Patent Publication Number: US-11653698-B2

Title: Electronic cigarette providing a detachable connection between an atomizing device and a power supply unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201921443572.1, filed on Sep. 2, 2019. The disclosure of the foregoing application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is related to the field of electronic cigarettes, particularly an electronic cigarette. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The electronic cigarettes in prior arts include integrated electronic cigarettes and split-type electronic cigarettes, wherein power supply unit and atomizing device are assembled in a detachable manner in the split-type electronic cigarettes, and the atomization device will be installed in the power supply device when the electronic cigarette is used. The power supply unit is usually provided with an installation slot for the installation of the atomizing device, and the atomizing device is fastened with magnetic attraction or interference fit to prevent the atomizing device from falling out of the installation slot. However, in the magnetic attraction method, the magnetic force is needed to match with the atomizing device, and the cost is high; in the interference fit method, the interference degree is difficult to control, which makes the atomizing device attached too tight or too loose, resulting in the atomization device is easy to fall out or is hard to be taken out. Therefore, the electronic cigarettes in prior arts need to be modified and improved. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure mainly provides an electronic cigarette, aiming to improve the reliability of a detachable connection between the atomizing device and the power supply unit of the electronic cigarette. 
     The technical solutions adopted by the present disclosure to achieve the above purpose are described as below: 
     An electronic cigarette, which comprises a power supply unit provided with an installation slot and an atomizing device. The power supply unit is provided with an elastic limit stop; the elastic limit stop is partly protruding in the installation slot, and protruded part can slide relatively along the direction perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device. When the atomizing device is installed in the installation slot, the elastic limit stop will be buckled on the atomizing device, so that the atomizing device can detachably connect to the power supply unit; when sliding the elastic limit stop, the elastic limit stop will detach from the atomizing device, so that the atomizing device may be removed from the installation slot. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein the elastic limit stop comprises a base with an accommodation slot and a limit stop body that is rotatably connected to the base and partly accommodated in the accommodation slot. A first buckle is provided on one side of the limit stop body, and the first buckle passes through the first side wall of the accommodation slot and protrude into the installation slot. When the limit stop body is rotating, the limit stop body will drive the first buckle to slide along the direction perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein the atomizing device is provided with a second buckle that matches with the first buckle. When the atomizing device is installed in the installation slot, the first buckle will be above the second buckle and abut against the second buckle, so as to lock the atomizing device in the installation slot; when the limit stop body rotates relative to the base under external force, the first buckle will be driven to slide and completely accommodate in the accommodation slot, so that the first buckle can detach from the second buckle to unlock the atomizing device from the installation slot. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein the first buckle comprises a first abutting surface and a first guiding surface. The first abutting surface is perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device, and the first guiding surface forms a tilt angle relative to the installation direction of the atomizing device. When the atomizing device is installed, the second buckle will slide along the first guiding surface till the location below the first abutting surface is reached to abut against the first abutting surface. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein the limit stop body is provided with a rotating shaft. Rotating shaft holes are provided on a second side wall and a third side wall that opposite to the accommodation slot; either end of the rotating shaft passes through corresponding rotating shaft hole respectively; and with the cooperation between the rotating shaft and rotating shaft hole, the limit stop body will rotate in the accommodation slot under external force. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein the electronic cigarette further includes an elastic part. One end of the elastic part is elastically abutted against one side of the first buckle that is away from the limit stop body, and the other end is elastically abutted against the fourth side wall of the accommodation slot. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein opening direction of the accommodation slot is the same as the opening direction of the installation slot, and surface of the opening of the accommodation slot extends along the rotating track of the limit stop body. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein one end of the limit stop body extends out of the opening of the accommodation slot to form a buckle part. One side of the buckle part close to the accommodation slot attaches to the surface of the opening of the accommodation slot; the buckle part slides on the surface of the opening of the accommodation slot under external force, so as to drive the elastic part body to rotate relative to the base. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein a third buckle is convexly provided on the side of the installation slot; correspondingly, a buckle slot matching with the third buckle is provided on the atomizing device. When the elastic limit stop is buckled on the atomizing device, the third buckle will be buckled on the slot. 
     The electronic cigarette, wherein the elastic limit stop and the third buckle are respectively provided on two opposite ends of the installation slot. 
     Advantages: the present disclosure discloses an electronic cigarette, which comprises a power supply unit provided with an installation slot and an atomizing device. The power supply unit is provided with an elastic limit stop; the elastic limit stop is partly protruding in the installation slot, and protruded part can slide relatively along the direction perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device. When the atomizing device is installed in the installation slot, the elastic limit stop will be buckled on the atomizing device, so that the atomizing device is detachably connected to the power supply unit; when the elastic limit stop is sliding, the elastic limit stop will detach from the atomizing device, so that the atomizing device may be removed from the installation slot. In this present disclosure, an elastic limit stop matching with the atomizing device is provided on the power supply, and the elastic limit stop will buckle on the atomizing device when the atomizing device is inside the installation slot, which will prevent the atomizing device from sliding out of the installation slot as well as improve the reliability of installation of atomizing device. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For more complete understanding of the present disclosure, the drawings in the embodiments are briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that other drawings may be easily obtained from these drawings without paying any creative effort. 
         FIG.  1    is the perspective view of preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is the section view of preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the power supply unit in preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a section view of the power supply unit in preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is the schematic view of the base in preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is the schematic view of limit stop body in preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a first angle schematic view of the atomizing device in preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is the second angle schematic view of the base in preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DEFINITION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Label 
                 Name 
                 Label 
                 Name 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Power supply unit 
                 2 
                 Atomizing device 
               
               
                 3 
                 Elastic limit stop 
                 11 
                 Installation slot 
               
               
                 12 
                 Third buckle 
                 21 
                 The second buckle 
               
               
                 22 
                 Clearance groove 
                 23 
                 Buckle slot 
               
               
                 211 
                 Second abutting surface 
                 212 
                 Second guiding surface 
               
               
                 31 
                 Limit stop body 
                 32 
                 Base 
               
               
                 33 
                 Elastic part 
                 311 
                 First Buckle 
               
               
                 312 
                 Rotating Shaft 
                 313 
                 Buckle part 
               
               
                 314 
                 First installation post 
                 315 
                 Rotating shaft hole 
               
               
                 3111 
                 First guiding surface 
                 3112 
                 First abutting surface 
               
               
                 321 
                 Accommodation slot 
                 3211 
                 First side wall 
               
               
                 3212 
                 Fourth side wall 
                 3213 
                 Through hole 
               
               
                 3214 
                 Second installation post 
                 3131 
                 Stress surface 
               
               
                 3132 
                 Third guiding surface 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The realization of objects, functional characteristics, and advantages of the present disclosure will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Technical solutions based on embodiments of the present disclosure are described clearly and completely in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure hereinafter. Any described embodiment is only a part of embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative work based on embodiments of the present disclosure fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. 
     It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to explain the relative position between the components in a specific posture (as shown in the drawings) and movement conditions, etc.; if the specific posture changes, the directional indication also changes accordingly. 
     In the description of the present application, the “first” and “second” are merely used for description but cannot be understood as indication or implication related to importance or implicit indication for the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, features with a limitation of “first” or “second” can explicitly or implicitly include one or more feature. Furthermore, technical schemes of various embodiments can be combined with each other if only it can be implemented by those of ordinary skill in the art. If a combination of the technical schemes is conflict or impracticable, the combination should be considered as not exist and not fall in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. 
     In the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly stated and limited, terms “connect” and “fix” should be understood broadly; for instance, “fix” can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; can be a mechanical connection, also can be an electrical connection; can be a direct connection, can be an indirect connection by an intermediary, and can be an internal communication of two elements, unless otherwise clearly limited. A person skilled in the art can understand concrete meanings of the terms in the present disclosure as per specific circumstances. 
     Refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  1    is the perspective view of preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure, and  FIG.  2    is the section view of preferred embodiment of the electronic cigarette disclosed in the present disclosure. The electronic cigarette comprises a power supply unit  1  provided with an installation slot  11  and an atomizing device  2 . The power supply unit  1  is provided with an elastic limit stop  3 ; the elastic limit stop  3  is partly protruding in the installation slot  11 , and protruded part can slide relative to the installation slot  11  along the direction perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device  2 . When the atomizing device  2  is installed in the installation slot  11 , the elastic limit stop  3  will be buckled on the atomizing device  2 , so that the atomizing device  2  will detachably connect to the power supply unit  1 . 
     When the elastic limit stop  3  is sliding, the elastic limit stop  3  will detach from the atomizing device  2 , so that the atomizing device  2  may be removed from the installation slot  11 . In this present disclosure, an elastic limit stop  3  matching with the atomizing device  2  is provided on the power supply unit  1 , and the elastic limit stop  3  will buckle on the atomizing device  2  when the atomizing device  2  is inside the installation slot  11 , which will prevent the atomizing device  2  from sliding out of the installation slot  11  as well as improve the reliability of installation of atomizing device. When the atomizing device  2  needs to be taken out, users only need to slide the elastic limit stop  3  to separate it from the atomizing device  2 , which is easy to operate. 
     In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , the power supply unite  1  is provided with an installation slot  11 . The installation slot  11  includes a bottom wall and four side walls, and side walls of the above mentioned four side walls are connected in sequence, and the shape of the enclosure is adapted to the atomizing device  2 . When the atomizing device  2  is accommodated in the installation slot  11 , four side walls of the installation slot  11  will attach to the corresponding outer surface of the atomizing device  2 , so as to limit the displacement along horizontal direction of the atomizing device  2  and prevent the atomizing device  2  from shaking. 
     Refer to  FIG.  2   - FIG.  5   , the embodiment prevents the atomizing device  2  from falling out of the opening end  111  of the installation slot  11  (e.g., limit the atomizing device  2  to move along vertical direction) by the elastic limit stop  3 . Specifically, the elastic limit stop  3  comprises a base  32 , a limit stop body  31 , and an elastic part  33 . The base  32  is provided with an accommodation slot  321 , and the opening direction of the accommodation slot  321  is the same as the opening direction of the installation slot  11 . The accommodation slot  321  comprise a bottom wall (not shown in the figures), a first side wall  3211 , a second side wall  3215 , a third side wall (not shown in the figures), and a fourth side wall  3212 . Wherein, the bottom is opposite to the opening of the accommodation slot  321 ; the first side wall  3211  is close to the installation slot  11 ; the fourth side wall  3212  is opposite to the first side wall  3211 ; the second side wall  3215  and the third side wall are opposite to each other and are connected to the first side wall  3211  respectively. The limit stop body  31  is partly accommodated in the accommodation slot  321 , and one end of which is exposed from the opening of the accommodation slot  321  for users to exert effort. The part of the limit stop body  31  that is accommodated in the accommodation slot  321  is rotatably connected to the base  32 ; when exert force on exposed part, the part inside the accommodation slot  321  will be driven to rotate. Specifically, a rotating shaft  312  is provided on the limit stop body  31 ; rotating shaft holes  315  matching with the rotating shaft  312  are provided on the second side wall  3215  and the third side wall, and two ends of the rotating shaft  312  pass through the corresponding rotating shaft holes  315  respectively. Through the cooperation between the rotating shaft  312  and rotating shaft holes  315 , the limit stop body  31  and the base  32  are rotatably connected and may rotate inside the accommodation slot  321 . In practice, the rotating shaft  312  may be fixed on the limit stop body  31  and be rotatably connected to the two rotating shaft holes  315 ; when exerting force is on the exposed part of the limit stop body  31 , the rotating shaft  312  will be driven to rotate inside the rotating shaft hole  315 . Of course, the rotating shaft  312  may also be rotatably connected to the limit stop body  31  and be fixed on the two rotating shaft holes  315 ; when exerting force on exposed part of the limit stop body  31 , the limit stop body  31  will rotate around the rotating shaft  312 . 
     In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  4   , a first buckle  311  is provided on one side of the limit stop body  31 , and the first buckle  311  passes through the first side wall  3211  to protrude in the installation slot  11 . Correspondingly, a through hole  3213  matching with the first buckle  311  is provided on the first side wall  3211 , and the through hole  3213  communicates with the installation slot  11  and the accommodation slot  321 . The side of the limit stop body  31  away from the first buckle  311  is connected to the elastic part  33 . One end of the elastic part  33  is elastically abutted against the limit stop body  31 , and the other end is elastically abutted against the fourth side wall  3212  of the accommodation slot  321 . The limit stop body  31  clearance fits with the accommodation slot  321 , and one side of the limit stop body  31  is pressed towards the first side wall  3211  by the elastic part  33  and is abutted against the first side wall  3211 . Correspondingly, the other side opposing to the limit stop body  31  is elastically abutted against the fourth side wall  3212  through the elastic part  33 , that is, there is gap between the limit stop body  31  and the fourth side wall  3212 . The minimum gap between the limit stop body  31  and the fourth side wall  3212  limits the rotation stroke of the limit stop body  31 . 
     In practice, the elastic part  33  is a spring. A first installation post  314  is convexly provided on the limit stop body  31  where towards the fourth side wall  3212 , and a second installation post  3214  is provided on the fourth side wall  3212 ; one end of the elastic part  33  is sleeved on the first installation post  314 , and the other end is sleeved on the second installation post  3214 ; the telescopic direction of the elastic part  33  is guided by the two installation posts to prevent from displacement of the elastic part  33 . When external force is on the part of the limit stop body  31  exposed out of the opening end  3216  of the accommodation slot  321 , the limit stop body  31  will rotate counterclockwise inside the accommodation slot  321  and presses the elastic part  33  towards the fourth side wall  3212 , so as to compress the elastic part  33  further; at the same time, the limit stop body  31  drives the first buckle  311  slide towards the accommodation slot  321  along the direction that perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device  2  till the first buckle  311  is completely accommodated in the accommodation slot  321 . When the external force exerted on the limit stop body  31  is removed, elastic deformation of the elastic part  33  will be recovered, and a thrust force towards the installation slot  11  will be applied on the limit stop body  31 ; the limit stop body  31  will rotate clockwise and drive the first buckle  311  to slide along the through hole  3213  until protruding in the installation slot  11 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG.  4   , surface of the opening end  3216  of the accommodation slot  321  extends along the rotating track of the limit stop body  31 ; that is, the plane of the open end coincides with the rotation track of the limit stop body  31 . Correspondingly, the part of the limit stop body  31  exposed out of the opening end  3216  extends out of the opening of the opening end  3216  to form a buckle part  313  for users to exert effort. The buckle part  313  comprises a third guiding surface  3132  and a stress surface  3131 . Wherein, the third guiding surface  3132  is on the side of the buckle part  313  where close to the accommodation slot  321 , and the guiding surface  3132  is attached to the plane of the opening end  3216  of the accommodation slot  321 ; that is, the extension direction of the third guide surface  3132  is also adapted to the rotation track of the limit stop body  31 . The stress surface  3131  is the surface of the buckle part  313  that is exposed for user to exert effort. When external force is on the stress surface  3131 , the third guiding surface  3132  will slide along the plane of the opening end  3216 , so that the limit stop body  31  can rotate and further drive the first buckle  311  slide into the accommodation slot  321  to detach from the atomizing device  2 , so as to unlock the atomizing device  2 ; then the atomizing device  2  can be removed. In practice, the stress surface  3131  is a plane extending diagonally downward, which facilitate users to operate when holding the electronic cigarette and sliding the buckle part  313 . The locking and unlocking structure not only improve reliability of installation of the atomizing device  2 , avoid power failure of the atomizing device  2  due to maloperation, or fall out under external force; but also make the buckle part  313  ergonomic and user friendly. Furthermore, at least one slot or convex is provided on the stress surface  3131  to improve roughness of the stress surface  3131  and prevent slipping when the stress surface  3131  is operated by users. 
     In this embodiment, refer to  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7   , a second buckle  21  that matches with the first buckle  311  is provided on the atomizing device  2 . The first buckle  311  comprises a first abutting surface  3112  and a first guiding surface  3111 ; the first abutting surface  3112  is perpendicular to the installation direction of the atomizing device  2  and attaches to the wall of the through hole  3213 . The first guiding surface  3111  forms a tilt angle with the installation direction of the atomizing device  2 . The second buckle  21  comprises a second abutting surface  211  and a second guiding surface  212 . The second abutting surface  211  is parallel to the first abutting surface  3112 , and the second guiding surface  212  is parallel to the first guiding surface  3111 . 
     When the atomizing device  2  is installed downward from the notch of the installation slot  11 , the second guide surface  212  will move downward while sliding along the first guiding surface  3111  and exerts a pushing force on the first guiding surface  3111 , so that the first buckle  311  is completely pushed into the accommodation slot  321 , while the elastic part  33  is compressed. When the atomizing device  2  continues to move down till the bottom of the atomizer is abutted against the bottom wall of the installation slot  11 , the second guiding surface  212  will slide to separate from the first guiding surface  3111  then locate below the first guiding surface  3111 , and the second abutting surface  211  will be attached to the first abutting surface  3112  and (the second abutting surface  211 ) locate below the first abutting surface  3112 . When the atomizer is pulled upward, the first abutting surface  3112  will be abutted against the second abutting surface  211 , so as to prevent the atomizer from falling out of the installation slot  11  and achieve reliable connection between the atomizer and power supply unit  1 . 
     When the atomizing device  2  needs to be taken out of the installation slot  11 , the stress surface  3131  of the buckle part  313  will slide and drive the limit stop body  31  to rotate counterclockwise, so that the first buckle  311  can slide along the through hole  3213  from the installation slot  11  into the accommodation slot  321  and separate from the second buckle  21 , which unlock the atomizing device  2 ; and the atomizing device  2  can be taken out from the installation slot  11 . In this embodiment, the elastic limit stop  3  and the atomizing device  2  are reliably matched to lock the atomizing device  2 , which reduces the probability of falling out of the atomizing device  2 . 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  7   , a clearance groove  22  is provided on one side of the atomizing device  2  where the second buckle  21  is provided. The second buckle  21  is connected to the bottom surface of the clearance groove  22  and is convexly provided in the clearance groove  22 . When the atomizing device  2  is installed in the installation slot  11  and the second buckle  21  is buckled with the first buckle  311 , the clearance groove  22  and the power supply unit  1  will form an air intake channel that communicates with the atomization channel, and the first buckle  311  and the second buckle  21  will be accommodated in the air intake channel. In order to ensure the unobstructed air intake of the air intake channel, preferably, the widths of the first buckle  311  and the second buckle  21  are both smaller than the width of the air intake channel to prevent the air intake channel from being blocked and affecting intake airflow. 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  8   , either side wall of the installation slot  11  or the atomizing device  2  is provided with a third buckle  12 , and the other is provided with a slot  23  which matches with the third buckle  12 . When the elastic limit stop  3  is buckled on the atomizing device  2 , the third buckle  12  will be buckled on the slot  23 . In practice, the third buckle  12  is provided on side wall of the installation slot  11 ; correspondingly, the slot  23  is provided on the atomizing device  2 . Preferably, the third buckle  12  is arranged at one end of the side wall of the installation slot  11  where close to the notch, and the exposed surface of the third buckle  12  is flush with the plane where the notch is located. The slot  23  could be a through slot or a non-through slot. Furthermore, the third buckle  12  and the elastic limit stop  3  are respectively arranged at two opposite ends of the installation slot  11 , so that when the atomizing device  2  is placed inside the installation slot  11 , two opposite ends of the atomizing device  2  both subject to buckle force, which makes the force on both ends of the atomizing device  2  balanced and improves the stability under the locked state. 
     The above only describes preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the patent scope of the present disclosure. Any equivalent structural transformation made by using contents of the description and drawings of the present disclosure, or directly or indirectly used in other relevant technical fields under the inventive concept of the present disclosure shall be included within the protection scope of patent of the present disclosure.