Atomizer assembly, electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly, and method for assembling the atomizer assembly

The disclosure discloses an atomizer assembly, an electronic cigarette equipped with such atomizer assembly and a method for assembling the atomizer assembly. Wherein, an atomizer assembly configured to be connected with a battery assembly to form an electronic cigarette comprises an atomizer base, wherein, the atomizer assembly further comprises a marking element sheathed on the atomizer base and fixedly connected to the atomizer base, and the marking element is configured to be twisted off when the electronic cigarette is used. In this way, users can judge whether the electronic cigarette has been used or not. Therefore, the using process of the electronic cigarette is more healthy and can avoid diseases transmitting reciprocally between different users.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 201320596244.1, filed in P.R. China on Sep. 25, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of electronic-heating technology, and more particularly relates to an atomizer assembly, an electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly and a method for assembling the atomizer assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE UTILITY MODEL

At present, an electronic cigarette includes a suction nozzle for smoking. The suction nozzle may be an independent part, one end of an atomizer or the whole electronic cigarette. When users use the electronic cigarette, they can smoke with the suction nozzle after a switch of the electronic cigarette is turned on. The user can also directly smoke with the suction nozzle to generate smoking air flow in the electronic cigarette. In this situation, the electronic cigarette can sense the smoking air flow by an air flow sensor, and generate smoke in response to the smoking air flow. After the electronic cigarette is smoked, it can be putted into a cigarette box for the next use.

Because the electronic cigarette has no mark for indicating whether it has been used or not, it is difficult to judge whether the electronic cigarette has been used or not. When many users use a number of electronic cigarettes received in the same cigarette box, one of the electronic cigarettes may be shared by different users, which is unhygienic and may transmit disease. Moreover, even if the cigarette box is a special one, it is difficult to judge whether the electronic cigarettes received in the cigarette box has been used or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aiming at the drawbacks in the prior art that it is difficult to judge whether the electronic cigarette has been used or not, an atomizer assembly that can be judged whether it has been used or not is provided in the disclosure. An electronic cigarette equipped with such atomizer assembly and a method for assembling the atomizer assembly are provided in this disclosure.

In one aspect, an atomizer assembly configured to be connected with a battery assembly to form an electronic cigarette is provided in the disclosure. The atomizer assembly comprises an atomizer base, wherein, the atomizer assembly further comprises a marking element sheathed on the atomizer base and fixedly connected to the atomizer base, and the marking element is configured to be twisted off when the electronic cigarette is used. The atomizer base defines a channel for enabling cigarette smoke to flow, the marking element is sheathed on at least one end of the atomizer base and seals the channel. The atomizer base comprises an outer sleeve and a connector, one end of the outer sleeve is connected to a connector configured for being connected with the battery assembly; the marking element includes an open end and a closed end; wherein, the open end is fixedly connected to either the outer sleeve or the connector. The marking element further comprises a marking body connected between the open end and the closed end; the marking body is cylinder-shaped and defines an accommodating space, the marking body comprises a connecting portion and an accommodating portion, the connecting portion extends in the direction toward the closed end to form the accommodating portion; the connecting portion is fixedly connected to either the outer sleeve or the connector and is twisted off under a twisting force.

In one embodiment, a suction nozzle is mounted on one end of the outer sleeve, and the suction nozzle is received in the accommodating space of the marking element.

In another embodiment, the connector is received in the accommodating space of the marking element.

Yet in another embodiment, the connector comprises an external electrode electrically connected to the battery assembly, and the connecting portion is fixedly connected to the external electrode. The connecting portion comprises a plurality of connecting ribs arranged along the circumferential direction of the marking element and an engaging ring connected to ends of all the connecting ribs that are remote from the accommodating part; an engaging groove for engaging with the engaging ring is defined in a part of the external electrode corresponding to the connecting portion, and the engaging groove extends along the circumferential direction of the external electrode. A recess is defined in a part of the inner surface of the engaging ring, and a protruding part shaped to match the recess is defined in a part of the engaging groove corresponding to the recess.

Yet in another embodiment, the plurality of connecting ribs are spaced from each other along the circumferential direction of the marking element.

Yet in another embodiment, a thickness of each connecting rib ranges from 0.15 mm to 0.5 mm.

In another aspect, an electronic cigarette is provided in this disclosure. The electronic cigarette comprises a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly connected to the battery assembly, wherein, the atomizer assembly comprises an atomizer base, wherein, the atomizer assembly further comprises a marking element sheathed on the atomizer base and fixedly connected to the atomizer base, and the marking element is configured to be twisted off when the electronic cigarette is used.

In one embodiment, the atomizer assembly comprises a first outer sleeve and the battery assembly comprises a second outer sleeve, the first outer sleeve and the second outer sleeve are formed integrally as one piece.

In another embodiment, the battery assembly is detachably connected to the atomizer assembly.

In further another embodiment, a method for assembling atomizer assembly is provided in this disclosure. The method comprising:

Step 1, providing an atomizer base;

Step 2, providing a marking element configured to be twisted off when the electronic cigarette is used;

Step 3, sheathing the atomizer base on the marking element, and fixedly connecting one end of the marking element to the atomizer base to connect the marking element with the atomizer base together.

In one embodiment, the step 3 comprises:

receiving a suction nozzle of the atomizer base into the marking element, using a closed end of the marking element to resist against an end face of the suction mouth; connecting an open end of the marking element with an external electrode connected to an outer sleeve; a marking body located between the closed end and the open end receiving the outer sleeve and the suction nozzle and sealing a channel located in the outer sleeve. Use an engaging ring of a connecting portion of the marking body to engage with an engaging groove of the external electrode, to connect the marking element with the outer sleeve together.

In another embodiment, the step 3 comprises:

receiving a connector of the atomizer base in the marking element, using the closed end of the marking element to resist against an end face of the connector of the atomizer assembly; fixedly connecting an open end of the marking element to an external electrode connected to an outer sleeve; a marking body located between the closed end and the open end receiving the outer sleeve and the connector and sealing a channel located in the outer sleeve. Use an engaging ring of a connecting portion of the marking body to engage with an engaging groove of the external electrode to connect the marking element with the outer sleeve together.

When implementing this disclosure, the following advantages can be achieved:

In this disclosure, the atomizer assembly is provided with a marking element. When users use an electronic cigarette equipped with such atomizer assembly, they need to twist off the making means. In such case, the marking element can be regarded as a mark for judging whether the electronic cigarette has been used or not. Therefore, the using process of the electronic cigarette is more healthy and can avoid diseases transmitting reciprocally between different users. Moreover, because the atomizer assembly is sheathed on the marking element, the electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly has a compact structure and high stability. Furthermore, the marking element can also provide protection and dustproof effect to the electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In this disclosure, the atomizer assembly is provided with a marking element. When users use an electronic cigarette equipped with such an atomizer assembly, they must twist off the making means. In such case, the marking element can be regarded as a mark for judging whether the electronic cigarette has been used or not. Therefore, the using process of the electronic cigarette is more healthy and can avoid diseases transmitting reciprocally between different users. Moreover, because the atomizer assembly is sheathed on the marking element, the electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly has a compact structure and high stability. Furthermore, the marking element can also provide protection and dustproof effect to the electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a structural schematic view of the atomizer assembly in accordance of a first embodiment of the disclosure and a structural schematic view of the atomizer assembly in accordance of a second embodiment of the disclosure are respectively shown. In each of the two embodiments, the atomizer assembly comprises an assembly base20and a marking element10. The marking element10is sheathed on the atomizer base20, and is fixedly connected with the atomizer base20. When users use the electronic cigarette, they need to twist off the marking element10to separate the marking element10from the atomizer base20. Therefore, the marking element10can be used to judge whether the electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly has been used or not.

FIG. 3shows a structural schematic view of the atomizer base20. The atomizer base20comprises an outer sleeve200, a suction nozzle210mounted on one end of the outer sleeve200, and a connector220configured to be connected with a battery assembly of the electronic cigarette. The connector220is mounted on another end of the outer sleeve200. The connector220is provided with an external electrode230inserted into the end of the outer sleeve200. The outer sleeve200is substantially hollow circular truncated cone shaped. The cross sectional area of the outer sleeve200gradually increases from the suction nozzle210to the connector220. The outer sleeve200defines a channel (240) for enabling cigarette smoke to flow. The channel communicates with the connector220and the suction nozzle210. The marking element10is sheathed on at least one end of the outer sleeve200and seals the channel240to prevent the cigarette smoke from flowing out. An engaging groove211is defined in a part of the outer surface of the external electrode230for engaging with the marking element10.

FIG. 4shows a structural schematic view of the marking element10. The marking element10is hollow cylinder shaped. The marking element10includes an open end120, a closed end110, and a marking body130connected between the open end120and the closed end110. The marking body130has an accommodating space (133), which is configured for receiving a part of the assembly base20while being assembled with the assembly base20. Specifically, in one aspect, if one end of the outer sleeve200where the suction nozzle210is mounted is received in the marking element10, a part of the outer sleeve200and the suction nozzle210are received in the accommodating space of the marking body130. Preferably, the end face of the suction nozzle210is resisted against the inner side of the closed end110of the marking element10. In another aspect, if another end of the outer sleeve200where the connector220is mounted is received in the marking element10, a part of the outer sleeve200and the connector220are received in the accommodating space133of the marking body130of the marking element10. Preferably, the end face of the connector220is resisted against the inner side of the closed end110of the marking element10.

The marking body130further includes a connecting portion132and an accommodating portion131. The connecting portion132extends toward the closed end110to form the accommodating portion131. The marking element10is fixedly connected to the atomizer base20through the connecting portion132. When users use the electronic cigarette equipped with the atomizer assembly, they need to apply twisting force to the connecting portion132to twist off the connecting portion132.

In Specific, the connecting portion132includes a plurality of connecting ribs1321arranged along the circumferential direction of the marking element10and an engaging ring1322connected to ends of all the connecting ribs1321that are remote from the accommodating portion131. The engaging ring1322is engaged with the engaging groove211defined in the part of the outside surface of the external electrode230corresponding to the connecting portion132. The engaging groove211extends along the circumferential direction of the external electrode230and is provided around the external electrode230. The engaging groove211is shaped to match the engaging ring1322, so that an interference fit can be formed between the engaging ring1322and the engaging groove211to fixedly engage the engaging ring1322with the engaging groove211. When users use the electronic cigarette, the marking element10should be twisted off. In this embodiment, the connecting ribs1321can be twisted off under twisting force. In another embodiment, the marking element10and the outer sleeve200are formed integrally, and the marking element10is connected with the outer sleeve200by the connecting ribs1321. In another embodiment, the marking element10is attached to the atomizer base20by welding, gluing, or the like. In such cases, the marking element10can also be twisted off under twisting force. The connection between the marking element10and the atomizer base20can be selected according to the material of the marking element10. Preferably, the marking element10can be made of polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or the like. An interference fit can be formed between the connecting portion132and the atomizer base20to connect the connecting portion132with the atomizer base20.

To avoid slipping generated between the marking element10and the atomizer base20while twisting off the marking element10, a recess1323is defined in a part of the inside surface of the engaging ring1322of the marking element10. The recess1323is connected to one of the connecting ribs1321. The width of the recess1323is equal to each connecting rib1321. A protruding part212is defined in a part of the engaging groove211of the external electrode230corresponding to the recess1323. The protruding part212is shaped to match the recess1323. While assembling, the protruding part212is engaged with the recess1323to prevent the slipping while twisting off the marking element10.

In order to be more convenient for twisting off the connecting ribs1321, the thickness of each connecting rib1321is designed to range from 0.15 mm to 0.5 mm; and preferably, range from 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm.

In order to be more convenient for twisting off the marking element10, the connecting ribs1321are arranged along the circumferential direction of the marking element10and are spaced from each other. A gap is formed between every two adjacent connecting ribs1321. The widths of all the gaps can be equal, and can also be different from each other.

The shape of each connecting rib1321may be square, round, oval, triangle, etc.

An electronic cigarette is also provided by the disclosure. The electronic cigarette includes the aforementioned atomizer assembly and a battery assembly. In one embodiment, the atomizer assembly comprises a first outer sleeve and the battery assembly comprises a second outer sleeve, and the first outer sleeve and the second outer sleeve are formed integrally. In the other embodiment, the battery assembly is detachably connected to the atomizer assembly. The battery assembly is the same as that in the prior art, and does not need to be described in detail.

A method for assembling the atomizer assembly is also provided by this disclosure. The method comprises the following steps:

Step 1, providing a atomizer base20; Step 2, providing a marking element10configured to be twisted off when the electronic cigarette is used;

Step 3, sheathing the atomizer base20on the marking element10, and fixedly connecting one end of the marking element10to the atomizer base20to connect the marking element10with the atomizer base20together.

In one embodiment, during the step 3, a suction nozzle210of the atomizer base20is received in the marking element10. A closed end110of the marking element10resists against an end face of the suction nozzle210. An open end120of the marking element10is connected with an external electrode230connected to an outer sleeve200. A marking body130located between the closed end110and the open end120receives the outer sleeve200and the suction nozzle210and seals a channel240defined in the outer sleeve200. An engaging ring1322of a connecting portion132of the marking body130is engaged with an engaging groove211of the external electrode230to connect the marking element10with the outer sleeve200together.

In another embodiment, during the step 3, a connector220of the atomizer base20is received in the marking element10. The closed end110of the marking element10resists against an end face of the connector220of the atomizer base20. An open end120of the marking element10is connected to an external electrode230connected to an outer sleeve200. A marking body130located between the closed end110and the open end120receives the outer sleeve200and the connector220and seals a channel240defined in the outer sleeve200. An engaging ring1322of a connecting portion132of the marking body130is engaged with a engaging groove211of the external electrode230to connect the marking element10with the outer sleeve200together.

While the present invention has been described by reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, all the changes will be included within the scope of the appended claims.