Patent ID: 12193501

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate particular embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood with reference to the following detailed description.

It will be appreciated that common and/or well understood elements that may be useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are not necessarily depicted in order to facilitate a more abstracted view of the embodiments. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale relative to each other. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps in an embodiment of a method may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrences while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used in the present specification have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study, except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG.1andFIG.2of the drawings, one embodiment of a heating system1for generating a vapour from a liquid to be heated in an inhaler device, and especially an e-cigarette (not shown), is illustrated schematically. The liquid may include a solution of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and/or one or more flavours. The heating system1comprises a body member2in which a plurality of supply channels3are provided or formed for conveying the liquid to be heated from a supply reservoir4adjacent the body member2under capillary action or surface tension forces within the channels3. In this case, each of the supply channels3comprises a capillary tube and the plurality of supply channels3are arranged in a straight line or row to convey the liquid to be heated from an inlet side or region5of the body member2to an outlet side or region6. In this regard, each supply channel or capillary tube3has an internal diameter d of about 0.5 to 0.8 mm, and extends between an inlet opening7at the inlet side5and an outlet opening8at the outlet side6.

Formed in the outlet side6of the body member2, an elongate groove or recess9extends across and communicates with, or interconnects, the outlet openings8of each of the supply channels3. In order to vaporize the liquid conveyed from the reservoir4by the capillary tubes3, heating means10is provided comprising one or more elongate heating element11, such as a wire or filament, located or set in the groove9. In this regard, for example, the heating element11may comprise a wire (e.g. a Nichrome or Kanthal™ wire) having a diameter in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm (e.g. about 0.1 mm) and a resistance in the range of 1 to 5 ohm for a current in the range of about 1 to 1.5 ampere. The groove9has a width D which may be slightly larger than a diameter d of the outlet openings8of the capillary tubes3. Opposite ends12,13of the heating wire11are configured and arranged for connection to a power supply in the e-cigarette (not shown) for electrical resistance heating. Thus, the heating means10is arranged in and confined to the outlet region6of each supply channel3and is configured to heat and vaporize the liquid as it emerges from the outlet opening8of each of the capillary tubes3.

With reference toFIGS.3to5of the drawings, another embodiment of a heating system1for generating a vapour from a liquid to be heated in an e-cigarette (not shown) is illustrated schematically. In this case, the principles of the construction remain essentially unchanged but are applied in an alternative configuration. In particular, the body member2comprises an intermediate delivery channel14for delivering a liquid to be heated from a reservoir4to a plurality of supply channels3, again formed as capillary with an internal diameter d of about 0.5 to 0.8 mm. Each supply channel or capillary tube3extends between an inlet opening7at the delivery channel14to an outlet opening8at an outlet side6of the body member. In this embodiment, the supply channels3are arranged in a radial array, such that the outlet opening8of each capillary tube3lies on a semi-circular periphery of the body member2. Again, a groove or recess9is formed in the outlet region6of the body member2and extends across and communicates with, or interconnects, the outlet openings8of each of the supply channels3. Again also, heating means10is provided comprising one or more elongate heating element11, such as a wire or filament, which is located or set in the groove9. In this way, the heating wire11is arranged and configured to heat and vaporize the liquid as it emerges from the outlet opening8of each capillary tube3. A venting cap or stopper15may be set or provided in an end of the delivery channel14. This cap or stopper15may be gas-permeable to allow gas exchange with the reservoir4to enhance liquid flow through the capillary tubes3, but may nevertheless still prevent liquid leakage.

Referring now toFIGS.6and7of the drawings, a further embodiment of a heating system1for generating vapour from liquid to be heated in an e-cigarette is shown schematically. In this embodiment, the plurality of capillary tubes of the previous embodiments are replaced by a supply channel3configured as a capillary slot. More particularly, the body member2comprises a pair of plate elements16which are arranged substantially parallel and facing one another in spaced apart relation to define the slot-like supply channel3there-between. The plate elements16of the body member2extend from an inlet region or inlet end5to an outlet region or outlet end6, with the sides17of the plate elements16being closed or sealed. The edge18of each plate element16at the outlet region or outlet end6of the slot-like supply channel3are chamfered or tapered towards the outlet opening8to reduce a surface area presented by the plate elements16at the outlet end6. This acts to reduce the tendency of facing end surfaces of the plate elements16at the outlet region6to collect or accumulate an excessive volume of the liquid to be heated.

Again, the heating system1inFIGS.6and7includes heating means10arranged at the outlet region6of the liquid supply channel3. In this regard, a serpentine heating element11, such as an electrical resistance heating wire, extends across the outlet opening8transversely of the capillary slot3. As in the two embodiments described above, opposite ends12,13of the heating element11are configured and arranged for connection to a power supply in the e-cigarette (not shown) for electrical resistance heating. For this reason, electrical connectors19are provided at each of the opposite ends12,13of the heating element11. Thus, the heating means10is again arranged in and confined to the outlet region6of the supply channel3for vaporizing the liquid as it emerges from the outlet opening8of the supply channel3.

With reference now toFIGS.8a-8cand9of the drawings, an example is provided of how the heating system1shown inFIGS.6and7may be included in a cartridge or reservoir assembly20of an electronic cigarette30. As can be seen inFIG.9, the electronic cigarette30has a generally cylindrical casing31, a first portion32of which houses or encloses a power supply33in the form of a battery unit. The first portion32of the casing31is coupled to a second casing portion34, which houses or encloses the cartridge or reservoir assembly20. As can be seen inFIGS.8a-8c, the cartridge20comprises a housing21which encloses a barrel-like reservoir or tank4for holding or storing a volume of the liquid L to be vaporized and inhaled during use of the e-cigarette30. The heating system1ofFIGS.6and7is included in the cartridge20such that the plate elements16extend into the reservoir4with the inlet region or inlet end5fixed at a base wall22of the housing21submerged below and/or covered by the liquid L. The plate elements16extend upwards at an oblique angle out of an end wall23of the housing21, such that the outlet region or outlet end6and the heating means10are located within a vapour chamber35of the second casing portion34. An upper side or wall24of cartridge housing21includes a refill opening which is closed and sealed by a resilient plug member25. Furthermore, the upper side or wall24of the housing21includes a venting cap or valve26which may include a gas-permeable membrane to allow gas exchange with the reservoir4to enhance liquid flow through the capillary slot3, but which nevertheless prevents liquid leakage there-through.

As seen inFIG.9, a mouthpiece36is provided at, or connected to, an end of the second portion34of the casing31for a user to draw upon the e-cigarette30and to inhale the vapour generated by the heating system1in the cartridge20. In this regard, a row of air inlet holes37is provided in the second casing portion34for inlet or inflow of air into the vapour chamber35when a user draws on the mouthpiece36. The liquid L is vaporized by the heating means10at the outlet6of the supply channel3in the vapour chamber35and the vapour is entrained in the airflow stream and carried to the user via a vapour guide38and the mouthpiece36.

With reference now toFIG.10of the drawings, a simple embodiment of a heating system1for generating a vapour from a liquid to be heated in an inhaler device, such as an e-cigarette, is shown schematically. The heating system1comprises a body member2in the form of a tube (e.g. a glass tube) which defines a capillary channel3for conveying the liquid to be heated from a supply reservoir4adjacent the body member2under capillary action. In this case, the capillary channel3has an internal diameter d of about 1.0 mm, and extends from the supply reservoir4to an outlet opening8at the outlet side6. A groove or recess9is formed in the end of the tube2at the outlet opening8and an elongate heating element11, such as a wire or filament, is located or set and fused in the groove9in connection with the tubular body member2with the heating wire11extending transversely across the middle of the outlet opening8.

Referring now to drawingFIG.11, another embodiment of a cartridge or a reservoir assembly20is illustrated schematically. In this embodiment, the heating system1comprises a disc-shaped body member2which defines two separate and distinct capillary channels3for conveying the liquid to be heated from a supply reservoir4adjacent the body member2under capillary action. In this embodiment, each of the capillary supply channels3for conveying the liquid from the reservoir4has its own heating element11, such as a wire or filament. The cross-section of each of the tubes3taken in the direction of arrows A may essentially correspond to the example shown inFIG.10. Each of the heating elements11is interconnected by an electrical connector or supply lead19for common control and power supply. Each of the heating elements11may have a round cross-section or alternatively a flat cross-section for presenting a larger surface area to the liquid emerging from the outlet opening8of each channel3. Furthermore, the outlet opening8of each channel3may be formed with a diverging conical surface8′ forming a small well for accumulating the liquid and presenting a larger surface area to each respective heating element11.

Finally, referring toFIG.12of the drawings, a flow diagram is shown that illustrates schematically the steps in a method of heating a substance, especially a liquid L in an inhaler device30, such as an e-cigarette, according to any of the embodiments of the invention described above with respect toFIGS.1to11. In this regard, the first box i ofFIG.12represents the step of conveying the liquid to be heated from a supply reservoir4through at least one supply channel3, and optionally multiple supply channels3, by capillary action or surface tension forces. The second box ii then represents the step of heating the liquid L exclusively at an outlet6of each supply channel3as the liquid emerges from the outlet6of the supply channel3to vaporize the liquid. The third box iii represents the step of controlling activation of the heating step to depend upon use of the inhaler device30by a user. The final box iv inFIG.12of the drawings represents the optional step of carrying out the heating of the liquid on a periodical or intermittent basis, especially in a pulsed manner.

Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “including”, “contain”, “containing”, “have”, “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms “a” and “an” used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

LIST OF DRAWING SIGNS

1heating system2body member3supply channel or capillary tube or capillary slot4reservoir5inlet side or inlet region6outlet side or outlet region7inlet opening8outlet opening8′ conical surface9groove or recess10heating means11heating element or heating wire12end of heating element13end of heating element14delivery channel15venting cap or stopper16plate element17side of plate element18chamfered or tapered edge of plate element19electrical connector20cartridge or reservoir assembly21cartridge housing22base wall of housing23end wall of housing24upper side or wall of housing25plug member26venting cap or valve30electronic cigarette31casing32first casing portion33power supply or battery unit34second casing portion35vapour chamber36mouthpiece37air inlet38clamping ring or vapour guideD width of groove or recessd diameter of outlet openingL liquid to be heated