Battery assembly and electronic cigarette having same

An exemplary battery assembly for an electronic cigarette includes a housing, a battery received in the housing, and a first switch assembly connected to the battery. The first switch assembly includes a fixed electrode, and a rotatable electrode. The fixed electrode is connected to the battery. The fixed electrode has a conductive area and an insulated area. The rotatable electrode is rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the rotatable electrode is in contact with the conductive area, thus connecting to the fixed electrode, and the first switch assembly is turned on. In the second position, the rotatable electrode is positioned in the insulated area, thus disconnecting from the fixed electrode, and the first switch assembly is turned off.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to electronic cigarettes, and particularly to a battery assembly and an electronic cigarette using same.

BACKGROUND ART

A typical electronic cigarette includes an atomizer and a battery assembly. Generally, the battery assembly includes a push switch. When the push switch is pressed, the electronic cigarette is turned on. However, the push switch may be pressed by mistake. In this case, the electronic cigarette will start working, consuming power in the battery assembly, and causing unnecessary trouble.

What is needed, therefore, is a battery assembly and an electronic cigarette using same, which can overcome the above shortcomings.

SUMMARY

An exemplary battery assembly for an electronic cigarette includes a housing, a battery received in the housing, and a first switch assembly connected to the battery. The first switch assembly includes a fixed electrode, and a rotatable electrode. The fixed electrode is connected to the battery. The fixed electrode has a conductive area and an insulated area. The rotatable electrode is rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the rotatable electrode is in contact with the conductive area, thus connecting to the fixed electrode, and the first switch assembly is turned on. In the second position, the rotatable electrode is positioned in the insulated area, thus disconnecting from the fixed electrode, and the first switch assembly is turned off.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a battery assembly100for an electronic cigarette includes a housing21, a battery20arranged in the housing21, and a first switch assembly partially arranged in the housing21to be installed at an end of the housing21. The first switch assembly includes a fixed electrode23, a rotatable electrode, an insulated ring33, a first holder251, a second holder252, an engaging rod26, a clip ring27, a threaded sleeve assembly28, and a rotatable sleeve29. The rotatable electrode includes a first electrode241and two second electrodes242.

The fixed electrode23includes an electrically insulated area231, an electrically conductive area232, and a contact pin233. In the present embodiment, the insulated area231includes two through holes, each of which is larger than two second electrodes242in dimension; the conductive area232is a solid area.

The insulated ring33defines a through hole333. The insulated area231and the conductive area232are positioned above the insulated ring33, and the contact pin233passes through the through hole333to electrically connect with the battery.

Referring toFIG. 3, the first holder251includes a first central through hole257and a plurality of locating rods250. The second holder252includes a second central hole253, two electrode holes254and a plurality of locating holes260. The first holder251further includes two spaced sidewalls258and two gaps259. The second holder252further includes two spaced sidewalls255and two gaps256.

The first electrode241goes through the first central through hole257, and is located in the second central through hole253. An end of the first electrode241is connected to an insulated sheet240positioned in the second through hole253. The two second electrodes242are fixed at two ends of a conductive elastic element243, and received in the two electrode holes254. The two second electrodes242protrude from the two electrode holes254. The conductive elastic element243is connected to the first electrode241, and the two second electrodes242are electrically connected with the first electrode241via the conductive elastic element243. The locating rods250insert into the locating holes260in one-to-one relationship, so that the first holder251is positioned above the second holder252, and presses the conductive elastic element243. The first holder251is assembled with the second holder252in such a manner that the two sidewalls258are corresponding to the two gaps256, and the two sidewalls255are corresponding to the two gaps259.

Further, the second holder252defines two locating slots262radially extending to a side surface thereof. Two elastic elements261are engaged in the two locating slots262. Two engaging rods26hold against the two elastic elements261, and protrude from the side surface of the second holder252.

Also referring toFIG. 4, a clip ring27is provided on an external wall of the second holder252. The clip ring27defines four engaging slots271. The clip ring27is fixed at one end of the housing21. The two engaging rods26are coupled with the two elastic elements261, and thus are movable along the locating slots262so as to insert into the engaging slots271or disengage from the engaging slots271.

In the present embodiment, the threaded sleeve assembly28includes an external screw sleeve and an internal screw sleeve, and an end of the external screw sleeve is fixedly coupled with the first holder251. The threaded sleeve assembly28is accommodated in an internal space291of the rotatable sleeve29. An internal wall of the rotatable sleeve29is fixedly engaged with an external wall of the threaded sleeve assembly28so that the rotatable sleeve29drives the threaded sleeve assembly28to rotate when the rotatable sleeve29is rotated.

Referring toFIGS. 5-6, when the rotatable sleeve29is rotated, the rotatable sleeve29drives the threaded sleeve assembly28to rotate, the threaded sleeve assembly28drives the first holder251, the second holder252, the first electrode241, the second electrode242, the engaging rods26to rotate. When the two engaging rods26insert in the two engaging slots271, the two second electrodes242are rotated to a first position (as seen inFIG. 5), where the two second electrodes242are in contact with the conductive area232of the fixed electrode23. In this position, the rotatable electrode is electrically connected to the fixed electrode23, and the first switch assembly is turned on. When the rotatable sleeve29is continued to rotate, the two engaging rods26insert in the other two engaging slots271, the two second electrodes242are rotated to a second position (as seen inFIG. 6), where the two second electrodes242are located in the insulated areas231of the fixed electrode23. In this position, the rotatable electrode is disconnected from the fixed electrode23, and the first switch assembly is turned off.

In the present embodiment, four engaging slots271of a clip ring27are distributed along two diameters of a clip ring27. Accordingly, the state of the first switch assembly is changed when the rotatable sleeve29is rotated every 90 degrees. The first electrode241is an elastic pin electrode, which includes a fixed part246, a movable part245, and an elastic component247arranged between the fixed part246and the movable part245. The movable part245is movable along an axial direction thereof upon an external force. Accordingly, a length of the first electrode241can be adjusted.

It is to be understood that the total number of the engaging rods26is not limited to two. For example, the total number of the engaging rods26may be only one, and the engaging rod26may extend through a locating slot262. The total number of the engaging slots271is not limited to four. In addition, the first holder251and the second holder252may be integrally formed. Before molding, the conductive elastic element243and the elastic elements261are embedded, and the second electrode242and the engaging rods26are respectively connected to the conductive elastic element243and the elastic elements261.

In other embodiments, the total number of the second electrodes may be only one, and the second electrode242and the first electrode241may be integrally formed.

The electronic cigarette is turned on or off by rotating the first switch assembly, preventing the electronic cigarette from turning on when pressed by mistake. In the present embodiment, the battery assembly further includes a push switch22arranged at an end of the housing21, and the first switch assembly serves as a safety switch or a locking switch. The push switch22, as a second switch assembly, includes an internal elastic member. After the first switch assembly is turned on, the second switch further controls the battery assembly to turn on or off. When the second switch is pressed, the battery assembly is turned on; when the second switch is not pressed, the second switch restores to its natural state, and the battery assembly is turned off.

Referring toFIG. 7, a fixed electrode43according to a second embodiment is shown. The fixed electrode43includes an insulated area431made of insulated material and a conductive area432made of conductive material. It is noteworthy that positions of the insulated area431and the conductive area432may be interchanged.

Referring toFIG. 8, an electronic cigarette200includes the above-mentioned battery assembly100and an atomizer300. The battery assembly100is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for powering the atomizer300. The atomizer300inserts into the battery assembly100, and is threadedly coupled to the threaded sleeve assembly of the battery assembly100. The atomizer300includes an electrode (not shown) for connecting with the first electrode241. Because the length of the first electrode241can be adjusted along the axial direction, the battery assembly100fits the atomizer300with the electrode of different depths. After the battery assembly100is connected with the atomizer300, the first switch assembly can be switched to the on or off state by rotating the rotatable sleeve29. When the first switch assembly is turned on, a user of the electronic cigarette200can press the second switch assembly22to smoke. When the user does not smoke, the first switch assembly is turned off, and the electronic cigarette200will not work even if the second switch assembly22were pressed by mistake.

It is to be understood that the atomizer300and the battery assembly100may be integrally formed.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments and methods without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.