Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette, including an atomizing device for vaporizing tobacco liquid into aerosol and a liquid reservoir for storing tobacco liquid in an inhaling shell. The atomizing device includes an atomizing cup with an atomizing chamber, and an atomizer held in the atomizing chamber. The atomizing cup is molded by an integrated process. The mouthpiece device further includes a cap at an end of the liquid reservoir, and an aerosol passage therein: The cap defines a stepped slot for filtering tobacco particles in aerosol. The stepped slot is communicated with the aerosol passage. The present invention mainly solves such problems of the existing mouthpiece device as complicated manufacturing, high cost, bad heat insulation, and failing to filter tobacco particles; and obtains a mouthpiece device with simple manufacturing, lower cost, good heat insulation and better effectiveness of filtering tobacco particles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette, especially to a mouthpiece device of the electronic cigarette. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , mouthpiece device of the existing electronic cigarette comprises an inhaling shell  1 ′, atomizing device  2 ′, liquid-guiding tube  3 ′ for guiding tobacco liquid flowing therethrough, stopper  4 ′, and cap  5 ′. 
     The shell  1 ′ comprises a reservoir  11 ′ for storing tobacco liquid therein and an aerosol passage  12 ′ for allowing aerosol to pass therethrough. The atomizing device  2 ′ comprises an atomizer  21 ′ and an atomizing cup assembly  22 ′ for holding the atomizer  21 ′. The atomizing cup assembly  22 ′ is composed of a support seat  221 ′, a ceramic seat  222 ′ and a foam-nickel unit  223 ′. The liquid-guiding tube  3 ′ has one end thereof connected with the reservoir  11 ′ through a metal frame  6 ′ so as to guide the tobacco liquid from the reservoir  11 ′ to the atomizing cup assembly  22 ′. The stopper  4 ′ is inserted in the reservoir  11 ′ at one end facing the atomizing device  2 ′, and the cap  5 ′ is used for sealing the other end of the reservoir  11 ′. 
     However, the existing mouthpiece device of the electronic cigarette has such disadvantages that: it is very complicated to manufacture and assemble the atomizing cup assembly  22 ′, the manufacturing cost is high; the ceramic seat  222 ′ and foam-nickel unit  223 ′ directly contact with an inner wall of the shell  1 ′ which results unsatisfactory heat insulation, therefore, the temperature at outer wall of the shell  1 ′ is relatively high even to be felt burning hand, and the electronic cigarette cannot be used; the metal frame  6 ′ does not facilitate liquid-guiding, but raises the manufacturing cost; moreover, the cap  5 ′ is set at an inhaling end of the shell  1 ′, the aerosol passage  12 ′ directly extends to outside of the shell  1 ′, therefore, tobacco particles will flow together with aerosol from the aerosol passage  12 ′ to outside of the shell  1 ′, and thus fail to be filtered. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A main object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette, which facilitates manufacturing, reduces cost, and has good heat insulation. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette, which perfectly filter tobacco particles. 
     To obtain the above object, a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette comprises an inhaling shell, an atomizing device within the inhaling shell for vaporizing tobacco liquid into aerosol, and a liquid reservoir inside the inhaling shell for storing tobacco liquid therein. The atomizing device comprises an atomizing cup with an atomizing chamber therein, and an atomizer held in the atomizing chamber. The atomizing cup is an integrated cup body made in one mould. 
     Further, the atomizing cup comprises a mounting seat disposed in the atomizing chamber for holding the atomizer, and defines wire-through holes for passing electric wire therethrough. The wire-through holes are defined in the atomizing cup and communicated with the atomizing chamber. 
     Further, the atomizing cup is shaped as a cylinder, has a figuration and dimension adapted for an inner wall of the inhaling shell, and defines a through heat-dissipation hole in center thereof. 
     Further, the atomizing cup is made from silica gel. 
     Further, the mouthpiece device comprises a liquid-guiding tube and a stopper which is disposed at one end of the liquid reservoir. One end of the liquid-guiding tube is inserted through the stopper and extends to the liquid reservoir. The stopper defines a tube hole, and the liquid-guiding tube is engaged in the tube hole by an interference fit, sealing material circularly inserted therebetween. 
     Further, the mouthpiece device comprises a cap for sealing the other end of the liquid reservoir, and an aerosol passage defined in the mouthpiece device. The cap defines an air slot for depositing tobacco particles on surface thereof, and a suction hole for air communicating in and out of the inhaling shell. The air slot is communicated with the aerosol passage, and the suction hole is also communicated with the aerosol passage. 
     Further, the air slot is stepped, and the stepped air slot is communicated with the suction hole. The aerosol passage is communicated with the suction hole through the stepped air slot. Otherwise, the air slot runs through the cap from a top end to a bottom end thereof, is positioned in sidewall of the cap, and is depressed towards a center line of the cap. 
     Further, the cap is made from silica gel and is an integrated structure by an integrated molding process, and has a configuration and dimension adapted for an inner chamber of the inhaling shell. 
     Further, a filtering layer is set on an inner wall of the aerosol passage according to a cross section of the aerosol passage. 
     Further, the filtering layer is a filtering plate with at least one filtering hole defined therein. The filtering plate is set on the inner wall of the aerosol passage and perpendicularly to a central line of the aerosol passage, and is integrated with the inner wall of the aerosol passage. 
     The advantages of the present invention are that: the mouthpiece device has an integrated atomizing cup, which facilitates manufacturing and reduces cost; and the atomizing cup has good heat insulation performance; furthermore, the mouthpiece device has a filtering plate and the cap with filtering function, which render the mouthpiece device to preferably filter tobacco liquid. 
     A further detailed description to the present invention follows with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette of prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the mouthpiece device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of the mouthpiece device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an atomizing cup of the mouthpiece device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the atomizing cup of the mouthpiece device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a cap of the mouthpiece device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  a perspective view of the cap of the mouthpiece device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-8 , the present invention provides a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette and a filtering device thereof. The mouthpiece device comprises an inhaling shell  1  with two open ends, an atomizing device  2 , a liquid-guiding tube  3 , a stopper  4 , and the filtering device which has a cap  5  or cap  5 ″. One of the open end of the inhaling shell  1  is used as a connecting end for connection with a power supply part of the electronic cigarette, and the other open end is used as an inhaling end for user&#39;s suction and is covered with the cap  5  or  5 ″. 
     The inhaling shell  1  comprises a liquid reservoir  11 , an aerosol passage  12  alongside the liquid reservoir  11 , a connection element  13 , an electrode element  14 , and an insulating ring  15 . The liquid reservoir  11  and the aerosol passage  12  are longitudinally set in the shell  1 . The first ends as inner ends of both the liquid reservoir  11  and the aerosol passage  12  are open side by side and facing the atomizing device  2  within the inhaling shell  1 , and the second ends of both the liquid reservoir  11  and the aerosol passage  12  are facing the inhaling end of the inhaling shell  1 . In this embodiment, the liquid reservoir  11  is integrated in the shell  1 . The liquid reservoir  11  is used to store tobacco liquid, and has the inner end thereof set with the stopper  4 , and has the second end set with the cap  5 . Thus the stopper  4  and cap  5  together seal tobacco liquid in the reservoir  11 . The aerosol passage  12  is used for aerosol to flow therethrough to an inhaling end of the shell  1  after tobacco liquid is vaporized to generate aerosol by the atomizer  2 . A filtering layer is set on inner wall of the aerosol passage  12 . The filtering layer is set on the inner wall of the aerosol passage  12 , and is adapted for a cross section of the inner wall. In this embodiment, the filtering layer is a filtering plate  121  integrated with the inner wall of the aerosol passage  12 . The filtering plate  121  is set perpendicularly to a central line of the aerosol passage  12 , and defines at least one filtering hole  122  therethrough. The connection element  13  is disposed at the connecting end of the shell  1 . One end of the connection element  13  with external threads thereon is threadedly connected with the power supply part (not shown) of the electronic cigarette, and the other end thereof is inserted in the shell  1 . The connection element  13  defines a cylindrical chamber inside for receiving the atomizing device  2 , and defines a mounting groove inside for holding the electrode element  14  therein. The connecting part  13  itself as an electrode of the atomizing device  2  is electrically connected with electrode of the power supply part. The electrode element  14  is fitted in the mounting groove of the connection element  13  in virtue of inserting the insulating ring  15  therebetween. The electrode element  14  has an end contacted with a corresponding electrode of the power supply part so as to energize an electric circuit. 
     The atomizing device  2  comprises an atomizer  21  and an atomizing cup  22 . The atomizer  21  comprises an electric heat wire  211  and an electric heat rod  212 . The electric heat wire  211  winds around the heat rod  212 , and is mounted in the atomizing cup  22  by means of the heat rod  212 . The atomizing cup  22  is an integrated and inseparable cup body made in one mould, and comprises an atomizing chamber  221 , a mounting seat  222  with a fixing groove therein, wire-through holes  223 , and a through heat-dissipation hole  224  in center of the atomizing cup  22 . 
     The mounting seat  222  with the fixing groove therein integrally and inseparably extends from a bottom of the atomizing chamber  221  up to a certain height, which is used for holding the atomizer  21 . The electric heat rod  212  is fixed in the fixing groove of the mounting seat  222  in a diameter direction of the atomizing cup  22  and facing one end of the liquid-guiding tube  3 . The wire-through holes  223  are used to pass electric wires therethrough, and are disposed in the atomizing cup  22  and communicated to the atomizing chamber  221 . There are two wire-through holes in this embodiment. An electric wire connecting one end of the heat rod  212  passes one wire-through hole  223  to electrically connect with the connection element  13 , another electric wire connecting the other end of the heat rod  212  passes the other wire-through hole  223  to electrically connect with electrode element  14 . The heat-dissipation hole  224  is used to transfer heat from the atomizer to the power supply part. In this embodiment, the atomizing cup  22  is disposed in the shell  1  in virtue of the connection element  13 , the atomizing cup  22  is held in the connection element  13 , and the dimension and figuration thereof are designed corresponding to the cylindrical chamber of the connection element  13 . The material for the atomizing cup  22  has good heat resistance, such as silica gel, which renders the atomizing cup  22  with good heat insulation. The atomizing cup  22  is shaped as a cylinder, and has a diameter larger than that of the cylindrical chamber of connection element  13  so as to be tightly fitted in the connection element  13 . The atomizing cup  22  of this embodiment not only facilitates manufacturing of the mouthpiece device, but also reduces the cost. Furthermore, since the atomizing cup  22  is made from silica gel with good heat resistance, which provides a good heat insulation, the temperature at outer wall of the mouthpiece device keeps relatively low, and will not burn hand or mouth. 
     The liquid-guiding tube  3  is used to guide tobacco liquid from reservoir  11  to atomizing chamber  221  for atomization. The liquid-guiding tube  3  has a first end thereof directly passing through the stopper  4  and extending in the reservoir  11  and a second end extending into the atomizing device  2 . The liquid-guiding tube  3  is engaged with the stopper  4  by interference fit, and is made from glass fiber. 
     The stopper  4  is used for sealing the liquid reservoir  11 , and defines a tube hole therein. The liquid-guiding tube  3  is engaged in the hole by interference fit, and sealing material is circularly inserted between contacts of both. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in the first embodiment, the cap  5  comprises a main body  51 , a plug  52  extending from bottom of the main body, an air slot  53 , and a suction hole  54 . The cap  5  seals the reservoir  11  in such way that the plug  52  is inserted in the reservoir  11  from the inhaling end of the shell  1 . The air slot  53  is stepped and shaped as letter Z. The air slot  53  is positioned along the same diameter as the plug  52 , and is communicated with the aerosol passage  12 . The suction hole  54  is used for air communicating between inside and outside of the shell  1 . The suction hole  54  is communicated with the air slot  53 , and the aerosol passage  12  communicates with the suction hole  54  through the air slot  53 . The dimension and figuration of the cap  5  are designed according to inner diameter of the inhaling end of the shell  1 . In this embodiment, the cap  5  is shaped as a cylinder, and is made from silica gel. The diameter of the cap  5  is larger than inner diameter of the shell  1  so that the cap  5  is tightly fitted in the shell  1  by means of a circumferential sidewall of the cap  5  being tightly fitted in a circumferential inner wall of the inhaling shell  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in the second embodiment, the cap  5 ″ comprises a main body  51 ″, a plug  52 ″ extending from bottom of the main body, air slots  53 ″, and suction hole  54 ″. The cap  5 ″ is mainly similar to the cap  5  in the first embodiment, but it is different that the air slot  53 ″ runs through the cap  5 ″ from a top end to a bottom end of the main body, is positioned in the sidewall of the cap  5 ″, and is a concave parallel to a center line of the cap. The air slots directly communicate with the aerosol passage  12 , and has a cross-section shaped as arc, letter U or V. 
     The filtering layer and the cap  5  or cap  5 ″ constitute the filter device. The tobacco liquid is guided from reservoir  11  to atomizer  21  which vaporizes the liquid drops into aerosol mixed with tobacco particles. The aerosol flows into the aerosol passage  12 , and are firstly filtered by the filtering plate  121 . The aerosol passes through the filtering hole  122  of the filtering plate  121  to next part of the aerosol passage, while aerosol flows to the filtering plate  121  and thus confronts resistance thereof, tobacco particles mixed in aerosol deposit on the filtering plate  121 , so that tobacco particles are filtered from aerosol. Then, aerosol keeps to flow along the passage  12 , and is secondly filtered by the cap  5 . Aerosol flows from the passage  12 , then passes from the air slot  53  and through the suction hole  54 , and finally flows to outside of shell  1 . Or, aerosol flows from the passage  12  and through the air slot  53 ″, then directly to outside of shell  1 . Since air slot  53  or  53 ″ provides resistance to the movement of the aerosol, other tobacco particles are deposited in the air slot  53  or  53 ′ for the purpose of being filtered and so as to prevent more tobacco particles flowing to outside of the shell  1  or being inhaled by human body. 
     In the view of disclosure to the embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications and/or substitutes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.