US20140109921A1

US20140109921A1 - Electronic cigarette

Info

Publication number: US20140109921A1
Application number: US14/144,681
Authority: US
Inventors: Zhiping CHEN
Original assignee: Shenzhen Smoore Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Smoore Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-29
Filing date: 2013-12-31
Publication date: 2014-04-24
Also published as: WO2015043126A1; CN103960781A

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a cartridge and an atomizer assembly. The cartridge has a chimney and a liquid reservoir with an opening. The atomizer assembly includes an atomizer sleeve; a liquid conductor plugging the opening, a base axially abuts against the liquid conductor, and a heating element positioned between the liquid conductor and the base; the liquid conductor, the base and the heating element are received in the atomizer sleeve. The atomizer sleeve defines an air channel. The base defines an aperture communicated to the air channel. The heating element includes a linear wick and a heating wire twined around the wick. The wick without being twined by the heating wire is received in the aperture. The liquid conductor defines an outlet hole for transferring liquid to the wire. The heating wire and the wick are positioned in the air channel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an electronic atomizing device, and more particularly relates to an electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The electronic cigarette is also known as a virtual cigarette or an electronic atomizer. As a substitute for cigarette, the electronic cigarette is usually used for smoking cessation. The appearance and taste of electronic cigarette are similar to those of the conventional cigarette, while it does not contain tar, suspended particles and other harmful ingredients as the conventional cigarette.
The electronic cigarette is mainly composed of an atomizer and a battery assembly. Usually, the atomizer includes some cotton for storing liquid, a heating wire, a liquid conductor, a heating wire support, and positive and negative electrodes of the atomizer and so on. A heating element of the electronic cigarette is generally formed by twining the heating wire around the heating wire support. The fixation of the heating element is not very stable for its position being prone to change. Furthermore, only a small amount of liquid can be stored in the cotton, and the cotton surrounds around the heating wire support in layers to store liquid, which is complicated. Since the cotton can only absorb a small amount of liquid, once a slightly more liquid is absorbed by the cotton, the droplets are formed and drops to the atomizer, then deposited to the bottom of the atomizer; accordingly, the liquid is dried due to the heating of the atomizer. Moreover, the liquid deposited on the bottom of the atomizer is not easily removed from the air channel; the stability of the atomization is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
The present disclosure is directed to an electronic cigarette with better stability and simple structure.
An electronic cigarette includes a cartridge and an atomizer assembly. The cartridge has a liquid reservoir and a chimney. The liquid reservoir defines an opening towards an end of the cartridge. The atomizer assembly includes an atomizer sleeve; a liquid conductor plugging the opening of the liquid reservoir, a base axially abutting against an end of the liquid conductor, and a heating element positioned between the liquid conductor and the base. The liquid conductor, the heating element, and the base are received in the atomizer sleeve. The atomizer sleeve defines an air channel communicated with the chimney. The base defines an aperture on a surface thereof; the aperture is communicated with the air channel. The heating element includes a linear wick and a heating wire twined around part of the wick, the wick without being twined by the heating wire is received in the aperture. The liquid conductor defines an outlet hole allowing the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir to be transferred to the wick received in the aperture. The heating wire and the wick twined by the heating wire are received in the air channel.
The electronic cigarette is used to atomize the liquid for the user to inhale. The electronic cigarette includes at least an atomization nozzle assembly and a control power supply assembly. The atomization nozzle assembly and the control power supply assembly are connected by a threaded electrode. The control power supply assembly supplies power to the heating wire of the atomization nozzle assembly. The liquid in the atomization nozzle assembly is atomized by the heating wire for the user to inhale. The atomization nozzle assembly is provided with a cartridge. The cartridge is provided with a liquid reservoir and a heating wire. The atomization nozzle assembly can be a disposable assembly in use, i.e. the atomization nozzle assembly can be totally replaced when the liquid in the atomization nozzle is run out; accordingly, it is much easier and safer to replace the atomization nozzle assembly. The user inhales the atomized gas on the front of the atomization nozzle assembly.
In one embodiment, the chimney is located in a center of the housing, or close to a side of the housing. When the chimney is located close to the side of the housing, at least partial wall of the chimney is integrally formed with the wall of the liquid reservoir. The atomized particles generated by the atomizer assembly can pass through the chimney and go out of the housing.
The liquid reservoir is a component mainly used to store the liquid; it defines an opening towards an end of the cartridge. Since the liquid conductor is capable of plugging the opening of the liquid reservoir, there is no need to configure any medium to absorb liquid in the liquid reservoir. In one embodiment, the liquid conductor is made of silicone, i.e. the liquid conductor is a silicone liquid conductor. The liquid in the liquid reservoir is not transferred to the wick by capillarity action, but the liquid permeates to the wick through the outlet hole on the liquid conductor.
The base defines an aperture on a surface thereof, the aperture can is distributed in radial on the surface of the base, or it can be spirally distributed on the surface of the base starting from (in a radiating form) the air channel and extending to the outer periphery of the air channel.
The wick is made of nontoxic and temperature-resistant fibers, and the wick can absorb the liquid flowed from the outlet hole by capillarity action. The wick is received in the aperture. Since the base axially abuts to the end of the liquid conductor, even the aperture is not full with the wick (the cross-sectional area of the wick is smaller than that of the aperture), partial wall of the liquid conductor can be extruded into the aperture; accordingly, the wick without being twined by the heating wire can also be extruded into the aperture located between the base and the liquid conductor. The liquid absorbed by the extruded wick can be further adjusted; accordingly, the amount of liquid absorbed by the wick can be adjusted by changing the number of the outlet hole, the size of the wick or the cross-sectional area of the aperture.
Further, the wick can extend to the outlet hole and directly plug the outlet hole. Alternatively, the wick does not extend to the outlet hole, i.e. the wick is not directly blocked the outlet hole. A large number of the liquid passes through the outlet hole and enters the aperture or flows to other place of the surface of the base outside of the aperture, and then permeates to the wick.
The air channel allows the air in the outside to pass through the base and the liquid conductor and then go to the chimney. The air channel can be formed by a space between the liquid conductor and the outer housing (i.e. the atomizer sleeve), or a space between the base and the outer housing, or it can be formed by the axially through holes being communicated with each other on the liquid conductor and the base.
The heating wire twines around part of the wick; the heating wire is positioned in the air channel and extends towards the outlet hole, but not directly joined to the outlet orifice. Not all of the heating wire is positioned in the air channel; at least two ends of the heating wire extend to the aperture, two electrical leads are provided on the two ends of the heating wire, the base defines two holes on the two sides of the second axially through hole, and the two electrical leads are inserted into the two holes.
According to the foregoing technical solution, when the user is inhaling the electronic cigarette, the air enters the chimney by passing through the air channel and then goes out. The heating wire is electrified and heated by the control of the control power supply; the liquid absorbed by the wick is atomized, and then bought out by the flowing air.
The structure of the foregoing electronic cigarette is simple, it is also easy to assemble, and the sealing effect is also excellent. Compared to the prior art, the foregoing technical solution has the following advantages:
1. Since the heating element includes a linear wick and a heating wire twined around part of the wick, the wick without being twined by the heating wire is received in the aperture and extends to the outlet hole; the liquid from the outlet hole can be absorbed by the wick, and then transferred to the heating wire.
2. The base axially abuts against an end of the liquid conductor, and the liquid conductor has a great flexibility; accordingly, whether the aperture is full with the wick or not, the liquid conductor is capable of becoming deformed to extrude the wick received in the aperture for sealing and throttling. Moreover, it can prevent the liquid from flowing to the heating wire without passing through the wick.
3. Since the base and the liquid conductor are tight bonded to each other, the sealing effect is excellent, and it can prevent the liquid flowed from the liquid conductor from running around all over the place.
4. Since the heating wire is basically positioned in the air channel and not directly joined to the outlet hole, the heating wire is not necessary to be directly contacted with the outlet hole; the liquid passed through the outlet hole is absorbed by the wick and then transferred to the heating wire.
Further, in order to ensure that the liquid is much easier to permeate from the liquid reservoir, the liquid reservoir is provided with an air pipe. One end of the air pipe is inserted into the outlet hole of the liquid conductor; the other end extends to the top of the liquid reservoir. The air out of the liquid reservoir can slowly pass through the air pipe to the liquid reservoir, and an excessive negative pressure will not appear in the liquid reservoir.
Further, the liquid conductor is made of silicone. The liquid conductor defines a first axially through hole. The base defines a second axially through hole. The first axially through hole and the second axially through hole are communicated with each other to form the air channel. The silicone material is stable, and the body of base has no capillary holes. On one hand, the flow of the liquid can be controlled by the outlet hole; on the other hand, when the liquid passes through the liquid conductor, other foreign bodies are not absorbed by the liquid conductor, thus the liquid has no peculiar smell and the taste is great. Further, the liquid conductor is made of silicone with great flexibility; accordingly, the liquid conductor is capable of extruding the adjacent components, and there is no axial space adjacent to the liquid conductor, thus the liquid conductor can plug the opening of the liquid reservoir due to its flexibility.
Further, the chimney is positioned in the center of the cartridge; the liquid reservoir is formed by an outer wall of the chimney and an inner wall of the cartridge.
Further, the aperture is full with the wick without being twined by the heating wire, i.e. the cross-sectional area of the wick approximately equals to that of the aperture.
Further, the atomizer sleeve is integrally formed with the outer wall of the cartridge.
Further, the first axially through hole is defined in the center of the liquid conductor. The second axially through hole is defined in the center of base. The number of the aperture is two; the two apertures are defined on two sides of the second axially through hole, respectively. The number of the outlet hole is two, the two outlet holes are communicated with the two apertures, respectively. The heating wire twines around the middle part of the wick. Two ends of the wick are received in the two apertures, respectively.
Further, the liquid conductor includes a substrate and a boss located on the center of the substrate, the first axially through hole penetrates through the boss.
Further, the atomizer sleeve is conductive. An electrode slice is provided in the atomizer sleeve, which is insulated to the atomizer sleeve. The electrode slice is located on an end of the base. The electrical leads of the heating wire are connected to the atomizer sleeve and the electrode slice, respectively.
Further, the liquid conductor is a rigid liquid conductor, i.e. the liquid conductor is made of rigid material. The base is made of silicone. A seal ring is provided between the liquid conductor and the opening of the liquid reservoir. The rigid material is a type of temperature resistance and nontoxic rigid insulation material, such as ceramics and resin. The liquid conductor seals and engages against the opening of the liquid reservoir by the seal ring. Since the liquid conductor is made of silicone, the liquid conductor can also extend to the aperture on the base to extrude the wick; accordingly, the outflow of the liquid can be adjusted. Alternatively, when the heating wire is covered with an insulation layer on the outer surface thereof, the liquid conductor can be made of rigid metal material.
Further, the liquid conductor is made of porous ceramics, i.e. the liquid conductor is a porous ceramics liquid conductor. The outlet hole is formed by the micropores of the liquid conductor. The liquid conductor is made of porous ceramics, which has a certain rigidity to extrude the wick by extruding the aperture of the base; accordingly, the outflow of the liquid can be adjusted. Preferably, the aperture is distributed in spiral, thus the contact area between the wick and the liquid conductor is enlarged.
Further, the aperture is spirally distributed on a surface of the base starting from the air channel and extending to the outer periphery of the air channel. At least partial wick is received in the aperture; accordingly, the contact area between the wick and the liquid conductor is enlarged. The amount of the liquid absorbed by the wick can be adjusted by changing the extending length of the wick (or changing the contact area between the wick and the surface of the liquid conductor).
The electronic cigarette can be a substitute for cigarettes for smoking cessation due to its features and benefits.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the base and the heating element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the liquid conductor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is perspective view of the liquid conductor viewing from another angle; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front face of the base according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular parts of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list.

Example One

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a first embodiment of an electronic cigarette 100 includes a mouthpiece 10, a cartridge 20, an atomizer assembly 30, a power supply assembly 40, and a control power unit (not shown), which are connected in that order.
The mouthpiece 10 is shaped approximately as circular plate. The mouthpiece 10 defines an air outlet 110 for the air entering and going out. In the illustrated embodiment, the mouthpiece 10 is provided with a flange 112 on the end close to the cartridge 20. The cartridge 20 directly sleeves and engages to the flange 112. Alternatively, the cartridge 20 can also be threadedly connected to the flange 112. Further, a seal element (not shown) is provided between the flange 112 and the cartridge 20 for avoiding leakage of the smoke. The mouthpiece 10 is made of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic.
The cartridge 20 is approximately shaped as a cylinder, which includes a first shell 210 and a second shell 220 surrounding around the first shell 210. The mouthpiece 10 is fixed to the front end of the second shell 220. The cross sections of the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 are two concentric circles with different radius. The radius of the cross section of the first shell 210 is small than that of the second shell 220. Alternatively, the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 have a rectangular or oval cross-section and so on. The interior of the first shell 210 forms a chimney 230 for air circulating. The area of the front opening of the chimney 230 is great for containing much more smoke. The inner wall of the second shell 220 and the outer wall of the first shell 210 cooperatively form a liquid reservoir 240, which is used for storing liquid. One end of the liquid reservoir 240 is sealed, and the other end is open; accordingly, it has an opening for outputting liquid. No fibers or other medium for storing liquid is configured in the liquid reservoir 240.
The atomizer assembly 30 includes an atomizer sleeve 310, a heating element 320, a base 330, and a liquid conductor 340 plugging the opening of the liquid reservoir 240. The heating element 320, the base 330 and the liquid conductor 340 are received in the atomizer sleeve 310.
The atomizer sleeve 310 is approximately shaped as a cylinder with two opening on the opposite ends, which is an electrical conductor. The atomizer sleeve 310 defines an air channel 250 communicated with the chimney 230. The front end of the atomizer sleeve 310 is fixed on the rear end of the second shell 220. The front end of the atomizer sleeve 310 has an internal thread, and the second shell 220 has an external thread, the front end of the atomizer sleeve 310 is connected to the rear end of the second shell 220 in thread. Alternatively, the atomizer sleeve 310 can be fixed to the second shell 220 by bonding, welding, and so on. The atomizer sleeve 310 is made of copper-nickel alloy and the like, or other non-metallic conductive materials.
Referring to FIG. 1, the front end of the liquid conductor 340 is fixed to the first shell 210. The liquid conductor 340 defines a first axially through hole 342 on the center thereof and an outlet hole 344 close to the first axially through hole 342. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid conductor 340 is threadedly connected to the first shell 210. The base 330 defines a second axially through hole 332. The first axially through hole 342 and the second axially through hole 332 are communicated with each other to form an air channel 250, which is used for air circulating. The air can enter the chimney 230 through the air channel 250. One end of the outlet hole 344 is connected to the liquid reservoir 240. Moreover, the liquid conductor 340 is made of silicone, which is a stable material and has no capillary holes. The flow of the liquid can be adjusted by the outlet hole 344, and no other foreign bodies are absorbed when the liquid passes through the liquid conductor 340, the liquid has no peculiar smell. Further, the liquid conductor 340 is made of silicone which has a great flexibility; accordingly, the liquid conductor 340 is capable of extruding the adjacent components, and there is no axial space adjacent to the liquid conductor 340, and the liquid conductor 340 is capable of plugging the opening of the liquid reservoir 240 due to its flexibility.
Referring to the FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the liquid conductor 340 includes a substrate 341 and a boss 343 located on the substrate 341. One end of the substrate 341 abuts against the base 330. The first axially through hole 342 penetrates through the substrate 341 and the boss 343. The boss 343 is connected to the wall of the first shell 210 in thread. Further, a seal element is provided between the boss 343 and the first shell 210 for enhancing the tightness. The outlet hole 344 is defined on the substrate 341 and close to the first axially through hole 342. Further, an air pipe 346 is provided in the outlet hole 344, the air out of the liquid reservoir 240 can slowly pass through the air pipe 346 to the liquid reservoir 240, and keep the internal and external pressure in a balance.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the heating element 320 includes a linear wick 322 and a heating wire 324 twined around the middle part of the wick 322. The wick 322 is made of glass fibers, natural fibers and the like. Alternatively, the wick 322 can also be made of other material with great capacity of absorbing liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, the wick 322 is made of glass fibers. The heating wire 324 twines around the middle part of the wick 322 and is located in the air channel 250 formed by the first axially through hole 342 and the second axially through hole 332. The heating wire twines around the wick 322 for 3 to 8 turns. The diameter of the heating wire 324 is 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. Alternatively, the diameter of the heating wire 324 can be configured as other sizes according to the actual needs. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating wire 324 is made of nichrome.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the base 330 is received in the atomizer sleeve 310. The base 330 defines the second axially through hole 332 in the center thereof. The second axially through hole 332 penetrates through the base 330, and is communicated with the chimney 230 by the first axially through hole 342. The front face of the base 330 defines two apertures 334 located on the two sides of the second axially through hole 332, respectively. The two apertures 334 are communicated with the second axially through hole 332. The two ends of the wick 322 are received in the two apertures 334, respectively. The middle part of the wick 322 and the heating wire 324 twined by the wick 322 are located in the air channel 250. The heating wire 324 is not directly connected to the outlet hole 344 of the liquid conductor 340; the liquid is mainly absorbed by the wick 322 and then transferred to the heating wire 324 for atomizing. The air channel 250 is not totally blocked by the heating element 320, thus the air circulating is not affected by the heating element 320. In the illustrated embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, the two apertures 334 form a line intersected with the second axially through hole 332. There are two outlet holes 344 on the liquid conductor 340. Each outlet hole 344 is corresponding to one end of the wick 322. Alternatively, both outlet holes 344 are corresponding to the broadside of the apertures 334. When the wick 322 is received in the two apertures 334, the second axially through hole 332 still keeps the air in a great circulating. The base 330 is made of insulation material. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 330 is made of temperature resistant silicone. Alternatively, it can also be made of rigid insulation materials, such as resin, and ceramics and so on. Further, the base 330 defines two holes 336 on two sides of the second axially through hole 332; both two holes 336 are located on the bottoms of apertures 336, respectively. Two electrical leads on the two ends of the heating wire 324 pass through the two holes 336 to connect to the power supply assembly 40, respectively. Since the base 330 is made of insulation material, the electrical leads on the two ends of the heating wire 324 are insulated to each other. Alternatively, the holes 336 can be omitted, the electrical leads on the two ends of the heating wire 324 pass through the second axially through hole 332 to connect to the power supply assembly 40. In order to allow the electrical leads on the two ends of the heating wire 324 to be insulated to each other, the electrical leads on the two ends of the heating wire 324 are surrounded with an insulation sleeve, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 1, one end of each of the two outlet holes 344 is communicated with the liquid reservoir 240; the other end is communicated with the aperture 334. The wick 322 extends to the position corresponding to the outlet hole 344; accordingly, the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir 240 can be directly transferred to the wick 322 through the outlet hole 344; and then the liquid is atomized by the heating wire 324. The smoke passes through the first axially through hole 342, the chimney 230 and then goes out from the air outlet 110. The area of the cross section of the outlet hole 344 is 1 mm²to 3 mm², in this range, the amount of the liquid transferred to the wick 322 is suitable to generate a suitable smoke. Alternatively, two or more outlet holes 344 can be defined on the liquid conductor 340.
Referring to FIG. 1, the top surface of the base 330 axially abuts against the rear end of the liquid conductor 340; the heating wire 324 is located in the air channel 250. The wick is filled in the aperture 334; accordingly, the wick 322 is extruded by the liquid conductor 340, which can prevent the liquid in the liquid conductor 340 from directly flowing to the heating wire 324; the liquid is absorbed by the wick 322 and then transferred to the heating wire 324. Accordingly, the amount of liquid absorbed by the wick 322 can be adjusted by changing the number of the outlet hole 344, the cross-sectional area of the aperture 334, or the size of the wick 322.
Referring to FIG. 1, the power supply assembly 40 is electrically connected to the heating wire 324 to supply power to the heating wire 324. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply assembly 40 also includes an electrode slice 410 and an electrode holder 430. One end of the electrode slice 410 abuts against the base 330. The electrode holder 430 plugs the rear end of the atomizer sleeve 310. The electrode holder 430 defines an air intake 412 for air-circulate. The air enters from the air intake 412 and then passes through the second axially through hole 332, the first axially through hole 342, the chimney 230, and goes out from the air outlet 110. The electrode slice 410 and the electrode holder 430 are defined as the positive and negative electrodes of the power supply, respectively. The electrical leads on the two ends of the heating wire 324 are connected to the electrode slice 410 and the electrode holder 430, respectively, which simplify the structure of the electronic cigarette 100. The electrode slice 410 and the electrode holder 430 are made of copper-nickel alloys or other conductive materials. An insulation sleeve 420 is provided between the electrode slice 410 and the electrode holder 430. The insulation sleeve 420 surrounds around the electrode slice 410 to ensure that the electrode slice 410 and the electrode holder 430 are insulated to each other.
The assembly process of the electronic cigarette 100 is described as follows: first of all, the heating wire 324 twines around the wick 322, and received in the two apertures 334 of the base 330, and then the foregoing elements are loaded into the atomizer sleeve 310. The insulation sleeve 420, the power supply assembly 40 and the liquid conductor 340 are installed in sequence; and the cartridge 20 is filled with liquid and then loaded into the atomizer sleeve 310, the cartridge 20 is connected to the mouthpiece 110, finally the appropriate power is connected, and the process is finished. It should be understood that the assembly sequence can be adjusted as needed.
In use, as the arrows shown in the FIG. 1, when the user inhales the electronic cigarette 100 on the end of the air outlet 110, the airflow enters the air inlet 412 of the electronic cigarette 100, and passes through the second axially through hole 332, the first axially through hole 334, the chimney 230 of the electrode support 146, and then carries the atomized gas to the mouth of the user by passing through the air outlet 110.
In the foregoing electronic cigarette 100, the liquid reservoir 240 is formed by the first shell 210 and the second shell 220. The atomizer sleeve 310 and the electrical slice 410 cooperatively form the positive and negative electrodes; accordingly, the structure of the electronic cigarette 100 is simplified and the cost is saved. The heating element 320 is received in the two apertures 334 of the base 330 and clamped between the liquid conductor 340 and the base 330. The front end of the atomizer sleeve 310 is fixed to the rear end of the second shell 220. All of the foregoing components are tightly coupled to each other; accordingly, the stability is improved. Particularly, the heating element 320 is fixed between the liquid conductor 340 and the base 330, and its position is not easy to change, and the structural stability is great.
According to the embodiment, the atomizer sleeve 310 is integrally formed with the outer wall of the cartridge 20 (i.e. the outer wall of the second shell 220). The atomizer sleeve 310 is made of ABS plastic or other material non-metallic material, which is non-conductive. Another electric electrode is provided in the atomizer sleeve 310, which matches with the electrode slice 410 to form the power supply 40 and connected to the two electrical leads of the heating wire 324.

Example Two

The electronic cigarette 100 of a second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the different is that: the liquid conductor is made of ceramics, resin, or other rigid insulation materials but not silicone. The liquid conductor 340 seals and engages the opening of the liquid reservoir 240 by a seal ring 348. The base 330 is made of silicone; accordingly, the wick 322 can also be extruded by the liquid conductor 340, and the amount of the liquid absorbed by the wick 322 can be adjusted. Moreover, the axial space between the base 330 and the liquid conductor 340 can also be adjusted by the base 330.
Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the liquid conductor 340 is made of porous ceramics. The outlet hole 344 is formed by the micropores of the liquid conductor 340. The liquid is capable of permeating through the micropores to the front face of the base 330. Referring to FIG. 6, the aperture 334 is distributed in spiral (radial); at least partially the wick 322 is successively embedded in the aperture 334; accordingly, the amount of the liquid absorbed by the wick 322 can be adjusted by changing the extending length of the wick 322 (or changing the contact area between the wick 322 and the undersurface of the liquid conductor 340). The base 330 is made of silicone; accordingly, the wick 322 is also extruded by the liquid conductor 340 extruding the aperture 334 of the base 330, and the amount of the liquid absorbed by the wick 322 can also be adjusted.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described above. Rather, the specific features described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the described technology.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

a cartridge having a liquid reservoir and a chimney, wherein the liquid reservoir defines an opening towards an end of the cartridge; and

an atomizer assembly comprising:

an atomizer sleeve defining an air channel communicated with the chimney;

a liquid conductor received in the atomizer sleeve plugging the opening of the liquid reservoir;

a base received in the atomizer sleeve axially abutting an end of the liquid conductor, wherein the base defines an aperture on a surface thereof communicated with the air channel; and

a heating element positioned between the liquid conductor and the base; wherein the heating element comprises a linear wick and a heating wire twined around part of the wick, the wick without being twined by the heating wire is received in the aperture;

wherein the liquid conductor defines an outlet hole allowing the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir to be transferred to the wick received in the aperture; the heating wire and the wick twined by the heating wire are received in the air channel.

2. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conductor is made of silicone.

3. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, the liquid conductor defines a first axially through hole; the base defines a second axially through hole; the air channel is formed by communicating the first axially through hole and the second axially through hole.

4. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the chimney is located in a center of the cartridge, the liquid reservoir is formed by an outer wall of the chimney and an inner wall of the cartridge.

5. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is filled with part of the wick without being twined by the heating wire.

6. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein part of the wick without being twined by the heating wire extends to the outlet hole.

7. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer sleeve is integrally formed with an outer wall of the cartridge.

8. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the first axially through hole is defined in a center of the liquid conductor, the second axially through hole is defined in a center of base; the number of the aperture is two, the two apertures are defined on two sides of the second axially through hole, respectively; the number of the outlet hole is two, the two outlet holes are communicated with the two apertures, respectively; the heating wire twines around a middle portion of the wick, two ends of the wick are received in the two apertures, respectively.

9. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conductor comprises a substrate and a boss located at a center of the substrate, the first axially through hole penetrates through the boss.

10. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conductor is made of rigid material, the base is made of silicone.

11. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, further comprising a seal ring positioned between the liquid conductor and the opening of the liquid reservoir.

12. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conductor is made of porous ceramics, the liquid conductor defines a plurality of micropores, the outlet hole is formed by the micropores.

13. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is spirally distributed on the surface the base starting from the air channel and extending to the outer periphery of the air channel.

14. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the liquid reservoir is provided with an air pipe; one end of the air pipe is inserted into the outlet hole of the liquid conductor; the other end of the air pipe extends to the top of the liquid reservoir.

15. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer sleeve is conductive, an electrode slice is provided in the atomizer sleeve, the electrode slice is insulated to the atomizer sleeve; the heating wire is connected to the atomizer sleeve and the electrode slice, respectively.