Patent Publication Number: US-10308397-B2

Title: Tray for replaceable portions of an electronic smoking device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 15178291.9, filed Jul. 24, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electronic smoking devices and in particular electronic cigarettes. More specifically, the present invention relates to trays for replaceable portions of electronic cigarettes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An electronic smoking device, such as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), typically has a housing accommodating an electric power source (e.g. a single use or rechargeable battery, electrical plug, or other power source), and an electrically operable atomizer. The atomizer vaporizes or atomizes liquid supplied from a reservoir and provides vaporized or atomized liquid as an aerosol. Control electronics control the activation of the atomizer. In some electronic cigarettes, an airflow sensor is provided within the electronic smoking device, which detects a user puffing on the device (e.g., by sensing an under-pressure or an air flow pattern through the device). The airflow sensor indicates or signals the puff to the control electronics to power up the device and generate vapor. In other e-cigarettes, a switch is used to power up the e-cigarette to generate a puff of vapor. 
     In some electronic smoking devices, the atomizer and/or other portions of the electronic smoking device can be removed and replaced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a tray is provided. The tray is configured for receiving replaceable portions of an electronic smoking device such as an atomizer. The tray comprises cavities each configured for receiving a replaceable portion for being releasably clamped therein. The replaceable portion is releasably clamped by a movement with respect to the tray. 
     The characteristics, features and advantages of this invention and the manner in which they are obtained as described above, will become more apparent and be more clearly understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, same element numbers indicate same elements in each of the views: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an electronic smoking device; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an atomizer exemplifying a replaceable portion of an electronic smoking device; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a tray according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of releasably clamping an atomizer into and/or releasing the atomizer from the atomizer/liquid portion using the tray of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of attaching an atomizer/liquid portion to an atomizer being clamped in the tray of  FIG. 3  as well as releasing a clamped atomizer from the tray of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is another schematic illustration of the tray of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a tray according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of a tray according to still another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Throughout the following, an electronic smoking device will be exemplarily described with reference to an e-cigarette. As is shown in  FIG. 1 , an e-cigarette  10  typically has a housing comprising a cylindrical hollow tube having an end cap  16 . The cylindrical hollow tube may be a single-piece or a multiple-piece tube. In  FIG. 1 , the cylindrical hollow tube is shown as a two-piece structure having a battery portion  12  and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . Together the battery portion  12  and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  form a cylindrical tube which can be approximately the same size and shape as a conventional cigarette, typically about 100 mm with a 7.5 mm diameter, although lengths may range from 70 to 150 or 180 mm, and diameters from 5 to 20 mm. 
     The battery portion  12  and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  are typically made of metal, e.g. steel or aluminum, or of hardwearing plastic and act together with the end cap  16  to provide a housing to contain the components of the e-cigarette  10 . The battery portion  12  and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  may be configured to fit together by a friction push fit, a snap fit, or a bayonet attachment, magnetic fit, or screw threads. The end cap  16  is provided at the front end of the battery portion  12 . The end cap  16  may be made from translucent plastic or other translucent material to allow a light-emitting diode (LED)  20  positioned near the end cap to emit light through the end cap. The end cap can be made of metal or other materials that do not allow light to pass. 
     An air inlet may be provided in the end cap, at the edge of the inlet next to the cylindrical hollow tube, anywhere along the length of the cylindrical hollow tube, or at the connection of the battery portion  12  and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 .  FIG. 1  shows a pair of air inlets  38  provided at the intersection between the battery portion  12  and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . 
     A battery  18 , an LED  20 , control electronics  22  and optionally an airflow sensor  24  are provided within the cylindrical hollow tube battery portion  12 . The battery  18  is electrically connected to the control electronics  22 , which are electrically connected to the LED  20  and the airflow sensor  24 . In this example the LED  20  is at the front end of the battery portion  12 , adjacent to the end cap  16  and the control electronics  22  and airflow sensor  24  are provided in the central cavity at the other end of the battery  18  adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . 
     The airflow sensor  24  acts as a puff detector, detecting a user puffing or sucking on the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  of the e-cigarette  10 . The airflow sensor  24  can be any suitable sensor for detecting changes in airflow or air pressure, such as a microphone switch including a deformable membrane which is caused to move by variations in air pressure. Alternatively the sensor may be a Hall element or an electro-mechanical sensor. 
     The control electronics  22  are also connected to an atomizer  26 . In the example shown, the atomizer  26  includes a heating coil  28  which is wrapped around a wick  30  extending across a central passage  32  of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . The coil  28  may be positioned anywhere in the atomizer  26  and may be transverse or parallel to the liquid reservoir  34 . The wick  30  and heating coil  28  do not completely block the central passage  32 . Rather an air gap is provided on either side of the heating coil  28  enabling air to flow past the heating coil  28  and the wick  30 . The atomizer may alternatively use other forms of heating elements, such as ceramic heaters, or fiber or mesh material heaters. Nonresistance heating elements such as sonic, piezo and jet spray may also be used in the atomizer in place of the heating coil. 
     The central passage  32  is surrounded by a cylindrical liquid reservoir  34  with the ends of the wick  30  abutting or extending into the liquid reservoir  34 . The wick  30  may be a porous material such as a bundle of fiberglass fibers, with liquid in the liquid reservoir  34  drawn by capillary action from the ends of the wick  30  towards the central portion of the wick  30  encircled by the heating coil  28 . 
     The liquid reservoir  34  may alternatively include wadding soaked in liquid which encircles the central passage  32  with the ends of the wick  30  abutting the wadding. In other embodiments the liquid reservoir  34  may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be filled with liquid and with the ends of the wick  30  extending into the toroidal cavity. 
     An air inhalation port  36  is provided at the back end of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  remote from the end cap  16 . The inhalation port  36  may be formed from the cylindrical hollow tube atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  or maybe formed in an end cap. 
     In use, a user sucks on the e-cigarette  10 . This causes air to be drawn into the e-cigarette  10  via one or more air inlets, such as air inlets  38 , and to be drawn through the central passage  32  towards the air inhalation port  36 . The change in air pressure which arises is detected by the airflow sensor  24 , which generates an electrical signal that is passed to the control electronics  22 . In response to the signal, the control electronics  22  activate the heating coil  28 , which causes liquid present in the wick  30  to be vaporized creating an aerosol (which may comprise gaseous and liquid components) within the central passage  32 . As the user continues to suck on the e-cigarette  10 , this aerosol is drawn through the central passage  32  and inhaled by the user. At the same time the control electronics  22  also activate the LED  20  causing the LED  20  to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap  16  mimicking the appearance of a glowing ember at the end of a conventional cigarette. As liquid present in the wick  30  is converted into an aerosol, more liquid is drawn into the wick  30  from the liquid reservoir  34  by capillary action and thus is available to be converted into an aerosol through subsequent activation of the heating coil  28 . 
     The battery  18  is rechargeable and the liquid reservoir  34  is refillable or replaceable. In the cases where the liquid reservoir  34  is a toroidal cavity, this may be achieved by refilling the liquid reservoir  34  via a refill port. 
     In other embodiments the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  of the e-cigarette  10  is detachable from the battery portion  12  and another atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  can be fitted thereby replenishing the supply of liquid as well as replacing the heating coil  28  and the wick  30 . A replaceable portion comprising the atomizer  26  and the liquid reservoir  34  is also called a cartomizer. Said other liquid reservoir  34  may be in the form of a cartridge having a central passage  32  through which a user inhales aerosol. In other embodiments, aerosol may flow around the exterior of the cartridge  32  to an air inhalation port  36 . 
     In some cases, replacing the liquid reservoir  34  may involve replacement of the heating coil  28  and the wick  30  along with the replacement of the liquid reservoir  34 . A replaceable portion comprising the atomizer  26  and the liquid reservoir  34  is called a cartomizer. 
     In other embodiments, the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  of the e-cigarette  10  is detachable from the battery portion  12  and the atomizer  26  is detachable from the liquid reservoir  34 . A liquid reservoir portion  14  may be replaced or changed while further using the same atomizer  26  or the heating coil  28  and the wick  30  may be replaced without replacing the liquid reservoir  34 . For example, flavor and/or strength of liquid may be thereby varied without changing the atomizer  26  and the atomizer  26  may be thereby replaced without discarding liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir  34 . 
     In some embodiments, the atomizer is attached to the liquid reservoir  34  of the e-cigarette  10  for forming the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  which is subsequently attached to the battery portion  12 . In some embodiments, the atomizer is attached to the battery portion  12  to which subsequently the liquid reservoir  34  is attached for forming the e-cigarette  10 . 
     Of course, in addition to the above description of the structure and function of a typical e-cigarette  10 , variations also exist. For example, the LED  20  may be omitted. The airflow sensor  24  may be placed adjacent the end cap  16  rather than in the middle of the e-cigarette. The airflow sensor  24  may be replaced with a switch which enables a user to activate the e-cigarette manually rather than in response to the detection of a change in air flow or air pressure. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the atomizer  26 . The atomizer  26  is an example for a replaceable portion of an electronic smoking device. Extending radially to the hollow passage (not shown) and circumferential thereto, there are dents of a dented part  40  of the surface of the atomizer  26 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the tray according to an embodiment of the invention. Exemplarily, the tray  50  comprises five cavities  52  arranged along and connected by a furrow  54  extending in a first direction X. The tray may comprise fewer or more and/or the furrow may be absent. 
     The cavities  52  are arranged equidistant to each other but this is optional. The uniform configuration of the cavities  52  is also optional. 
     In the depiction of  FIG. 3 , one cavity, the one on the left, is empty and atomizers  26 , exemplifying replaceable portions of an electronic smoking device, are, respectively can be, releasably (detachably) clamped (attached, fixed) into the other cavities  52 . Hence the atomizer  26  can also be considered to be releasably locked into the cavities. Exemplarily, the atomizers are unused. 
     This embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated using an atomizer as a replaceable portion, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to utilize other components of an electronic smoking device as the replaceable portion, e.g. liquid reservoirs or cartomizers. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of releasably clamping (locking) an, e.g. used, atomizer  26 ′ in the empty cavity of the tray of  FIG. 3  while being attached to a further portion of an electronic cigarette, e.g. a liquid reservoir  34  and/or a battery portion  12 , and/or of releasing the clamped atomizer  26 ′ from the further portion using the tray of  FIG. 3 . 
     Both are exemplarily achieved by a rotation R around an axis Y. In the example depicted, axis Y is perpendicular to direction X but this is optional. A first rotational movement releasably clamps the atomizer  26 ′ in the tray and a further rotational movement being a continuous prolongation of the first rotational movement releases the atomizer  26 ′ from the liquid reservoir  34  and/or the battery portion  12 . 
     Releasable clamping can be achieved, for example, by interaction of an inner surface, or a part thereof, of the cavities with the dents of the atomizer. Other forms of releasable clamping comprise a friction push fit, a snap fit, or a bayonet attachment, magnetic fit, or screw threads. 
     In some embodiments, a force required for releasably clamping the atomizer in the tray does not exceed a further force required for releasing the atomizer from the further portion. Hence, a continuous movement of the further portion relative to the tray caused by the further force first releasably clamps the atomizer in the tray and then detaches the atomizer from the further portion. Thereby, the atomizer can be detached easily from the further portion without the need to touch the atomizer. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of attaching a liquid reservoir  34  and/or a battery portion  12  to an, e.g. unused, atomizer  26  clamped (locked) in one of the other cavities  52  of the tray  50  of  FIG. 3  and/or of releasing (unlocking) the clamped atomizer  26  from the tray of  FIG. 3 . 
     Said attaching/releasing is exemplarily achieved by a counter-rotation R′ (opposite to rotation R) around axis Y. A first rotational counter-movement attaches the liquid reservoir  34  and/or the battery portion  12  to the atomizer  26  clamped in the tray  50  a further rotational counter movement being a continuous prolongation of the first rotational counter movement releases the atomizer  26  from the tray  50 . 
     In some embodiments a counter-force required for releasing the atomizer from the tray equals or exceeds a further counter-force required for attaching the atomizer to the further portion. Hence, a continuous counter-movement of the further portion relative to the tray caused by the counter-force first attaches it to the atomizer and then releases the atomizer from the clamping. Thereby, the atomizer can be attached easily to the further portion without the need to touch the atomizer. 
       FIG. 6  is another schematic illustration of the tray of  FIG. 3  after insertion of a used atomizer  26 ′ into the empty cavity of  FIG. 3  and releasing an unused atomizer  26  from one of the other cavities of  FIG. 3 . Hence,  FIGS. 3 to 6  depict exemplarily different steps of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for replacing an atomizer. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a tray according to another embodiment of the invention. Exemplarily, the tray  50  comprises five cavities  52  arranged along and connected by a furrow  54  extending in a first direction X. The tray may comprise fewer or more cavities. Due to the furrow  54 , width of the cavities  52  can be increased by applying pressure perpendicular to the first direction X on opposite surfaces  56 ,  58  of the tray  50 , thereby opening the cavities  52  like a clamp. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of a tray according to yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the tray is configured such that different pairs of opposing areas exist on the opposite surfaces  56 ,  58  with a pair of opposing areas for each cavity. The tray then can be configured such that applying pressure perpendicular to the first direction X on one of the pair of opposing areas increases the width of the respective cavity only. This may be achieved, for example, by further furrows  60  extending perpendicular to the first direction X and to axis Y and crossing the furrow  54  between the cavities  52 . 
     In  FIGS. 3 to 8  only the atomizers  26  are depicted but in embodiments of the invention the atomizers  26  may be the only depicted parts of cartomizers constituting replaceable portions further comprising the liquid reservoirs  34 . In other embodiments of the invention, the replaceable portions may comprise only the liquid reservoir(s) but no atomizers. In this sense, the above described embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated using an atomizer as a replaceable portion, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to utilize other components of an electronic smoking device as the replaceable portion, e.g. liquid reservoirs or cartomizers. 
     Hence, embodiments of the invention concern a tray for cartomizers for releasable attachment to a further portion of an electronic smoking device, the tray comprising cavities each configured for receiving a cartomizer for being releasably clamped therein by a movement with respect to the tray. Said movement may be a movement of a further portion of the electronic smoking device releasably attached to the cartomizer. Optional embodiments of the invention described above with respect to an atomizer and equally applicable to a cartomizer may be comprised optionally in the tray for cartomizers. 
     As well, other embodiments of the invention concern a tray for atomizer of an electronic smoking device for releasable attachment to a further portion of an electronic smoking device, the tray comprising cavities each configured for receiving an atomizer for being releasably clamped therein by a movement with respect to the tray. Said movement may be a movement of a further portion of the electronic smoking device releasable attached to the atomizer. 
     Other embodiments of the invention concern a tray for replaceable portions (e.g. liquid reservoirs, atomizers and/or cartomizers) for releasable attachment to a further portion of an electronic smoking device, the tray comprising cavities each configured for receiving a replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) for being releasably clamped therein by a movement, with respect to the tray, of a further portion of the electronic smoking device releasably attached to the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer). 
     A further movement of the further portion with respect to the tray may detach the further portion from the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoirs, atomizers and/or cartomizers). The further movement may be a continuous prolongation of the movement. A force required for releasably clamping the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) in the cavity may not exceed a further force required for releasing the atomizer from the further portion. 
     Alternatively, the further movement may be orthogonal to the movement. 
     A counter-movement of the further portion, with respect to the tray, attached to the releasably clamped replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) may release the clamped atomizer from being clamped; the counter-movement may be directed opposite to the movement. A further counter-movement may attach the further portion to the clamped replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer); and the further counter-movement may be directed opposite to the further movement. The counter-movement may be a continuous prolongation of the further counter-movement. A counter-force required for releasing the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) from the tray may equal or exceed a further counter-force required for attaching the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) to the further portion. Alternatively, the further counter-movement is orthogonal to the counter-movement. 
     The counter-movement may be a rotation. Each of the cavities may comprise a bayonet joint. Each of the cavities may comprise an inner surface at least partly configured for interacting with a dented surface or a dented surface part of the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) for achieving the clamping. The cavities may be arranged along a furrow extending in a first direction and pressure on the tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction may increase a width of the cavities such that the replaceable portion (e.g. liquid reservoir, atomizer or cartomizer) can be received and removal of the pressure reduces the width such that the received atomizer becomes releasably clamped. For each cavity there may be a different part of a surface of the tray onto which the pressure has to be applied for increasing the width. 
     Different types of atomizers/cartomizers may be used. Thus for example, the atomizer may have a heating coil in a cavity in the interior of a porous body soaked in liquid. In this design aerosol is generated by evaporating the liquid within the porous body either by activation of the coil heating the porous body or alternatively by the heated air passing over or through the porous body. Alternatively the atomizer may use a piezoelectric atomizer to create an aerosol either in combination with or in the absence of a heater. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  electronic smoking device 
           12  battery portion 
           14  atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 
           16  end cap 
           18  battery 
           20  light-emitting diode (LED) 
           22  control electronics 
           24  airflow sensor 
           26 ,  26 ′ atomizer 
           28  heating coil 
           30  wick 
           32  central passage 
           34  liquid reservoir 
           36  air inhalation port 
           38  air inlets 
           40  dented surface 
           50  tray 
           52  cavity 
           54  furrow 
           56 ,  58  opposing surfaces 
           60  further furrow 
         R first movement, second movement 
         R′ first counter-movement, second counter-movement 
         X first direction 
         Y second direction