Patent Publication Number: US-9894935-B2

Title: Atomizing core and electronic cigarette having same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to electronic cigarettes, and particularly to an atomizing core and an electronic cigarette using same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A typical electronic cigarette includes a liquid storing component, a liquid absorbing component, and a heating wire. The heating wire is wound around the liquid absorbing component. The liquid absorbing component is usually made of glass fiber material. The liquid absorbing component is configured for absorbing tobacco liquid from the liquid storing component via capillary action. The heating wire heats the tobacco liquid to vaporize. However, the glass fiber material may be bad for human&#39;s body. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an atomizing core and an electronic cigarette using same, which can overcome the above shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary atomizing core includes a cylindrical main body and an atomizing rod. The cylindrical main body has a central axis. The cylindrical main body extends from the main body along the central axis. The main body and the atomizing rod are both made of porous bodies. 
     The main body defines a through hole along the central axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an atomizing core according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the atomizing core of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the atomizing core taken along the line A-A. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the atomizing core taken along the line B-B. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an atomizing core according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an atomizing core  10  is shown. The atomizing core  10  includes a cylindrical main body  11  and an atomizing rod  12  extending from the main body  11  along a central axis of the main body  11 . The main body  11  and the atomizing rod  12  are integrally formed by sintering porous ceramic. The main body  11  defines a plurality of through holes  111  along the central axis. The atomizing rod  12  is a solid body, and is arranged at a side of the main body  11  adjacent to the through holes  111 . Air can go from one side of the main body  11  to the other side via the through holes  111 . 
     The main body  11  includes a connector  121 , and the main body  11  is connected with the atomizing rod  12  via the connector  121 . The connector  121  includes a connecting part  1211  and a plurality of air slots  1212  defined in an end of the connector  121  adjacent to the atomizing rod  12 . The air slots  1212  are oriented along a direction parallel to a central axis of the atomizing rod  12 . The through holes  111  extend through the connecting part  1211  and are in communication with the air slots  1212 . 
     In the present embodiment, the atomizing core  10  includes four air slots  1212  equiangularly along a circumference of the connector  121 . The atomizing core  10  has a symmetric shape. 
     To achieve a symmetric design, the main body  11  is substantially cylindrical. The atomizing rod  12  is oriented along the central axis of the main body  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the atomizing core  10  further includes a heating wire  13  wound around the atomizing rod  12 . After the atomizing rod  12  absorbs tobacco liquid, the heating wire  13  heats the tobacco liquid to form aerosol. The atomizing core  10  is made of porous ceramic. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , an electronic cigarette includes a housing  20 , a liquid storing component  30  in the housing  20 , and the atomizing core  10 . The liquid storing component  30  defines an air passage  31  along a central axis. An end of the liquid storing component  30  tightly abuts against the main body  11 , so that the main body  11  absorbs tobacco liquid from the liquid storing component  30 . The atomizing rod  12  and the heating wire  13  are positioned in the air passage  31 . The tobacco liquid absorbed in the main body  11  penetrates the atomizing rod  12  via porous structure, and the heating wire  13  heats the tobacco liquid in the atomizing rod  12  to form aerosol. The aerosol is expelled through the air passage  31 . 
     An end of the housing  20  is provided with a mouthpiece  40 . The mouthpiece  40  defines an air outlet  41 , through which a user of the electronic cigarette inhales the aerosol. 
     The electronic cigarette further includes an air pipe  50 , and the air passage  31  is defined in the air pipe  50 . The atomizing core  10  is nested in the air pipe  50 , and the connector  121  is engaged in one end of the air pipe  50 . The air pipe  50  separates the aerosol from the tobacco liquid in the liquid storing component  30 , preventing the tobacco liquid from deteriorating. 
     In the present embodiment, the atomizing rod  12  is substantially cylindrical. A diameter of the atomizing rod  12  is less than an inner diameter of the air pipe  50 , so that the aerosol can go through a gap formed between the atomizing rod  12  and the air pipe  50 . Furthermore, the heat of the heating wire  13  will not be conveyed directly to the tobacco liquid in the liquid storing component  30 , thus preventing the tobacco liquid from deteriorating. 
     The electronic cigarette further includes a liquid stopper  60 . An end of the liquid stopper  60  abuts against the main body  11 , and is engaged in the housing  20  by interference fit, avoiding tobacco liquid leakage. Two opposite ends of the heating wire  13  are connected with wires  14  respectively, and the wires  14  are connected to a power supply ( 70 , see  FIG. 6 ). Correspondingly, the liquid stopper  60  defines at least one wire hole allowing the wires  14  to pass through. The main body  11  of the atomizer core  10  also defines at least one wire hole  112  for allowing the wires to pass through. 
     In the present embodiment, the electronic cigarette is a one-piece electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette further includes a power supply  70 . The mouthpiece  40 , the liquid storing component  30 , the liquid stopper  60  and the power supply  70  are sequentially arranged in the housing  20 . The wires  14  pass through the liquid stopper  60 , and are then connected to the power supply  70 . The power supply  70  is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for supplying the heating wire  13  power. 
     The power supply  70  further includes an air actuating electronic switch  71 . When the user sucks from the air outlet  41 , air goes in from an end of the housing  20 , and then the air actuating electronic switch  71  is turned on, so that the power supply  70  feeds the heating wire  13  power. The heating wire  13  heats the tobacco liquid to form aerosol, and then the aerosol is inhaled by the user. After the aerosol is cooled to form liquid drops, the liquid drops flow along an inner wall of the air pipe  50  to the main body  11 , the main body  11  absorbs the liquid drops for evaporation. Accordingly, the liquid leakage is greatly improved or eliminated. Furthermore, a liquid absorbing rate can be controlled by changing a size of the atomizing core, and a density of holes (not shown) in the atomizing core. 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments and methods without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.