GB2515562A

GB2515562A - Vaporiser unit and fluid reservoir for an atomiser

Info

Publication number: GB2515562A
Application number: GB1311646.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fraser Cropper; Liam Humberstone
Original assignee: TOTALLY WICKED Ltd
Current assignee: TOTALLY WICKED LTD
Priority date: 2013-06-28
Filing date: 2013-06-28
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-28
Also published as: GB201311646D0; GB2515562B

Abstract

A vaporiser unit 62 for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette, the atomiser having a fluid reservoir provided with an outlet for the delivery of fluid to the vaporiser unit. The vaporiser unit comprises a wall 73 which defines an air flow passage 66 having an air inlet 68, an air outlet 70 and a wick 72 which extends at least part way across the air flow passage and terminates at a fluid inlet aperture 71 in the wall of the vaporiser unit. Preferably a heating coil 74 extends around the wick which extends across the air flow passage. The fluid reservoir has walls defining a first reservoir 90 and a second reservoir 92 and means for mounting the vaporiser unit in the second reservoir. Advantageously the vaporiser unit forms a component part for an e-cigarette which may be assembled and dis-assembled so that they may be individually disposed of at the end of their respective operational lives.

Description

VAPORISER UNIT AND FLUID RESERVOIR FOR AN ATOMISER

The present disclosure relates to a vaporiser unit and fluid reservoir for an atomiser.

In particular the disclosure is concerned with a vaporiser unit and fluid reservoir for an atomiser for an electronic cigarette ("e-cigarette").

Electronic cigarettes are known in the art and a generic representation of such is shown in Figure 1. A user places the body of the e-cigarette lOin her mouth, and sucks or blows air through a passage 11 which extends through the length of the e-cigarette 10 from an inlet 12 to an outlet 14 to simulate the effect of smoking a conventional cigarette. Commonly e-cigarettes comprise an atomiser assembly 16 which is located somewhere between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14.

The atomiser 16 contains a reservoir of e-liquid and a means of vaporising the e-liquid.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 show two alternative examples, well known in the art, of how this may be achieved.

The example of Figure 2 shows an atomiser 20 comprising a housing 22 which defines a reservoir for an e-liquid 24. The housing 22 also defines a central passage 26 through which air 28 blown or sucked by the user will pass. The passage 26 extends through an assembly of absorbent wadding 30 held in shape by a braided cotton air tube 32. A heating coil 34 is seated in the cotton air tube 32, and is mounted on the air passage 26 side of a cloth wick 36, typically made from non-woven polymer material.

An orifice 37 is provided in the wall of the reservoir such that the absorbent wadding 30 is kept wet with e-liquid to thereby supply the cloth wick 36 with e-liquid. In operation when air 28 is passed along the tube, a negative pressure is caused across the top of the heating coil 34, drawing out e-liquid which has been vaporised by the heating coil 34 such that it exits the flow passage 26 with the air 28. Fluid will flow as shown by arrows 38 through the orifice 37 until the reservoir is empty.

In an alternative example shown in Figure 3, an atomiser 40 comprises a housing 42 which defines a reservoir for an e-liquid 44. A vaporiser unit 46 is mounted along the line of a central air flow passage 48 of the atomiser 40. A wick 50 extends through the passage 48 with both of its ends extending down into the reservoir defined by the housing 42. A heating coil 52 is provided on either side of the wick 50. Operation of the device is similar to that of Figure 2, in that air blown through the passage 48 carries vaporised e-liquid and air 54 through an outlet 56 of the atomiser 40.

Periodically, a user must obtain a new vaporiser for their e-cigarette, which has a much shorter operational life than the rest of the atomiser components. The demerit of the device of Figure 2 is that it is not possible to easily separate the vaporiser unit elements from the reservoir and hence the entire atomiser 20 must be replaced when the vaporiser assembly has reached the end of its life. Not only is this a waste of raw materials, but also adds to the total cost of maintaining and operating the e-cigarette.

The demerit of the device of Figure 3 is that, although the vaporising unit is designed to be removed, it cannot be removed without first emptying all of the e-liquid from the reservoir. This is a waste of e-liquid, and since the e-liquid is a mix of propylene glycol, nicotine, aqueous glycerine and flavouring, it is messy and undesirable for a user to drain and refill simply to replace the vaporising unit.

Hence an e-cigarette, or its component parts, which are configured to minimise cost of maintenance to a user, is highly desirable.

Summary

Accordingly there is provided a vaporiser unit for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette, the atomiser having a fluid reservoir provided with an outlet for the delivery of fluid to the vaporiser unit; the vaporiser unit comprising a wall which defines an air flow passage having an air inlet and an air outlet; and a wick which extends at least part way across the air flow passage and terminates at a fluid inlet aperture in the wall of the vaporiser unit.

The wick may span the air flow passage. A heating coil may extend around at least part of the wick which extends across the air flow passage. The wick may be provided as a dual layer of wick material, the heating coil extending between the wick layers. The wick may be located in a plenum provided in the air flow passage, the plenum being of substantially larger diameter than the air flow passage.

A restriction may be provided in the air flow passage upstream of the plenum.

The vaporiser unit may be provided with a location land for location relative to the reservoir at one end, and securement feature at its other end for securing the vaporiser to the reservoir.

The vaporiser may comprise a sealing means on the location land and/or the securement feature to prevent leakage of e-liquid.

There may also be provided a fluid reservoir for an electronic cigarette comprising walls defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir, means for mounting a vaporiser according to the present disclosure in the second reservoir.

The second reservoir may be bounded by the first reservoir. The first reservoir may be substantially annular, and the second reservoir is provided radially inwardly of the first reservoir.

The mounting means may comprise a location feature and securement feature defined by the reservoir walls operable to permit removal and replacement of the vaporiser. The securement feature may be provided as a threaded region on the wall of the second reservoir for engagement with a thread of an end cap, the end cap having a bearing region for engaging with one end of the vaporiser to thereby hold the vaporiser in place.

The end cap may comprise a threaded coupling for engagement with a complementary thread on the vaporiser.

An aperture may be provided between the first reservoir and the second reservoir for the delivery of fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir to thereby supply fluid to the wick of the vaporiser.

There may also be provided an atomiser for an electronic cigarette comprising a vaporiser unit and a fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure.

The vaporiser may be mounted in the second reservoir such that fluid provided in the first reservoir may pass from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and be delivered to the wick of the vaporiser.

The vaporiser may be mounted substantially along the central axis of the first and/or second reservoir.

The wick may terminate at the outer periphery of the vaporiser unit such that the wick is carried in the second reservoir but does not extend into the first reservoir.

There may also be provided an electronic cigarette comprising a vaporiser unit and/or a fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure.

There may also be provided an electronic cigarette comprising an atomiser according to

the present disclosure.

There may also be provided a vaporiser unit and fluid reservoir for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette. The fluid reservoir comprises walls defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir, and means for mounting the vaporiser in the second reservoir. The fluid reservoir is provided with an outlet for the delivery of fluid to the vaporiser unit. The vaporiser unit comprises a wall which defines an air flow passage having an air inlet and an air outlet and a wick which extends at least part way across the air flow passage and terminates at a fluid inlet aperture in the wall of the vaporiser unit.

Hence there is provided components for an e-cigarette which may be assembled and dis-assembled so that they may be individually disposed of at the end of their respective operational lives.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a crass section of generic features of an e-cigarette; Figure 2 shows a crass section of a first example of a known atomiser; Figure 3 shows another example of a second example of a known atomiser; Figure 4 shows a cross section view of an atomiser comprising a vaporising unit and fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure; and Figure 5 shows a cross section view of an alternative example of an atomiser comprising a vaporising unit and fluid reservoir according to the present

disclosure.

Detailed Description

Figure 4 shows an atomiser 60 for an e-cigarette according to the present disclosure.

For context, in use, the atomiser 60 would be located at the position of the atomiser 16 shown in Figure 1.

The atomiser 60 comprises a vaporiser unit 62 and a fluid reservoir 64. The wall(s) of the vaporiser unit 62 define an air flow passage 66 having an air inlet 68 and an air outlet 70.

The vaporiser unit 62 is also provided with a fluid inlet 71 and a wick 72 which spans the air flow passage 66. That is to say, there is provided a wick 72 which extends at least part way across the air flow passage 66 and terminates at a fluid inlet 71 in the wall of the vaporiser unit 62. Put another way, the wick 72 may extend from one side of the air flow passage 66, across the air flow passage 66, to another side of the air flow passage 66. The fluid inlet 71 is provided as at least one aperture 71 in a wall 73 of the vaporiser 62. The fluid inlet 71 may alternatively comprise a number of apertures 71 around the circumference of the wall 73 of the vaporiser unit 62.

In the example shown in Figure 4, a heating coil 74 is provided around the wick 72.

That is to say, the wick 72 passes through the centre of the heating coil 74 such that the heating coil 74 is provided upstream and downstream of the wick 72, on the air inlet side 68 and air outlet side 70 of the wick 72.

An alternative example is shown in Figure 5 in which a secondary wick 76 is provided on one side of the wick 72 and heating coil 74 assembly. In the example shown, the additional wick 76 is provided on the downstream side of the wick 72 and heating coil 74 assembly. That is to say, the secondary wick 76 is provided on the air outlet 70 side of the wick 72 and heating coil 74 assembly. Hence the wick may be provided in multiple layers, (for example, the wick as shown in Figure 5 is provided as two or "dual" layers) with a heating coil 74 extending between the wick layers 72, 76. Thus one of the wick layers 72 passes through the coil 74 and the other wick layer 76 is adjacent the heating coil 74 on the downstream side of the wick 72 and heating coil 74 assembly.

The air passage 66 is provided with a plenum 80 in which the wick or wick layers 70,76 and heating coils are mounted. That is to say the wick layers 70, 76 span (or extend across) the plenum 80. The plenum 80 is of substantially larger diameter than the air flow passage 66. There may be provided a restriction (not shown) in the airflow passage 66 upstream of the plenum 80.

One end of the vaporiser unit 62 is provided with a location land 82 for locating the vaporiser unit relative to the reservoir 64. The other end of the vaporiser unit 62 is provided with a securement feature 84 for securing the vaporiser unit 62 to the reservoir 64. A sealing means 86 (for example an "0" ring) is provided on the location land 82 and / or on the securement feature 84 to prevent leakage of e-liquid from the atomiser assembly 60. Further sealing means 86 may also be provided at various other locations for the same purpose.

Walls of the fluid reservoir 64 define a first reservoir 90 and a second reservoir 92. The second reservoir 92 is bounded by the first reservoir 90. The first reservoir 90 is substantially annular, and the second reservoir 92 is provided radially inwardly of the first reservoir 90. In the examples shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, walls of the fluid reservoir 64 define an annular outer reservoir 90 and an inner reservoir 92. The inner reservoir 92 is bounded by the annular outer reservoir 90. That is to say the inner reservoir 92 is provided radially inward of the outer reservoir 90.

The walls of the fluid reservoir 64 further define a location feature 94 and securement feature 96 for the location and securing of the vaporiser unit 62 within the second fluid reservoir 92. The securement means 96 is provided as a threaded region on the wall of the inner reservoir 92 for engagement with the thread of an end cap 100, the end cap having a thread 102 for engaging with the vaporiser unit 62 to thereby hold the vaporiser 62 in place. The end cap 100 may comprise a threaded coupling 104 for engagement with a complimentary thread on the vaporiser unit 62. Thus the vaporiser unit 62 is configured to be removably mountable to the reservoir structure 64.

An outlet 98 from the outer/first reservoir 90 is provided for the delivery of fluid to the inner/second reservoir 92 and hence to the vaporiser unit 62. In this example the outlet 98 is provided as an aperture in an inner wall of the reservoir 64 which defines a boundary between the first reservoir 90 and the second reservoir 92.

Thus the vaporiser unit 62 is mounted in the inner/second reservoir 92 such that the fluid 90 provided in the outer/first reservoir 90 may pass from the outer/first reservoir 90 through the aperture 98 to the inner/second reservoir 92, and thereby be delivered to the wick or wicks 72, 76 of the vaporiser unit 62 to keep the wick(s) wet. In the examples shown, when assembled, the vaporiser unit 62 is mounted along a central access of the fluid reservoir 64.

The wick or wicks 72, 76 terminate at the outer periphery of the vaporiser unit 62. That is to say, when the atomiser is assembled, the wick or wicks 72, 76 are held in the inner reservoir 92 but do not extend to the outer reservoir 90. Put another way, the wick(s) 72,76 terminate at the fluid inlet 71 to the vaporiser unit 62. The wick(s) 72,76 may be flush with the wall 73 of the vaporiser unit 62, may be below the surface of the wall 73 (i.e. radially inwards of the outer surface of the wall 73), or may extend slightly outwardly of the wall 73. However, the wick does not extend substantially beyond the fluid inlet 71, being exposed just enough to provide sufficient surface area to maintain fluid communication with e-liquid surrounding the vaporiser unit 62.

During assembly of the atomiser 60, the vaporiser unit 62 is inserted in the fluid reservoir 64 such that the location features 82, 94 of the vaporiser unit 62 and reservoir 64 meet up, and so that the end cap 100 can be screwed in place, thereby locking the vaporiser unit 62 into position relative to the reservoir 64 as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 In operation, air is passed through a body of an e-cigarette assembly to which the atomiser 60 of the present disclosure is fitted. Air enters the inlet 68 of the vaporiser unit 62, passes over the heating elements 74,78 and through the wick or wicks 72, 76 to carry vaporised e-fluid along the passage 66 to the outlet 70 of the vaporiser unit 62.

Air may be sucked or blown through the passage 66.

When the vaporiser unit 62 has reached the end of its operational life, for example because the wick has become blocked or carbonised, the atomiser 60 is inverted such that the end marked A' in Figures 4 and 5 is vertically above the end marked B'. Fluid in the reservoir 90 therefore drops below the level of the fluid reservoir aperture 98.

The end cap 100 is then unscrewed and the whole vaporiser unit 62 is removed. A replacement vaporiser unit 62 can then be entered into the reservoir 64 and the end cap 100 replaced to locate it in place. The atomiser 60 is ready for use after it has been re-orientated such that e-liquid can pass through the aperture 98 into the second reservoir 92 to wet the wick(s) 72,76.

The benefit of this arrangement is that the components of the e-cigarette can be disposed of and replaced individually and as required without unnecessarily having to dispose of the other component pieces.

Additionally, the configuration of the reservoir of the device of the present disclosure is such that the majority of the e-liquid is retained in the reservoir when the vaporiser unit is being replaced, adding further to the saving and convenience for a user.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A vaporiser unit for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette, the atomiser having a fluid reservoir provided with an outlet for the delivery of fluid to the vaporiser unit; the vaporiser unit comprising a wall which defines an air flow passage having an air inlet and an air outlet; and a wick which extends at least part way across the air flow passage and terminates at a fluid inlet aperture in the wall of the vaporiser unit.
2 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wick spans the air flow passage.
3 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a heating coil which extends around at least part of the wick which extends across the air flow passage.
4 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wick is provided as a dual layer of wick material, the heating coil extending between the wick layers.
A vaporiser unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wick is located in a plenum provided in the air flow passage, the plenum being of substantially larger diameter than the air flow passage.
6 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein a restriction is provided in the air flow passage upstream of the plenum.
7 A vaporiser unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vaporiser unit is provided with a location land for location relative to the reservoir at one end, and securement feature at its other end for securing the vaporiser to the reservoir.
8 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vaporiser further comprises a sealing means on the location land and/or the securement feature to prevent leakage of e-liquid.
9 A fluid reservoir for an electronic cigarette comprising walls defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir, means for mounting a vaporiser according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in the second reservoir.
A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second reservoir is bounded by the first reservoir.
11 A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the first reservoir is substantially annular, and the second reservoir is provided radially inwardly of the first reservoir.
12 A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the mounting means comprises a location feature and securement feature defined by the reservoir walls operable to permit removal and replacement of the vaporiser.
13 The fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 12 wherein the securement feature is provided as a threaded region on the wall of the second reservoir for engagement with a thread of an end cap, the end cap having a bearing region for engaging with one end of the vaporiser to thereby hold the vaporiser in place.
14 The fluid reservoir of claim 13 wherein the end cap comprises a threaded coupling for engagement with a complementary thread on the vaporiser.
A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein an aperture is provided between the first reservoir and the second reservoir for the delivery of fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir to thereby supply fluid to the wick of the vaporiser.
16 An atomiserforan electronic cigarette comprising: a vaporiser unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a fluid reservoir according to anyone of claims 9 to 15.
17 An atomiser as claimed in claim 16 wherein the vaporiser is mounted in the second reservoir such that fluid provided in the first reservoir may pass from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and be delivered to the wick of the vaporiser.
18 An atomiser as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the vaporiser is mounted substantially along the central axis of the first and/or second reservoir.
19 An atomiser as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the wick terminates at the outer periphery of the vaporiser unit such that the wick is carried in the second reservoir but does not extend into the first reservoir.
An electronic cigarette comprising a vaporiser unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 and/or a fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15.
21 An electronic cigarette comprising an atomiser as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19.
22 A vaporiser unit for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
23 A fluid reservoir for an electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
24 An atomiser for an electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS1 A vaporiser unit for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette, the atomiser having a fluid reservoir provided with an outlet for the delivery of fluid to the vaporiser unit; the vaporiser unit comprising a wall which defines an air flow passage having an air inlet and an air outlet; and a wick which extends at least part way across the air flow passage and terminates at a fluid inlet aperture in the wall of the vaporiser unit.2 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wick spans the air flow passage.3 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a heating coil which extends around at least part of the wick which extends across the air flow passage.4 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wick is provided as a dual layer of wick material, the heating coil extending between the wick layers.A vaporiser unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wick is located in a plenum provided in the air flow passage, the plenum being of substantially larger diameter than the air flow passage.6 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein a restriction is provided in the air flow passage upstream of the plenum.7 A vaporiser unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vaporiser unit is provided with a location land for location relative to the reservoir at one end, and securement feature at its other end for securing the vaporiser to the reservoir.8 A vaporiser unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vaporiser further comprises a sealing means on the location land and/or the securement feature to prevent leakage of e-liquid.9 A fluid reservoir for an electronic cigarette comprising walls defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir, means for mounting a vaporiser according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in the second reservoir.A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second reservoir is bounded by the first reservoir.11 A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the first reservoir is substantially annular, and the second reservoir is provided radially inwardly of the first reservoir.12 A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the mounting means comprises a location feature and securement feature defined by the reservoir walls operable to permit removal and replacement of the vaporiser.13 The fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 12 wherein the securement feature is provided as a threaded region on the wall of the second reservoir for engagement with a thread of an end cap, the end cap having a bearing region for engaging with one end of the vaporiser to thereby hold the vaporiser in place.14 The fluid reservoir of claim 13 wherein the end cap comprises a threaded coupling for engagement with a complementary thread on the vaporiser.A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein an aperture is provided between the first reservoir and the second reservoir for the delivery of fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir to thereby supply fluid to the wick of the vaporiser.16 An atomiserforan electronic cigarette comprising: a vaporiser unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a fluid reservoir according to anyone of claims 9 to 15.17 An atomiser as claimed in claim 16 wherein the vaporiser is mounted in the second reservoir such that fluid provided in the first reservoir may pass from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and be delivered to the wick of the vaporiser.18 An atomiser as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the vaporiser is mounted substantially along the central axis of the first and/or second reservoir.19 An atomiser as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the wick terminates at the outer periphery of the vaporiser unit such that the wick is carried in the second reservoir but does not extend into the first reservoir.An electronic cigarette comprising a vaporiser unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 and/or a fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15.21 An electronic cigarette comprising an atomiser as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19.22 A vaporiser unit for an atomiser of an electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in Figures 4,5.23 A fluid reservoir for an electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in Figures 4,5.24 An atomiser for an electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in Figures 4,5. (Si (Si