Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette, includes an atomizing device for vaporizing tobacco substance into aerosol, a reservoir for storing tobacco substance and a guiding tube for guiding tobacco substance from the reservoir to the atomizing device, which are all set in a shell. The guiding tube has one end inserted in the reservoir and the other end communicated with atomizing device. The mouthpiece device further includes a preheating device for heating solid tobacco substance in the reservoir to generate liquid. The preheating device is set in the end of the reservoir near the guiding tube, and seals solid tobacco substance in the reservoir. The present invention solves existing problems such as fluid leakage, complicate manufacturing, high cost, bad heat insulation and filtering aerosol; and obtains perfect leakage proof, simple manufacturing, lower cost, good heat insulation and well filtering aerosol.

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 , a mouthpiece device of the existing electronic cigarette comprises an inhaling shell  1 ′, atomizing device  2 ′, guiding tube  3 ′ for guiding tobacco substance flowing therethrough, stopper  4 ′, and cap  5 ′. 
     The shell  1 ′ comprises a reservoir  11 ′ for storing tobacco substance 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 guiding tube  3 ′ has one end thereof connected with the reservoir  11 ′ through a metal frame  6 ′ so as to guide the tobacco substance 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: since tobacco substance in the reservoir is liquid at a normal atmospheric temperature, during storage or use, the positions where tobacco substance flows out or where the guiding tube  3 ′ is engaged with the stopper  4 ′, easily spill tobacco substance out, which presents a hidden trouble of fluid-leakage; 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 inner wall of the shell  1 ′, which results unsatisfactory heat insulation, and the temperature at outer wall of the shell  1 ′ is relatively high even to be felt burning hand, then the electronic cigarette cannot be used; the metal frame  6 ′ does not facilitate guiding tobacco substance, 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 the 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 has good leakage-proof performance. 
     Another 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. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette, which perfectly filters tobacco substance. 
     To obtain the above object, a mouthpiece device of an electronic cigarette comprises an atomizing device for vaporizing tobacco substance into aerosol, a reservoir for storing tobacco substance and a guiding tube for guiding tobacco substance from the reservoir to the atomizing device, which are all set in an inhaling shell. The guiding tube has one end inserted in the reservoir and the other end communicated with the atomizing device. The mouthpiece device further comprises a preheating device for heat solid tobacco substance stored in the reservoir to generate liquid tobacco substance. The preheating device is set in the reservoir at the end near the guiding tube, and seals the solid tobacco substance in the reservoir. 
     Further, the preheating device comprises a heat-insulation layer, a heating layer, and a heat-conductive layer. The heating layer is disposed between the heat-insulation layer and the heat-conductive layer. The heat-insulation layer is disposed in the reservoir at the end where the guiding tube is inserted, and tightly fitted in the reservoir. The heat-conductive layer seals solid tobacco substance in the reservoir. 
     Further, the heating layer is electric heat wire, electric heat film, or electric heat coating. 
     Further, the guiding tube inserts in the reservoir and respectively penetrates through the heat-insulation layer, the heating layer and the heat-conductive layer. The engagement between the heat-conductive layer and the guiding tube is an interference fit, and seal material is inserted between the heat-conductive and the guiding tube. 
     Further, the mouthpiece device comprises a stopper which is disposed at an end of the reservoir. One end of the guiding tube is inserted through the stopper and extends to the reservoir. The stopper defines a tube hole, and the guiding tube is engaged in the tube hole by an interference fit with sealing material circulary inserted therebetween. 
     Further, the atomizing device comprises an atomizing cup with an atomizing chamber therein, and an atomizer held in the atomizing chamber. The atomizing cup is made by an integrated molding process in a mould. 
     Further, the atomizing cup is shaped as a cylinder, has a figuration and dimension adapted to an inner wall of the inhaling shell. The atomizing cup comprises a mounting seat disposed in the atomizing chamber for holding the atomizer, and wire-through holes for passing electric wire therethrough. The wire-through holes are defined in the atomizing cup and communicated with the atomizing chamber. The atomizing cup also defines a through heat-dissipation hole in center thereof. 
     Further, the atomizing device comprises a filter device set in the inhaling shell for depositing tobacco particles in aerosol, and an aerosol passage for transmitting aerosol to outside of the inhaling shell. 
     Further, the filter device comprises a cap for sealing an end of the reservoir. The cap defines an air slot for depositing tobacco particles on surface thereof, and 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, a filter layer is set on an inner wall of the aerosol passage according to a cross section of the aerosol passage. 
     The advantages of the present invention are that: the preheating device of the electric cigarette is used for heating solid tobacco substance to generate liquid tobacco substance which is solidified and stored in the reservoir at first, and seals solid or liquid tobacco substance in the reservoir; in smoking, solid tobacco substance is heated to generate liquid by the preheating device, and is delivered to the atomizing device by the guiding tube; since tobacco substance is solidified and stored in the reservoir at first, thus at a normal atmospheric temperature, difficultly leaks out; in use, melt tobacco substance is sealed and separated in the reservoir, the stopper at one end of the reservoir further seals the preheating device in the reservoir, thus tobacco substance is doubly sealed and separated, difficultly leaks out; moreover, 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 layer and the cap with filtering function, which renders the mouthpiece device preferably filtering tobacco substance. 
     A further detailed description to the present invention follows with reference to the 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  is 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 filtering device thereof. The mouthpiece device comprises an inhaling shell  1 , atomizing device  2 , guiding tube  3 , stopper  4 , the filtering device with a cap  5  or cap  5 ″, and preheat device  6  for heating solid tobacco substance to generate liquid tobacco substance. 
     The inhaling shell  1  comprises a reservoir  11 , defining a first opening at one end of the inhaling shell  1  and a second opening opposite to the first opening and facing the atomizing device  2 , an aerosol passage  12  alongside the reservoir  11  and defining a third opening at the one end of the inhaling shell  1  to be coplanar with the first opening and a fourth opening opposite to the third opening and facing the atomizing device  2  to be colander with the second opening, a connection element  13 , an electrode element  14 , and an insulating ring  15 . The reservoir  11  is set in the shell  1 . In this embodiment, the reservoir  11  is integrated in the shell  1 . The reservoir  11  is used to store solid or liquid tobacco substance, has one end thereof set the stopper  4  and the other end set the cap  5 . Thus the stopper  4  and cap  5  together seal tobacco substance 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 substance is vaporized to aerosol by the atomizer  3 . A filter layer is set on an inner wall of the aerosol passage  12 . The filter is adapted to a cross section of the inner wall. In this embodiment, the filter layer is a filter plate  121  integrated with the aerosol passage  12 . The filter plate  121  is set perpendicular to a central line of the aerosol passage  12 , and defines at least one filter hole  122  therethrough. The connection element  13  is disposed at a connection end of the shell  1 . One end of the connection element  13  with external thread thereon is threadedly connected with a 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  3 , 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 made by an integrated molding process in a mould, and comprises an atomizing chamber  221 , a mounting seat  222  with 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 fixing groove therein 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 . 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 connects one end of the heat rod  212 , passes one wire-through hole  223  to electrically connect the connection element  13 ; another electric wire connects the other end of the heat rod  212 , passes the other wire-through hole  223  to electrically connect the 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 relative low, and will not burn hand or mouth. 
     The guiding tube  3  is used to guide tobacco substance from reservoir  11  to atomizing chamber  221  for atomization. The guiding tube  3  has one end thereof directly passing through the stopper  4  and extending in the reservoir  11 . The guiding tube  3  is engaged with stopper  4  by interference fit, and is made from glass fiber. 
     The stopper  4  is used for sealing the reservoir  11 , and defines a tube hole therein. The guiding tube  3  is engaged in the hole by interference fit with sealing material inserted therebetween. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in the first embodiment, the cap  5  comprises a maid body  51 , a plug  52  extending from bottom of the main body, an air slot  53 , and a suction hole  54  formed at a center of the cap  5 . 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 stepwise 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 an inner diameter of the shell  1  so that the cap  5  is tightly fitted in the 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 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 thereof, is positioned in sidewall of the cap  5 ″, and is depressed towards a center line of the cap. The depressed air slots directly communicate with the aerosol passage  12 , and has a cross-section shaped as arc, letter U or V. 
     The preheating device is used to heat the solid tobacco substance stored in the reservoir  11  to generate liquid tobacco substance, and comprises a heating layer  61 , heat-conductive layer  62  and a heat-insulation layer  63 . 
     The heat-insulation layer  63  is positioned in the reservoir at an end where the guiding tube  3  is inserted, and is tightly fitted in the reservoir  11 . Side wall of the heat-insulation layer  63  and inner wall of reservoir  11  are circularly sealed therebetween. The whole preheating device  6  is sealed in the reservoir  11  via the stopper  4 . 
     The heat-conductive layer  62  seals the solid tobacco substance in the reservoir, and contacts solid tobacco substance. The guiding tube  3  is inserted in the reservoir  11  and respectively penetrates through the heat-insulation layer  63 , heating layer  61 , and heat-conductive layer  62 . The heat-conductive layer  62  and the outer wall of the guiding tube  3  are engaged by interference fit with seal material inserted therebetween. 
     The heating layer  61  is used to generate heat and transmit to the heat-conductive layer  62 . The heating layer  61  is disposed between the heat-conductive layer  62  and the heating-insulation layer  63 . Material for the heating layer  61  is an electric heat wire, electric heat film, or electric heat coating, and in this embodiment, is an electric heat wire. A positive electrode and negative electrode of the heating layer are respectively connected with the electrode element  14  and the connection element  13 . For smoking, a control circuit in the power supply part actuates the heating layer  61  to generate heat. The solid tobacco substance has a melt temperature at a range from 42 degree Celsius to 62 degree Celsius, so a heating temperature of the heating layer  61  is offered to melt the solid tobacco substance, such as slightly above 62 degree Celsius. 
     Since tobacco substance is solidified and stored in the reservoir  11  at first, at an normal temperature, fluid leakage will not take place. In use, the melted tobacco substance is sealed and separated in the reservoir  11  by the preheating device  6 , and the stopper  4  at one end of the reservoir  11  is further sealed the preheating device  6  in the reservoir, in such way that tobacco substance is doubly sealed and separated, tobacco substance difficultly leaks out, and a favorable leakage-proof is thus obtained. 
     The filter layer and the cap  5  or  5 ″ constitute the filter device. The liquefied tobacco substance 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 first filtered by the filter plate  121 . The aerosol passes through the filter hole  122  of the filter plate  121  to next part of the aerosol passage, while aerosol flows to the filter plate  121  and thus confronts resistance thereof, tobacco particles mixed in aerosol deposit on the filter plate  121 , so that tobacco particles are filtered from aerosol. Then, aerosol remains 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 ″ exists, which 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 to 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.