Patent Publication Number: US-11665785-B2

Title: Atomizer capable of preventing liquid leakage caused by air inside a liquid reservoir and electronic cigarette with the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application is a continuation application of a national application Ser. No. 15/953,603, filed on Apr. 16, 2018, all contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to substitutes for cigarettes, and more particularly, to an atomizer and an electronic cigarette with the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     At present, electronic cigarettes have become mature substitutes for tobacco cigarettes. The electronic cigarette atomizes e-liquid in an atomizer by heating a heating element through a power supply, thereby providing harmless smoke. As a key component of the electronic cigarette, the atomizer plays an important role in the performance of the electronic cigarette. 
     At present, in some disposable electronic cigarettes, e-liquid is injected in to the electronic cigarette from a top of the atomizer after the assembly of an atomization core is finished, and then a mouthpiece assembly is mounted to the atomizer to seal a top of a liquid reservoir of the atomizer. However, during this process, a part of the mouthpiece assembly needs to extend into the liquid reservoir, that is, a part of the mouthpiece assembly may be moved into the liquid reservoir; since the mouthpiece assembly and the atomizer are air-tight, the movement of the mouthpiece assembly may compress the air inside the liquid reservoir and further push the e-liquid in the liquid reservoir to flow into the atomization core, thereby causing the leakage of the e-liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure provides an atomizer which is capable of preventing liquid leakage caused by that air inside a liquid reservoir is compressed by a mouthpiece assembly to drive e-liquid inside the liquid reservoir to flow into an atomization core during the assembly of the mouthpiece assembly. The present disclosure further provides an electronic cigarette with the atomizer. 
     The atomizer applicable in an electronic cigarette includes a cartridge assembly, a mouthpiece assembly; the cartridge assembly includes a liquid reservoir, an opening communicating the liquid reservoir with an external environment, and an atomization chamber communicating with the liquid reservoir; the mouthpiece assembly is inserted into the opening; the cartridge assembly includes an engaging portion located adjacent to the opening, the mouthpiece assembly includes an inserting portion inserted into the engaging portion; the engaging portion defines a discharging hole for discharging air inside the liquid reservoir while the inserting portion is being inserted into the engaging portion, and after the inserting portion is inserted into the engaging portion in place, the discharging hole is blocked by the inserting portion. 
     In an embodiment, the inserting portion is detachably inserted into the engaging portion. 
     In an embodiment, the cartridge assembly includes a base, an air flowing tube assembly mounted on the base, a cartridge sleeved on the air flowing tube assembly; and the liquid reservoir is formed between an outer wall of the air flowing tube assembly and an inner wall of the cartridge; 
     the air flowing tube assembly includes an inner air flowing tube, and the discharging hole is defined in a top of a wall of the inner air flowing tube; and the inner air flowing tube forms the atomization chamber; 
     the mouthpiece assembly further includes a sealing member and an air outlet tube communicating with the inner air flowing tube; and 
     the sealing member is inserted into the inserting portion for blocking the discharging hole. 
     In an embodiment, the inner air flowing tube includes a first tube section, a second tube section communicating with the mouthpiece assembly, and a step formed at the connection between the first tube section and the second tube section; and a diameter of the second tube section is less than that of the first tube section; 
     the discharging hole is defined in the second tube section and communicates with the second tube section; and 
     the second tube section is inserted into the inserting portion, and the sealing member is sleeved on the second tube section and corresponds to the discharging hole. 
     In an embodiment, the air flowing tube assembly includes an outer air flowing tube sleeved on the inner air flowing tube; 
     the outer air flowing tube includes a tube body and a cover located on one end of the tube body, and a through hole is defined in the cover; 
     the tube body is sleeved on the first tube section, an inner surface of the tube body tightly contacts an outer surface of the first tube section, and the second tube section passes through the through hole; a bottom diameter of the tube body matches with that of the first tube section, and a top diameter of the tube body matches with that of the second tube section; and 
     the liquid reservoir is formed between an outer surface of the tube body and an inner surface of the cartridge, and an airflow channel is formed between the inner surface of the tube body and the outer surface of the first tube section. 
     In an embodiment, the first tube section forms the atomization chamber, and an atomization assembly is arranged in the atomization assembly; and 
     at least one liquid absorbing hole is defined in the first tube section and the outer air flowing tube, and the liquid absorbing hole defined in the outer air flowing tube corresponds to and communicate with the liquid absorbing hole defined in the first tube section. 
     In an embodiment, the base includes a plate, a mounting portion arranged on the plate and extending towards a top of the atomizer, and a connecting portion located on a bottom of the plate; and 
     a first air inlet is formed in the connecting portion; the air flowing tube assembly and the cartridge are located on the mounting portion, and the cartridge is sleeved on the mounting portion; 
     In an embodiment, a first air intake slot and a second air intake slot are formed on the outer surface of the first tube section, the first air intake slot communicates with the first air inlet, and the second air intake slot faces away from the first air intake slot; a second air inlet communicating with the inner air flowing tube is formed in the second air intake slot; the step supports the cover, and a gap between the first tube section and a top of the cover forms a communication channel communicating the first air intake slot with the second air intake slot; and 
     the airflow channel comprises the first air intake slot, the second air intake slot, and the communication channel. 
     In an embodiment, a blocking assembly is arranged on one end of the first tube section adjacent to the base for blocking the inner air flowing tube. 
     In an embodiment, the blocking assembly includes a sealing cover and an electrode located at the center of the sealing cover; and 
     the electrode abuts a positive pole of the base, a positive pole of the atomization assembly is connected to the electrode, and a negative pole of the atomization assembly is connected to a negative pole of the base through the outer air flowing tube and the inner air flowing tube. 
     The present disclosure further provides an electronic cigarette, including the above atomizer. 
     Since the engaging portion is located adjacent to the opening of the liquid reservoir of the cartridge which communicates with the external environment and the engaging portion defines the discharging hole, air inside the liquid reservoir can discharge out of the liquid reservoir from the discharging hole when the inserting portion of the mouthpiece assembly is being inserted into the engaging portion, thus, liquid leakage caused by that air inside the liquid reservoir drives the e-liquid to flow into the atomization chamber can be prevented; in addition, after the inserting portion is totally inserted into the engaging portion, the inserting portion blocks the discharging hole, preventing liquid leakage from the discharging hole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompany drawings and the embodiments, wherein in the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an atomizer applicable in an electronic cigarette in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a partially exploded view of the atomizer of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of the atomizer of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded view of a cartridge assembly of the atomizer of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view of an air flowing tube assembly of the atomizer of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a left side view of an inner air flowing tube of the atomizer of  FIG.  5    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a right side view of the inner air flowing tube of atomizer of  FIG.  5    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a top view of bottoms of the inner air flowing tube and an outer air flowing tube of the atomizer of  FIG.  5    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view of the inner air flowing tube and the outer air flowing tube of  FIG.  8    taken along the line C-C in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic view of a mouthpiece assembly of the atomizer of  FIG.  1    in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , an atomizer applicable in an electronic cigarette in accordance with an embodiment is provided. The atomizer is engageable with a power supply to form an electronic cigarette. The atomizer includes a cartridge assembly  10  and a mouthpiece assembly  20 . A top of the cartridge assembly  10  forms an opening and the mouthpiece assembly  20  is mounted in the opening of the cartridge assembly  10 . The cartridge assembly  10  is used for connecting to the power supply, storing e-liquid, and atomizing the e-liquid. The mouthpiece assembly  20  is used for covering the opening in the cartridge assembly  10  and guiding atomized smoke out. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the cartridge assembly  10  includes a base  11 , an air flowing tube assembly  12  mounted on the base  11 , a cartridge  13 , and an atomization assembly  15  arranged in the air flowing tube assembly  12 . The base  11  is connected to the power supply. The air flowing tube assembly  12  is configured for discharging atomized smoke. The cartridge  13  surrounds the air flowing tube assembly  12 , and a liquid reservoir  14  is formed between an inner wall of the cartridge  13  and an outer wall of the air flowing tube assembly  12  for storing e-liquid of the electronic cigarette. The atomization assembly  15  is located in the cartridge  13  for atomizing the e-liquid. 
     In some embodiments, the air flowing tube assembly  12  and the cartridge  13  are cylindrical, and an outer diameter of the air flowing tube assembly  12  is less than an inner diameter of the cartridge  13 . In some embodiments, the air flowing tube assembly  12  is coaxial with the cartridge  13 . 
     The base  11  includes a plate  111 , a mounting portion  112  arranged on the plate  111  and extending upwards from the plate  111 , and a connecting portion  113  arranged on a bottom of the plate  111 . The mounting portion  112  is cylindrical. One side wall of the connecting portion  113  forms a first air inlet  114  for drawing air into the atomizer such that the atomizer can communicate with the external environment. The connecting portion  113  is provided with an electrode. The connecting portion  113  is cylindrical and an outer side of the connecting portion  113  is configured with threads; it is understood that the connecting portion  113  can be threaded to the power supply. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   , in an embodiment, the air flowing tube assembly  12  is mounted in the mounting portion  112  of the base  11 , including an inner air flowing tube  121 , an outer air flowing tube  122  sleeved on the inner air flowing tube  121 , and a blocking assembly  124  for blocking the inner air flowing tube  121 . The inner air flowing tube  121  is configured for forming an atomization chamber  1214  for receiving the atomization assembly  15  and a channel for guiding smoke out. The outer air flowing tube  122  is configured for cooperating with the inner air flowing tube  121  to form an airflow channel  123  which extends towards a top of the atomizer for a certain distance from a bottom of the atomizer and then extends downwards from the top of the atomizer for a certain distance. The inner air flowing tube  121  and the outer air flowing tube  122  can be made of plastic, rubber, or alloy, etc. 
     In an embodiment, the inner air flowing tube  121  includes a first tube section  1211  and a second tube section  1212 . A diameter of the first tube section  1211  is greater than that of the second tube section  1212 . A step is formed at the connection between the first tube section  1211  and the second tube section  1212  for improving a tightness between the outer air flowing tube  122  and the inner air flowing tube  121 . The atomization chamber  1214  receiving the atomization assembly  15  is formed in the first tube section  1211 . The second tube section  1212  is configured for communicating with the mouthpiece assembly  20  to discharge the atomized smoke. 
     The first tube section  1211  includes two first liquid absorbing holes  1215  defined in two sides of the first tube section  1211 , a first air intake slot  1216  formed in a surface of the first tube section  1211 , a second air intake slot  1217  formed in the surface of the first tube section  1211  and facing away from the first air intake slot  1216 , and a second air inlet  1218  formed in the second air intake slot  1217 . The first liquid absorbing hole  1215  communicates with the liquid reservoir  14  for absorbing e-liquid entering into the atomization chamber  1214 . The first air intake slot  1216  extends towards a top of the first tube section  1211  from a bottom of the first tube section  1211  and communicates with the first air inlet  114 . The second air intake slot  1217  extends towards the second air inlet  1218  from the top of the first tube section  1211  for guiding air into the second air inlet  1218  such that air can be guided into the atomization chamber  1214 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5  and  9   , the outer air flowing tube  122  includes a tube body  1221 , a cover  1223  located on one end of the tube body  1221 , a through hole  1222  defined in the cover  1223 , two second liquid absorbing holes  1224  defined in two sides of the tube body  1221 . The outer air flowing tube  122  is sleeved on the first tube section  1221 , and a length of the outer air flowing tube  122  is greater than that of the first tube section  1211 . A bottom diameter of the tube body  1221  matches with that of the first tube section  1211 , and a top diameter of the tube body  1221  matches with that of the second tube section  1212 . A communication channel  1219  is formed between a top of the tube body  1221  and the top of the first tube section  1211  for guiding air into the second air intake slot  1217  from the first air intake slot  1216 . The cover  1223  covers the communication channel⋅ 1219  to prevent air discharge from a top of the second tube section  1212 . The second liquid absorbing holes  1224  correspond to the first liquid absorbing holes  1215  defined in the first tube section  1211  and communicate with the first liquid absorbing holes  1215  respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  to  9   , the airflow channel  123  between the inner air flowing tube  121  and the outer air flowing tube  122  communicates with the first air inlet  114  and the second air inlet  1218 . The airflow channel  123  extends towards the top of the atomizer for a certain distance to be higher than the second air inlet  1218  and extends downwards from the top of the atomizer to communicate with the second air inlet  1218 . In some embodiments, the airflow channel  123  is formed between the outer air flowing tube  121  and the first tube section  1221 . The airflow channel  123  includes a first airflow channel extending upwards, a second airflow channel communicating with the second air inlet  1218  such that air can flow downwards, and a communication channel communicating the first airflow channel with the second airflow channel The first airflow channel can be the first air intake slot  1216  formed in the surface of the first tube section  1211  which includes two parallel air intake sub-slots. The second airflow channel can be the second air intake slot  1217  formed in the surface of the first tube section  1211  and facing away from the first air intake slot  1216 . The communication channel can be the communication channel  1219  communicating with the first air intake slot  1216  and the second air intake slot  1217 . The communication channel  1219  is the gap formed between the first tube section  1211  and the cover  1223  by the step  1213 . With the airflow channel  123 , leakage of the e-liquid in the atomizer from the first air inlet  114  can be prevented no matter how the atomizer is placed. 
     It is understood that in other embodiments, the first air intake slot  1216  and the second air intake slot  1217  can be formed in an inner surface of the outer air flowing tube  122  and correspond to two sides of the inner air flowing tube  121  respectively; or, the airflow channel  123  can be an independent airflow tube arranged between the outer air flowing tube  122  and the inner air flowing tube  121 , and a section of the airflow tube extends towards the bottom of the atomizer and is higher than the second air inlet  1218 . 
     As shown  FIG.  5   , the blocking assembly  124  includes a sealing cover  1241  and an electrode  1242  located at the center of the sealing cover  1241 . The sealing cover  1241  is configured for blocking the first tube section  1211 . The electrode  1242  abuts a positive pole of the base  11 , and one end of the electrode  1242  is connected to a positive pole of the atomization assembly  15 , thus, electricity can be conducted to supply power to the atomization assembly  15  for atomization. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3    again, the cartridge  13  is cylindrical for cooperating with the outer wall of the outer air flowing tube⋅ 122  to form the liquid reservoir  14 . The cartridge  13  can be made of zinc alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel or other metal alloys. It is understood that in other embodiments, the cartridge  13  can have other shapes and can be made of plastic having a good heat resistance rather than alloy. 
     The cartridge  13  further forms an opening  130  communicating the liquid reservoir  14  with the external environment and an engaging portion  141  arranged adjacent to the opening  130 . E-liquid can be injected to the atomizer through the opening  130 . The engaging portion  141  is configured for connecting to the mouthpiece assembly  20 . Two discharging holes⋅ 1210  are defined in two sides of the engaging portion  141 ⋅for holding the mouthpiece assembly  20 . In other embodiments, the discharging holes  1210  can be defined in the second tube section  1212 . Air discharges from the liquid reservoir  14  while an inserting portion  22  is being inserted into the engaging portion  141 ; after the inserting portion  22  has been inserted into the engaging portion  141  in place, the discharging hole  1210  is blocked by the inserting portion  22 , thus, e-liquid in the liquid reservoir  14  can be prevented from being pushed to flow into the atomization chamber  15  and thus liquid leakage can be prevented. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  10   , in some embodiments, the mouthpiece assembly  20  can be located on one end of the cartridge assembly  10  which is away from the base  11 . The mouthpiece assembly  20  includes an air outlet tube  21 , the inserting portion  22 , and a sealing member  23 . The air outlet tube  21  communicates with the inner air flowing tube  121  for discharging atomized smoke. The inserting portion  22  is capable being inserted into the engaging portion of the liquid reservoir  14  for blocking the opening of the liquid reservoir  14 . The sealing member  23  is configured for blocking the corresponding discharging hole  1210 . The sealing member  23  is sleeved into the inserting portion  22  for blocking the corresponding discharging hole  1210  defined in the inner air flowing tube  121 . It is understood that the sealing member  23  can be sleeved on the inserting portion  22  for blocking the corresponding discharging hole  1210  defined in the cartridge  13 . In order to facilitate the disassembly of the mouthpiece assembly  20  and the injection of the e-liquid, the mouthpiece assembly  20  can be detachably connected to the opening of the liquid reservoir  14 , for example, the mouthpiece assembly  20  can be threaded to or clamped onto the opening of the liquid reservoir  14 . 
     The present disclosure further provides an electronic cigarette with the above atomizer. It is understood that a power supply can be arranged on the base  11  of the above atomizer to form the electronic cigarette of the present disclosure. 
     The contents described above are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. Any ordinarily skilled in the art would make any modifications or replacements to the embodiments in the scope of the present disclosure, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should be subjected to the claims.