Patent Description:
An atomizing device mainly includes an atomizer for atomizing liquid and a main body for supplying power to the atomizer. There are two conventional ways to start the atomizing devices. Wherein, one way is to start by pressing a button, and another way is to start by a user's drawing operation sensed by a puff sensor.

The puff sensor in the conventional atomizing device is generally disposed in the main body. The atomizer generally includes a suction nozzle end away from the main body and an air inlet end proximate to the main body. An air inlet is defined in the air inlet end.

The puff sensor in the main body is fluidly communicated with the air inlet to sense user's drawing operation. The liquid in the atomizer likely flow to the puff sensor when leaking out through the air inlet, causing the puff sensor to fail, and the main body is scrapped.

Publication <CIT> discloses an aerosol-generating system comprising a main body housing defining a cavity, in which a cartridge can be received, as well as air inlets. The device may include a puff sensor arranged within the cavity close to the air inlets. Publication <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> are also considered to be relevant to the present application. Publication <CIT> is prior art within the meaning of Article <NUM>(<NUM>) EPC. It discloses a vapor provision device comprising a primary airflow path, internal to the vapor provision device, from an air inlet to an air outlet, wherein air is drawn from the air inlet in a downstream direction through the primary airflow path to the air outlet by user inhalation. The device further comprises a vaporizer for providing vapor into the primary airflow path, wherein the vaporizer is located within or adjacent to the primary airflow path, and a trap located in the primary airflow path to inhibit the flow of liquid along the primary airflow path in an upstream direction from the trap by retaining liquid.

The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an improved atomizing device.

The technical solution adopted by the invention to solve the technical problem is to construct an atomizing device comprising an atomizer, a puff sensor and an airflow passage; wherein,.

Further, the airflow passage comprises a first segment, a second segment and a third segment which are sequentially and fluidly connected; wherein each adjacent two segments of the first segment, the second segment and the third segment are arranged at an angle; one end portion of the first segment is fluidly communicated with the transfer passage, and one end portion of the third segment is fluidly communicated with the puff sensor;
two end portions of the second segment are respectively fluidly communicated with one end portion of the first segment which is away from the atomizer and one end portion of the third segment which is away from the puff sensor.

The extending direction of the first segment is parallel to that of the third segment; the atomizing device further comprises a suction nozzle arranged at an end of the transfer passage which is away from the first segment; the puff sensor is arranged at an end of the third segment which is proximate to the suction nozzle.

Preferably, two end portions of the second segment are respectively fluidly communicated with one end portion of the first segment which is away from the suction nozzle, and one end portion of the third segment which is away from the suction nozzle.

Preferably, the atomizing device further comprises a main body, wherein the main body comprises a battery holder and a guiding member arranged on the battery holder;.

the first segment and the third segment are defined in the battery holder, and a strip-shaped guide recess is defined on a surface of the guiding member; the surface of the guiding member on which the guide recess is defined is attached to a surface of the battery holder, and thus the second segment is defined between the guiding member and the battery holder.

Preferably, the battery holder is provided with a clamping groove for clamping the guiding member.

Preferably, a receiving recess is defined on an end surface of an end portion of the airflow passage which is facing the transfer passage;
a flange protruding from a bottom surface of the receiving recess is provided around a periphery of the end portion of the airflow passage.

Preferably, the atomizing device further comprises a first sealing member, wherein the first sealing member is disposed at an end of the airflow passage which is adjacent to the transfer passage, and abuts against an outer surface of the atomizer;
the receiving recess is defined on one side of the first sealing member which is facing the transfer passage, and the flange extends through the first sealing member.

Preferably, the puff sensor is arranged on the main body.

Preferably, the main body comprises an inner housing and a mounting base detachably arranged on the inner housing, the mounting base defines a mounting position for mounting the puff sensor, and the mounting base further defines a vent for enabling the puff sensor to be fluidly communicated with the airflow passage.

Preferably, the puff sensor is a microphone.

The atomizing device of the invention has the following beneficial effects: With the bending section, liquid is difficult to reach the puff sensor even if it flows into the main body, therefore the safety and the service life of the atomizing device are improved.

The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which:.

In order to render a more apparent understanding of technical features, objects, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments thereof will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, an atomizing device in an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body <NUM>, an atomizer <NUM>, and a suction nozzle assembly <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> includes an outer housing <NUM>, an inner housing <NUM>, a battery assembly <NUM>, and a control circuit board <NUM>. Wherein, the inner housing <NUM>, the battery assembly <NUM>, and the control circuit board <NUM> are disposed in the outer housing <NUM>. An opening <NUM> is defined at one end of the outer housing <NUM>. The battery assembly <NUM> is provided at a bottom of the outer housing <NUM> opposite to the opening <NUM>.

The inner housing <NUM> is positioned in the outer housing <NUM> and abuts against the battery assembly <NUM>, to retain the battery assembly <NUM> to the bottom of the outer housing <NUM>. A receiving cavity <NUM> fluidly communicated with one end of the opening <NUM> of the outer housing <NUM> is defined in the inner housing <NUM>. One end of the receiving cavity <NUM> toward the main body <NUM> is recessed. The atomizer <NUM> is mounted in the receiving cavity <NUM> via the opening <NUM>.

A puff sensor <NUM> is set in the inner housing <NUM>. The puff sensor <NUM> is fluidly communicated with an airflow passage A in the battery assembly <NUM> when the inner housing <NUM> and the battery assembly <NUM> are assembled in the outer housing <NUM>. Preferably, a mounting base <NUM> is detachably arranged on the inner housing <NUM>, and the mounting base <NUM> defines a mounting position <NUM> for mounting the puff sensor <NUM>. The mounting base <NUM> further defines a vent <NUM> for enabling the puff sensor <NUM> to be fluidly communicated with the airflow passage A.

The battery assembly <NUM> includes a battery holder <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a guiding member <NUM> and a motor <NUM>. Wherein, the battery <NUM>, the guiding member <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are disposed on the battery holder <NUM>. The control circuit board <NUM> is disposed outside the battery holder <NUM> and electrically connected to the battery <NUM>.

An airflow passage A is defined in the battery assembly <NUM> to allow air to flow into the atomizer <NUM>. A transfer passage B is defined in the atomizer <NUM>. Two end portions of the airflow passage A are respectively fluidly communicated with the transfer passage B and the puff sensor <NUM>. The airflow passage A includes a bending section, which is configured to prevent liquid in the atomizer <NUM> from flowing to the puff sensor <NUM>.

The puff sensor <NUM> is electrically connected with the control circuit board <NUM>. When the puff sensor <NUM> senses air flows, the control circuit board <NUM> controls the battery assembly <NUM> to supply power to the atomizer <NUM> to atomize the liquid.

With the bending section, liquid is difficult to reach the puff sensor <NUM>, even if it flows into the main body <NUM>. Therefore the safety and the service life of the battery assembly <NUM> and the puff sensor <NUM> are improved.

In the embodiment, the airflow passage A includes a first segment A1, a second segment A2, and a third segment A3, which are sequentially and fluidly connected. Each adjacent two segments of the first segment A1, the second segment A2 and the third segment A3 are arranged at an angle. One end portion of the first segment A1 is fluidly communicate with the transfer passage B, and one end portion of the third segment A3 is fluidly communicate with the puff sensor <NUM>.

Two end portions of the second segment A2 are respectively fluidly communicated with an end portion of the first segment A1 which is away from the atomizer <NUM>, and an end portion of the third segment A3 which is away from the puff sensor <NUM>. The airflow passage A has multiple segments, and there are angles formed between each two adjacent segments. Therefore, liquid can be prevented from flowing from the atomizer <NUM> to the puff sensor <NUM> via the airflow passage A.

In some embodiments, the bending section may include two segments arranged at an acute angle. In another embodiments, the bending section may include more than three segments which are sequentially and fluidly communicated, and each adjacent two segments are arranged at an angle.

The extending direction of the first segment A1 is parallel to that of the third segment A3. The suction nozzle <NUM> of the suction nozzle assembly <NUM> is located at one end of the transfer passage B which is away from the first segment A1. The puff sensor <NUM> is located at one end of the third segment A3 which is proximate to the suction nozzle <NUM>.

Furthermore, two end portions of the second segment A2 are respectively fluidly communicated with one end portion of the first segment A1 which is away from the suction nozzle <NUM>, and one end portion of the third segment A3 which is away from the suction nozzle <NUM>. When a relatively large amount of liquid flows into the airflow passage A, the second segment A2 is able to receive some liquid, to reduce the possibility of the liquid overflowing to the puff sensor <NUM>. When a relatively small amount of liquid flows into the airflow passage A, the inner wall of the airflow passage A is able to adsorb the liquid.

According to an alternative which does not form part of the present invention, the extending direction of the first segment A1 is parallel to that of the third segment A3, and the two end portions of the second segment A2 are respectively fluidly communicated with one end portion of the first segment A1 which is away from the suction nozzle <NUM> and one end portion of the third segment A3 which is proximate to the suction nozzle <NUM>. The puff sensor <NUM> is located at the end of the third segment A3 which is away from the suction nozzle <NUM>. Therefore, the possibility of the liquid flowing from the atomizer <NUM> to the puff sensor <NUM> via the airflow passage A is reduced.

In some embodiments, the first segment A1 and the third segment A3 are defined in the battery holder <NUM>. A strip-shaped guide recess <NUM> is defined on a surface of the guiding member <NUM>. The surface of the guiding member <NUM> on which the guide recess <NUM> is defined is attached to a surface of the battery holder <NUM>. Therefore, the second segment A2 is defined between the guiding member <NUM> and the battery holder <NUM>. As the second segment A2 is able to be achieved by the two parts attached to each other, the processing difficulty of the second segment A2 can be reduced.

In order to facilitate the retaining of the battery holder <NUM>, the battery holder <NUM> is provided with a clamping groove <NUM> for clamping the guiding member <NUM>. With the guiding member <NUM> clamped, the retaining stability of the guiding member <NUM> can be improved, and the possibility of the airflow leakage of the second segment A2 can be reduced.

A hole <NUM> fluidly communicated with the transfer passage B is defined in the inner housing <NUM> at a position adjacent to the transfer passage B. A first sealing member <NUM> is disposed in the hole <NUM>. The first sealing member <NUM> is disposed around an end portion of the airflow passage A which is adjacent to the transfer passage B, and abuts against an outer surface of the atomizer <NUM>. Therefore, the outer periphery of the transfer passage B is sealed by the first sealing member <NUM>.

A receiving recess <NUM> is defined on one side of the first sealing member <NUM> which is facing the transfer passage B. The receiving recess <NUM> is able to receive at least a portion of liquid leaked from the atomizer <NUM>.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the received liquid by the receiving recess <NUM> from flowing into the airflow passage A, a flange <NUM> is provided around the periphery of the end portion of the airflow passage A. The flange <NUM> protrudes from a bottom surface of the accommodating recess <NUM>, and extends through the first sealing member <NUM>.

In other embodiments, when sealing of the connection surfaces of the airflow passage B and the airflow passage A is ensured, the receiving recess <NUM> may be defined on an end surface of the airflow passage A which is facing the airflow passage B.

As shown in <FIG>, the suction nozzle assembly <NUM> in some embodiments includes a cover <NUM> that covers the opening <NUM> of the receiving cavity <NUM> and a suction nozzle <NUM> disposed on the cover <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is rotatably connected to the main body <NUM>, such that the cover <NUM> is able to switch between an open position and a closed position relative to the main body <NUM>. When the cover <NUM> is at the open position, the receiving cavity <NUM> is opened to access the atomizer <NUM>. When the cover <NUM> is at the closed position, the receiving cavity <NUM> is closed with the atomizer <NUM> covered by the cover <NUM>.

An outlet passage C is defined in the suction nozzle <NUM>. The outlet passage C is fluidly communicated with the transfer passage B of the atomizer <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is at the closed position, such that aerosol atomized in the atomizer <NUM> can be carried to the suction nozzle <NUM> when air flows. A flavor ball capable of releasing smell is provided in the suction nozzle assembly <NUM>, such that different flavors for customers can be achieved.

The atomizer <NUM> is received in the main body <NUM>, and is retained by the cover <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is at the closed position. Therefore, a simpler and more stable construction can be achieved, and the atomizer <NUM> is facilitated to be replaced and accessed. The main body <NUM> can be recyclable, thereby reducing the costs and improving the service life. And a more beautiful and refined appearance of the main body <NUM> can be achieved to meet the aesthetic requirement of users.

The suction nozzle assembly <NUM> abuts against the atomizer <NUM> to retain the atomizer <NUM> in the receiving cavity <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is at the closed position. Two adjacent surfaces of the atomizer <NUM> and the main body <NUM> are respectively provided with electrodes. The electrodes are used to electrically connect the atomizer <NUM> and the main body <NUM>. Bad contacts between the electrodes can be avoided by the pressure applied to the atomizer <NUM> by the cover <NUM>.

Preferably, a first positioning mechanism <NUM> is provided between the suction nozzle assembly <NUM> and the main body <NUM>. The first positioning mechanism <NUM> is used to keep the suction nozzle assembly <NUM> at the closed position. The first positioning mechanism <NUM> includes a first adsorbing member <NUM> and a second adsorbing member <NUM> which can adsorb each other. The first adsorbing member <NUM> and the second adsorbing member <NUM> are respectively arranged on the suction nozzle <NUM> and the main body <NUM>, and are adjacent to each other.

One of the first adsorbing member <NUM> and the second adsorbing member <NUM> is a magnet, the other can be a magnet or a metal member capable of being adsorbed by the magnet. The cover <NUM> is kept at the closed position when the first adsorbing member <NUM> and the second adsorbing member <NUM> are adsorbed to each other. In other embodiments, the first positioning mechanism <NUM> may also be snap-fit structures that snap into each other.

Furthermore, the main body <NUM> is further provided with a second positioning mechanism <NUM>. The second positioning mechanism <NUM> is used to keep the suction nozzle assembly <NUM> at the open position. In this embodiment, the second positioning mechanism <NUM> includes a retaining member <NUM> and an elastic member <NUM> arranged on the main body <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> is provided with a resisting portion <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> provides an elastic force for allowing the retaining member <NUM> to abut against the resisting portion <NUM> to maintain the cover <NUM> at the open position.

Preferably, the elastic force applied by the elastic member <NUM> is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cover <NUM>. The resisting portion <NUM> is provided with an abutting surface <NUM> against which the retaining member <NUM> abuts. Wherein, the abutting surface <NUM> is a plane parallel to the rotation axis of the cover <NUM>. In another embodiments, the resisting portion <NUM> may be a protrusion or a location hole extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the cover <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is kept at the open position when the retaining member <NUM> is snapped to the protrusion or the location hole.

One end portion of the outlet passage C which is facing the transfer passage B is provided with a second sealing member <NUM>. The second sealing member <NUM> is used to seal the connection surfaces of the outlet passage C and the transfer passage B. Therefore, the periphery of the end portion of the outlet passage C is sealed by the second sealing member <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is at the closed position.

As shown in <FIG>, the second sealing member <NUM> is made of a soft material preferably. An annular groove <NUM> along a circumferential direction of the outlet passage C is defined on a surface of the second sealing member <NUM> which is facing the atomizer <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the second sealing member <NUM> includes an annular first sealing portion <NUM> and an annular second sealing portion <NUM>. The first sealing portion <NUM> and the second sealing portion <NUM> are spaced along an axial direction of the second sealing member <NUM>. A tubular connecting portion <NUM> is provided to connect an inner periphery of the first sealing portion <NUM> and that of the second sealing portion <NUM>. An annular retaining portion <NUM> is arranged in the inner periphery of an end of the outlet passage C which is facing the transfer passage B. The connecting portion <NUM> extends through the inner hole of the retaining portion <NUM>. The first sealing portion <NUM> and the second sealing portion <NUM> are respectively arranged on two sides of the retaining portion <NUM>.

The second sealing portion <NUM> is located at one end proximate to the transfer passage B. The annular recess <NUM> is defined on a surface of the second sealing ring <NUM> which is facing the transfer passage B. As the recess <NUM> is defined on a surface of the soft second sealing portion <NUM>, the second sealing portion <NUM> with the recess <NUM> can act as a sucking disc to attach to a surface of the atomizer <NUM> when being pressed , so as to improve the sealing effect.

It is to be understood that the above-mentioned technical features can be used in any combination without limitation as long as the resulting combination falls under the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
An atomizing device, comprising an atomizer (<NUM>), a puff sensor (<NUM>), and an airflow passage (A); wherein,
a transfer passage (B) is defined in the atomizer (<NUM>), and two end portions of the airflow passage (A) are respectively fluidly communicated with the transfer passage (B) and the puff sensor (<NUM>);
the airflow passage (A) comprises a bending section, which is configured to prevent liquid in the atomizer (<NUM>) from flowing to the puff sensor (<NUM>);
the airflow passage (A) comprises a first segment (A1), a second segment (A2) and a third segment (A3) which are sequentially and fluidly connected; wherein each adjacent two segments of the first segment (A1), the second segment (A2) and the third segment (A3) are arranged at an angle; one end portion of the first segment (A1) is fluidly communicated with the transfer passage (B), and one end portion of the third segment (A3) is fluidly communicate with the puff sensor (<NUM>);
two end portions of the second segment (A2) are respectively fluidly communicated with one end portion of the first segment (A1) which is away from the atomizer (<NUM>) and one end portion of the third segment (A3) which is away from the puff sensor (<NUM>); and
the extending direction of the first segment (A1) is parallel to that of the third segment (A3); the atomizing device further comprises a suction nozzle (<NUM>) arranged at an end of the transfer passage (B) which is away from the first segment (A1); the puff sensor (<NUM>) is arranged at an end of the third segment (A3) which is proximate to the suction nozzle (<NUM>).