Patent Description:
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. The smoking experience can be individualized by adding additives to the liquid, e.g. in order to customize the liquid with respect to a preferred flavor.

<CIT> describes a leakproof atomizer including a cigarette holder assembly, an atomization assembly, a heating assembly, and a liquid storage assembly. The liquid storage assembly is provided with an annular wall for dividing an internal cavity thereof into a first and a second liquid storage chambers in communication with each other via liquid holes in the annular wall. When the liquid storage assembly is assembled with the heating assembly and the cigarette holder assembly is disassembled from the liquid storage assembly, a bottom portion of the atomization assembly is separated from the heating assembly and hermetically connected with the liquid holes. When both the cigarette holder assembly and the heating assembly are assembled with the liquid storage assembly, the cigarette holder assembly presses downwards the atomization assembly, the atomization assembly is separated from the liquid holes, and the bottom portion of the atomization assembly is press-fitted with the heating assembly.

<CIT> discloses an electronic cigarette with improved safety comprising: a mouthpiece through which the user inhales, a chamber for storing a liquid substance to be inhaled, an atomizer suitable to vaporize the substance to be inhaled and to produce a vaporized substance, the atomizer being suitable to deliver the vaporized substance to the mouthpiece, an electric battery connected to the atomizer and suitable to permit the activation thereof, activating means of the atomizer. The chamber comprises: at least one outer wall forming a boundary with the external environment, and means of access arranged along the outer wall, and the means of access are the one-way type suitable to connect the external environment to the chamber and to permit the introduction of the liquid substance to be inhaled, from the external environment.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic smoking device comprising a power supply, a liquid reservoir storing a liquid, and an atomizer adapted to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir when operated by the power supply. The liquid reservoir is configured to allow addition of additives to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir. To that end, the liquid reservoir comprises an opening, which, in an additive adding mode, is configured to let pass additives into the liquid reservoir, and in a normal mode, is closed by an appropriate sealing element. The sealing element is a check valve, which is configured, in the normal mode, to close the opening so as to prevent liquid discharging from the liquid reservoir and, in the additive adding mode, to allow additives to be added to the liquid reservoir through the opening. The electronic smoking device further comprises an additive reservoir for storing additives in the form of a solid material, which additive reservoir is in communication with the liquid reservoir via the opening, in order to allow addition of the solid additives to the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an atomizer/ liquid reservoir portion for an electronic smoking device, including a liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir storing a liquid is adapted to be atomized by means of an atomizer of the electronic smoking device when operated by a power supply of the electronic smoking device. The liquid reservoir is configured to allow addition of additives in the form of a solid material to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, in particular additives in the form of pellets or globules, which solid material may be dissolvable in the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir comprises an opening which, in an additive adding mode, is configured to let pass additives into the liquid reservoir, and in a normal mode, is closed by an appropriate sealing element. The sealing element is a check valve, which is configured, in the normal mode, to close the opening so as to prevent liquid discharging from the liquid reservoir and, in the additive adding mode, to allow additives to be added to the liquid reservoir through the opening. The atomizer/ liquid reservoir portion further comprises an additive reservoir for storing additives in the form of a solid material, which additive reservoir is in communication with the liquid reservoir via the opening, in order to allow addition of the solid additives to the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.

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.

In the drawings, same element numbers indicate same elements in each of the views:.

Throughout the following, an electronic smoking device will be exemplarily described with reference to an e-cigarette. As is shown in <FIG>, an electronic smoking device <NUM> typically has a housing comprising a cylindrical hollow tube having an end cap <NUM>. The cylindrical hollow tube may be a single-piece or a multiple-piece tube. In <FIG>, the cylindrical hollow tube is shown as a two-piece structure having a power supply portion <NUM> and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM>. Together the power supply portion <NUM> and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> form a cylindrical tube which can be approximately the same size and shape as a conventional cigarette, typically about <NUM> with a <NUM> diameter, although lengths may range from <NUM> to <NUM> or <NUM>, and diameters from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The power supply portion <NUM> and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> are typically made of metal, e.g. steel or aluminum, or of hardwearing plastic and act together with the end cap <NUM> to provide a housing to contain the components of the electronic smoking device <NUM>. The power supply portion <NUM> and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> 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 <NUM> is provided at the front end of the power supply portion <NUM>. The end cap <NUM> may be made from translucent plastic or other translucent material to allow an LED <NUM> 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 power supply portion <NUM> and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM>. <FIG> shows a pair of air inlets <NUM> provided at the intersection between the power supply portion <NUM> and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM>.

A battery <NUM>, a light-emitting diode (LED) <NUM>, control electronics <NUM> and optionally an airflow sensor <NUM> are provided within the cylindrical hollow tube battery portion <NUM>. The battery <NUM> is electrically connected to the control electronics <NUM>, which are electrically connected to the LED <NUM> and the airflow sensor <NUM>. In this example the LED <NUM> is at the front end of the power supply portion <NUM>, adjacent to the end cap <NUM> and the control electronics <NUM> and airflow sensor <NUM> are provided in the central cavity at the other end of the battery <NUM> adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM>.

The airflow sensor <NUM> acts as a puff detector, detecting a user puffing or sucking on the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> of the electronic smoking device <NUM>. The airflow sensor <NUM> 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 <NUM> are also connected to an atomizer <NUM>. In the example shown, the atomizer <NUM> includes a heating coil <NUM> which is wrapped around a wick <NUM> extending into an atomizing chamber <NUM> which is in communication with an air flow passage <NUM> of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM>. The coil <NUM> may be positioned anywhere in the atomizing chamber <NUM> and may be transverse or parallel to the liquid reservoir <NUM>. The wick <NUM> and heating coil <NUM> do not completely block the atomizing chamber <NUM>. Rather an air gap is provided on either side of the heating coil <NUM> enabling air to flow past the heating coil <NUM> and the wick <NUM>. The atomizer may alternatively use other forms of heating elements, such as ceramic heaters, or fiber or mesh material heaters. Non-resistance atomizing elements such as sonic, piezo and jet spray may also be used in the atomizer in place of the heating coil.

The air flow passage <NUM> passes a cylindrical liquid reservoir <NUM> with the ends of the wick <NUM> abutting or extending into the liquid reservoir <NUM>. The wick <NUM> may be a porous material such as a bundle of fiberglass fibers, with liquid in the liquid reservoir <NUM> drawn by capillary action from the ends of the wick <NUM> towards the central portion of the wick <NUM> encircled by the heating coil <NUM>.

In other embodiments the liquid reservoir <NUM> may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be filled with liquid and with the ends of the wick <NUM> extending into the toroidal cavity.

An air inhalation port <NUM> is provided at the back end of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> remote from the end cap <NUM>. The inhalation port <NUM> may be formed from the cylindrical hollow tube atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> or maybe formed in an end cap.

In use, a user sucks on the electronic smoking device <NUM>. This causes air to be drawn into the electronic smoking device <NUM> via one or more air inlets, such as air inlets <NUM>, and to be drawn through the atomizing chamber <NUM> and the air flow passage <NUM> towards the air inhalation port <NUM>. The change in air pressure which arises is detected by the airflow sensor <NUM>, which generates an electrical signal that is passed to the control electronics <NUM>. In response to the signal, the control electronics <NUM> activate the heating coil <NUM>, which causes liquid present in the wick <NUM> to be vaporized creating an aerosol (which may comprise gaseous and liquid components) within the atomizing chamber <NUM>. As the user continues to suck on the electronic smoking device <NUM>, this aerosol is drawn through the air flow passage <NUM> and inhaled by the user. At the same time the control electronics <NUM> also activate the LED <NUM> causing the LED <NUM> to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap <NUM> mimicking the appearance of a glowing ember at the end of a conventional cigarette. As liquid present in the wick <NUM> is converted into an aerosol more liquid is drawn into the wick <NUM> from the liquid reservoir <NUM> by capillary action and thus is available to be converted into an aerosol through subsequent activation of the heating coil <NUM>.

Some electronic smoking devices are intended to be disposable and the electric power in the battery <NUM> is intended to be sufficient to vaporize the liquid contained within the liquid reservoir <NUM>, after which the e-cigarette <NUM> is thrown away. In other embodiments the battery <NUM> is rechargeable and the liquid reservoir <NUM> is refillable. In the cases where the liquid reservoir <NUM> is a toroidal cavity, this may be achieved by refilling the liquid reservoir <NUM> via a refill port. In other embodiments the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> of the electronic smoking device <NUM> is detachable from the battery portion <NUM> and a new atomizer/liquid reservoir portion <NUM> can be fitted with a new liquid reservoir <NUM> thereby replenishing the supply of liquid. In some cases, replacing the liquid reservoir <NUM> may involve replacement of the heating coil <NUM> and the wick <NUM> along with the replacement of the liquid reservoir <NUM>. A replaceable unit comprising the atomizer <NUM> and the liquid reservoir <NUM> is called a cartomizer.

The liquid reservoir <NUM> is configured to allow addition of additives to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir <NUM>. To this end, the liquid reservoir <NUM> comprises an opening <NUM> which, in an additive adding mode, is configured to let pass additives <NUM> into the liquid reservoir <NUM>, e.g. additives in the form of solid material, such as pellets <NUM>, globules or the like (cf. In a normal mode, i.e. when no additives <NUM> are actively added to the liquid reservoir <NUM>, the opening <NUM> is closed by an appropriate sealing element <NUM>, such as a check valve <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The sealing element <NUM>, in the normal mode, closes the opening <NUM> so as to prevent liquid discharging from the liquid reservoir <NUM> and, in the additive adding mode, allows additives to be added to the liquid reservoir <NUM> through the opening <NUM>.

By allowing additives to be added to the liquid reservoir <NUM>, individualization of the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir is rendered possible. By adding specific additives, a user of the electronic smoking device <NUM> can thus customize his smoking experience, e.g. with respect to flavor, odor, color, etc. of the atomized liquid.

The additives may comprise or consist of flavoured material. Said flavoured material, which may be added to the liquid in the liquid reservoir <NUM>, may be selected from esters, such as isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate and the like; natural essential oils as plant essential oils, such as spearmint, peppermint, cassia, jasmine and the like; animal essential oils, such as musk, amber, civet, castor and the like; simple flavouring materials, such as anethole, limonene, linalool, eugenol and the like; hydrophilic flavour components such as a leaf tobacco extract; natural plant flavouring materials such as licorice, St. John's wort, a plum extract, a peach extract and the like; acids such as a malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and the like; sugars such as glucose, fructose, isomerized sugar and the like; polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol and the like. It is also possible to combine at least two different flavoured materials as mentioned above into a new flavoured material.

The flavoured material may be adsorbed onto a solid material and this material is used as flavoured material within an electronic smoking device according to the present invention. Suitable solid materials are generally solid at room temperature and melt when the liquid is heated up. Further, the materials to be used should be at least food-grade and suitable for inhalation in case they at least partially transfer into the aerosol generated by the atomizer. Still further, the respective materials must not form degradation compounds when heated up or undergo any chemical reaction with flavour, nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), or vegetable glycerin (VG). Suitable solid materials that satisfy these constraints can e.g. be found within wax-based materials from sugar-cane, carnauba, shellac, or resin.

The electronic smoking device <NUM> is specifically configured to allow addition of additives in the form of solid materials, such as pellets or globules. Compared to liquid additives or additives in the form of a powder, pellets or globules have the advantage of simple dosing and refill. Further, with solid material additives, there are no leakage problems that may arise with liquid additives. Also, a contact of a respective liquid additive with the hand of a user can be avoided by using solid material additives, in particular pellets or globules.

An additive pellet <NUM> can be supplied by a user of the electronic smoking device <NUM> through the supply channel <NUM> (cf. The compartment <NUM> acts as a dosing unit that allows the addition of a predetermined amount of additive, because the size of the compartment <NUM> allows the reception of exactly one pellet <NUM>. In case of additives in the form of a powder or a liquid, a cup-like dosing unit can e.g. be provided in the compartment in order to allow correct dosing of the respective additive.

The electronic smoking device <NUM> according to <FIG> further comprises an additive supply unit <NUM> operable by a user of the electronic smoking device <NUM> in order to actually supply the additives <NUM> to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir <NUM>. In the example show in <FIG>, the additive is directly supplied by a user. Alternatively, as described below with reference to <FIG>, additives can also be supplied from a respective additive reservoir provided in the electronic smoking device.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the additive supply unit <NUM> is provided in the form of a push button <NUM>. As illustrated with respect to <FIG>, when an additive pellet <NUM> has been supplied to the compartment <NUM> through the supply channel <NUM> (cf. <FIG>), by pressing down the button <NUM>, the pellet <NUM> is pressed against the check valve <NUM>, which, as a consequence, is opened up so as to let pass the pellet <NUM> into the liquid reservoir <NUM> (cf. As soon as the pellet <NUM> has passed the opening <NUM>, the check valve <NUM>, which is e.g. spring-loaded, is closed again, thereby closing the opening <NUM>. Also the push button <NUM> can be spring-biased in order to be moved back to the original position (cf. The pellet <NUM> is adapted to rapidly dissolve in the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir <NUM>. In an embodiment of the invention, the solid additive (pellet <NUM>) is adapted such that at least <NUM>%, more preferably at least <NUM>% and still more preferably at least <NUM>%, of the additive is dissolved in the liquid within <NUM> seconds, more preferably within <NUM> seconds and still more preferably within <NUM> seconds.

It is also possible to form the additive supply unit and the dosing unit in a single dosing and supply unit. With respect to the above-described embodiment, the compartment <NUM> may e.g. be formed by means of an open box that is fixed to the respective end of the push button <NUM>.

Of course, in addition to the above description of the structure and function of a typical electronic smoking device <NUM>, variations also exist. For example, the LED <NUM> may be omitted. The airflow sensor <NUM> may be placed adjacent the end cap <NUM> rather than in the middle of the e-cigarette. The airflow sensor <NUM> 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.

Different types of atomizers 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 or in the absence of a heater.

In <FIG>, a second embodiment of an electronic smoking device <NUM> is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. According to this very simple embodiment, in contrast to the embodiment of <FIG>, no additive supply unit is provided. As already described with respect to <FIG>, a user of the electronic smoking device <NUM> can manually supply an additive pellet <NUM> to the compartment <NUM>. In order to finally add the additive pellet <NUM> to the liquid reservoir <NUM>, the user can e.g. use his finger instead of the push button <NUM> shown in <FIG> in order to push the additive pellet <NUM> against the check valve <NUM> through the opening <NUM> into the liquid reservoir <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a third embodiment of an electronic smoking device <NUM> is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. In contrast to the embodiments in <FIG> and <FIG>, the electronic smoking device <NUM> includes an additive reservoir <NUM>. The additive reservoir <NUM>, which is adapted to store a plurality of solid additive pellets <NUM>, is located outside the liquid reservoir <NUM>, but forms part of the liquid reservoir portion <NUM> of the electronic smoking device <NUM>. It is also possible to provide an additive reservoir that is located outside the housing of the electronic smoking device. The additive reservoir <NUM> is refillable. However, also non-refillable additive reservoirs can be used. In the example shown, the additive reservoir <NUM> has the form of a channel through which the additive pellets <NUM> can be supplied to the compartment <NUM>, which again acts as a dosing unit, as described with respect to <FIG>, e.g. by means of a resilient element <NUM>, which forces the pellets <NUM> towards the compartment <NUM>. Adding a pellet <NUM> to the liquid reservoir can be done as described with reference to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, a fourth embodiment of an electronic smoking device <NUM> is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. Also this embodiment includes an additive reservoir <NUM>. However, according to this embodiment, the additive reservoir <NUM> forms a first chamber in the liquid reservoir <NUM>. A second chamber 134a of the liquid reservoir <NUM>, separate from the first chamber <NUM>, stores the liquid. The additive reservoir <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> communicating with the second chamber, which opening, in the normal mode, i.e. when no additive is to be added to the liquid in the second chamber, is closed by means of the sealing element <NUM>, which in this example is provided in the form of a movable plate <NUM>. This plate <NUM> includes an opening <NUM>, which opening can be rendered congruent with the opening <NUM> of the additive reservoir by pressing the push button <NUM>, thereby allowing solid additive pellets entering the second chamber 134a. Also the push button <NUM> can be spring-biased (not shown) in order to be moved back to the original position, thereby closing the opening <NUM> of the additive reservoir <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a fifth embodiment of an electronic smoking device <NUM> is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. In contrast to the previous embodiments described above with respect to <FIG>, the liquid reservoir <NUM> comprises two separate chambers 234a, 234b that are configured to store liquid. In the first chamber 234a, a base liquid is stored. This base liquid corresponds to the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir <NUM>, <NUM>, 134a of the previous embodiments - prior to the addition of additives. The base liquid is generally based on propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG). The second chamber 234b, which is in communication with the first chamber 234a via a valve <NUM> (or another type of closable opening), is configured to receive base liquid from the first chamber 234a. The second chamber 234b is called mixing chamber because the liquid stored therein is intended to be mixed with additives added to this liquid. In the previous embodiments described with respect to <FIG>, a single chamber <NUM>, <NUM>, 134a plays the role of both the base chamber and the mixing chamber according to the present embodiment.

Providing two separate chambers, one base chamber and one mixing chamber, has the advantage that a predetermined amount of base liquid, i.e. liquid without additives added thereto, can be supplied to the mixing chamber 234b, the user can individually mix the liquid in the mixing chamber 234b, which may e.g. allow a certain number of puffs, by adding the desired additives. Once this liquid is used up, new base liquid can be supplied to the mixing chamber 234b from the base chamber 234a and can again individually be customized by adding specific additives. With respect to all embodiments, the chamber originally storing the base liquid can be refillable. However, also closed chamber systems, i.e. system including non-refillable chambers storing the base liquid, can be provided. The mixing chamber according to <FIG> is also refillable.

The valve <NUM> can be operated, i.e. opened and closed, by a user of the electronic smoking device <NUM>, by pressing the button <NUM> that is operatively connected to the valve <NUM>. By operating the valve <NUM>, a predetermined amount of base liquid can be supplied to the mixing chamber 234b. Alternatively, a sealing and opening mechanism as described with reference to <FIG> with respect to the opening <NUM> of the additive reservoir <NUM> to the liquid chamber 134a of the liquid reservoir <NUM> can be provided in order to allow controlled supply of base liquid from the base chamber 234a to the mixing chamber 234b.

Also this embodiment according to <FIG> includes an additive reservoir <NUM>. In contrast to the additive reservoirs <NUM>, <NUM> of the embodiments according to <FIG> and <FIG>, the additive reservoir <NUM> according to <FIG>, which is provided in the form of a rotating drum, is configured to simultaneously store different kinds of additives 50a, 50b, 50d, 50c, which can selectively be added to liquid in the liquid reservoir <NUM>, i.e. in the mixing chamber 234b of the liquid reservoir <NUM>. To that end, the rotatable drum comprises a plurality of compartments, each of which being configured to receive a number of additive pellets <NUM> of a certain kind. By rotating the drum, a user can select a specific kind of additive pellet 50d to be added to the mixing chamber 234b. The respective pellet can than by supplied through the supply channel <NUM> to the compartment <NUM>, and can be added to the mixing chamber 234b by operating the push button <NUM> just as described above with respect to <FIG>.

Needless to say that the concept of providing two separate liquid storing chambers, namely a base chamber 234a and a mixing chamber 234b, as described with respect to <FIG>, is independent of a usage or a specific type of additive reservoir or additive supply unit. In other words, also in the embodiments described with reference to <FIG>, a base chamber and an separate mixing chamber can be used.

The electronic smoking devices according to the above embodiments allow addition of additives, e.g. flavor pellets, according to the specific desire of a user. Base liquid can thus e.g. be flavored both as regards intensity and specific type of flavor, or modified in an other respect, e.g. with respect to odor and/or color, in an individual manner.

In summary, in one aspect the electronic smoking device has a power supply, a liquid reservoir storing a liquid, and an atomizer adapted to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir when operated by the power supply. The liquid reservoir is configured to allow addition of additives to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, in particular in order to individualize the liquid and thereby the smoking experience with respect to e.g. flavor, odor, color, etc..

The liquid reservoir is configured to allow addition of additives in the form of a solid material, in particular in the form of pellets or globules, which solid material may be dissolvable in the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.

According to an embodiment, the liquid reservoir is configured to allow manual addition of the additives to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.

The electronic smoking device further comprises an additive reservoir for storing additives, which additive reservoir is in communication with the liquid reservoir. The additive reservoir is particularly suited to store additives in the form of pellets or globules.

According to an embodiment, the additive reservoir is adapted to simultaneously store different kinds of additives which can selectively be added to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the additive reservoir is refillable.

According to an embodiment, the electronic smoking device further comprises an additive supply unit operable by a user of the electronic smoking device in order to supply the additives to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, directly or from an additive reservoir.

According to an embodiment, the electronic smoking device further comprises a dosing unit that allows addition of a predetermined amount of the additives to the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.

According to an embodiment, the liquid reservoir comprises a base chamber storing a base liquid. The base chamber is configured to allow addition of the additives to the base liquid stored in the base chamber.

According to an embodiment, the liquid reservoir comprises a base chamber storing a base liquid, and a mixing chamber that is configured to receive base liquid from the base chamber. Supply of a predetermined amount of base liquid to the mixing chamber can be achieved by operation of the user of the electronic smoking device. The mixing chamber is further configured to allow addition of the additives to liquid received from the base tank and than stored in the mixing chamber.

According to an embodiment, the base chamber is refillable.

According to an embodiment, the additives are adapted to modify liquid stored in the liquid reservoir with respect to at least one of flavor, odor, color, or density of the liquid when atomized.

The additives may comprise or consist of flavoured material. Said flavoured material, which may be added to the liquid in the liquid reservoir, may be selected from esters, such as isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate and the like; natural essential oils as plant essential oils, such as spearmint, peppermint, cassia, jasmine and the like; animal essential oils, such as musk, amber, civet, castor and the like; simple flavouring materials, such as anethole, limonene, linalool, eugenol and the like; hydrophilic flavour components such as a leaf tobacco extract; natural plant flavouring materials such as licorice, St. John's wort, a plum extract, a peach extract and the like; acids such as a malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and the like; sugars such as glucose, fructose, isomerized sugar and the like; polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol and the like. It is also possible to combine at least two different flavoured materials as mentioned above into a new flavoured material. The flavoured material may be adsorbed onto a solid material and this material is used as flavoured material within an electronic smoking device according to the present invention.

According to a second aspect, which does as such not form part of the present invention, a liquid reservoir for an electronic smoking device is provided, the liquid reservoir stores a liquid that is adapted to be atomized by means of an atomizer of the electronic smoking device when operated by a power supply of the electronic smoking device. The liquid reservoir is configured to allow addition of additives to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, in particular additives in the form of a solid material, preferably pellets or globules, which solid material is dissolvable in the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.

According to another embodiment the liquid reservoir comprises a base chamber storing a base liquid, and a mixing chamber that is configured to receive base liquid from the base chamber. Supply of a predetermined amount of base liquid to the mixing chamber can be achieved by operation of the user of the electronic smoking device. The mixing chamber is further configured to allow addition of the additives to liquid received from the base tank and than stored in the mixing chamber.

Preferably, the base chamber is refillable.

According to a third aspect, an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion for an electronic smoking device is provided that includes a liquid reservoir according to the second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect, which does as such not form part of the present invention, a cartomizer for an electronic smoking device is provided that includes a liquid reservoir according to the second aspect.

According to preferred embodiments, the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion according to the third aspect and/or the cartomizer according to the fourth aspect respectively comprise at least one of an additive reservoir, an additive supply unit, or an additive dosing unit as described above with respect to the electronic smoking device according to the first aspect.

Claim 1:
An electronic smoking device (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) comprising: a power supply (<NUM>), a liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) storing a liquid, and an atomizer (<NUM>) adapted to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) when operated by the power supply (<NUM>), wherein the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) is configured to allow addition of additives (<NUM>) to liquid stored in the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), wherein the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprises an opening (<NUM>) which, in an additive adding mode, is configured to let pass additives (<NUM>) into the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>), and in a normal mode, is closed by an appropriate sealing element (<NUM>), wherein the sealing element (<NUM>) is a check valve (<NUM>), which is configured, in the normal mode, to close the opening (<NUM>) so as to prevent liquid discharging from the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>) and, in the additive adding mode, to allow additives to be added to the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>) through the opening (<NUM>), characterized by further comprising an additive reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) for storing additives (<NUM>; 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d) in the form of a solid material, which additive reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) is in communication with the liquid reservoir (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) via the opening (<NUM>), in order to allow addition of the solid material additives to the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir.