NZ624454B2 - A smoking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

electronic cigarette having a housing, a power section (12), and an atomizer (14), where at least a portion of a first flow stream passes through the atomizer (14), is disclosed. A mixing valve (32) within the housing has a first input that receives the first flow stream, and a second input receiving a second flow stream (20) that avoids the atomizing element (14), and an output (34) connected in fluid continuity to the opening in the proximal end where the output conducts a mixture of the first flow stream and the second flow stream (20). The apparatus further includes a regulating element (42) for the mixing valve in order to control a composition of the mixture. ving a second flow stream (20) that avoids the atomizing element (14), and an output (34) connected in fluid continuity to the opening in the proximal end where the output conducts a mixture of the first flow stream and the second flow stream (20). The apparatus further includes a regulating element (42) for the mixing valve in order to control a composition of the mixture.

Description

A Smoking Apparatus BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention.

This invention relates to tobacco product alternatives. More particularly, this invention s to a smoking device for limiting exposure to smoke fumes ed through combus tion, for example tobacco combustion.

Description of the Related Art.

Tobacco-containing smoking devices are known. For example from U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320, which is herein incorporated by reference, and which proposes a cigarette in corporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking e possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for ng the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for g a thermally generated aerosol that orates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is posi tioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and re- placed with another cigarette.

European patent document EP 1 736 065, herein incorporated by reference, proposes an onic cigarette containing nicotine without tar, which es a shell and a suction noz zle.

On the exterior wall of the shell, there is an air orifice, while there is an electronic circuit board, a constant pressure cavity, a , a gas liquid separator, an atomizer, and a supplying bottle orderly located in the interior of the shell, wherein the electronic circuit board consists of an electronic switching circuit and a high-frequency generator. At one side of the sensor there is an air duct. A negative pressure cavity is located in the sensor. The atomizer ts with the supplying bottle, and there is an atomizing cavity located in the er. 8006528_1 ters) P96699.NZ wo 50934 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention es an smoking apparatus, comprising: a g having a body, a proximal end, and a distal opening that admits a first flow stream, the proximal end having an opening to allow egress of fluid flow therethrough; a power section in the housing; an atomizer n accepting an aerosol-forming material and an atomizing element, the ing element being energized by a power element in the power section, wherein at least a portion of the first flow stream passes h the atomizer section and acquires an aerosol from the atomizing element therein; a mixing valve within the g having a first input that es the first flow stream, a second input receiving a second flow , and an output connected in fluid continuity to the opening in the proximal end, wherein the output conducts a mixture of the first flow stream and the second flow stream; and electronic circuitry configured to adjust the mixing valve so as to control a composition of the mixture.

There is described herein embodiments of a g apparatus, sometimes ed to as an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette. A distal opening of the appara tus admits a first flow stream, and a proximal end has an g to allow egress of fluid flow therethrough into a mouth of a . The apparatus further includes a power section in a housing, an atomizer section accepting an aerosol-forming material and an atomizing element. The atomizing element is energized by a power element in the power section, wherein at least a portion of the first flow stream passes through the atomizer section and acquires an aerosol from the atomizing element therein. A mixing valve within the housing has a first input that receives the first flow stream, a second input receiving a second flow stream that avoids the atomizing element, and an output connected in fluid continuity to the opening in the proximal end, wherein the output conducts a mixture of the first flow stream and the second flow stream. The apparatus r includes a regulating element for the mixing valve in order to control a composition of the mixture.

According to one aspect of the smoking apparatus, the distal opening is adapted to re ceive a cigarette therein and the first flow stream carries a flow of smoke of the cigarette. The housing has an external vent formed therethrough, and the second input of the mixing valve is connected to the vent. The second flow stream includes ambient air drawn through the vent.

In an aspect of the smoking apparatus the first flow stream comprises t air drawn through the distal opening and the body of the housing has an external vent formed thereth rough.

The smoking apparatus includes a mounting adapter for docking a portion of a cigarette alongside the housing, so that a proximal end of the cigarette is in fluid communication with the vent, and the second flow stream includes tte smoke of the docked cigarette that is drawn through the vent.

According to yet another aspect of the smoking apparatus, the mixing valve is ed upstream from the atomizing element, and the mixture of the first flow stream and the second 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934 flow stream passes through the atomizer section.

According to still another aspect of the smoking apparatus, the mixing valve is disposed downstream from the atomizing element and only one of the first flow stream and the second flow stream passes through the atomizer.

According to a further aspect of the smoking apparatus, the power element es a super-capacitor. The mixing valve may be a ball valve, a shutter valve, a diaphragm valve or a hinge valve.

There is further described herein embodiments of a smoking appara tus, having a housing, a proximal end and a distal opening that admits a first flow stream, the proximal end having an opening to allow egress of fluid flow therethrough into a mouth of a smoker. The apparatus further includes a power section in the housing, an atomizer section accepting an aerosol-forming material and an atomizing t. The atomizing t is energized by a power element in the power section, wherein at least a portion of the first flow stream passes through the atomizer section and acquires an aerosol from the atomizing ele ment therein, and wherein a second flow stream divides from the first flow stream upstream from the atomizing element and bypasses the atomizing element. The tus further in cludes a mixing valve within the g that is disposed ream from the atomizing element, and which has a first input that receives the first flow stream, a second input that receives the second flow stream, an output connected in fluid continuity to the opening in the proximal end, wherein the output conducts a mixture of the first flow stream and the second flow stream, and a regulating element for the mixing valve to control a ition of the mixture.

According to one aspect of the g apparatus, the distal g is adapted to re ceive a cigarette therein and the first flow stream carries a flow of smoke of the cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the detailed de ion of the invention, by way of example, which is to be read in conjunction with the fol lowing drawings, wherein like elements are given like reference numerals, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a semi-schematic diagram of a smoking device in accordance with an embodi ment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a semi-schematic diagram of a smoking device in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a semi-schematic m of a smoking device showing a power supply ele ment in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934 Fig. 4 is a semi-schematic diagram of a smoking device in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a semi-schematic m of a smoking device in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a chematic diagram of a smoking device in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of illustrating operation of a fied ball valve that faci litates understanding of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a semi-schematic diagram of a smoking device in accordance with an ate embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 is a schematic m of a valve in accordance with an ment of the inven tion; and Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a diaphragm valve, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various principles of the present invention. It will be nt to one skilled in the art, however, that not all these details are necessarily always needed for practicing the present invention. In this instance, well-known circuits, control logic, and the details of computer m instructions for conventional thms and processes have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the general concepts ssarily.

Turning now to the drawings, reference is initially made to Fig. 1, which is a semischematic diagram of a smoking device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the inven tion.

Device 10 has a battery section 12. The battery section 12 may include power controls. Suitable power controls are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/441,133, which is herein incorporated by reference. The device 10 includes a n 14, containing an ato mizer and an lizable liquid or gel, sometimes referred to herein as an "e-liquid", which typically contains a mixture of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and optionally contains nicotine. The atomizer is ially a heating element, powered by a battery in the battery section 12. When powered, the atomizer acts on the liquid or gel. The components of the section 14 may be provided as separate components, or may be integral, as taught in U.S. 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934 ional Application No. 61/474,569, which is herein incorporated by reference. In the lat ter case, the section 14 is known as a "cartomizer".

An adapter 16 for receiving a tobacco-containing unit 18 is ed at one end of the device 10 in a longitudinal fashion, so that the device 10, when docked with the unit 18, may appear to observers as an actual cigarette. The unit 18 may be a cigarette, a nicotine pack or cartridge, a hookah, or other source of tobacco fumes. In any case, a first air intake for receiv ing tobacco fumes is represented by arrow 20. When smoke enters the device 10, an aper ture 22 icts the flow, thereby creating a pressure differential, which is sensed by an air- flow sensor 24 of known type. It is desirable to minimize the flow resistance, for example by minimizing flow constriction, in order that that the user experiences a feeling of smoking an actual tte. There is a tradeoff, however, in that the energy transmitted by pressure differ ences resulting from the inhalation is used to create the atomizer action. For a given pressure ence and flow conditions the ability to release droplets is also dependent on the viscosity of e-liquid. E-cigarettes use a high viscosity liquid that is ted to a low viscosity by heat ing.

Electronic circuitry 26 linked to the sensor 24 activates a heating device that enable vis cosity reduction and thus activation of the atomizer in the n 14. Part of this electronic circuitry is a pressure or flow sensor, which switches a power source when the smoker starts inhaling. The circuitry 26 is powered, typically by an electrical power source (single use or rechargeable), for example, a lithium ion battery 28, other known type of rechargeable battery, or alternatively by a super capacitor. Additionally or alternatively, the aperture 22 may be manually controlled by the user by pressing a button (not shown), which can be mounted on the shaft of the device 10. For ience, the device 10 may be ured similarly to a pistol, the actuating button corresponding to the trigger.

A second air intake is formed through the device 10 as a side vent 30. The vent 30 may be created in several ways, for example as a longitudinal notch, a hole bored through the shaft of the device 10, or formed in an adapter connecting the section 14 and the battery n 12 as taught in the above noted U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/474,569.

A regulated way mixing valve 32 accepts air inflow via the first air intake (ar row 20) and from the second air intake (vent 30). Air exiting the valve 32 represented by arrow 34 contains a mixture of the two inflows in any d proportion. The inflows may be 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 50934 controlled at iction points 45, 47. As a result the user inhales, through oral adaptor 36 (arrow 38) an air mixture containing from 0 -100 percent tobacco fumes.

The valve 32 may be programmed by electronic try 40 within the device 10. For example, initial puffs may n 100% tobacco fumes. fter the valve adjusts automat ically to limit the tion of smoke. Alternatively, a control 42 may be provided for the us er to manually adjust the valve 32.

The circuitry 40 or the circuitry 26 may disable the atomizer in the section 14 when the proportion of tobacco fumes exceeds a ined threshold.

The valve 32, vent 30, air flow sensor 24, and other components need not be positioned as shown. For example they may be ted upstream in the first air flow, and be placed be fore the battery 28. Other locations are possible, but in any case the user inhales a desired proportion of air and tobacco fumes. In some embodiments, a conventional cigarette may be smoked in combination with or in alternation with the e-cigarette. In such cases the air stream ing from the conventional cigarette should be diverted to bypass the atomizer, as ex plained below.

Alternate Embodiment 1.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a semi-schematic diagram of a smoking device 64 in accordance with an ate embodiment of the invention. The l construction of the smoking device 64 is similar to the device 10 (Fig. 1). However the valve 32 is disposed downstream (in the direction of inhaled airflow) from the atomizer in the section 14.

Alternate Embodiment 2.

The battery 28, particularly when realized as a lithium ion battery, has several disadvan tages. Charging and discharging must be carefully regulated. In addition, precautions must be taken to prevent contact with liquid in the section 14, should leakage occur. Indeed, under some circumstances the battery 28 could be a fire hazard. In addition, charging times limit the utility of the device 10, or may require the user to carry duplicates of the battery section 12 or the battery 28.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a schematic diagram of a smoking device 46 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the bat tery 28 is replaced by a super capacitor 44, which can be charged within seconds by connec tion to ordinary house power. The device 46 is provided with intakes 58, 60 for air and tobac- 8006528_1 ters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934 co fumes. The capacitance of the tor 44 is sufficient to power the atomizer for a desired number of usages before it discharges.

Alternate Embodiment 3.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a schematic diagram of a smoking device 48 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the de- vice 48 has a mounting r 49 for docking a portion of a conventional cigarette 50 or oth er source of tobacco fumes longitudinally alongside the housing. The smoke enters through a side vent as described above (arrow 52). Ambient air enters through a distal end intake (ar row 54), both reaching mixing valve 56. It will be noted that an air stream represented by ar row 54 passes through an atomizer 57, while the air stream from the cigarette 50 does not en ter the atomizer Alternate ment 4.

In this embodiment the air intake is ted by valves at the intakes, or alternatively, by a mixing valve located at the intake, which can be an electronically controlled valve, or any other type of valve as ned elsewhere herein. Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a chematic diagram of a smoking device 66 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the aperture 22 (Fig. 1) has been replaced by a r valve 68. The vent 30 is guarded by another shutter valve 70. The shutter valves 68, 70 have the same construction, as best seen in balloons 72, 74. Alternatively, the two shutter valves may differ in construction. In any case, the combined flows exit toward the oral adaptor 36 via outlet tube 76 as shown by the arrow 34.

In the shutter valves 68, 70, an air shutter 62 is slidable over intake 58 to restrict air flow therethrough. The shutter 62 may be controlled ly by the user, or automatically by a controller 78 to adjust the relative flows through inlet tubes 80, 82. The shutters shown in Fig. 5 are ary. Other closure arrangements, e.g., hinged valves, electronically controlled valves, cam driven piston valves, can be substituted for the shutter valves 68, 70. Sev eral such alternatives are described in the embodiments below. Indeed the shutter valves 68, 70 can be used as regulatory ts in the valve 32 (Fig. 1). 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934 2012/055287 Alternate ment 5.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which is a semi-schematic diagram of a smoking device 84, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the ion. In this embodiment the valve 32 (Fig. 1) is realized as a ball valve 64, in which air outflow may be allocated in any desired proportion between an outlet 86 leading to a vent 88 and an outlet 90 leading toward the oral adaptor 36. Ball valves typically have low maintenance costs. In addition to affording quick, quarter-turn on-off operation, ball valves are compact, require no lubrication, and give tight sealing with low torque. However, they have relatively poor throttling characteristics. In a throttling position, the partially exposed seat is vulnerable to erosion because of the im pingement of high ty flow.

A first air stream, ented by arrows 20, is diverted from the atomizer by shutter valve 23, and reaches the ball valve 64. A second air stream, represented by arrows 25 enters via aperture 21, passes h the atomizer 57 and thence to the ball valve 64. Thus mixing occurs in the ball valve 64 downstream from the atomizer 57, after it has acted on the second air stream.

Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which is a schematic m of illustrating operation of a simplified ball valve 92 that facilitates understanding of the ball valve 64 (Fig. 6), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Fluid flow direction is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7. From left to right, the ball valve 92 is shown in open, throttled, and closed positions, respectively.

The ball valve 92 has a body 94 and a ball 96, an inlet 98 and a single outlet 100. In this respect the ball valve 92 is unlike the ball valve 64, which has two outlets 86, 90. The ball 96 rotates about an axis 102, under control of an actuator 104.

Alternate ment 6.

Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which is a semi-schematic diagram of a g device , in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, mixing occurs after a portion of the airflow has passed through the atomizer. A bypass tube 106 transmits a proportion of the air flow, the proportion being regulated by the control 42 at a constriction point 108, while the remainder of the airflow passes through the er via tube 110, as shown by arrow 112. When the constriction point 108 is fully open, the atomizer offers greater flow resistance than the bypass tube 106, and most of the flow passes through 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934 the bypass tube 106. Actuating the control 42 constrains flow through the bypass tube 106 at the constriction point 108, so that a greater tion of the flow s at the vent 30 by passing through the atomizer and the tube 110. Providing a parallel flow circuit via the bypass tube 106 allows the total flow resistance to be lowered. The arrangement shown schematically in Fig. 8 may be applied, mutatis mutandis, to any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.

Alternate Embodiment 7.

Reference is now made to Fig. 9, which is a schematic diagram of a valve 114 in accor dance with an embodiment of the invention. The valve 114 can be employed in the various embodiments herein, for example at the constriction points 108, 45 (Fig. 8). Movement of a ball (or cylinder) 116 against the wall of a tube 118 produces compression and ses flow resistance.

Alternate Embodiment 8.

Reference is now made to Fig. 10, which is a tic diagram of a diaphragm valve 120, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, wherein displacement a diaph ragm 122 by an actuator 124 into the flow throttles or cts the flow entirely. From left to right the diaphragm valve 120 is shown in open, throttled, and closed positions, tively. The diaphragm valve 120 can be used in the various embodiments herein, for example at the constriction points 108, 45 (Fig. 8).

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not d to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present ion includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in lia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context es ise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or on of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo 2013/050934

Claims (3)

Claims.

1. A smoking apparatus, comprising: a housing having a body, a al end, and a distal g that admits a first flow , the proximal end having an opening to allow egress of fluid flow therethrough; a power section in the housing; an atomizer section accepting an aerosol-forming material and an atomizing element, the atomizing element being zed by a power element in the power section, wherein at least a portion of the first flow stream passes through the atomizer section and acquires an l from the atomizing t therein; a mixing valve within the housing having a first input that receives the first flow stream, a second input receiving a second flow stream, and an output connected in fluid continuity to the opening in the proximal end, n the output conducts a mixture of the first flow stream and the second flow stream; and electronic circuitry configured to adjust the mixing valve so as to control a composition of the mixture.

2. The smoking tus according to claim 1, wherein the distal opening is configured to receive a cigarette therein and the first flow stream carries a flow of smoke of the tte, and wherein the body of the housing has an external vent formed therethrough, the second input of the mixing valve being connected to the vent, and the second flow stream comprising ambient air drawn through the vent.

3. The smoking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first flow stream comprises ambient air drawn through the distal opening and the body of the housing has an external vent formed therethrough, the smoking apparatus further comprising: 8006528_1 (GHMatters) P96699.NZ wo