EP3199043B1

EP3199043B1 - A locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer, an electronic cigarette atomizer with a safety cover and methods for using the same

Info

Publication number: EP3199043B1
Application number: EP16183110.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jian Wei LI
Original assignee: Shenzhen Innokin Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Innokin Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-02-01
Filing date: 2016-08-05
Publication date: 2019-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-05
Also published as: EP3199043A1; CN205432140U

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer, an electronic cigarette atomizer with said safety cover, and methods for using the sames.

Background Art

For a traditional cigarette, what is inhaled is the smoke produced when tobacco cigarettes burn. It is well known that smoke does great harm to the health of human beings. Smoking is forbidden in more and more public places, for example, workplaces and mass transit systems, all over the world. Many are very fond of cigarettes. It is impossible to eradicate the harm of cigarettes quickly and it will take some time to completely quit smoking.
For this reason, a cigarette substitute, which can not only maintain the smoking feeling, but also minimize the harm, is available in the market. Electronic cigarettes use an electronic atomizer to atomize a cigarette liquid (e-liquid) or other chemical substances to create an aerosolized vapor, The user inhales the aerosol, commonly called vapor, rather than cigarette smoke produced by burning cigarettes. The electronic cigarette provides a flavor and feel similar to tobacco smoking, or even much more than those of ordinary tobacco cigarettes. However, electronic cigarettes do not contain any tar, suspended solid particles, or other harmful ingredients contained in cigarette smoke, or produce diffusing second-hand smoke.
Electronic cigarettes usually consist of a control box consisting of a battery and a control printed circuit board, connected with other components such as an atomizer and a cigarette holder (Mouthpiece). For the general structure of the electronic cigarette atomizer, a round atomization core and a connecting tube are set at the center of an enclosed circular space, and the remaining circular space is used to contain an electronic cigarette liquid. The atomization core and the connecting tube are enclosed, too, except that two symmetrical liquid inlet holes are opened on the exterior wall of the atomization core and are used to supply a cigarette liquid (e-liquid) to the atomization core. The atomization core is connected to the control box and is heated to atomize the cigarette liquid (e-liquid) entering the atomization core, and the atomized cigarette liquid is exhaled out of the connecting tube.
The atomizer is the major component of electronic cigarettes. The currently known electronic cigarettes usually consist of a base, an atomization core, and a cartridge. The cartridge consists of an inner tube, an outer tube, an upper cover, and a fixed seat. A circular space is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, and the upper cover and the fixed seat enclose the circular space to contain a cigarette liquid. A cigarette holder hole is set at the center of the upper cover and is used to connect the cigarette holder and the inner tube.
Generally, snap connection or thread connection is adopted for the upper cover of the prior art atomizer. A thread matching the atomizer body is set on the thread-connected upper cover and the upper cover is sealed by screwing it up. The thread connected structure has a defect which cannot be overcome. In the situation that the upper cover is screwed up, since the thread is screwed up unidirectionally, the upper cover may be screwed off by accident. Thus, the sealing of the electronic cigarette atomizer is easily affected so that the liquid leaks out of the upper cover or even the upper cover falls off.
When a thread-connected structure is used in the electronic cigarette field or many other fields, the user may screw off the thread by accident to cause trouble in use.
To overcome the above-mentioned defect, the present invention designs a new locking device and the locking device is applied to the upper cover of the electronic cigarette atomizer.
US 2014/290674 A1 relates to an electronic cigarette which does not form sharp angles and is preventing from hurting users' bodies.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is intended to provide a a locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer according to claim 1, which can prevent a thread from being screwed off by accident in a thread connection situation.
The present invention is further intended to provide an electronic cigarette atomizer with the above-mentioned safety cover and to an electronic cigarette comprising the same electronic cigarette atomizer.
Methods for using the locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer and said electronic cigarette according to claims 14 and 15 are also provided.
The locking safety cover in the present invention comprises a circular fixing component, a circular rotary component, and a circular connecting component. Said circular fixing component and circular connecting component are fixedly connected, said circular rotary component is set between the circular fixing component and the circular connecting component, and said circular rotary component can rotate around the axis of the thread-locking device and slide along said axis. At least a concave and convex block locking mechanism is set on the end faces of the circular rotary component and the circular connecting component so that a joint rotation state and an independent rotation state exist between the circular connecting component and the circular rotary component.
The concave and convex block locking mechanism of said circular rotary component and circular connecting component comprises a convex block set on the end face on one side of the contact surface between the above-mentioned two components and a concave set on the end face on the other side of the contact surface, and said concave has at least a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom.
Said convex block is set on the circular rotary component, and said concave is set on the circular connecting component.
The locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer in the present invention comprises a fixing ring, an upper cover, and a thread ring. Said fixing ring and thread ring are fixedly connected, the upper cover is set between the fixing ring and the thread ring, and the upper cover can rotate around axis of the locking safety cover and slide along said axis. A concave and convex block locking mechanism is set between the lower end face of said upper cover and the upper end face of said thread ring so that a joint rotation state and an independent rotation state exist between the upper cover and the thread ring.
The concave and convex block locking mechanism of said upper cover and thread ring comprises a convex block set on the end face on one side of the contact surface between the upper cover and the thread ring and a concave set on the end face on the other side of the contact surface, and said concave has at least a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom.
The convex block used for locking is set on the lower end face of said upper cover, the concave used for locking is set on the upper end face of said thread ring, said concave has preferably a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom.
A connecting thread is set on the lower segment of said thread ring to thread connect the electronic cigarette atomizer.
The electronic cigarette atomizer with a safety cover in the present invention comprises an atomizer body and a safety cover, where the safety cover and the atomizer body are thread connected. Said safety cover comprises a fixing ring, an upper cover, and a thread ring. Said fixing ring and thread ring are fixedly connected, the upper cover is set between the fixing ring and the thread ring, and the upper cover can rotate around the axis of the locking safety cover and slide along said axis. A concave and convex block locking mechanism is set between the lower end face of said upper cover and the upper end face of said thread ring so that a joint rotation state and an independent rotation state exist between the upper cover and the thread ring. Said thread ring is fixedly thread connected to the atomizer body.
The concave and convex block locking mechanism of said upper cover and thread ring comprises a convex block set on the end face on one side of the contact surface between the upper cover and the thread ring and a concave set on the end face on the other side of the contact surface, and said concave has at least a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom.
A convex block used for locking is set on the lower end face of said upper cover, and a concave used for locking is set on the upper end face of said thread ring. Said concave has preferably a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom. A connecting thread is set on the lower segment of said thread ring to thread connect the electronic cigarette atomizer body.
In the present invention, a rotary component which can rotate together with a connecting component or rotate independently is set in a thread connected structure. Unidirectional locking between the rotary component and the connecting component is implemented through the concave and convex block locking mechanism to prevent the connecting component and the connecting body from being screwed off by accident.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows the exploded structure of the electronic cigarette atomizer with a safety cover in the present invention.
Figure 2 shows the structure of the upper cover of the electronic cigarette atomizer in the present invention.
Figure 3 shows the profile structure of the safety cover of the electronic cigarette atomizer in the present invention.
Figure 4 shows the profile structure of the electronic cigarette atomizer with a safety cover in the present invention.
Figure 5 shows the structure of the thread-locking device in the present invention.

Description of reference numbers in the drawings: 1. Fixing ring 2. Upper cover 3. First sealing ring 4. Thread ring 5. Second sealing ring 6. Atomizer body 21. Convex block on the upper cover 41. Concave on the thread ring 42. Connecting thread 43. Horizontal bottom 44. Inclined bottom.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The following describes in detail the structures in the present invention in combination with drawings and embodiments. The drawings and embodiments are used only to describe the present invention, but are not used to restrict the protection scope of the present invention.
Figure 1 and Figure 5 show the exploded 3D structure of the electronic cigarette atomizer using a safety cover of the present invention. The atomizer in the present invention comprises an atomizer body (6) and a safety cover assembly. The safety cover assembly is set at the top of the atomizer body (6) and is used to lock and seal the top of the atomizer body (6).
As shown in Figure 1, the atomizer comprises the fixing ring (1), the upper cover (2), the first sealing ring (3), the thread ring (4), the second sealing ring (5), and the atomizer body (6) in turn from the top down. Where, the components from the fixing ring (1) to the thread ring (4) form the safety cover assembly. The whole safety cover assembly is locked together with the atomizer body (6) through the connecting thread (42) set on the lower part of the thread ring.
As shown in Figure 3, the fixing ring (1) and the thread ring (4) are fixed together through an interference fit from the interior wall of the thread ring, a connecting clearance is set, the contour of the fixing ring (1) is T-shaped, the upper cover (2) is set in the connecting clearance, that is to say, the inside diameter of the upper cover (2) is smaller than the outside diameter of the top of the T-shaped fixing ring (1), and the top of the fixing ring (1) can lock the upper cover (2) in the connecting clearance between the fixing ring (1) and the thread ring (4). Such a structure can allow the upper cover (2) to rotate around the axis of the safety cover assembly (thread-locking device) and make movements within a limited distance along the axis, that is to say, slide upward and downward within a limited distance.
As shown in Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4, the lower end face of said upper cover (2) and the upper end face of said thread ring (4) can be in a relative rotation state. The convex blocks (21) protruding from the end face are set on the lower end face of the upper cover (2), a multiple of concaves (41) corresponding to the convex blocks are set on the upper end face of the thread ring (4), and preferably four convex blocks (21) and four concaves (41) are respectively set. As shown in Figure 4, the bottom of the concave (41) is preferably set into two parts. One part is a horizontal bottom (43), and the other part is an inclined bottom (44). Such a structure makes it possible that when the upper cover (2) is screwed left, the convex block (21) is snapped into the concave (41) and does not get out of it, and then drives the thread ring (4) to rotate left. In this case, the thread ring (4) and the safety cover are screwed up. When the upper cover (2) is screwed right by accident, meaning naturally screwing right without applying a pressure to the upper cover, the inclined bottom (44) in the concave (41) will eject the convex block (21) out of the concave (41) to lift the upper cover (2) so that the upper cover (2) makes idle rotations relative to the thread ring (4) and the safety cover will not be opened. When it is necessary to open the safety cover, screw the upper cover (2) right and simultaneously press the upper cover. Under the action of the pressure, the convex block (21) will not get out of the concave (41), and the upper cover (2) drives the thread ring (4) to rotate, and then the safety cover is screwed off.
As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3, since the present invention is used for electronic cigarettes, sealing measures need to be taken to avoid a cigarette liquid from leaking from the atomizer. The second sealing ring (5) shown in the figures is set on the connecting portion of the thread ring (4) and the atomizer body (6) to seal the connecting portion and avoid the cigarette liquid from leaking. In addition, the first sealing ring (3) is set between the outside of the fixing ring (1) and the inside of the upper cover (2). Since the upper cover (2) is set in the clearance formed between the fixing ring (1) and the thread ring (4) and the upper cover can rotate and move upward and downward within the clearance, the first sealing ring (3) should first guarantee the tightness, and should secondly guarantee the rotations and movements of the upper cover (2) within the elasticity range of the sealing ring to avoid abnormal noise between the upper cover (2) and the fixing ring (1).
When the above-mentioned structures are assembled, it is necessary to guarantee that the upper cover (2) has an upward and downward movement space slightly greater than the height of the convex block (21).
As shown in Figure 4, in said thread-locking device in the present invention, the fixing ring (1) can serve as the circular fixing component, the upper cover (2) can serve as the circular rotary component, the thread ring (4) can serve as the circular connecting component. At the time of installation, the circular fixing component is fixed to the circular connecting component, and the circular rotary component is locked in the clearance formed between the circular fixing component and the circular connecting component. In addition, protruding convex blocks (21) are set on the lower end face of the circular rotary component, concaves (41) are set on the upper end face of the circular connecting component, and preferably a horizontal bottom (43) and an inclined bottom (44) are set on the concaves (41). Through the configuration of the convex blocks (21) and the concaves (41), the joint rotation state and the independent rotation state can be implemented between the circular connecting component and the circular rotary component. When the circular rotary component is screwed left, the convex blocks (21) snapped into the concaves (41) can implement the joint rotation of the circular connecting component and the circular rotary component and the thread on the circular connecting component can be screwed up. When the circular rotary component is naturally screwed right, the inclined bottom (44) will raise the convex blocks (21) along the inclined bottom (44) until the convex blocks get out of the concaves (41) so that the circular rotary component will not drive the circular connecting component to rotate jointly and the circular connecting component will still be screwed tightly on the connecting body. If a pressure is applied to the circular rotary component while the circular rotary component is screwed right, owing to the existence of the pressure, the convex blocks (21) will not rise along the inclined bottom (44) and will drive the circular rotary component to rotate jointly and screw off the device.

Claims

A locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer to prevent a thread from being screwed off by accident in a thread connection situation, characterized in that said cover comprises:
- a circular fixing component (1),

- a circular rotary component (2), and

- a circular connecting component (4),
wherein said circular fixing component and said circular connecting component are fixedly connected, said circular rotary component is set between the circular fixing component and the circular connecting component,
wherein said circular rotary component is configured to rotate around the axis of the locking safety cover and slide along said axis, at least a concave and convex block locking mechanism (21, 41) is set on the end faces of the circular rotary component and the circular connecting component so that a joint rotation state and an independent rotation state exist between the circular connecting component and the circular rotary component.
The locking safety cover of claim 1, characterized in that said concave and convex block locking mechanism of the circular rotary component and the circular connecting component comprises
- a convex block (21) set on the end face on one side of the contact surface between said circular rotary component and said circular connecting component, and

- a concave (41) set on the end face on the other side of the contact surface, wherein said concave has at least a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom.
The locking safety cover of claim 2, characterized in that said convex block (21) is set on the circular rotary component, and said concave (41) is set on the circular connecting component.
The locking safety cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:
- a fixing ring (1) corresponding to the circular fixing component,

- an upper cover (2) corresponding to the circular rotary component, and

- a thread ring (4) corresponding to the circular connecting component.
The locking safety cover of claim 4, characterized in that said convex block (21) used for locking is set on the lower end face of said upper cover, the concave (41) used for locking is set on the upper end face of said thread ring, said concave has preferably a horizontal bottom and an inclined bottom.
The locking safety cover of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the fixing ring (1) and the thread ring (4) are fixed together through an interference fit from the interior wall of the thread ring with a connecting clearance, the contour of the fixing ring (1) is T-shaped.
The locking safety cover of claim 6, characterized in that the upper cover (2) is set in the connecting clearance, that is to say, the inside diameter of the upper cover (2) is smaller than the outside diameter of the top of the T-shaped fixing ring (1), and the top of the fixing ring (1) is configured to lock the upper cover (2) in the connecting clearance between the fixing ring (1) and the thread ring (4).
The locking safety cover according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the lower end face of said upper cover (2) and the upper end face of said thread ring (4) are configured to be in a relative rotation state.
The locking safety cover according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that four concave and convex block locking mechanisms including four convex blocks (21) and four concaves (41) are respectively set.
The locking safety cover according to any one of claims 4-9, characterized in that a connecting thread is set on the lower segment of said thread ring to thread connect the electronic cigarette atomizer, or in that the upper cover (2) has an upward and downward movement space slightly greater than the height of the convex block (21).
An electronic cigarette atomizer comprising an atomizer body (6) and the safety cover of any one of claims 4-10, wherein the safety cover is set at the top of the atomizer body (6) and is used to lock and seal the top of the atomizer body (6), and wherein the safety cover and the atomizer body are thread connected.
The electronic cigarette atomizer according to claim 11, wherein a first sealing ring (3) is set between the outside of the fixing ring (1) and the inside of the upper cover (2), and a second sealing ring (5) is set on the connecting portion of the thread ring (4) and the atomizer body (6) to seal the connecting portion and avoid the cigarette liquid from leaking.
An electronic cigarette, characterized in that said electronic cigarette comprises the electronic cigarette atomizer according to claim 11 or 12.
Method for using the locking safety cover for an electronic cigarette atomizer to prevent a thread from being screwed off by accident in a thread connection situation according to anyone of claims 1 to 10, comprising steps of:
- screwing up the cover by screwing left the circular rotary component, the convex blocks (21) snapped into the concaves (41) implements a joint rotation of the circular connecting component and the circular rotary component, the thread on the circular connecting component is screwed up;

- screwing off the cover by screwing right the circular rotary component while applying a pressure to the circular rotary component, so that the convex blocks (21) rises along the inclined bottom (44) and drives the circular rotary component to rotate jointly and screw off the cover,
wherein when the circular rotary component is naturally screw right without applying a pressure to the circular rotary component, the inclined bottom (44) raises the convex blocks (21) along the inclined bottom (44) until the convex blocks get out of the concaves (41), so that the circular rotary component does not drive the circular connecting component to rotate jointly, and the circular connecting component is still screwed tightly on the connecting body.
Method for using the electronic cigarette atomizer according to claim 11 or 12, comprising steps of:
- screwing up the locking safety cover by screwing left the upper cover, the convex block (21) is snapped into the concave (41) and does not get out of it, and then drives the thread ring (4) to rotate left, the thread ring (4) and the safety cover is screwed up;

- screwing off locking safety cover by screwing right and simultaneously pressing the upper cover (2), the convex block (21) does not get out of the concave (41), and the upper cover (2) drives the thread ring (4) to rotate, then the safety cover is screwed off,
wherein when the upper cover (2) is naturally screwed right without applying a pressure to the upper cover, the inclined bottom (44) in the concave (41) ejects the convex block (21) out of the concave (41) to lift the upper cover (2), so that the upper cover (2) makes idle rotations relative to the thread ring (4) and the safety cover is not opened.