 1047, and a first USB electrical power connector 10473 and a second USB electrical power connector 10474 to receive electrical charge through the rotatable USB charger 1047. The electrical power supply assembly 104 may also include: a power supply back panel 1043 for closing a back side of the electrical power supply assembly 104, one or more power supply display light emitting diodes (LED) 10432 for displaying current electrical power remaining in the rechargeable battery 1041, and a power supply display cover 10431 for covering the power supply display light emitting diodes (LED) 10432.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein, and accompanying drawings.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201710340102.1 | May 2017 | CN | national |
