Patent ID: 12225943

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure, the present disclosure will be described in a more comprehensive manner with reference to the relevant drawings. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present disclosure more thorough and comprehensive.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed to” another element, it can be directly on another element or an intermediate element may also be present. When an element is considered to be “connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to another element or an intermediate element may be present at the same time. Terms “inner”, “outer”, “left”, “right” and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only, and do not mean that they are the only embodiments.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, an atomizer10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be used to atomize liquid represented by an aerosol generating substrate. The atomizer10includes a housing100, an atomizing assembly200, a liquid spacer300, an on-off valve400, and a sealing member500.

Referring toFIGS.1,2, and7, in some embodiments, the housing100includes a shell portion110, an inserting portion120, and a reinforcing rib130. The shell portion110encloses a receiving cavity150. The inserting portion120is vertically disposed in the receiving cavity150. An upper end of the inserting portion120is connected to the shell portion110. The atomizing assembly200is accommodated in the receiving cavity150. The atomizing assembly200, the shell portion110, and the inserting portion120enclose a part of the receiving cavity150into a liquid storage cavity151. The liquid storage cavity151is used for storing liquid. The inserting portion120is provided with an inhaling passage140. The inhaling passage140extends along an axial direction of the inserting portion120. The inhaling passage140can be in communication with outside. During the inhaling process, the liquid is atomized by the atomizing assembly200to form aerosol. The aerosol can be inhaled by a user via the inhaling passage140.

The reinforcing rib130is connected to the upper end of the inserting portion120. Two reinforcing ribs130can be provided. The two reinforcing ribs130are disposed symmetrically with respect to the inserting portion120. The reinforcing ribs130are further connected to the shell portion110. That is, the reinforcing ribs130are connected between the inserting portion120and the shell portion110. Since the inserting portion120has a certain length and is suspended in the receiving cavity150of the housing100, by providing the reinforcing rib130, the stability when mounting the inserting portion120can be improved.

Referring toFIGS.2to6, in some embodiments, the atomizing assembly200includes an atomizing core210, a top cover220, and a base230. The top cover220is provided with an accommodating cavity223that is in communication with the liquid storage cavity151. The atomizing core210is located in the accommodating cavity223. The base230includes a first mounting portion231and a second mounting portion232that are connected to each other. The first mounting portion231is located in the accommodating cavity223of the top cover220, and the second mounting portion232is located outside the accommodating cavity223of the top cover220. The second mounting portion232is provided with a stepped surface232a. The stepped surface232ais located on an edge of the second mounting portion232and extends along a circumferential direction of the second mounting portion232. The top cover220abuts against the stepped surface232a. The stepped surface232aprovides good positioning when the top cover220is mounted. The top cover220is provided with a catch221, and the second mounting portion232is provided with a catch hole. With cooperation of the catch221and the catch hole, a detachable snap connection between the top cover220and the base230can be realized.

Referring toFIG.2, the second mounting portion232of the base230is provided with an airflow passage160. The airflow passage160is in communication with the inhaling passage140. The shell portion110of the housing100is provided with an air inlet111. The air inlet111is in communication with the outside and the airflow passage160. That is, the airflow passage160is in communication with the outside via the air inlet111. During the inhaling process, outside air enters the user's mouth via the airflow passage160and the inhaling passage140.

The atomizing core210is used to absorb the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151and atomize the liquid to form aerosol for the user to inhale. The atomizing core210can be made of porous ceramic material. The porous ceramic material has a good capillary function to ensure that the atomizing core210has a good liquid absorption function. Certainly, liquid molecules can pass through the atomizing core210made of porous ceramic material. Since gas molecules have a smaller diameter and viscosity than those of liquid molecules, and the gas molecules can also pass through the atomizing core210, the atomizing core210made of porous ceramic material also has good air permeability. The atomizing core210can also be made of other porous materials with better liquid storage performance and air permeability.

Referring toFIGS.2and6, the atomizing core210includes a body portion211and a flange portion212that are connected to each other. The body portion211is generally cylindrical or prismatic. The flange portion212is disposed around the body portion211. The flange portion212can extend a set length with respect to a surface of the body portion211along a direction at a set angle with an axial direction of the body portion211. For example, the flange portion212extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the body portion211. In other embodiments, the atomizing core210may only be provided with the body portion211having a columnar shape, and the flange portion212is not provided on the body portion211.

In some embodiments, the body portion211of the atomizing core210is provided with a liquid guiding passage213therein. Both ends of the liquid guiding passage213are in communication with the liquid storage cavity151. The liquid guiding passage213may be disposed laterally. That is, the liquid guiding passage213is perpendicular to the vertically disposed inhaling passage140. By providing the liquid guiding passage213, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151can directly enter the inside of the atomizing core210via the liquid guiding passage213, thereby improving the liquid guiding efficiency of the atomizing core210. In addition, the liquid is distributed more uniformly in the atomizing core210, which prevents the atomizing core210from generating dry burning due to insufficient local liquid supply, thereby preventing the burnt smell generated by the dry burning. In other embodiments, the liquid guiding passage213may not be provided, that is, the atomizing core210directly absorbs the liquid from the liquid storage cavity151through capillary action to atomize the liquid.

Referring toFIGS.2,5, and6, the on-off valve400includes a pulling portion420and a blocking portion410that are connected to each other. The pulling portion420is in a rod shape. A part of the pulling portion420can extend through the base230and be exposed to the base230. The blocking portion410is in a plate shape. The blocking portion410can be slidably connected to the top cover220and the base230. The pulling portion420is used to drive the blocking portion410to slide linearly. Specifically, the on-off valve400has a first station11(seeFIG.5) and a second station12(seeFIG.2). Before the atomizer10is used, the on-off valve400is in the first station11, the blocking portion410of the on-off valve400can block the liquid guiding passage213, preventing the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151from entering the liquid guiding passage213and from leaking out of the atomizing core210, thereby effectively preventing liquid leakage of the entire atomizer10during its storage or transportation. When the atomizer10is in use, a pulling force can be applied to the pulling portion420to move the on-off valve400from the first station11to the second station12, so that the blocking portion410opens the liquid guiding passage213. In this case, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151can quickly enter the atomizing core210via the liquid guiding passage213to be atomized. The atomizer10may be a disposable atomizer10. When the on-off valve400is in the second station12, the pulling portion420can be pulled apart to be separated from the blocking portion410, and the broken pulling portion420can be discarded. In other embodiments, the on-off valve400can be rotated with respect to the atomizing core210. That is, the on-off valve400is rotatably connected to the entire atomizing assembly200, as long as the rotatable on-off valve400can open or block the liquid guiding passage213.

In some embodiments, in terms of materials, the liquid spacer300may be liquid spacing cotton. The liquid spacing cotton may be a non-woven fabric, organic cotton, ecological cotton, and the like, the components of which are plant fibers. The liquid spacing cotton has good air permeability, so that the air can pass through the liquid spacing cotton from one side of the liquid spacing cotton and enter the other side of the liquid spacing cotton. In addition, the liquid spacing cotton has good liquid absorption. That is, the liquid spacing cotton has a strong absorption effect on liquid, so that the liquid cannot flow through the liquid spacing cotton from one side of the liquid spacing cotton and flow into the other side of the liquid spacing cotton, thereby ensuring that the liquid spacing cotton can obstruct the flow of the liquid. In terms of shape, the liquid spacer300may have a plate-like structure.

Referring toFIGS.2to6, the flange portion212is provided with a via hole214. The base230, the top cover220, and the atomizing core210enclose an atomizing cavity235. The via hole214forms a part of the atomizing cavity235. The atomizing core210atomizes the liquid to form aerosol, the aerosol can flow out of the inhaling passage140via the atomizing cavity235. The atomizing cavity235is in communication with the inhaling passage140and the airflow passage160. The liquid spacer300is provided with a mounting hole310. The body portion211of the atomizing core210extends through the mounting hole310to facilitate the positioning when the liquid spacer300is mounted. The flange portion212is pressed against the inner side of the liquid spacer300. The first mounting portion231of the base230is pressed against the outer side of the liquid spacer300. That is, the liquid spacer300is sandwiched between the flange portion212and the first mounting portion231. In this case, the liquid spacer300can block a port of the via hole214away from the atomizing cavity235.

The first mounting portion231is provided with a first through hole233and a second through hole234. The first through hole233can be in communication with the liquid storage cavity151. Both the first through hole233and the atomizing cavity235together form a ventilation passage201. The end of the body portion211of the atomizing core210can be inserted into the second through hole234. The second through hole234plays a good positioning function when the atomizing core210is mounted. In addition, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151can enter the liquid guiding passage213via the second through hole234. When the on-off valve400is in the first station11, the blocking portion410of the on-off valve400blocks the second through hole234to prevent the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151from entering the liquid guiding passage213via the second through hole234. When the on-off valve400is in the second station12, the blocking portion410of the on-off valve400opens the second through hole234, so that the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151smoothly passes through the second through hole234and enters the liquid guiding passage213. The solid arrow inFIG.2indicates the flow direction of the liquid.

Since the liquid spacer300blocks the port of the via hole214away from the atomizing cavity235, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151cannot pass through the second through hole234to flow through the liquid spacer300and enter the via hole214, preventing the liquid from blocking the entire ventilation passage201, further preventing the liquid from entering the atomizing cavity235, the airflow passage160and the inhaling passage140, and ensuring that the air introduced via the airflow passage160quickly enters the liquid storage cavity151. In addition, the flange portion212has a larger contact area with the liquid spacer300, and thus the liquid absorbed on the liquid spacer300can be absorbed by the flange portion212for atomization. As such, the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid spacer300can be released in time, ensuring that the liquid spacer300can be used for a long time and play a function of obstructing the flow of liquid.

During the inhaling process, as the liquid is continuously atomized and consumed, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151is reduced, and the space of the liquid storage cavity151is released. In this case, the outside air can pass through the airflow passage160, the atomizing cavity235, the via hole214, the liquid spacer300, and the first through hole233in sequence and enter the liquid storage cavity151. The dotted arrow inFIG.2indicates the flow direction of the air. The air will fill in the space of the liquid storage cavity151where no liquid exists. The filling air can effectively increase the air pressure in the liquid storage cavity151. The air pressure acts on the remaining liquid in the liquid storage cavity151to ensure that the liquid storage cavity151smoothly supplies the liquid to the atomizing core210, avoiding the defect of insufficient liquid supply of the atomizing core210due to the vacuum or negative pressure in the liquid storage cavity151, and preventing the insufficient liquid supply from causing a burnt smell that affects the inhaling experience.

Therefore, by providing the ventilation passage201and making full use of the good air permeability of the liquid spacer300, it can be ensured that the outside air passes through the airflow passage160, the ventilation passage201, and the liquid spacer300, and enters the liquid storage cavity151, to avoid the negative pressure in the liquid storage cavity151due to vacuum, which ensures that the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151can flow into the atomizing core210smoothly, and prevents the atomizing core210from being burnt due to insufficient liquid supply. Moreover, the good liquid absorption function of the liquid spacer300is fully exerted, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151is prevent from filling in the entire ventilation passage201to form an obstructive effect on the flow of air, and it is ensured that the air introduced via the airflow passage160quickly enters the liquid storage cavity151. The liquid spacer300has better liquid storage and liquid guiding functions. When the liquid supply of the atomizing core210is insufficient or the liquid spacer300is full of liquid, since the liquid spacer300is adjacent to the atomizing core10, the liquid absorbed and stored by the liquid spacer300is introduced to the atomizing core210to improve the liquid guiding efficiency and relieve the scorch that may be caused by insufficient liquid supply.

In some embodiments, the top cover220is provided with a fixing hole222that is in communication with the atomizing cavity235. An end of the inserting portion120cooperates with the fixing hole222, so that the fixing hole222is in communication with the inhaling passage140. The sealing member500may be a sealing ring. The sealing ring is embedded on the second mounting portion232of the base230. When a part of the second mounting portion232cooperates with the receiving cavity150, the sealing ring is pressed between the second mounting portion232and an inner wall surface of the shell portion110. The sealing member500can play a sealing role to prevent the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151from leaking via a gap between the second mounting portion232and the shell portion110.

When the user inhales, firstly, the pulling portion420is pulled downward, and the entire on-off valve400moves from the first station11to the second station12, so that the blocking portion410opens the second through hole234and the liquid guiding passage213. Then, the liquid in the liquid storage cavity151quickly enters the atomizing core210via the liquid guiding passage213for atomization. The end of the inhaling passage140forms a nozzle141on the inserting portion120, and the user can inhale the aerosol at the nozzle141.

The present disclosure also provides an electronic atomizing device. The electronic atomizing device includes a power supply assembly and the atomizer10as described above. The power supply assembly is connected to the atomizer10. The power supply assembly is used to heat the atomizing core210to atomize the liquid.

The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. To simplify the description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, all of the combinations of these technical features should be considered as being fallen within the scope of the present disclosure, as long as such combinations do not contradict with each other.

The foregoing embodiments merely illustrate some embodiments of the present disclosure, and descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed. However, it should not be understood as a limitation to the patent scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that, a person of ordinary skill in the art may further make some variations and improvements without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, and the variations and improvements falls in the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the appended claims.