Replaceable vaporizer assembly and electronic cigarette having the same

The present disclosure relates to a replaceable vaporizer assembly and an electronic cigarette having the replaceable vaporizer assembly. In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette may include an electronic cigarette body, and a replaceable vaporizer assembly. The electronic cigarette body may include a mouthpiece installed in a mouthpiece base, a connector base, a mounting base, an E-liquid storage tank, and a connector. The mounting base and the connector base are threadedly connected through a first internal thread of the mounting base and an external thread of the connector base to form an air chamber inside of the mounting base and the connector base. When in operation, outside air enters the air chamber through the multiple air intake openings and is vaporized by the replaceable vaporizer assembly, goes up through multiple air gaps between the mounting base and the connector base, and exits the electronic cigarette body through the mouthpiece.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of electronic cigarette, and more particularly to replaceable vaporizer assemblies and electronic cigarettes having the replaceable vaporizer assemblies.

BACKGROUND

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.

Replacing a vaporizer in a conventional electronic cigarette is difficult. When E-liquid gets on the vaporizer while someone is replacing the vaporizer, he/she may be contaminated with E-liquid, and it is hard to clean. Therefore, it is desirable to replace the vaporizer easily without getting E-liquid contamination.

Therefore, an unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a replaceable vaporizer assembly. In certain embodiments, the replaceable vaporizer assembly may include an E-liquid storage medium, and a heating element. The heating element may include a positive terminal, and a negative terminal. The positive terminal is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of a power module, and the negative terminal is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the power module. When the power module is switched on, the heating element is energized by the power module to heat E-liquid stored in the E-liquid storage medium from an E-liquid storage tank to produce E-liquid vapor for an electronic cigarette.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette body100. The electronic cigarette body may include: a mouthpiece, a mouthpiece base, a connector base, a mounting base, an E-liquid storage tank, and a connector. In certain embodiments, the mouthpiece base may define a center opening to slidedly fit the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece base may include an external thread.

In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette body may install a replaceable vaporizer assembly. The replaceable vaporizer assembly may include an E-liquid storage medium and a heating element. In certain embodiments, the heating element may have a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The positive terminal is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the power module, and the negative terminal is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the power module, when the power module is switched on the heating element is energized by the power module to heat E-liquid stored in the E-liquid storage medium from an E-liquid storage tank to produce E-liquid vapor for an electronic cigarette.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette. In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette may include an electronic cigarette body, and a replaceable vaporizer assembly. The electronic cigarette body may include a mouthpiece installed in a mouthpiece base, a connector base, a mounting base, an E-liquid storage tank, and a connector. The mounting base and the connector base are threadedly connected through a first internal thread of the mounting base and an external thread of the connector base to form an air chamber inside of the mounting base and the connector base. When in operation, outside air enters the air chamber through the multiple air intake openings and is vaporized by the replaceable vaporizer assembly, goes up through multiple air gaps between the mounting base and the connector base, and exits the electronic cigarette body through the mouthpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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 drawingsFIGS. 1 through 10.

Referring now toFIG. 1, an external view of an exemplary electronic cigarette100is shown according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The electronic cigarette100includes multiple distinctive features of present disclosure: an easy replaceable vaporizer assembly, an easy E-liquid refilling mechanism, and a new air flow mechanism for the electronic cigarette100. In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette100may include: a mouthpiece102, a mouthpiece base104, a connector base108, a mounting base110, an E-liquid storage tank114, and a connector118.

In certain embodiments, the mouthpiece102may be removed from the mouthpiece base104by pulling the mouthpiece102upwards. A sealing ring1021(not shown inFIG. 1) of the mouthpiece102may be used to snuggly fit the mouthpiece102into the mouthpiece base104. The mouthpiece base104and the connector base108may be threadedly connected together. The connector base108and the mounting base110may be threadedly connected together. The mounting base110and the connector118may be threadedly connected to form the E-liquid storage tank114.

In certain embodiments, the mounting base110may define multiple air intake openings1101,1102, . . . ,110N, where N is a positive integer. These air intake openings are evenly distributed along the perimeters of the mounting base110to provide air into an air chamber150(not shown inFIG. 1) inside the mounting base110. As shown inFIG. 1, the mounting base110defined four air intake openings: a first air intake opening1101, a second air intake opening1102, a third air intake opening1103(not shown inFIG. 1), and a fourth air intake opening1104. These multiple air intake openings forms the air flow mechanism for the electronic cigarette100. Unlike conventional air intakes are located near the bottom of the electronic cigarette100, these air intake openings are located near the top of the electronic cigarette100. The vaporization occurs near the top of the electronic cigarette100such that any water vapor may flow to the bottom and will not get into user's mouth through the mouthpiece102.

In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette100may include a positive terminal122, and a negative terminal form by the connector118. The connector118may include a second external thread118configured to threadedly connect to an internal thread of a power module (not shown inFIG. 1).

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, an exploded perspective view of the electronic cigarette100having a replaceable vaporizer assembly200and a detailed cross-sectional view of the electronic cigarette100are shown according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a replaceable vaporizer assembly200. In certain embodiments, the replaceable vaporizer assembly200may include an E-liquid storage medium206, and a heating element208. The heating element208may include a positive terminal202, and a negative terminal204. The positive terminal202is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the power module, and the negative terminal204is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the power module. When the power module is switched on, the heating element208is energized by the power module to heat E-liquid stored in the E-liquid storage medium206from an E-liquid storage tank114to produce E-liquid vapor for an electronic cigarette.

In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage medium206may include: a cylindrical E-liquid storage medium206and a round E-liquid storage medium206. In one embodiment, the cylindrical E-liquid storage medium206may be installed outside of the heating element208. In another embodiment, the round E-liquid storage medium206may be installed inside of the heating element208. In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage medium206may include: cotton fibers, polypropylene fibers, terylene fibers, nylon fibers, porous ceramic materials, or any combinations of these materials.

In certain embodiments, the heating element208may be formed on a cylindrical tube having a top portion, a middle portion and a bottom portion. The heating element208may be formed at the top portion, the middle portion, or the bottom portion of the cylindrical tube.

In certain embodiments, the heating element208may include multiple heating elements to increase amount of E-liquid vapor generated. In one embodiment, these heating elements may be electrically coupled in serial. In another embodiment, these heating elements may be electrically coupled in parallel. In certain embodiments, these heating elements may be formed at the top portion, the middle portion, and/or the bottom portion of the cylindrical tube.

In certain embodiments, the heating element208is made of resistive electrical conductive materials having large contact area with the E-liquid storage medium206to increase amount of E-liquid vapor generated. In certain embodiments, the heating element208may include: a grid shaped heating element, a mesh shaped heating element, a net shaped heating element, a spiral heating element, and any combinations of these shapes.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette body100. The electronic cigarette body100may include: a mouthpiece102, a mouthpiece base104, a connector base108, a mounting base110, an E-liquid storage tank114, and a connector118. In certain embodiments, the mouthpiece base104may define a center opening to slidedly fit the mouthpiece102. A sealing ring1021of the mouthpiece102may be used to ascertain reliable connection between the mouthpiece102and the mouthpiece base104. The mouthpiece base104may include an external thread1041.

In certain embodiments, the connector base108may include an internal thread1081and an external thread1082. The internal thread1081may threadedly connect to the external thread1041of the mouthpiece base104.

In certain embodiments, the mounting base110may define multiple air intake openings1101,1102, . . . ,110N, where N is a positive integer. These air intake openings are evenly distributed along the perimeters of the mounting base110to provide air into an air chamber150(not shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) inside the mounting base110. As shown inFIG. 1, the mounting base110defined four air intake openings: a first air intake opening1101, a second air intake opening1102, a third air intake opening1103(as shown inFIG. 3), and a fourth air intake opening1104(not shown inFIGS. 2 and 3). These multiple air intake openings forms the air flow mechanism for the electronic cigarette body100. Unlike conventional air intakes are located near the bottom of the electronic cigarette body100, these air intake openings are located near the top of the electronic cigarette body100. The vaporization occurs near the top of the electronic cigarette body100such that any water vapor may flow to the bottom and will not get into user's mouth through the mouthpiece102.

These air intake openings are evenly distributed along the perimeters of the mounting base110to provide air into an air chamber150(as shown inFIG. 4) inside the mounting base110. The mounting base110may include a first internal thread1105and a second internal thread1106. The first internal thread1105may threadedly connect to the external thread1082of the connector base108.

In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage tank114may have a top end and a bottom end. The E-liquid storage tank114is positioned between the mounting base110and the connector118. The E-liquid storage tank114may be sealed by a first sealing ring112between the mounting base110on the top end of the E-liquid storage tank114and a second sealing ring116between the bottom end of the E-liquid storage tank114and the connector118. The E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank114is in communication with the E-liquid storage medium206.

In certain embodiments, the connector118may include a first external thread1181configured to threadedly connect to the second internal thread of the mounting base110, and a second external thread1182configured to threadedly connect to a negative terminal of a power module.

In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette body100may install a replaceable vaporizer assembly200. The replaceable vaporizer assembly200may include an E-liquid storage medium206and a heating element208. In certain embodiments, the heating element208may have a positive terminal202and a negative terminal204. The positive terminal202is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the power module, and the negative terminal204is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the power module, when the power module is switched on the heating element208is energized by the power module to heat E-liquid stored in the E-liquid storage medium206from an E-liquid storage tank114to produce E-liquid vapor for an electronic cigarette.

In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette body100may include a positive terminal122of the replaceable vaporizer assembly200and an insulation tube120. The positive terminal122of the replaceable vaporizer assembly200may be electrically coupled to the positive terminal202of the heating element208and the positive terminal of the power module. The insulation tube120may be used to insulate the positive terminal122of the replaceable vaporizer assembly200and the second external thread1182of the connector118. The second external thread1182of the connector118forms a negative terminal of the replaceable vaporizer assembly200.

In certain embodiments, the mounting base110and the connector base108are threadedly connected through the first internal thread1105of the mounting base110and the external thread1082of the connector base108to form an air chamber150inside of the mounting base110and the connector base108. Outside air enters the air chamber150to be vaporized by the replaceable vaporizer assembly200through the multiple air intake openings, goes up through multiple gaps between the mounting base110and the connector base108, and exits the electronic cigarette body100through the mouthpiece102.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette. In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette may include an electronic cigarette body100, and a replaceable vaporizer assembly200. The electronic cigarette body100may include a mouthpiece102installed in a mouthpiece base104, a connector base108, a mounting base110, an E-liquid storage tank114, and a connector118.

In certain embodiments, the connector base108may include an internal thread1081and the external thread1082. The internal thread1081may threadedly connect to an external thread1041of the mouthpiece base104. The mounting base110may include the first internal thread1105and a second internal thread1106. The first internal thread1105may threadedly connect to the external thread1082of the connector base108. The connector118may include a first external thread1181and a second external thread1182. The first external thread1181may threadedly connect to the second internal thread1106of the mounting base110. The second external thread1182forms a negative terminal of the electronic cigarette body100, and may be threadedly connect to an internal thread of a power module.

In certain embodiments, the electronic cigarette body100may also include: a positive terminal122of the electronic cigarette body100, and an insulation tube120. The positive terminal122of the electronic cigarette body100may be electrically coupled to the positive terminal of a heating element208and the positive terminal of the power module. The insulation tube120may insulate the positive terminal122of the electronic cigarette body100and the second external thread1182of the connector118. The second external thread1182of the connector118forms a negative terminal of the electronic cigarette body100.

In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage tank114is positioned between the mounting base110and the connector118. The E-liquid storage tank114is sealed by a first sealing ring112between the mounting base110on a top end of the E-liquid storage tank114and a second sealing ring116between a bottom end of the E-liquid storage tank114and the connector118. E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank114is in communication with the E-liquid storage medium.

In certain embodiments, a third sealing ring124is used between the air chamber150and the E-liquid storage tank114to prevent the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank114from getting into the air chamber150, and prevent the air/vapor in the air chamber150from getting into the E-liquid storage tank114. A fourth sealing ring126may be used between the replaceable vaporizer assembly200and the connector118. The fourth sealing ring126is not tightly sealing the gap between the replaceable vaporizer assembly200and the connector118. Certain air gaps may exist such that the E-liquid storage tank114may have normal air pressure allowing the E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank114to be in communication freely with the E-liquid storage medium206and provide the E-liquid storage medium206with the E-liquid.

In certain embodiments, the replaceable vaporizer assembly200may include: an E-liquid storage medium206, and the heating element208. The heating element208may have a positive terminal202, and a negative terminal204. The positive terminal202is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the power module, and the negative terminal is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the power module, when the power module is switched on the heating element is energized by the power module to heat E-liquid stored in the E-liquid storage medium from the E-liquid storage tank to produce E-liquid vapor for the electronic cigarette.

In certain embodiments, the heating element208may include multiple heating elements to increase amount of E-liquid vapor generated. In one embodiment, the multiple heating elements may be electrically coupled in serial. In another embodiment, the multiple heating elements may be electrically coupled in parallel.

In certain embodiments, the heating element208is made of resistive electrical conductive materials having large contact area with the E-liquid storage medium206to increase amount of E-liquid vapor generated. In certain embodiments, the heating element208may include: a grid shaped heating element, a mesh shaped heating element, a net shaped heating element, a spiral heating element, and any combinations of these shapes.

In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage medium may include a cylindrical E-liquid storage medium206and a round E-liquid storage medium206. The cylindrical E-liquid storage medium206may be installed outside of the heating element208. The round E-liquid storage medium206may be installed inside of the heating element208. In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage medium206may include cotton fibers, polypropylene fibers, terylene fibers, nylon fibers, porous ceramic materials, and any combination of these materials.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a detailed cross-sectional view of an air passage of the electronic cigarette100is shown according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the mounting base110may define multiple air intake openings1101,1102, . . . ,110N, where N is a positive integer. The mounting base110and the connector base108are threadedly connected through a first internal thread1105of the mounting base110and an external thread1082of the connector base108to form an air chamber150inside of the mounting base110and the connector base108. When in operation, outside air enters the air chamber150through the multiple air intake openings and is vaporized by the replaceable vaporizer assembly200, goes up through multiple air gaps between the mounting base110and the connector base108, and exits the electronic cigarette body100through the mouthpiece102.

In certain embodiments, the air passage is marked by a series of arrows. Air outside of the electronic cigarette body100enters the electronic cigarette body100through the first air intake opening1101, the second air intake opening1102, the third air intake opening1103, and the fourth air intake opening1104of the mounting base110into the air chamber150. The air in the air chamber150is vaporized by the replaceable vaporizer assembly200to form E-liquid vapor, and then the E-liquid vapor goes up through multiple air gaps of the connector base108and then continues to move to the center of the connector base108and upwards to the mouthpiece102due to a vacuum formed by sucking action of a user.

Referring now toFIG. 5, an external view of the exemplary electronic cigarette body100having the mouthpiece102removed from the mouthpiece base104is shown according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the mouthpiece base104defines a center opening to slidedly fit the mouthpiece102. A sealing ring1021of the mouthpiece102may be used to ascertain reliable connection between the mouthpiece102and the mouthpiece base104. When removing the mouthpiece102, the mouthpiece102may be pulled upwards to detach the mouthpiece102from the mouthpiece base104as shown inFIG. 5.

Referring now toFIG. 6, an external view of the electronic cigarette having the mouthpiece102and the mouthpiece base104removed for replacing the replaceable vaporizer assembly200according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The mouthpiece base104may include a negative terminal contact plate1042. The negative terminal contact plate1042of the mouthpiece base104is used to press the replaceable vaporizer assembly200in place and provide a negative terminal contact to the negative terminal202of the replaceable vaporizer assembly200. When replacing the replaceable vaporizer assembly200, the mouthpiece102and the mouthpiece base104may be removed as shown inFIG. 6, by unscrewing the mouthpiece base104to detach the external thread1041of the mouthpiece base104from the internal thread1081of the connector base108.

Referring now toFIG. 7, an external view of the electronic cigarette having a mouthpiece, a mouthpiece base, a connector base and a heating element removed for replacing replaceable vaporizer assembly200and/or refill E-liquid into the E-liquid storage tank114is shown according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. When the user wishes to replace the replaceable vaporizer assembly200, or to refill E-liquid into the E-liquid storage tank114, the user may unscrewing the connector base108to detach the external thread1082of the connector base108from the first internal thread1105of the mounting base110and lift the connector base108with the mouthpiece102, the mouthpiece base104, and the replaceable vaporizer assembly200up. With the connector base108having the mouthpiece102, the mouthpiece base104, and the replaceable vaporizer assembly200removed, the electronic cigarette body100exposes an opening in the middle of the mounting base110for refilling. The combination of connector base108having the mouthpiece102, the mouthpiece base104, and the replaceable vaporizer assembly200may be further disassembled to replace the replaceable vaporizer assembly200.

Referring now toFIG. 8, a perspective view of refilling E-liquid into an E-liquid storage tank is shown according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 7, the mouthpiece102, the mouthpiece base104, the connector base108and the replaceable vaporizer assembly200are removed the electronic cigarette body100, the electronic cigarette body100exposes an opening in the middle of the mounting base110for refilling E-liquid. In one embodiment, an E-liquid refilling bottle300may be used to refill the E-liquid into the E-liquid storage tank114.

As shown inFIG. 9A, the combination of connector base108having the mouthpiece102, the mouthpiece base104, and the replaceable vaporizer assembly200may be further disassembled to replace the replaceable vaporizer assembly200.

In certain embodiments, as shown inFIG. 6, the replaceable vaporizer assembly200is pressed down by the negative terminal contact plate1042of the mouthpiece base104. Therefore, in order to replace the replaceable vaporizer assembly200, the user may unscrew the mouthpiece base104to detach the external thread1041of the mouthpiece base104from the internal thread1081of the connector base108such that the replaceable vaporizer assembly200is inside of the connector base108without the negative terminal contact plate1042of the mouthpiece base104holding it down as shown inFIG. 9B. The user may pull the replaceable vaporizer assembly200from the top end of the connector base108to remove the replaceable vaporizer assembly200as shown inFIG. 9C. Once a new replaceable vaporizer assembly200is installed inside the connector base108, the user may install the mouthpiece base104and the mouthpiece102back in place.

FIG. 10Ashows an external view of an E-liquid storage tank, andFIG. 10Bshows an exploded perspective view of the E-liquid storage tank according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage tank114is positioned between the mounting base110and the connector118. The E-liquid storage tank114is sealed by a first sealing ring112between the mounting base110on a top end of the E-liquid storage tank114and a second sealing ring116between a bottom end of the E-liquid storage tank114and the connector118. E-liquid in the E-liquid storage tank114is in communication with the E-liquid storage medium.

In certain embodiments, the E-liquid storage tank114may be replaced. When the user wishes to replace the E-liquid storage tank114, the user may unscrew the mounting base110to detach the second internal thread1106of the mounting base110from the first external thread1181of the connector118. The E-liquid storage tank114may be replaced as shown inFIG. 10B.