Abstract:
An exemplary atomizer includes a main body, an atomizing component received in the main body, and a liquid chamber configured for receiving tobacco liquid. The atomizing component is configured for generating aerosol from the tobacco liquid. The atomizing component and the liquid chamber cooperatively define a liquid passage therebetween. The atomizer further includes a liquid blocking element defining a notch. The liquid blocking element is capable of rotating relative to the main body between a first position where the liquid blocking element prevents the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber from flowing into the liquid passage, and a second position where the notch is in alignment with the liquid passage, so that the tobacco liquid flows to the atomizing component via the liquid passage.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to aerosol inhaling devices, and particularly to an atomizer and an aerosol inhaling device using same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Typically, an atomizer for an electronic cigarette includes a liquid chamber configured for storing tobacco liquid, a glass fiber core for absorbing tobacco liquid from the tobacco liquid, and a heating component configured for heating the tobacco liquid in the glass fiber core to form aerosol. The aerosol is expelled via an air passage. When the atomizer is not used, the tobacco liquid still permeates the glass fiber core, and the tobacco liquid may drop from the glass fiber core and leak due to gravity or a shake. 
     What are needed, therefore, are an atomizer and an aerosol inhaling device using same, which can overcome the above shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary atomizer includes a main body, an atomizing component received in the main body, and a liquid chamber configured for receiving tobacco liquid. The atomizing component is configured for generating aerosol from the tobacco liquid. The atomizing component and the liquid chamber cooperatively define a liquid passage therebetween. The atomizer further includes a liquid blocking element defining a notch. The liquid blocking element is capable of rotating relative to the main body between a first position where the liquid blocking element prevents the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber from flowing into the liquid passage, and a second position where the notch is in alignment with the liquid passage, so that the tobacco liquid flows to the atomizing component via the liquid passage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an atomizer according to an exemplary embodiment including a liquid blocking element and a liquid passage, when the liquid passage is closed. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of area A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the liquid blocking element and components forming the liquid passage. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an atomizer according to an exemplary embodiment, when the liquid passage is opened. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an aerosol inhaling device including the atomizer of  FIG. 1  and a power supply when unassembled. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol inhaling device of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an atomizer  100  includes a main body  101 , an atomizing component  106  in the main body  101 , and a liquid chamber  108  defined in the main body  101 . The liquid chamber  108  is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for storing tobacco liquid. The atomizing component  106  is configured for heating the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber  108  to form aerosol. A mouthpiece  102  is provided at an end of the main body  101 . A cover  103  is further provided to shield the mouthpiece  102  from dust. The atomizer  100  further includes a liquid blocking element  104  rotatable relative to the main body  101 . The liquid blocking element  104  includes a notch  105 . A liquid passage  107  is positioned between the atomizing component  106  and the liquid chamber  108 . When the liquid blocking element  104  is in a first position, the liquid blocking element  104  prevents the tobacco liquid from entering the liquid passage  107 , and the liquid passage  107  is closed. When the atomizer  100  is not used, the liquid blocking element  104  is kept in this position, avoiding liquid leakage. When a user of the atomizer  100  smokes, the liquid blocking element  104  is rotated a predetermined angle, so that the notch  105  aligns with the liquid passage  107 . In this second position, the liquid passage  107  is opened, the tobacco liquid flows to the atomizing component  106  via the liquid passage  107 . 
     The atomizer further includes an air pipe assembly  109  for expelling aerosol generated by the atomizing component  106 . The liquid chamber  108  surrounds the air pipe assembly  109 . The air pipe assembly  109  is substantially arranged along a central axis of the main body  101 , and two ends of the air pipe assembly  109  are hermetically coupled to the main body  101  by a fixing holder thereof and to the mouthpiece  102 , respectively. The air pipe assembly  109  and an inner surface of the main body  101  cooperatively define an annular space serving as the liquid chamber  108 . A first end of the air pipe assembly  109  is connected with an atomizing cavity, and a second end of the air pipe assembly  109  is connected with the mouthpiece  102 . The atomizer  100  further includes a holder  110  at a bottom end thereof for connecting with an external power supply. The liquid blocking element  104  is fixed engaged with the holder  110 , and the holder  110  is rotatable relative to the main body  101 . An electrode holder  111  is arranged in the holder  110 , and two electrodes  123  (See  FIG. 5 ) are fixed in the electrode holder  111 . After the holder  110  is coupled to the power supply, the holder  110  is fixed relative to the power supply. Accordingly, the liquid blocking element  104  is rotated to open or close the liquid passage  107  by rotating the power supply (described in detail later). 
     Also referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , as a preferred embodiment, the atomizing component  106  includes a heating element and a liquid conducting element  121  in contact with the heating element. The liquid conducting element  121  is porous, and absorbs tobacco liquid via capillary action. The liquid conducting element  121  may be made of glass fiber core. The heating element may be a heating wire  122 . The heating wire  122  is evenly wound around the liquid conducting element  121 . The liquid conducting element  121  is configured for absorbing tobacco liquid. 
     Further, the main body  101  defines a buffer chamber  115  in communication with the liquid passage  107 . The buffer chamber  115  can store an amount of tobacco liquid. When the liquid passage  107  is opened by the liquid blocking element  104 , the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber  108  flows into the buffer chamber  115 . Two opposite ends of the liquid conducting element  121  insert into the buffer chamber  115  to absorb tobacco liquid. 
     In the present embodiment, the liquid blocking element  104  is substantially cylindrical. The liquid blocking element  104  is arranged between the air pipe assembly  109  and the main body  101 . The atomizing element  106  is positioned in the liquid blocking element  104 . The air pipe assembly  109  includes an air pipe  112  and a fixing holder  113  arranged at a bottom end of the air pipe  112 . A ring-shaped silica holder  114  is arranged between the liquid blocking element  104  and the fixing holder  113 . A sealing ring  118  is arranged between the liquid blocking element  104  and the main body  101 . The silica holder  114  defines a first liquid hole  10 . The fixing holder  113  defines a second liquid hole  20  in a sidewall. The silica holder  114  tightly nests the fixing holder  113 , and is fixed relative to the fixing holder  113 . The first liquid hole  10  and the second liquid hole  20  are in alignment to form the liquid passage  107 . 
     The liquid conducting element  121  is supported by a bracket  120 . The bracket  120  is cylindrical, and allows air to pass through. The bracket  120  and the liquid conducting element  121  are both positioned in the liquid blocking element  104 . The bracket  120  and the liquid blocking element  104  cooperatively define the buffer chamber  115 . A large part of the liquid conducting element  121  is positioned in the bracket  120 , and two opposite ends of the liquid conducting element  121  insert into the buffer chamber  115 . The notch  105  is substantially in alignment with the liquid passage  107  in a horizontal direction. When the liquid blocking element  104  is rotated, the main body  101 , the fixing holder  113 , the silica holder  114  and the atomizing component  106  are fixed. The notch  105  is selectively in alignment with the liquid passage  107 , and the liquid passage  107  is thus selectively opened or closed. 
     To adjust the liquid blocking element  104  conveniently, the liquid blocking element  104  defines a first groove  116  and a second groove  117  in an outer surface. The first groove  116  and the second groove  117  cooperatively form a predetermined arc angle. The main body  101  includes an elastic pin  119  for engaging into the first groove  116  or the second groove  117 . The elastic pin  119  includes a pin and a spring connected to a first end of the pin. An opposite second end of the pin is arc-shaped in cross-section, and is engaged in the first groove  116  or the second groove  117 . When the liquid blocking element  104  is rotated, the elastic pin  119  is shifted between the first groove  116  and the second groove  117 , so that the user can check if the liquid blocking element  104  opens or closes the liquid passage  107 . In a vertical direction, the elastic pin  119  is positioned right below the liquid passage, and the second groove  117  is arranged right below the notch  105 . Accordingly, only when the elastic pin  119  engages in the second groove  117 , the notch  105  communicates with the liquid passage  107 . When the elastic pin engages into the first groove  116 , the notch  105  and the liquid passage  107  are misaligned, and the liquid passage  107  is closed. Quite usefully, an arc angle formed between the first groove  116  or the second groove  117  is 180 degrees. Therefore, the liquid conducting element  104  is rotated 180 degrees from a position where the liquid passage  107  is open to a position where the liquid passage  107  is closed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the liquid passage  107  is open. In this state, the main body  101  is rotated 180 degrees relative to the liquid blocking element  104  and the holder  110 . The elastic pin  119  is shifted from the first groove  116  to the second groove  117 . The liquid passage  107  is rotated to align with the notch  105 , so that the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber  108  flows to the liquid passage  107 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an aerosol inhaling device includes an atomizer  100  and a power supply  200  coupled with the atomizer  100 . The atomizer  100  and the power supply  200  are connected by a plug-type connection. The power supply  200  includes a recessed portion at an end, and the holder  110  is engaged in the recessed portion. The electrode holder  111  includes two electrodes  123 , which are connected to two opposite ends of the heating wire  122 . Two electrodes  204  are arranged in the recessed portion. The electrodes  204 , usually in the form of elastic pins, are configured for contacting with the electrodes  123 . The power supply  200  further includes a switch  201  for turning on/off the atomizer  100 . 
     To ensure that the holder  110  is rotated together with the power supply  200  after engagement, a protruding block  124  is provided on a sidewall of the holder  110 , and the recessed portion defines a groove  205  matching with the protruding block  124 . After the holder  110  is inserted into the recessed portion, the protruding block  124  is engaged in groove  205 , avoiding a rotation between the holder  110  and the power supply  200 . The atomizer  100  and the power supply  200  may be coupled by means of interference fit. In the present embodiment, the atomizer  100  and the power supply  200  are engaged by a magnetic connection. In detail, the power supply  200  includes a permanent magnet  202  in the recessed portion, the holder  110  includes an iron piece  126 , and the atomizer  100  and the power supply  200  are coupled due to a magnetic force between the permanent magnet  202  and the iron piece  126 . To strengthen an axial connection between the atomizer  100  and the power supply  200 , the holder  110  further includes a protrusion  125  on the sidewall, and correspondingly, the recessed portion of the power supply  200  further includes a recess  203 . When the atomizer  100  is engaged with the power supply  200 , the protrusion  125  is coupled with the recess  203 . 
     Also referring to  FIG. 6 , the power supply  200  includes two lion batteries  207  and a charge interface  208  at one end. The batteries  207  outputs a voltage via a circuit board  206 . The electrodes  204  are electrically connected with the circuit board  206 . After the atomizer  100  is coupled with the power supply  200 , the electrodes  204  are in contact with the electrodes  123  in the electrode holder  111 . When the user smokes, the power supply  200  is rotated, and then the power supply  200  drives the holder  110  and the liquid blocking element  104  to rotate between the first position and the second position. 
     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.