Patent Publication Number: US-9414627-B2

Title: Electronic cigarette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priorities under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 201320452509.0 filed in P.R. China on Jul. 26, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to the field of electrical cigarettes, and more particularly, relates to an electronic cigarette with a suction nozzle cap mounted on the outside of an atomizer sleeve or an outer protective sleeve. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electronic cigarettes, which are also called virtual cigarettes or electronic atomizers, are mainly used for smoking cessation and substituting cigarettes. The electronic cigarettes have appearances which look like cigarettes, taste like real cigarettes, and even have much more tastes than ordinary real cigarettes. Smoke can also be sucked from the electronic cigarettes, and the smoke smells and feels like smoke of real cigarettes. 
     Electronic cigarettes are classified as disposable electronic cigarettes and non-disposable electronic cigarettes. A disposable electronic cigarette adopts an outer protective sleeve to accommodate components such as an atomizer, a battery, and a controller. A non-disposable electronic cigarette usually adopts an atomizer sleeve to accommodate an atomizer, and adopts a battery sleeve to accommodate a battery and a controller (i.e. to form a battery pole). 
     In the prior art, a suction nozzle cap of a disposable electronic cigarette is generally mounted inside the outer protective sleeve, and a suction nozzle cap of a non-disposable electronic cigarette is generally mounted inside the atomizer sleeve. The electronic cigarettes with these structures are difficult to disassemble, and designs of the suction nozzle caps of the electronic cigarettes follow the same pattern. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the present application is to provide an electronic cigarette with a suction nozzle cap mounted on the outside of an atomizer sleeve or an outer protective sleeve, aiming at the above-mentioned drawbacks in the prior art that suction nozzle caps of electronic cigarettes are difficult to disassemble, and designs of the suction nozzle caps follow the same pattern. 
     The technical solutions of the present application for solving the technical problems are as follows: in one aspect, an electronic cigarette comprises an outer sleeve and a suction nozzle cap mounted at one end of the outer sleeve, the suction nozzle cap is sheathed on the outer sleeve, and an inner wall of the suction nozzle cap is located at the outside of an outer wall of the outer sleeve. 
     In one embodiment, the suction nozzle cap includes an end cap facing an opening end of the outer sleeve and a combined body sheathed on the outer sleeve, and the end cap defines a smoking hole. 
     In one embodiment, a cross section of the combined body is round, oval or polygonal. 
     In one embodiment, an axial length of the combined body ranges from 20 mm to 33 mm. 
     In one embodiment, the end cap and the combined body are integrated. 
     In one embodiment, an edge of an inner wall of the end cap abuts with the opening end of the outer sleeve, and a central axis of the smoking hole is aligned with or deviates from a central axis of the outer sleeve. 
     In one embodiment, a first reserved space is formed between the inner wall of the end cap and the opening end of the outer sleeve. 
     In one embodiment, a central axis of the smoking hole is aligned with or deviates from a central axis of the outer sleeve; an annular bulge extends from an edge of the end cap corresponding to a circumference of the smoking hole to the opening end of the outer sleeve axially; and a flange configured to abut against the opening end of the outer sleeve is formed at a contraction portion of the end cap corresponding to the combined body and located adjacent to the combined body. 
     In one embodiment, a central axis of the smoking hole is perpendicular to a central axis of the outer sleeve. 
     In one embodiment, an inner wall of the combined body and the outer wall of the outer sleeve form any one of interference fit, buckled connection, and threaded connection. 
     In one embodiment, at least one convex rib or at least one groove is radially formed on a circumference of a portion of the outer wall of the outer sleeve that contacts the inner wall of the combined body, and at least one groove or at least one convex rib is radially formed on the inner wall of the combined body correspondingly, and the combined body and the outer sleeve are mutually buckled. 
     In one embodiment, an external thread or an internal thread is radially formed on a circumference of a portion of the outer wall of the outer sleeve that contacts the inner wall of the combined body, an internal thread or an external thread is radially formed on the inner wall of the combined body correspondingly, and the combined body and the outer sleeve are thread-connected. 
     In one embodiment, the combined body is elastic, and the combined body and the outer sleeve form interference fit using relative toughness chimera. 
     In one embodiment, a first chamfer configured to facilitate the outer sleeve to insert into the combined body is formed at an edge of the inner wall of an end of the combined body away from the end cap. 
     In one embodiment, a sealing ring is sheathed on one end of the outer sleeve facing the suction nozzle cap, a second reserved space is formed between one end of the sealing ring near the suction nozzle cap and the opening of the outer sleeve, and a third reserved space is formed between one end of the sealing ring away from the suction nozzle cap and an atomizer received in the outer sleeve. 
     In one embodiment, the sealing ring defines a first containing chamber and a through hole; the first containing chamber is configured for condensing tobacco tar, and the first containing chamber is shaped as a round table and is formed by gradually reducing a diameter of an edge of the sealing ring; the through hole communicates with the smoking hole, and is aligned with or deviates from the smoking hole. 
     In one embodiment, a third chamfer configured to facilitate the sealing ring to insert into the outer sleeve is formed at an edge of the outer wall of one end of the sealing ring away from the smoking hole. 
     In one embodiment, the combined body includes a first combined part and a second combined part, a crease line is formed between the first combined part and the second combined part, the first combined part is fixedly connected with the end cap, and an identification region is formed on the outer wall of the second combined part. 
     When implementing the electronic cigarette of the present application, the following advantageous effects can be achieved: because the suction nozzle cap is sheathed on the outside of the atomizer sleeve or the outer protective sleeve, the suction nozzle cap can be replaced, and the disassembly of the suction nozzle cap is more convenient. Furthermore, the structure design and the pattern design of the suction nozzle cap are diversified, and the material of the suction nozzle cap is also diversified. The suction nozzle cap is connected to the atomizer sleeve or the outer protective sleeve more stably and reliably. The outer wall of the suction nozzle cap can be designed into various shapes, so that it is easy to clamp the electronic cigarette, and the electronic cigarette is not prone to fall off. The electronic cigarette does not need an additional independent cigarette holder, therefore, the demand of users to the shape of the cigarette holder can be met. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present application will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments in the following, in the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of an electronic cigarette of a first embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the area A shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a three-dimensional structural view of a suction nozzle cap of the first embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 3B  is a vertical view of the suction nozzle cap of the first embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 3C  is a cutaway view along the C-C line shown in  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cutaway view of an electronic cigarette of a second embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the area B shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a three-dimensional structural view of a suction nozzle cap of the second embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 6B  is a vertical view of the suction nozzle cap of the second embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 6C  is a cutaway view along the D-D line shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     To make the technical feature, objective and effect of the present application be understood more clearly, now the specific implementation of the present application is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. 
     Aiming at the above-mentioned drawbacks in the prior art that suction nozzle caps of electronic cigarettes are difficult to disassemble, and designs of the suction nozzle caps follow the same pattern, the present application provides an electronic cigarette which comprises an outer sleeve and a suction nozzle cap mounted at one end of the outer sleeve. Wherein, the suction nozzle cap is sheathed on the outer sleeve, and an inner wall of the suction nozzle cap is mounted on the outside of an outer wall of the outer sleeve. 
     A First Embodiment 
     The first embodiment is a non-disposable electronic cigarette, referring to  FIG. 1 - FIG. 3C , which comprises an outer sleeve  1  and a suction nozzle cap  2  mounted on one end of the outer sleeve  1 . Wherein, the suction nozzle cap  2  is sheathed on the outer sleeve  1 , and an inner wall of the suction nozzle cap  2  is located on the outside of an outer wall of the outer sleeve  1 . An atomizer  11  is accommodated in the outer sleeve  1 . The electronic cigarette further comprises a battery sleeve  4 , and a battery  41  is accommodated in the battery sleeve  4  to supply power to the atomizer  11 . 
     The suction nozzle cap  2  includes an end cap  201  facing an opening end of the outer sleeve  1  and a combined body  202  sheathed on the outer sleeve  1 , and the end cap  201  and the combined body  202  are integrated. 
     A cross section of the combined body  202  can be round, oval or polygonal, and a cross section of the end cap  201  has the same shape as the cross section of the combined body  202 . By designing the combined body  202  to be in these shapes, the connection between the outer sleeve  1  and the suction nozzle cap  2  can be more stable and more liable. Furthermore, because the outer wall of the combined body  202  can be designed to be in various shapes, it is easy to clamp the electronic cigarette, and the electronic cigarette is not prone to fall off. In this embodiment, the cross section of the combined body  202  is designed to be round for aesthetic consideration. 
     An axial length of the combined body  202  ranges from 20 mm to 33 mm. In this embodiment, 27 mm is a preferred value. In one aspect, such an axial length can simulate a shape of a real cigarette well; in another aspect, it is more convenient to clamp the electronic cigarette. 
     A smoking hole  20  is defined along the axial direction of the end cap  201 , and a central axis of the smoking hole  20  is aligned with or deviates from a central axis of the outer sleeve  1 . This embodiment prefers that the central axis of the smoking hole  20  is aligned with the central axis of the outer sleeve  1 . The smoking hole  20  is used for discharging smoke to a mouth of a user. 
     A reserved space can be formed between the inner wall of the end cap  201  and the opening end of the outer sleeve  1 , and at least one through hole can be defined at a circumference of the inner wall of the end cap  201  coating the reserved space and is used to replace the smoking hole  20  to discharge the smoke to the mouth of the user. A flange can be formed at a contraction portion of the end cap  201  corresponding to the combined body  202 , and is located adjacent to the combined body  202  to abut against an edge of the opening end of the outer sleeve  1 . In this embodiment, the reserved space is not defined, so an edge of the inner wall of the end cap  201  directly abuts against an edge of the opening end of the outer sleeve  1 . 
     The inner wall of the combined body  202  is sheathed on the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  corresponding to the combined body  202  along a preset sheathed direction. The inner wall of the combined body  202  and the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  form an interference fit, a buckled connection or a threaded connection. The design of this structure can make material selection of the suction nozzle cap  2  be more diversified, for example, the suction nozzle cap  2  can be made of metals (such as copper), plastics (such as POM), soft rubbers (such as silica gel), ceramics, paper, wood, and so on. When an interference fit or a fastening connection is adopted, the suction nozzle cap  2  can be made of plastics, soft rubbers, paper, and wood. When a screw connection is adopted, the suction nozzle cap  2  can be made of metals, ceramics, and wood. 
     If the inner wall of the combined body  202  needs to be connected with the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  by a buckled connection, there are two implementation methods. A first method is that: at least one convex rib or at least one groove is formed radially on a circumference of a portion of the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  contacting the inner wall of the combined body  202 , at least one groove or at least one convex rib is formed radially on the inner wall of the combined body  202  correspondingly, and the combined body  202  and the outer sleeve  1  are mutually buckled. The second method is that: at least one convex rib or at least one groove is formed axially on the circumference of a portion of the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  contacting the inner wall of the combined body  202 , at least one groove or at least one convex rib is formed axially on the inner wall of the combined body  202  correspondingly, and the combined body  202  and the outer sleeve  1  are mutually buckled. 
     If the combined body  202  is connected with the outer sleeve  1  by a thread connection, an external thread or an internal thread is formed radially on a circumference of a portion of the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  contacting the inner wall of the combined body  202 , an internal thread or an external thread is formed radially on the inner wall of the combined body  202  correspondingly, and a thread connection is formed between the combined body  202  and the outer sleeve  1 . 
     If the inner wall of the combined body  202  is connected with the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  by an interference fit connection, the combined body  202  can be designed to be elastic, and the combined body  202  and the outer sleeve  1  form the interference fit using relative toughness chimera. 
     In this embodiment, the interference fit connection is preferably adopted to connect the inner wall of the combined body  202  with the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1 . The suction nozzle cap  2  is advantageously made of plastic materials. A first chamfer  28  configured to facilitate the outer sleeve  1  to insert into the combined body  202  is formed at an edge of the inner wall of an end of the combined body  202  away from the end cap  201 . 
     In order to further facilitate the outer sleeve  1  to insert into the combined body  202 , the combined body  202  can further define an external chamber  21  located adjacent to one side of the first chamfer  28  away from the end cap  201 , and a second chamfer  23  is formed near the opening of the external chamber  21 . 
     A sealing ring  3  is sheathed on one end of the outer sleeve  1  facing the suction nozzle cap  2 . A second reserved space  32  is formed between one end of the sealing ring  3  near the suction nozzle cap  2  and the opening of the outer sleeve  1 . A third reserved space  33  is formed between one end of the sealing ring  3  away from the suction nozzle cap  2  and an atomizer  11  contained in the outer sleeve  1 . The second reserved space  32  is used for providing residence space for smoke arriving at the sealing ring  3 . The third reserved space  33  reserves space for smoke buffer. 
     The sealing ring  3  defines a first containing chamber  31  and a through hole  30 . The first containing chamber  31  is configured for condensing tobacco tar, and the first containing chamber is shape as a round table formed by gradually reducing a diameter of an edge of the sealing ring  3 . The through hole  30  communicates with the smoking hole  20 , and is aligned with or deviates from the smoking hole  20 . In this embodiment, the through hole  30  is aligned with the smoking hole  20 . 
     A third chamfer  24  configured to facilitate the sealing ring  3  to insert into the outer sleeve  1  is formed at an edge of the outer wall of one end of the sealing ring  3  away from the smoking hole  20 . 
     By adopting the structure comprising the suction nozzle cap  2  sheathed on the outer sleeve  1 , the disassembly of the suction nozzle cap  2  is more convenient. Furthermore, because the suction nozzle cap  2  is sheathed on the outside of the outer sleeve  1 , the structure design of the suction nozzle cap  2  can be diversified. For example, the combined body  202  can be designed to include a first combined part  202   a  and a second combined part  202   b , and a crease line  203  is formed between the first combined part  202   a  and the second combined part  202   b . The first combined part  202   a  is fixedly connected with the end cap  201 . An identification region is formed on an outer wall of the second combined part  202   b , and there are concave and convex logos and texts on the identification region. The aim of setting the two combined parts is as follows: since the crease line  203  is formed between the first combined part  202   a  and the second combined part  202   b , when either of the two combined parts is rotated or forced in the first use, the crease line  203  breaks and shows that the electronic cigarette has been ever opened. Moreover, the second combined part  202   b  is sheathed on the outside of the outer sleeve  1  and can move along the outer sleeve  1 , and the second combined part  202   b  is provided with a mark configured to display some information of the electronic cigarette. 
     A Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 - FIG. 6C , an electronic cigarette of the second embodiment comprises an outer sleeve  1  and a suction nozzle cap  2  mounted at one end of the outer sleeve  1 . Wherein, the suction nozzle cap  2  is sheathed on the outer sleeve  1 , and an inner wall of the suction nozzle cap  2  is located on the outside of an outer wall of the outer sleeve  1 . An atomizer  11  is accommodated in the outer sleeve  1 . The electronic cigarette further comprises a battery sleeve  4 , and a battery  41  is accommodated in the battery sleeve  4  to supply power to the atomizer  11 . 
     The suction nozzle cap comprises an end cap  201  facing an opening end of the outer sleeve  1  and a combined body  202  sheathed on the outer sleeve  1 , and the end cap  201  and the combined body  202  are integrated. 
     In this embodiment, a cross section of the combined body  202  is round, and an axial length of the combined body  202  is preferably 27 mm. Thus, the combined body  202  can be used to simulate a filter tip of a real cigarette lifelikely. 
     A smoking hole  20  is defined along an axial direction of the end cap  201 , and a central axis of the smoking hole  20  deviates from a central axis of the outer sleeve  1 . 
     A first reserved space  25  is formed between the inner wall of the end cap  201  and the opening of the outer sleeve  1 , and a flange  22  can be formed at a contraction portion of the end cap  201  corresponding to the combined body  202  and is located adjacent to the combined body  202  to abut against the opening end of the outer sleeve  1 . In one aspect, the first reserved space  25  can be used for secondary condensation of tobacco tar. In another aspect, a through hole can be defined at a circumference of an inner wall of the end cap  201  coating the first reserved space  25 , and the through hole is used to replace the smoking hole  20  to discharge smoke to a mouth of a user. In this embodiment, smoke is preferably exhausted via the smoking hole  20 , and no any other through hole is defined. An annular bulge  26  extends axially along an edge of the end cap  201  corresponding to a circumference of the smoking hole  20 , and further extends toward the opening of the outer sleeve  1 . The annular bulge  26  matches the first reserved space  25  to recycle secondarily condensed tobacco tar. 
     The inner wall of the combined body  202  is sheathed on the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  corresponding to the combined body  202  along a preset sheathed direction. The inner wall of the combined body  202  and the outer wall of the outer sleeve  1  form an interference connection. The suction nozzle cap  2  can be designed to be elastic. In this embodiment, the suction nozzle cap  2  is advantageously made of plastics, and the combined body  202  and the outer sleeve  1  forms the interference fit using relative toughness chimera. 
     A first chamfer  28  configured to facilitate the outer sleeve  1  to insert into the combined body  202  is formed at an edge of an inner wall of an end of the combined body  202  away from the end cap  201 . 
     In order to facilitate the outer sleeve  1  to insert into the combined body  202 , the combined body  202  may further define an external chamber  21  located adjacent to one side of the first chamfer  28  away from the end cap  201 , and a second chamfer  23  is formed near the opening of the external chamber  21 . 
     A sealing ring  3  is sheathed on one end of the outer sleeve  1  facing the suction nozzle cap  2 . A second reserved space  32  is formed between one end of the sealing ring  3  near the suction nozzle cap  2  and the opening of the outer sleeve  1 . A third reserved space  33  is formed between one end of the sealing ring  3  away from the suction nozzle cap  2  and an atomizer  11  contained in the outer sleeve  1 . 
     The sealing ring  3  defines a first containing chamber  31  and a through hole  30 . The first containing chamber  31  is configured for condensing tobacco tar, and the first containing chamber is shaped as a round table formed by gradually reducing a diameter of an edge of the sealing ring  3 . The through hole  30  communicates with the smoking hole  20 , and is aligned with the smoking hole  20 . 
     A third chamfer  24  configured to facilitate the sealing ring  3  to insert into the outer sleeve  1  is formed at a circumferential edge of one end of the sealing ring  3  away from the smoking hole  20 . 
     While the embodiments of the present application are described with reference to the accompanying drawings above, the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementations. In fact, the above-mentioned specific implementations are intended to be exemplary not to be limiting. In the inspiration of the present application, those ordinary skills in the art can also make many modifications without breaking away from the subject of the present application and the protection scope of the claims. All these modifications belong to the protection of the present application.