Abstract:
A new button activated disposable electronic cigarette that has power shut off protection. The power shut off protection includes a control system with a micro controller unit that deactivates the electronic cigarette upon expiration of a predetermined maximum use time. The power shut off protection further includes LED indicators that flash upon deactivation for use beyond the expiration of the predetermined maximum use time in order to educate the user that the electronic cigarette has been misused. The power shut off protection ensures that the battery charge and integrity of the internal circuitry will survive the e-liquid supply contained within the electronic cigarette.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 
       [0004]    Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to an electronic cigarette, in particular, a disposable electronic cigarette that is button activated with automatic power shut off protection. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0006]    Despite its well documented health risks, smoking remains an extraordinarily popular activity throughout the world. The combustion of traditional tobacco cigarettes results in the production of tar, which is inhaled by a cigarette smoker. Tobacco tar contains numerous ingredients and known carcinogenic substances. It is also well known that tobacco tar contains nicotine, which is a desired stimulant that produces a euphoric effect on the cigarette smoker. 
         [0007]    Electronic cigarettes provide an alternative to a smoker who desires to experience a nicotine high without inhaling all the other harmful byproducts contained in tobacco tar. In conventional embodiments, electronic cigarettes are enclosed in a cylindrical shell and have a battery, an air inlet, a reservoir filled with a liquid nicotine solution, an atomization chamber, an activation switch, and a mouthpiece. When activated, the liquid nicotine solution is partially aerosolized or atomized into a fine mist and inhaled by the user. The aerosolized nicotine mist has an appearance similar to tobacco smoke and the inhaled aerosolized nicotine mist is quickly absorbed into the user&#39;s blood stream, delivering the same euphoric effect as a conventional draw of a tobacco cigarette. The atomization of the liquid nicotine solution typically takes place in an atomization chamber where either a heating element or a piezoelectric element aerosolizes the liquid nicotine solution. The piezoelectric electronic cigarettes have complex parts and are less effective than electronic cigarettes configured with a heating element. 
         [0008]    The liquid nicotine solution is typically transferred to the atomization chamber through either a filament (typically made from cotton) connected to the reservoir and atomization chamber or a porous body in contact with both the reservoir and the atomization chamber. Often, the heating element is coiled around the portion of the filament that is located within the atomization chamber. 
         [0009]    Conventional electronic cigarettes are activated with either a pressure-sensitive switch or a push button switch. The pressure-sensitive switch is activated when the user inhales and creates a pressure differential within the electronic cigarette. A push button switch is simply an external mechanical switch that is typically held in the open position with a spring, and can be “pushed” into the closed position when depressed by a user. When the user releases the button, the spring acts on the button, the switch is opened and the button is moved back into its original position. 
         [0010]    Conventional electronic cigarettes were also not disposable, but rather were rechargeable and refillable. The process of recharging the battery and refilling or replacing the liquid nicotine solution reservoir was convoluted, tedious, and time consuming. More importantly, these devices are expensive. In order to more accurately replicate the traditional smoking experience, there is a perceived need for a cheaper electronic cigarette that could simply be discarded upon the depletion of the liquid nicotine solution. 
         [0011]    A typical problem encountered with the conventional electronic circuit designs is the propensity for these electronic cigarettes to short circuit. Another problem encountered with the conventional designs is that a user may hold the button too long or inhale too long overheating the heating element, often referred to as “burn out.” A premature “burn out” results in the electronic cigarette being discarded before the entire liquid nicotine solution is used. Another consequence of holding the button too long or inhaling too long is premature loss of battery life with the same result of an electronic cigarette being discarded before the entire liquid nicotine solution is used. 
         [0012]    In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a new electronic cigarette that is disposable but has sufficient safeguards to ensure the stored nicotine solution is fully used before any failure in the battery or internal electronics occurs. It is further advantageous to provide an electronic cigarette that is relatively cost efficient to manufacture, with fewer parts, and with increased vaporization capacity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    An object of the present invention is to provide a disposable electronic cigarette that fully atomizes its stored e-liquid (typically a liquid nicotine solution) and avoids the typical pitfalls associated with the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable electronic cigarette that uses fewer parts than currently offered disposable electronic cigarettes. 
         [0014]    The disposable electronic cigarette of the present invention includes a battery set and a cartomizer. The battery set includes a cylindrical housing, a light cover, a LED printed circuit board, a battery, a push button, a connecting stand, and a switch printed circuit board. The cartomizer includes a cylindrical housing, an atomizer set, an e-liquid blocker, a heating wire, a long glass fiber pipe, a short glass fiber pipe, medical cotton, an e-liquid, and a mouth cover. The battery set and the cartomizer are rigidly and permanently connected together to form a single disposable electronic cigarette. 
         [0015]    The switch printed circuit board includes a switch and a micro controller unit and one or more LED printed circuit boards. The switch printed circuit board is designed to ensure a constant 3 Volt low-voltage output, which protects the internal circuitry of the electronic cigarette, provides for strong and steady vapor production and improves the utilization rate of power. Locating the micro controller unit and the switch together on the same printed circuit board results in less wiring throughout the electronic cigarette, higher electro static discharge, reduced propensity for a short circuit, and reduced propensity for micro-controller unit burnout. The micro controller unit controls a timed shut off feature that opens the circuit, even in the event the button remains depressed for fixed period of time. 
         [0016]    Under normal use, a user depresses the button which closes the switch located on the switch printed circuit board and thereby completes the circuit in order to energize the device. Once energized, electrical current flows through the micro controller unit, the LED printed circuit board, the internal LED printed circuit board, and through the heating wire. The LEDs gradually begin to light indicating that the device is in use and further mimic a gradually increased glow of a lit ember of a traditional cigarette. 
         [0017]    The medical cotton is saturated with e-liquid and acts as a storage chamber for the e-liquid. The medical cotton is wound around a long glass fiber pipe and a short glass fiber pipe, both of which are porous and have an interior air passage way. The heating wire is located around the long glass fiber pipe and heats the e-liquid located immediately around it sufficiently to vaporize the e-liquid, As the user inhales, negative air pressure draws air into an air inlet and through interior passage ways of both the short glass fiber pipe and the long glass fiber pipe. As the air passes through the interior passage ways of both the short glass fiber pipe and the long glass fiber pipe, the flow of air draws the vapor through the porous walls of said glass pipes and into the interior passage ways of said glass fiber pipes whereon the air and vapor mix. The air/vapor mixture then exits the electronic cigarette through the mouth cover whereupon it is inhaled. 
         [0018]    The user then releases the push button, the LEDs dim, and the electronic cigarette is off. 
         [0019]    The heart of the present invention is the switch printed circuit board that includes both a switch one or more LED printed circuit boards and a micro controller unit that provide protective features to a disposable electronic cigarette. Since disposable electronic cigarettes are not meant to be reloaded or recharged, it is of great importance to ensure that the electronic circuitry and battery charge both outlast the supply of e-liquid. 
         [0020]    The switch printed circuit board of the present invention provides power shut off protection function that is activated when a user presses the push button beyond a set time limit. Button activated electronic cigarettes not equipped with the present invention are capable of having their battery prematurely drained since a button could easily be inadvertently pressed even though the device is not in use. A common example would be when a user is storing an electronic cigarette in his or her pocket and inadvertently presses the button against a chair while sitting. In addition to the possibility of prematurely draining the battery, another risk of excessive continued use of the electronic cigarette is overheating of the electrical components, including the heating wire and is commonly referred to in the industry as “burn out.” In the event that “burnout” occurs, the electronic cigarette is rendered useless. 
         [0021]    The switch printed circuit board of the present invention has a micro controller unit that controls a timed shut off feature that opens the circuit upon the expiration of a predetermined maximum use. The micro controller unit is configured with a timer that begins counting seconds from the moment a user presses the push button until the predetermined maximum use time is reached. If a user releases the push button before the predetermined maximum use time is reached, then the timer will be reset and begin counting from 0 seconds when then push button is pressed again in the future. If however, the push button is not released prior to the predetermined maximum use time, then the microcontroller unit will immediately de-energize the heating wire and cause the LED printed circuit board and the second LED printed circuit board to flash twice. After flashing twice, said LED printed circuit boards will turn off. In so doing, the user is prevented from operating the electronic cigarette for more than the predetermined maximum use time and is notified by the flashing LEDs that he or she has exceeded the predetermined maximum use time. 
         [0022]    The switch printed circuit board of the present invention is specifically designed to ensure a constant low-voltage output, which protects the internal circuitry of the electronic cigarette, provides for strong and steady vapor production and improves the utilization rate of power. Locating the microcontroller unit, one or more LED printed circuit boards and the switch together on the same switch printed circuit board results in less wiring throughout the electronic cigarette, higher electro static discharge, reduced propensity for a short circuit, and reduced propensity for “burnout.” 
         [0023]    Finally, with the exception of the heating wire, all of the electrical components of the present invention, including the switch printed circuit board, are isolated from the e-liquid stored in the medical cotton. In so doing, the electrical components are further protected from harmful short circuits. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will Become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1A  is a side profile view of an electronic smoking device. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1B  is a top profile view of an electronic smoking device. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1C  is a profile view of the LED light side of an electronic smoking device. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1D  is a profile view of the mouth cover side of an electronic smoking device. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the electronic cigarette of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the electronic cigarette of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is chart depicting LED brightness over time during normal use of the electronic cigarette of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a chart depicting LED brightness over time during excessive use of the electronic cigarette of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a chart depicting voltage output over time during normal use of the electronic cigarette of the present invention; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a chart depicting voltage output over time during excessive use of the electronic cigarette of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-2 , a disposable electronic cigarette in the present invention is generally designated, and includes a battery set  100  and a cartomizer  200  connected to the battery set  100 . 
         [0036]    The battery set  100  includes a first cylindrical housing  102 , a light cover  104 , a LED printed circuit board  106 , a battery  108 , and a control system. In a preferred embodiment, the LED printed circuit board  106 , the battery  108  and the control system are arranged sequentially within the first cylindrical housing. The LED printed circuit board  106  is enclosed within the first cylindrical housing  102  by a light cover  104 . 
         [0037]    The cartomizer  200  includes a second cylindrical housing  202 , an atomizer set  206 , an e-liquid blocker  208 , a heating wire  210 , a long glass fiber pipe  212 , a short glass fiber pipe  214 , medical cotton  216 , and a mouth cover  218 . 
         [0038]    The battery set  100  and the cartomizer  200  are rigidly and permanently connected together to form a single disposable electronic cigarette  10 . 
         [0039]    The control system includes a push button  112 , a push button return system a switch printed circuit board  116  and a switch printed circuit board stand  118 . The push button  112  is located above a push button return system, which in turn is located above the switch printed circuit board  116 . The switch printed circuit board  116  is attached to the switch printed circuit board stand  118 . The switch printed circuit board stand  118  is rigidly affixed within the first cylindrical housing  102 . A top portion of the push button  112  passes through an opening  120  in the first cylindrical housing  102  and is visible from the exterior of the electronic cigarette  10 . 
         [0040]    The switch printed circuit board  116  includes a switch and a microcontroller unit. In a preferred embodiment, the switch printed circuit board also includes a second LED on printed circuit board. The switch printed circuit board  116  is designed to ensure a constant 3 Volt low-voltage output, which protects the internal circuitry of the electronic cigarette  10 , provides for strong and steady vapor production and improves the utilization rate of power. Locating the micro controller unit, the second LED printed circuit board and the switch together on the same switch printed circuit board  116  results in less wiring throughout the electronic cigarette, higher electro static discharge, reduced propensity for a short circuit, and reduced propensity for “burnout.” The micro controller unit controls a timed shut off feature that opens the circuit, even in the event the push button  112  remains depressed for fixed period of time. 
         [0041]    The second LED printed circuit board, atomizer set  206 , e-liquid blocker  208 , heating wire  210 , long glass fiber pipe  212 , short glass fiber pipe  214  and medical cotton  216  are all arranged within the second cylindrical housing  202 . The long glass fiber pipe  212 , short glass fiber pipe  214  and medical cotton  216  are also axially arranged along a length of the second cylindrical housing. 
         [0042]    E-liquid is stored in the medical cotton and then slowly absorbed by short and long glass fiber pipes. Air passes through the short and long glass fiber pipes where the heating wire located within the long glass fiber pipe or wound externally around the long glass fiber pipe. There the e-liquid is heated and vaporized for use. 
         [0043]    Under normal use of a preferred embodiment, a user presses the push button  112  and inhales at the mouth cover  218 . The pressed push button  112  collapses the push button return system and closes the switch located on the switch printed circuit board  116 . When the switch is closed, the battery  108  is now connected to and energizes the micro controller unit, the LED printed circuit board  106 , the second LED printed circuit board and the heating wire  210 . Once the heating wire  210  is energized, it begins to heat and vaporize any e-liquid in close proximity to it. 
         [0044]    Once energized, the micro controller unit causes the LED printed circuit board  106  and second LED printed circuit board to gradually increase in brightness until fully lit. The medical cotton  216 , saturated with e-liquid, is in contact with the long glass fiber pipe  212  and the short glass fiber pipe  214  and through a capillary action, delivers small quantities of e-liquid to the surface of both the long glass fiber pipe  212  and the short glass fiber pipe  214 . The energized heating wire  210  then vaporizes the e-liquid immediately around it. Both of the long glass fiber pipe  212  and the short glass fiber pipe  214  are sufficiently porous to allow for the vaporized e-liquid to pass through their walls. 
         [0045]    As the user inhales, a negative pressure created within the walls of the short glass fiber pipe and the long glass fiber pipe draws air into the air inlet and through the interior chamber of the long glass fiber pipe and the short glass fiber pipe. As the air passes through the interior chamber of the long glass fiber pipe and the short glass fiber pipe, the flow of air draws the vapor through the walls of said pipes and into the interior chamber of said pipes, whereupon the air and vapor mix. The air/vapor mixture then exits the electronic cigarette through the mouth cover  218  whereupon it is inhaled. 
         [0046]    When the user has completed inhaling the air/vapor mixture, he/she then releases the push button  112 , thereby releasing the force acting on the push button return system which in turn acts on the push button  112  to force the push button  112  to its original position and thereby causing the switch to open. Once the switch is open, the battery  108  is disconnected from and therefore de-energizes the micro controller unit, the LED Printed Circuit Board  106 , the second LED Printed Circuit Board and the heating wire  210 . Once de-energized, the heating wire stops creating vapor and the LED Printed Circuit Board  106  and the second LED Printed Circuit Board dim in brightness until they are completely off. 
         [0047]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the micro controller unit is configured with a timer that begins counting seconds from the moment a user presses the push button  112  until a predetermined maximum use time is reached. If a user releases the push button  112  before the predetermined maximum use time is reached, then the timer will be reset and begin counting from 0 seconds when then push button  112  is pressed again in the future. If however, the push button is not released prior to the predetermined maximum use time, then the micro controller unit will immediately de-energize the heating wire  210  and cause the LED printed circuit board  106  and the second LED printed circuit board to flash twice. After flashing twice, said LED printed circuit boards will turn off. In so doing, the user is prevented from operating the electronic cigarette for more than the predetermined maximum use time. The predetermined maximum use time in a preferred embodiment is 5 seconds. However, depending on materials used and the internal configuration of the electronic cigarette, the predetermined maximum use time will vary. In order to continue using the electronic cigarette  10 , a user must release the push button  112  in order to re-set the time and then press the push button  112  to start a new use cycle. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  depicts brightness of the LEDs throughout a typical cycle of use. A user presses the push button  112  at a time t 1  and begins to inhale. The switch is closed and the brightness of the LED printed circuit board  106  and the second LED printed circuit board increases in brightness until a maximum brightness is reached. The maximum brightness is maintained until the user releases the push button  112  at time t 2 , prior to reaching the predetermined maximum use time t max . Once the push button  112  is released, the LED printed circuit boards gradually dim until they are completely off. 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  depicts the voltage output of the switch printed circuit board  116  throughout a typical cycle of use. A user presses the push button  112  at a time t 1  and begins to inhale. The switch is closed and the voltage output of the switch printed circuit board  116  is 3 volts. The 3 volt output remains constant until the user releases the push button  112  at time t 2 , prior to reaching the predetermined maximum use time t max . Once the push button  112  is released, there is no voltage output from the switch printed circuit board  116 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  depicts brightness of the LEDs throughout an atypical cycle of use in which a user attempts to use the electronic cigarette beyond the predetermined maximum use time. A user presses the push button  112  at a time t 1  and begins to inhale. The switch is closed and the timer begins counting from 0 seconds. Once the switch is closed, the brightness of the LED printed circuit board and the second LED printed circuit board increases in brightness until a maximum brightness is reached. The maximum brightness is maintained until timer reaches the maximum use time. Once the maximum use time is reached, the micro controller unit immediately causes the two LED printed circuit boards to turn off, then flash on and off twice. After turning off upon completion of the second flash, the two LED printed circuit boards remain off until the push button  112  is released and subsequently re-pressed to start a new cycle. 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  depicts the voltage output of the switch printed circuit board  116  throughout an atypical cycle of use in which a user attempts to use the electronic cigarette beyond the predetermined maximum use time. A user presses the push button  112  at a time t 1  and begins to inhale. The switch is closed and the timer begins counting from 0. Once the switch is closed and the voltage output of the switch printed circuit board  116  is 3 volts. The 3 volt output remains constant until timer reaches the maximum use time. Once the maximum use time is reached, the micro controller unit immediately causes the voltage output from the switch printed circuit board  116  to drop to 0 volts. The voltage output of the switch printed circuit board  116  will remain at 0 volts until the push button  112  is released by the user and subsequently re-pressed to start a new cycle. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram for the electronic cigarette  10 . Under the circuit diagram as depicted in  FIG. 3 , a constant voltage output at the micro controller unit is maintained by an array of diodes in series with a resistor. The constant voltage output, 3 volts in a preferred embodiment, is needed to ensure that the heater wire  210  provides a consistent vapor and also reduces the rate of power consumption. 
         [0053]    In the preferred embodiment, the e-liquid is comprised of a nicotine solution. 
         [0054]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more:” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). 
         [0055]    Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.