Patent Publication Number: US-9894937-B2

Title: Atomizer and electronic cigarette having same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to electronic cigarettes, and particularly to an atomizer and an electronic cigarette using same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A typical atomizer includes a liquid supply and an atomizing assembly. The liquid supply is configured for storing tobacco liquid, and the tobacco liquid is usually sealed by aluminum foil. The atomizing assembly includes a pricking component. When the liquid supply is coupled to the atomizing assembly, the pricking component pierces the aluminum foil, so that the tobacco liquid flows into the atomizing assembly. However, when replacing the liquid supply with a new one, the tobacco liquid remained in the liquid supply may flow out and pollute the atomizing assembly. Accordingly, user experience of the atomizer is unsatisfactory. 
     What are needed, therefore, are an atomizer and an electronic cigarette using same, which can overcome the above shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary atomizer includes a liquid supply and an atomizing assembly detachably connected with the liquid supply. The liquid supply has a liquid chamber configured for storing tobacco liquid. The liquid supply includes a sealing piece at an end, and the sealing piece defines a liquid outlet. The atomizing assembly includes a connecting part. The liquid supply includes an engaging part matching with the connecting part. The engaging part includes a rotary sealing element rotatable relative to the sealing element. When the liquid supply and the atomizing assembly are disassembled, the rotary sealing element seals the liquid outlet. When the connecting part is inserted into the engaging part and rotated a first angle, the atomizing assembly and the liquid supply are engaged to form a snap fit connection. When the atomizing assembly is further rotated a second angle relative to the liquid supply, the atomizing assembly drives the rotary sealing element to rotate to open the liquid outlet, the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber flows into the atomizing assembly via the liquid outlet. 
    
    
     
       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 atomizer according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the atomizer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an atomizing assembly of the atomizer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a liquid supply of the atomizer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an electronic cigarette according to a second 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. 1-2 , an atomizer  10  includes a liquid supply  200  and an atomizing assembly  100  detachably connected with the liquid supply  200 . The liquid supply  200  includes a housing  201  extending axially, and the housing  201  defines a liquid chamber  209  for storing tobacco liquid. An end of the liquid supply  200  is provided with a sealing piece  211  with liquid outlets  212 , the other end of the liquid supply is provided with a mouthpiece  202 . The atomizing assembly  100  includes a connecting part  102 , and the liquid supply  200  includes an engaging part  203  configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for coupling with the connecting part  102 . The engaging part  203  includes a rotary sealing element  204 . The rotary sealing element  204  is rotatable relative to the sealing piece  211 . When the liquid supply  200  is not connected with the atomizing assembly  100 , the rotary sealing element  204  seals the liquid outlets  212 , avoiding liquid leakage. When the connecting part  102  is inserted into the engaging part  203  and is rotated a first angle, the atomizing assembly  100  is engaged with the liquid supply  200  by snap fit. In use, the atomizing assembly  100  is further rotated a second angle, the atomizing assembly  100  drives the rotary sealing element  204  to rotate to a position where the liquid outlets  212  are opened. In this position, the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber  209  can flow into the atomizing assembly  100  via the liquid outlets  212 , and the atomizing assembly  100  can work normally. 
     In the present embodiment, the first and the second angles are both 90 degrees. When the atomizer  10  is not used, the atomizing assembly  100  is rotated 90 degrees in a reverse direction, the rotary sealing element  204  is rotated back to a position where the liquid outlets  212  are sealed, avoiding liquid leakage. When the atomizing assembly  100  is further rotated 90 degrees in the reverse direction, the rotary sealing element  204  will not be rotated, and the atomizing assembly  100  and the liquid supply  200  can be disengaged from each other. 
     A tubular element  210  is further provided in the liquid chamber  209 . The tubular element  210  is hollow, and allows air to pass through. The sealing piece  211  fixedly sleeves an end of the tubular element  210 , and the rotary sealing element  204  rotatably nests the end of the tubular element  210 . The other end of the tubular element is connected with the mouthpiece  202 . The connecting part  102  defines an aerosol outlet  106  in a central part. When the atomizing assembly  100  is connected with the liquid supply  200 , the end of the tubular element  210  abuts against an end surface of the connecting part  102 , and the aerosol outlet  106  is in communication with the tubular element  210 . 
     Quite usefully, the rotary sealing element  204  is made of resilient material, for example, silica gel. The rotary sealing element  204  elastically abuts against the sealing piece  211 . The rotary sealing element  204  defines liquid holes  205  matching with the liquid outlets  212 . During rotation of the rotary sealing element, the liquid holes  205  are in alignment or misalignment with the liquid outlets  212 . When the liquid holes  205  are in misalignment with the liquid outlets  212 , the liquid outlets  212  are sealed by the rotary sealing element  204 . When the liquid holes  205  are in alignment with the liquid outlets  212 , the liquid outlets  205  are opened. 
     Further, the connecting part  102  defines liquid inlets  105 . In the present embodiment, the liquid inlets  105  are symmetric about a center of the connecting part  102 . When the atomizing assembly  100  is inserted into the liquid supply  200 , and rotated a first angle (e.g., 90 degrees), the liquid inlets  105  are in alignment with the liquid holes  205 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , in an original position, a line connecting two liquid inlets  105  is substantially perpendicular to a line connecting two liquid holes  205 . Only when the atomizing assembly  100  is inserted into the liquid supply  200  and is rotated 90 degrees, the liquid inlets  105  are in alignment with the liquid holes  205  in a one-to-one relationship. Quite usefully, sealing ribs  206  are provided on a surface of the rotary sealing element  204  facing the atomizing assembly  100 , surrounding the liquid holes  205 . When the liquid inlets  105  are in alignment with the liquid holes  205 , the sealing ribs  206  abuts against an end surface of the connecting part  102 , preventing the tobacco liquid from leaking. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the atomizing assembly  100  includes a shell  101 , at least one liquid conducting component  109 , and a heating element  110  in contact with the at least one liquid conducting component  109 . The liquid conducting component  109  is configured for absorbing tobacco liquid. In the present embodiment, the atomizing assembly  100  includes two liquid conducting components  109 . The two liquid conducting components  109  may be made of glass fiber. The heating element  110  may include a heating wire wound around the liquid conducting components  109 . Quite usefully, to control a flowing rate of the tobacco liquid into the atomizing assembly  100 , an annular buffer layer  107  is sandwiched between the liquid conducting components  109  and the liquid inlets  105 . End portions of the liquid conducting components  109  are in contact with the buffer layer  107 . 
     A bracket  113  is further arranged in the shell  101 , and configured for supporting the liquid conducting components  109  and the heating element  110 . A conductive terminal  111  is further provided in the shell  101 . The shell  101  is electrically conductive, and insulated from the conductive terminal  111 . Two opposite ends of the heating wire are connected to the shell  101  and the conductive terminal  111 . The shell  101  includes a plurality of internal screw threads at a bottom end. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the liquid supply  200  further includes a connecting rotor  207 . The connecting rotor  207  is capable of driving the rotary sealing element  204  to rotate. In the present embodiment, the connecting rotor  207  includes two engaging parts  208  symmetric about a center thereof. A line connecting the two engaging parts  208  is substantially perpendicular to a line connecting the two liquid holes  205 . The connecting part  102  includes two inserting openings  103  and an arc-shaped groove  104  (as seen in  FIGS. 1-2 ). The two inserting openings  103  are oriented along a line passing the two liquid inlets  105 . The arc-shaped groove  104  is configured for coupling with the engaging parts  208  by snap fit. When the atomizing assembly  100  is engaged with the liquid supply  200 , the engaging parts  208  are inserted into the inserting openings  103  and rotated a first angle (e.g., 90 degrees), and the engaging parts  208  are engaged in the arc-shaped groove  104  to form a snap fit connection. 
     The liquid supply  200  includes a fixing ring  213  at an end of the housing  201 . The connecting rotor  207  and the rotary sealing element  204  are received in the fixing ring  213 . The connecting rotor  207  includes a protrusion  215  on a sidewall. Correspondingly, the fixing ring  213  defines at least two notches  214  for coupling with the protrusion  215  on an internal wall. As seen in  FIG. 4 , an arc angle between two adjacent notches  214  is 90 degrees. That is, the protrusion  215  is engaged in one of the at least two notches  214  after the connecting rotor  207  is rotated a second angle. The housing  201  further includes a stop part  216 , the connecting rotor  207  further includes a blocking part  217 , and an arc angle between two adjacent blocking parts  217  is 90 degrees. The stop part  216  is rotatable between two adjacent blocking parts  217 . In other words, the connecting rotor  207  is rotatable in a range of 90 degrees. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  again, the atomizing assembly  100  further includes a connecting ring  114 , and the two inserting openings  103  are defined in the connecting ring  114 . The arc-shaped groove  104  is cooperatively formed by the connecting ring  114  and the connecting part  102 . The connecting part  102  includes a plurality of stop parts  115 , and an arc angle between two adjacent stop parts  115  is 90 degrees. When the engaging parts  208  are engaged in the arc-shaped grooves  104 , the engaging parts  208  are rotatable between two adjacent stop parts  115 , that is, in a range of 90 degrees. 
     When the atomizing assembly  100  is coupled to the liquid supply  200 , the engaging parts  208  are inserted into the arc-shaped groove  104 . Due to the resilience of the rotary sealing element  204 , a force of friction exists between the rotary sealing element  204  and the tubular element  210 , and the rotary sealing element  204  will not rotate when the engaging parts  208  rotate in a range of 90 degrees (i.e., the first angle) defined between adjacent stop parts  115 . When the atomizing assembly  100  is further rotated in an identical direction, because of the stop parts  115 , the connecting rotor  207  and the atomizing assembly  100  will not rotate relative to each other, and the atomizing assembly  100  drives the connecting rotor  207  to rotate the second angle together with the rotary sealing element  204 , until the liquid outlets  212  in the sealing piece are opened. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an electronic cigarette  20  includes an atomizer  10  and a power supply  300  for supplying the atomizer  10  power. The power supply  300  includes a battery  301 . The power supply  300  includes a plurality of external screw threads  302  at one end. The external screw threads  302  are configured for coupling with the internal screw threads  112 . One end of the atomizing assembly  100  is connected with the liquid supply  200 , and the other end is connected with the power supply  300 . 
     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.