Abstract:
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette and mouthpiece part thereof. The mouthpiece part includes within an inhaling shell: an aerosol passage, a reservoir, an atomizing device, and a guiding device for sealing the reservoir and guiding tobacco substance from the reservoir to the atomizing device for vaporization without fluid leakage. The guiding device includes a guiding plate and an absorption piece laminating each other. Tobacco substance penetrates the guiding plate and is absorbed and stored in the absorption piece for vaporization. The electronic cigarette includes the mouthpiece part and a power source part connecting each other. The electronic cigarette and mouthpiece part thereof facilitate assembling, improve guiding tobacco substance, and prevent fluid-leakage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a kind of electronic cigarette and a mouthpiece part thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A mouthpiece part of the existing electronic cigarette comprises in an opaque inhaling shell: a reservoir, an atomizing device with an electric heat wire and an atomizing cup, a long guiding tube for guiding tobacco substance from the reservoir to the atomizing device, and a mouthpiece cap at an end of the inhaling shell. Both ends of the electric heat wire are respectively associated with positive electrode and negative electrode by conductive wires. 
         [0005]    However, such mouthpiece part of the existing electronic cigarette with the guiding tube extending into the reservoir, has problems such as complicated and inconvenient assembly, fluid leaking, and uncontrollability of guiding tobacco substance. Furthermore, the electric heat wire is pre-soldered or pre-fixed with conductive wires, and then is soldered to two electrodes of atomizing device, which results a miscellaneous and uneasy assembly process. Moreover, the atomizing cup is consisted of many parts, which adds to the difficulties of assembling electric heat wire. Finally, the inhaling shell is opaque, remaining tobacco substance in the reservoir is unobservable, which results unpleasant-flavor gas usually generated from burning electric heat wire after tobacco substance is exhausted. 
         [0006]    Therefore, an improved electronic cigarette and a mouthpiece part thereof are desired which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A main object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece part and an electronic cigarette, which facilitates assembly and manufacturing, and improves guiding tobacco substance, and prevents fluid-leakage. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece part and an electronic cigarette, in which tobacco substance remaining is observable. 
         [0009]    To obtain the above object, a mouthpiece part of an electronic cigarette comprises an inhaling shell; within the inhaling shell, an aerosol passage, a reservoir for storing tobacco substance, an atomizing device which comprising an atomizing cup and an atomizer mounted in the atomizing cup, a guiding device set between the reservoir and atomizing device for sealing the reservoir and guiding tobacco substance from the reservoir to the atomizing cup for vaporization without fluid leakage. The guiding device comprises a guiding plate and an absorption piece laminating each other in such way that the guiding plate covers an open end of the reservoir and the absorption piece facing the atomizer in the atomizing cup. Thereby tobacco substance penetrates the guiding plate and is absorbed and stored in the absorption piece for vaporization. 
         [0010]    In a preferable embodiment, the guiding plate defines at least one guiding hole for tobacco substance penetrating therethrough. Both the guiding plate and the absorption piece substantially has a circle shape with a cutout edge, the guiding hole in the guiding plate comprises a first main guiding hole in center of the circle and a plurality of secondary guiding holes at radial directions. The materials for the absorption piece are refractory wool, glass fiber, or heavy canvas. 
         [0011]    In a preferable embodiment, the mouthpiece part further comprises an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating ring inserting therebetween. The first electrode comprises a cylindrical section inserting an open end of the inhaling shell for holding the atomizing device therein, and an engaging section for receiving the second electrode and insulating ring therein. The atomizer comprise an electric heat wire mounted in the atomizing cup with each end of the electric heat wire respectively passes through a corresponding wire-inserting hole in the atomizing cup. One end finally extends and is gripped between the first electrode and outer surface of the atomizing cup by interference fit therebetween, and the other end finally extends and is gripped between the second electrode and the insulating ring by interference fit therebetween. Thereby both ends of the electric heat wire respectively and electrically connected with the first electrode and the second electrode. 
         [0012]    In a preferable embodiment, the whole or part of the mouthpiece part is transparent for observation. More preferably, the inhaling shell where the reservoir is located is transparent, so that remaining tobacco substance in the reservoir is observable. 
         [0013]    To obtain the above object, the electronic cigarette comprises a mouthpiece part and a power source part electrically connected with each other. The mouthpiece part has the structure as described above. 
         [0014]    In a preferable embodiment, the engaging section of the first electrode with the second electrode and insulating ring therein is electrically engaged with the power source part. Thereby the mouthpiece part is assembled with the power source part, and the first and second electrodes of the mouthpiece part are electrically connected with corresponding electrode of the power source part. The engaging section of the mouthpiece part is connected with the power source part by means of clipping, inserting, soldering, or thread engagement. 
         [0015]    In a preferable embodiment, the power source part comprises a media player, an alarm clock, a compass, or a voice recorder therein. 
         [0016]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a mouthpiece part of an electronic cigarette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the mouthpiece part in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the mouthpiece part of  FIG. 2  along Line A-A; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of the mouthpiece part of  FIG. 2  along Line B-B; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, perspective view of the mouthpiece part of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a guiding plate of the mouthpiece part in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of an inhaling shell of the mouthpiece part in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an atomizing cup of the mouthpiece part in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the atomizing cup of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the atomizing cup of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is another cross-sectional view of the atomizing cup of  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional, partly exploded view of the electronic cigarette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 12 , an electronic cigarette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a mouthpiece part  90  and a power source part  91 . The power source part  91  is electrically connected with and supplies electric power to the mouthpiece part  90 . Also referring to  FIGS. 3-4  together, the mouthpiece part  90  comprises an inhaling shell  1 , an atomizing device  2 , a guiding device  3  and electrode assembly  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). The power source part  91  supplies electric power to atomizing device  2  of the mouthpiece part  90  by electrode assembly  10 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-7 , the inhaling shell  1  substantially is a cylinder with an open end and a closed end, and defines a reservoir  11  and an aerosol passage  12  therein. A smoke-flow hole  16  is defined in the closed end and communicates with the aerosol passage  12  so that tobacco substance is vaporized into vapor mists to be inhaled by the user by flowing along the passage  12  and puffing through the smoke-flow hole  16  at the closed end of the shell  1 . This inhaling allows the user to absorb the scent-media in a vapor form together with the airflow inside the shell. In this way, the user is satisfied with a scent taste that mimics cigarette smoking. The closed end of the inhaling shell  1  and the guiding device  3  respectively seal either end of reservoir  11 . In a preferable embodiment, the reservoir  11  for storing liquid tobacco substance is integrated in the shell  1 . All or at least part of the inhaling shell  1  is transparent. Preferably, the section of the shell  1  where the reservoir  11  is located is transparent so that tobacco substance remaining in the reservoir  11  is observable. 
         [0031]    The electrode assembly  10  comprises a first electrode  13  and a second electrode  14  of the atomizing device  2 , and insulating ring  15  inserting therebetween. As an embodiment, the first electrode  13  is configurated as negative electrode of the atomizing device  2 , accordingly, the second electrode  14  is configurated as a positive electrode of the same. The first electrode  13  comprises a cylindrical section  130  and an opposite engaging section  131  with external thread thereon (not labeled). The second electrode  14  is fitted in the engaging section  131  of the first electrode  13  by inserting the insulating ring  15  therebetween. The first electrode  13  has the cylindrical section  130  tightly fitted in the inhaling shell  1  from the open end thereof and forms a cylindrical chamber for holding the atomizing device  2  therein. The electrode assembly  10  of the mouthpiece part  90  is threadedly engaged with the power source part  91  in such manner that a bottom end of the second electrode  14  contact with the corresponding electrode of the power source part  91  and the engaging section  131  of the first electrode  13  threadedly and electrically engaged in the corresponding electrode of the power source part  91 , so that the electronic cigarette is detachably assembled and an electric circuit thereof is set up. 
         [0032]    The atomizing device  2  comprises an atomizer  21  and atomizing cup  22 . The atomizer  21  comprises an electric heat wire  211  and an electric heat bar  212 . The electric heat wire  211  winds around the electric heat bar  212  and the atomizer  21  is mounted in the atomizing cup  22  via the electric heat bar  212 . Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , the atomizing cup  22  is manufactured by an integrated molding process, which has an open end and a closed end. A bottom wall (not labeled) of the closed end and an annular side wall (not labeled) of the atomizing cup  22  enclose an atomizing chamber  221 . A pair of seats  222  longitudinally extends upwards from the annular side wall of the atomizing cup  22  to a height, and each longitudinally defines a fix groove  2220  along inner wall of the seat  222  for fixing the electric heat bar  212  therein. A pair of wire-inserting holes  223  respectively aligned to the fix grooves  2220  are defined through the bottom wall of the atomizing cup  22 . A center through hole  224  are defined in the bottom wall for heat dissipation, and a wire-cross groove  225  is defined in the bottom wall of the atomizing cup  22  opposite to the atomizing chamber  221  and communicated with one wire-inserting hole  223 . The electric heat wire  211  winds round the electric heat bar  212  with both ends of the electric heat wire  211  respectively through the wire-inserting holes  223  while the heat bar  212  is mounted in the fixing groove  2220  of the seats  222 . One end of the electric heat wire  211  passes through the corresponding wire-inserting hole  223  and wire-cross groove  225 , extends back between the outer surface of the atomizing cup  22  and the first electrode  13 , and is tightly fixed in and electrically connected with the first electrode  13  by means of the atomizing cup  22  being tightly engaged in the first electrode  13  by interference fit. The other end of the electric heat wire  211  passes through the other wire-inserting hole  223  and extends between the second electrode  14  and insulating ring  15  so as to electrically connect with the second electrode  14  by means of the insulating ring  15  being engaged in the second electrode  14  by interference fit. Therefore, both ends of the electric heat wire  221  are respectively electrically connected with the first electrode  13  and second electrode  14  by such gripping means instead of soldering means, which facilitates manufacturing and assembling the mouthpiece part  90 . Furthermore, heat generated from the atomizer  21  is transmitted from the center through hole  224  to the power source part  91  for heat dissipation. The atomizing cup  22  is fitted in the inhaling shell  1  in such way that the atomizing cup  22  is fixed in the cylindrical chamber of the first electrode  13  and the first electrode  13  is inserted in the inhaling shell  1 . The atomizing cup  22  has a configuration and size adapted to the cylindrical chamber of the first electrode  13 , and is made from heat-stable material such as silica gel by an integrated molding process. The atomizing cup  22  is substantially shaped like a cylinder which has a little bigger diameter than that of the cylindrical chamber of the first electrode  13 , so that the atomizing cup  22  is tightly fitted in the cylindrical chamber of the first electrode  13  by interference fit. Such simple structure of the atomizing cup  22  facilitates manufacturing and assembling the mouthpiece  90 . The heat-resisting material of the atomizing cup  22  is beneficial to retain the temperature at outer surface of the inhaling shell  11  relatively low so that it will not be felt burning hand or mouth. 
         [0033]    The guiding device  3  comprises a guiding plate  31  and an absorption piece  32  overlaying each other, which is used for guiding tobacco substance from the reservoir  11  to the atomizing cup  22  for vaporization without fluid leakage. The guiding device  3  has a configuration and size adapted to the inner wall of the inhaling shell  1  and the cross-section of the open end of the reservoir  11 , which is inserted in the inhaling shell  1  by interference fit in such way that the guiding plate  31  is positioned at the open end of the reservoir  11 , and the absorption piece  32  faces the atomizer  21  in the atomizing cup  22 . Therefore, the guiding device  3  tightly seals tobacco substance in the reservoir  11 . In an illustrational embodiment, both the guiding plate  31  and the absorption piece  32  substantially have a circle shape. Furthermore, both the guiding plate  31  and the absorption piece  32  may have a cut-out edge according to cross-section of the open end of the reservoir  11 . 
         [0034]    The guiding plate  31  defines through guiding hole therein for guiding liquid tobacco substance from the reservoir  11  to the absorption piece  32 . In one embodiment, the guiding plate defines a main guiding hole  311  in center of the circle shape thereof, and radially defines a plurality of secondary guiding holes  312 . The absorption piece  32  may be made from such materials with adsorbability and heat-resistance which can absorb and store liquid like a sponge, and has relatively good temperature resistance to resist heat from the atomizer  21 , such as refractory wool, glass fiber, or heavy canva. Therefore, the liquid tobacco substance from the reservoir  11  flows through the main and secondary guiding holes  311 ,  312  and is well absorbed, spread and stored in the absorptions piece  32 . The absorption piece  32  has one face abutting against the guiding plate  31  and the other face against the open end of the atomizing cup  22 , so that the liquid tobacco substance stored in the absorption piece  32  can be vaporized by the atomizer  21  in the atomizing cup  22 . Such guiding device  3  facilitates manufacturing and assembling the mouthpiece part  90 , well guides tobacco substance from the reservoir  11  to the atomizing device  2  for vaporization, and well prevents tobacco substance being leaked out. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 12  again, the electronic cigarette in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, comprises the mouthpiece part  90  and the power source part  91  which are connected together by electrode assembly  10 . It is understood that the mouthpiece part  90  and the power source part  91  may be connected by means of clipping, inserting or soldering connection instead of threaded engagement. The power source part  91  comprises a power supply  911 , controlling board  912 , lighting indicator  913 , end cap  914 , a first power electrode frame  915 , a second power electrode  916 , and an insulating washer  917 . 
         [0036]    The power supply  911  is rechargeable or non-rechargeable power source to supply electric power to the electronic cigarette. The controlling board  912  controls the atomizing device  2  or other electronic elements working. The indicator  913  is electrically connected to the controlling board  912  and indicates a working mode. End cap  914  as a viewing window is sealed at end of the power source part  91 . The first electrode  13  has the threaded section electrically and threadedly engaged in the first power electrode frame  915 . The second power electrode  916  is fitted in the first electrode frame  915  by inserting the insulating washer  917  therebetween. Thereby, the mouthpiece part  90  is assembled to the power source part  91  with first electrode  13  of atomizer  2  electrically connected with the first power electrode frame  915 , and the second electrode  14  of the atomizer  2  electrically contacts with the second power electrode  916 . Therefore, the power source part  91  is able to energize the atomizer  21 . 
         [0037]    The power source part  91  further comprises a voice recorder  92 . The voice recorder  92  comprises a microphone  921  and a receiver  922  for holding the voice recorder  92  in the power source part  91 . The microphone  921  is electrically connected to the controlling circuit  912 . Therefore, the e-cigarette has voice-recorded function. It understood that the e-cigarette can further comprises a media player, an alarm clock, and a compass. 
         [0038]    In a preferable embodiment, the electronic cigarette of the present invention is one-off e-cigarette. 
         [0039]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the forgoing descriptions. The scope of this invention is defined only by the following claims.