Abstract:
An electronic cigarette atomization device includes an atomization bushing, an electric heater coil and an atomization base located in the atomization bushing. The atomization device further includes a liquid supply component inserted into the atomization bushing; the liquid supply component is formed by high temperature resistant fiber free of glass fiber and, a through hole axially extended is defined in the middle portion of the liquid supply component; and the electric heater coil is positioned in the through hole of the liquid supply component and is pressed against an inner wall of the liquid supply component. The liquid supply component of the atomization device is made of high temperature resistant fiber material free of glass fiber, thus making the construction and process simplified, leading to low fabrication cost, and causing no damage to human body.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Phase conversion of International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/CN2013/070201, filed on Jan. 8, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The PCT International Patent Application was filed in Chinese. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to field of electronic cigarette and cigar case and more particularly, relates to an electronic cigarette of which the atomization device includes liquid storage and supporting components constructed of fiber material with high temperature resistance and free of glass fiber, and an electronic cigarette device thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, an electronic cigarette normally is composed of an atomization device and a power supply device connected with each other. Smoke is produced by heating cigar liquid using the atomization device. 
     A prior art atomization device contained in an electronic cigarette includes an atomization cup for storage of cigar liquid and an atomizer disposed and secured in the atomization cup for heating the cigar liquid. 
     A tube made of glass fiber is used as a supporting tube of the atomization cup. High temperature resistant cotton covers the supporting tube and finally, oil storage cotton covers the high temperature resistant cotton. As for a prior art atomization cup, the supporting tube, high temperature resistant cotton and oil storage cotton are made of different materials and they are required to be coaxial during manufacture process, the entire process is complicated and high manufacture cost occurs. 
     The atomizer is disposed and held in the atomization cup and is constructed of an electric heater coil and an atomization stem. The atomization stem serves to support and hold the electric heater coil inside the atomization cup and to guide liquid. The electric heater coil is enwound on the atomization stem for generating smoke by atomization of the cigar liquid. The atomization stem of a conventional atomization device is formed by glass fiber material and as such, a great deal of glass fiber particulate is produced during heating and using process. The particulates will be inhaled in body of the user when the user uses the electronic cigarette, thus causing damage to health. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an electronic cigarette atomization device which employs high temperature resistant fiber material free of glass fiber to form the liquid supply component, thus making the construction and process simplified, leading to low fabrication cost, and causing no damage to human body. 
     Another technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an electronic cigarette having an atomization device with simple construction and production process and low cost. 
     A yet another technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an electronic cigarette device having an electronic cigarette which contains an atomization device with simple construction and production process and low cost. 
     To solve the above problems, the present invention proposes an electronic cigarette atomization device includes an atomization bushing, an electric heater coil and an atomization base located in the atomization bushing. Here, the atomization device further includes a liquid supply component inserted into the atomization bushing. The liquid supply component is formed by high temperature resistant fiber free of glass fiber and, a through hole axially extended is defined in the middle portion of the liquid supply component. The electric heater coil is positioned in the through hole of the liquid supply component and is pressed against an inner wall of the liquid supply component. 
     Furthermore, the liquid supply component is made of any one of the following fiber materials: non-woven fabrics, wood pulp fiber, chemical fiber, or polyvinyl alcohol. 
     Moreover, the electric heater coil is a hollow spiral tube and is axially disposed in the through hole. 
     Furthermore, the middle portion of the electric heater coil is bent many times in turn such that fence construction with arcuation conformable to internal contour of the through hole is formed for sufficiently contacting the inner wall of liquid supply component. 
     Furthermore, a first and second wire guiding holes for passing through two ends of the electric heater coil are defined in the atomization base. 
     Further, a first end of the electric heater coil passes through the through hole along a direction toward the atomization base and then passes through the first wire guiding hole; and the second end thereof passes through the through hole along a direction toward an atomization case. Then, the second end is bent and passes through the second wire guiding hole via the outer wall of the liquid supply component. 
     Furthermore, the atomization base is secured at one end of the liquid supply component. The atomization device further includes an atomization case disposed at the other end of the liquid supply component distanced away from the atomization base for engaging the atomization base to sealably secure the component in the atomization case of the atomization bushing. The atomization base and atomization case have a first and second venting holes respectively defined at their middle portions and communicating with the through hole. 
     To solve above technical problems according to another aspect, the present invention further discloses an electronic cigarette including an atomization device and a battery connected electrically to the atomization device so as to supply power to the same. Herein, the atomization device is the one as described above. The battery is disposed on the atomization base at one side away from the liquid supply component. 
     Furthermore, a first electrode component is disposed between the atomization base and battery. The first electrode component includes a first base body, a first post received in the middle portion of the first base body, and a first insulation bushing located between the first base body and first post. The first base body and first post are coupled with both ends of the electric heater coil so as to form the positive and negative electrodes of the atomization device. 
     Moreover, a second electrode component matched and connected with the first electrode component is disposed on the battery at a side opposite to the first electrode component. The second electrode component includes a second base body, a second post received in the middle portion of the second base body, and a first insulation bushing located between the second base body and second post. The second base body and second post are coupled with the positive and negative electrodes of the battery. 
     Furthermore, the electronic cigarette includes an absorption stem and a battery stem connected with the absorption stem. The absorption and battery are detachably connected with each other. The absorption stem and battery stem have a first and second connection portions at their corresponding ends respectively for realizing stable connection between two stems. 
     Furthermore, the atomization bushing is the absorption stem. The first base body is disposed on the atomization bushing at an end connected with the battery and forms the first connection portion. The second base body is located on the battery stem at an end connected with the absorption stem and forms the second connection portion. 
     Moreover, the electronic cigarette further includes an atomization control unit electrically coupled with the battery so as to provide power to the atomization device or shut off power provided to the atomization device. The atomization control unit is positioned between the atomization base and battery. Alternatively, it may be positioned on the battery at a side far away from the atomization base. 
     Furthermore, the atomization control unit includes an atomization control circuit and an atomization control switch connected to the atomization control circuit. The atomization control switch is a capacitive sensor switch, gas flow sensor switch, or button switch. The atomization control circuit is integrated into the atomization control switch. Alternatively, the atomization control unit also includes an atomization control circuit board connected to both of the battery and atomization control switch. The atomization control circuit is integrated into the atomization control circuit board. 
     To solve a further technical problem as described above, the present invention also discloses an electronic cigarette device including an electronic cigar case and electronic cigarette contained in the cigar case. Here, the electronic cigarette is the one as described above. 
     The invention has the following technical effects. The liquid supply component is directly made of high temperature fiber material free of glass fiber and as a result, the component functions to store cigar liquid and support and hold the electric heater coil, thus significantly simplifying total construction of the atomization device of a conventional electronic cigarette, leading to simple structure, simple manufacture process, effectively reducing cost, avoiding use of glass fiber, largely improving self-safety of the electronic cigarette, and avoiding causing damage to human body. 
     The embodiments of the invention are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an electronic cigarette absorption stem according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette absorption stem along Line A-A of  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette battery stem along Line B-B of  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an electronic cigarette according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette along Line A-A of  FIG. 4  according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an electronic cigarette according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette along Line C-C of  FIG. 6  according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an electronic cigarette according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the invention provides an electronic cigarette device including an electronic cigarette  100  and an electronic cigar case  200  for accommodating the former. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 4-7 . The electronic cigarette  100  contains an atomization device  10  and a battery  20 . The atomization device  10  works to transform cigar liquid into smoke to be absorbed by a user. The battery  20  is electrically connected with the atomization device  10  so as to power the atomization device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the atomization device  10  has an atomization bushing  11 , a liquid supply component  12 , an electric heater coil  13 , an atomization base  14  and an atomization case  15 . 
     The atomization  11  is sleeved on the outer portion of the liquid supply component  12 , electric heater coil  13 , atomization base  14  and atomization case  15 , and provides a cup body for the atomization device  10  for containing and sealing cigar liquid. In this embodiment, the atomization bushing  11  is configured to be a cylindrical tubular construction, and the inside of the bushing  11  is hollow so as to define a receiving cavity for receiving respective internal parts of the atomization device  10 . Understandingly, in addition to the cylindrical construction of this embodiment, the atomization bushing  11  may also be configured to have any other tubular construction with a hollow cavity. 
     The liquid supply component  12  is of a hollow tubular construction matching the atomization bushing  11  and is disposed coaxially with the bushing  11 . The liquid supply component  12  is formed with high temperature resistant fiber material free of glass fiber for supporting and holding the electric heater coil  13 , and absorbing and storing cigar liquid so that the cigar liquid is atomized later by the electric heater coil  13 . In present embodiment, the liquid supply component  12  is particularly made of any one of the fiber materials listed below: non-woven fabrics, wood pulp fiber, chemical fiber, or polyvinyl alcohol. 
     The liquid supply component  12  has a through hole  121  which is defined in its middle portion and is extended axially. The electric heater coil  13  is received in the through hole  121  of the liquid supply component  12  and is pressed against the inner wall of the liquid supply component  12  such that the electric heater coil  13  will sufficiently contact the cigar liquid. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the middle portion of the electric heater coil  13  functioning to heat and atomize cigar liquid is of a spiral tube configuration and is axially disposed in the through hole  121 . The outer diameter of the spiral tube formed at the middle portion of the electric heater coil  13  is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the through hole  121  of the liquid supply component  12 . As such, the electric heater coil  13  is supported and held in the through hole  121  by press of the electric heater coil  13  against the inner wall of the liquid supply component  12 , and the electric heater coil  13  can sufficiently contact the inner wall of the liquid supply component  12  so that the cigar liquid inside the liquid supply component  12  will contact the electric heater coil  13  thus being atomized by the coil  13  and changed to smoke. 
     As an embodiment, the middle portion of the electric heater coil  13  for heating and atomizing cigar liquid may be bent repeatedly to form a plane portion which may be bent in entirety again to form arcuation conforming to the internal contour of the through hole  121 , and finally a fence sufficiently contacting the inner wall of the liquid supply component  12  is formed. 
     The atomization base  14  is held at one end of the liquid supply component  12  for supporting and holding the liquid supply component  12  and electric heater coil  13  in the atomization bushing  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in present embodiment, the other end of the liquid supply component  12  away from the atomization base  14  is provided with the atomization case  15 . The atomization base  14  and atomization case  15  are disposed at two ends of the liquid supply component  12  respectively so as to cooperate with each other with the purposes of sealing and securing the liquid supply component  12  inside the atomization bushing  11 . A first venting hole  141  and a second venting hole  151  communicating the through hole  121  for venting purpose are respectively defined at middle portions of the atomization base  14  and atomization case  15 . In this embodiment, the atomization base  14  is constructed of rubber material with certain elastic deformation capability such as silica gel. The external contour of the atomization base  14  conforms to the internal contour of the atomization bushing  11  and preferably there is interference fit between the base  14  and bushing  11 . The atomization base  11  is pressed against and held in the atomization bushing  11  by its outer wall, thereby realizing seal connection between the base  14  and bushing  11 . 
     In addition, a first wire guiding hole  142  and a second wire guiding hole  143  are axially defined at a side wall of the atomization base  14  for passing through the two ends of the electric heater coil  13  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 2  and in this embodiment, a first end  131  of the electric heater coil  13  passes across the through hole  121  along a direction towards the atomization base  14  and then passes through the first wire guiding hole  142 , while the second end  132  of the electric heater coil  13  passes across the through hole  121  along a direction towards the atomization case  15  and then is bent along the outer wall of the liquid supply component  12  and travels across the second wire guiding hole  143 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in present embodiment, the battery  20  is placed on the atomization base  14  at a side away from the liquid supply component  12 . A first electrode component  30  is located between the atomization base  14  and battery  20 . The first electrode component  30  is connected to two ends of the electric heater coil  13 , and is electrically connected as the positive and negative electrodes of the atomization device  10  to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery  20 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 and 5 , the first electrode component  30  includes a first base body  31 , a first post  32  and a first insulation bushing  33  disposed between the first base body  31  and first post  32 . In this embodiment, the first base body  31  and first post are both made of metal conductive material, and are respectively coupled to two ends of the electric heater coil  13  so as to form the positive and negative electrodes of the atomizer  12 . The first insulation bushing  33  is made of insulated material for insulating the first base body  31  from the first post  32 . 
     The first base body  31  is of a hollow tube, and a first locking ring  311  for locking the first insulation bushing  33  is extended radially from the inner wall of the first base body  31 . The first post  32  is disposed corresponding to the first base body  31 , and is locked on the middle portion of the first base body  31  by its first insulation bushing  33  and is insulated from the body  31 . In this embodiment, the first post  32  is also of a hollow tube shape, and the middle hollow portion thereof is provided with a first intake hole  321  through which external air may enter into the atomization device  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the battery  20  is disposed opposite to the first electrode component  30 . A second electrode component  40  is provided on the battery  20  at a side opposite to the first electrode component  30 . The second electrode component  40  matches and is connected with the first electrode component  30 , thus realizing electrical connection between the battery  20  and atomization device  10 . 
     Specifically, the second electrode component  40  substantially has the same structure as the first electrode component  30 , and includes a second base body  41 , a second post  42 , and a second insulation bushing  43  disposed between the second base body  41  and second post  42  for insulating the second base body  41  from the second post  42 . The second base body  41  and second post  42  are connected with the positive and negative electrodes of the battery  20  and atomization device  10  respectively. A second locking ring  411  for locking the second insulation bushing  43  is extended radially from the inner wall of the second base body  41 . The second post  42  is disposed corresponding to the second base body  41 , and is locked on the middle portion of the second base body  41  by its second insulation bushing  43  and is insulated from the body  41 . The second post  4  is also of a hollow tube shape, and the middle portion thereof is provided with a second intake hole  421  communicating the first intake hole  321  for conducting air. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2-3 and 5 , in this embodiment, one end of the second base body  41  facing the first base body  31  is provided with a holding groove  44  for insertion therein of a corresponding end of the first base body  31 , hence holding the first base body  31  in place. One end of the first base body  31  inserted into the second base body  41  is provided with a boss  34 . The boss  34  conforms to the internal contour of the holding groove  44  so as to be placed into the holding groove  44 . It is understood that as an embodiment, the holding groove  44  may also be defined in the first base body  31 , while a corresponding boss  34  is formed on the second base body  41 . 
     When assembling the electronic cigarette  100 , the boss  34  of the first base body  31  is placed into the holding groove  44  of the second base body  41  such that the first base body  31  is pressed against the second base body  41 , thereby realizing electrical connection between the battery  20  and atomization device  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 4-7 , one end of the electronic cigarette  100  distanced away from the battery  20  is equipped with a mouthpiece  50 . Based on internal components and their functions of the electronic cigarette  100 , the outer main stem of the electronic cigarette  100  may be divided into an absorption stem  101  and a battery stem  102 . Generally, the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  may be configured to have detachable connection as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , or to have undetachable integral construction as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 . In case that the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  are configured to have detachable connection, the atomization device  10  is disposed inside the absorption stem  101 , and a separate stem body may be provided to the absorption stem  101  so as to receive the entire atomization device  10  in the stem body. Optionally, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the atomization bushing  11  of the atomization device  10  may work as the stem body of the absorption stem  101 . Alternatively, in case that the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  are integral with each other, the atomization bushing  11  may also be used as the stem body of the electronic cigarette  100 , and the battery  20  and mouthpiece  50  are directly disposed at corresponding two ends of the atomization bushing  11 . 
     Refer to  FIGS. 6-7 . When the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  are configured to have undetachable integral construction, the two ends of the electric heater coil  13  may directly connected with the positive and negative electrodes of the battery  20  without providing the first and second electrode components  30  and  40  between the atomization base  11  and battery  20 . Or, there may only be provided with a first electrode component  30  connected to both ends of the electric heater coil  13 , and electric connection between the atomization device  10  and battery  20  is achieved by electric connection of the first electrode component  30  to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery  20 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 4-5 . In this embodiment, the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  are detachably connected, and the atomization bushing  11  is used as the stem body of the absorption stem  101 . The electronic cigarette  100  of the embodiment is described in greater detail. 
     The corresponding ends of the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  are respectively provided with a first connection portion and a second connection portion which are engaged with each other in order that the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  are reliably connected together. In present embodiment, the first base body  31  is disposed on the atomization bushing  11  at one end connected to the battery stem  102  and forms the first connection portion. The second base body  41  is disposed on the battery stem  102  at one end connected to the absorption stem  101  and forms the second connection portion. As an embodiment, independent component may also be provided on the corresponding ends of the absorption stem  101  and battery stem  102  so as to form the first and/or second connection portion. 
     The atomization bushing  11  (that is, the absorption stem  101 ) may be connected to the battery stem  102  by means of screwing, clasping, insertion, or magnetic adsorption. In this embodiment, the atomization bushing  11  and battery stem  102  are preferably secured together by screwing. Concretely, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the outer wall of the boss  34  of the first base body is provided with external thread, whereas the inner wall of the holding groove  44  of the second base body is provided with matched internal thread. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , in this embodiment, the mouthpiece  50  and atomization bushing  11  are separately configured. The mouthpiece  50  includes a nozzle case  51  sleeved on the end portion of the atomization bushing  11  and a suction hole axially defined in the middle portion of the nozzle case  51 . As an embodiment, the mouthpiece  50  may be integrally formed with the atomization bushing  11 . In present embodiment, the mouthpiece  50  is configured to be a cylindrical construction. It is understood that the mouthpiece  50  may also have tubular construction such as polygon, ellipse and so on. Alternatively, it may also be designed to be a sleeve construction which has predefined taper and of which the diameter is tapered towards the end portion of the mouthpiece  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the electronic cigarette  100  also includes an atomization control unit  60  connected electrically to the battery  20  and atomization device  10  respectively so as to provide power to the device  10  or shut off power supplied to the device  10 . The atomization control unit  60  may be disposed between the atomization base  11  and battery  20 , or disposed on the battery  20  at a side away from the atomization base  11 . 
     In this embodiment, the atomization control unit  60  is preferably disposed on the battery  20  at a side away from the atomization base  11 . The atomization control unit  60  includes an atomization control circuit and an atomization control switch connected with the atomization control circuit. 
     In this embodiment, the atomization control switch is a sensor switch  61  secured in the battery stem  102  by a switch holding base  62 . More specifically, the sensor switch  61  is a capacitive sensor switch. When the electronic cigarette  100  is being used by a user, the capacitive sensor switch senses the capacitance change caused by incoming gas flow and then the switch controls the atomization control circuit to switch on a power supply, thus making the electronic cigarette entering into working status. As an embodiment, the sensor switch  61  may also be a gas flow sensor switch. When the user inhales gas by the mouthpiece  50 , negative pressure is generated inside the cavity of the electronic cigarette  100  and in turn, the gas flow sensor switch generates pulse signals to control the atomization control circuit to switch on a power supply. 
     As the sensor switch  61  in itself is precisely fabricated and generally, a dedicated controller is built therein, the atomization control circuit of this embodiment may be directly integrated into the controller of the sensor switch  61 . As an implementation manner, the atomization control circuit may also be integrated into an atomization control circuit board separately disposed outside of the sensor switch  61  and electrically connected to both of the sensor switch  61  and battery  20 . 
     As an implementation manner, the atomization control switch may also be a conventional switch of button type. The button switch is electrically connected to the battery  20  through a button control circuit board such that the atomization control circuit is controlled by pressing the buttons, thus realizing switching on and off of the atomization device  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 3-7 , a light emitting device is disposed on the electronic cigarette  100  at the other end away from the mouthpiece  50 . The light emitting device is used as a working indicator light of the electronic cigarette  100 , and includes a light emitting unit electrically connected to the battery  20  and a light cap  70  disposed at a corresponding end of the battery stem  102 . The light cap  70  helps to radiate light generated by the light emitting unit. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit is configured to be a red lamp such that when the smoker smokes the electronic cigarette  100 , one end of the electronic cigarette  100  away from the mouthpiece  50  will generate red smoke circles like those produced when a cigar is burned, hence enhancing visual effects of the smoker. 
     Below, one end of the battery  20  electrically connected to the second post  42  is defined as a positive electrode, while the other end thereof electrically connected to the second base body  41  is defined as a negative electrode. In addition, the atomization control switch is configured to be a sensor switch  61 . The current flow routing of the electronic cigarette  100  is described in detail. 
     When the smoker smokes the electronic cigarette  100 , the sensor switch  61  will sense and switch on the atomization control circuit. The detailed current flowing path is as below: the current arrives at the second post  42  from the positive electrode of the battery  20 , then travels to the positive electrode of the electric heater coil  121  via the first post  32 , next flows to the first base body  31  via the negative electrode of the electric heater coil  121  and finally, comes back to the negative electrode of the battery  20  through the second base body  41 . 
     Understandingly, the electronic cigarette  100  is not limited to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . Rather, individual features of these embodiments may be combined with each other to form new embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the electronic cigarette  100  is in general contained in the electronic cigar case  200 . The cigar case  200  includes a bottom box  81  for containing therein the electronic cigarette  100  and a case lid  82  covered on the bottom box  81 . The bottom box  81  is of a square enclosure and of course, it is not limited to square. Rather, it may also take on circle, ellipse, polygon and the like so long as the case lid  82  will match it when the case lid  82  is installed. 
     Though various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated above, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, variations and improvements made upon the illustrative embodiments fall within the scope of the invention, and the scope of the invention is only limited by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.