WO2014177862A1

WO2014177862A1 - Electronic cigarette

Info

Publication number: WO2014177862A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/051335
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Reevell
Original assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Limited
Priority date: 2013-05-02
Filing date: 2014-04-30
Publication date: 2014-11-06
Also published as: GB2513635A; GB201307958D0

Abstract

An electronic cigarette has a vaporiser (10) to produce vapour to he delivered to its mouth end. The vaporiser includes a tube (11) having inlet and outlet ends (12, 13). A porous matrix (18, 19) containing a vaporisable liquid, extends around the tube. Wicking fibres (15) extends through side openings in the tube and configured to wick the vaporisable liquid from the porous matrix into the tube, and electrical heater coil (16) powered by a battery to 8 vaporise liquid on the wicking fibres in the tube, so that vapour is supplied along the tube end when the user draws on mouth end (3). Atomisation apertures (32) are provided in the tube (11) to allow liquid to be drawn into the tube from the porous matrix (19) so as to be atomised by passage through the apertures (19) when the user draws on the mouth end (3).

Description

Electronic cigarette

This invention relates to an electronic cigarette.

Embodiments of electronic cigarette described herein comprise a generally cylindrical housing with a proximal mouth end and a distal end, and within the housing a vaporiser to produce vapour to be delivered to the mouth end, a battery, and sensor circuitry to detect a user drawing on the mouth end and to connect the battery to power the vaporiser to produce vapour, the vaporiser comprising a tube having inlet and outlet ends and. extending longitudinally of the housing, supports at opposite ends of the tube for directing airflow into and out of the tube from the inlet to the outlet, a porous matrix containing a vaporisable liquid extending around the tube, wicking fibres extending through side openings in the tube and configured to wick the vaporisable liquid from the porous matrix into the tube, an electrical heater coil in the tube configured to be powered by the battery to vaporise liquid on the wicking fibres in the tube, so that vapour is supplied along the tube to the outlet end when the user draws thereon, and an atomisation aperture in the tube configured to allow liquid to be drawn into the tube from the porous matrix so as to be atomised by passage through the aperture when the user draws on the mouth end.

The atomisation aperture may be disposed between the inlet end of the tube and the heater coil. Further atomisation apertures may be provided in the tube, which may be distributed along the length and/or disposed diametrically opposite one another in the tube.

The supports for the tube may include a mouth end stopper that is push-fitted into the mouth end of the housing, which includes a mouthpiece spigot onto which the outlet end of the tube is received, and an outlet passageway extending through the spigot to provide an outlet for vapour from the tube.

Also, the supports for the tube may include an annular support member that includes a peripheral surface to engage with the interior of the housing, an inlet spigot on which the inlet end of the tube is mounted, and. an inlet passageway extending through the inlet spigot to provide an inlet for air into the tube. Embodiments of electronic cigarette will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure i is a schematic perspective view of an electronic cigarette;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the electronic cigarette shown in Figure l; Figure 3 is an exploded, partial perspective view of the vaporiser illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged portion of the sectional view shown in Figure 2 in the region of its heater element; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view of portions of an alternative embodiment of vaporiser.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an electronic cigarette 1 includes a generally cylindrical housing 2 conveniently in the form of a tube of plastics material that extends from a proximal or mouth end 3 to distal end 4. An end cap 5 of translucent plastics material is push-fitted into the distal end 4 and a mouth end stopper 6 is similarly fitted into the mouth end 3. The tube 2 is flexible and given rigidity in part by its internal

components, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The tube in one example is made of polypropylene.

As shown in Figure 2, the end cap 5 includes an air inlet 7 so that when the user draws on the mouth end 3, air is drawn into the housing and as will be described hereinafter, vapour is supplied to the user through the mouth end.

The housing 2 contains a battery 8, sensor circuitry 9 and a vaporiser 10 that produces a vapour to be supplied to the user.

The vaporiser 10 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 3 and 4. The vaporiser includes a tube 11, conveniently made of fibreglass material which extends from an inlet end 12 to outlet end 13. The tube 11 includes diametrically opposed side openings 14 through which wicking fibres 15 extend, so as to extend diametrically across the interior of the tube 11 and He along its outside. In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fibres 15 extend longitudinally along the outside of the tube 11 towards its outlet end 13, but the fibres 15 could extend towards the inlet end 12. Also, one set of fibres could extend towards the inlet end and another towards the outlet end. The wicking fibres 15 are made of a heat resistant material such as fibreglass. An electrical heater coil 16 extends diametrically across the tube 11, with the wicking fibres axially within the coil 16. Electrical leads 17a, 17b supply electrical power to the coil 16 from the battery 8 under the control of the sensor circuitry 9 shown in Figure 2. A porous matrix that comprises first and second sheets of fibrous material 18, 19 is loaded with a vaporisable material, for example a nicotine and glycerol solution.

The sheet 18 has a lower surface area and absorbency than the surrounding sheet 19 which can retain a larger volume of the liquid. Typically, the sheet 19 has a larger pore size than the sheet 18. The sheet 18 however facilitates transfer of the liquid to the wicking fibres 15 so that the liquid is wicked along the core of the heater coil 16.

One end of the vaporiser includes an annular support member 20 that has a peripheral surface 21 that engages with the interior surface of the cylindrical housing 2. The annular support member 20 has a generally circular end face 22 extending

diametrically across the housing 2 from which an axial inlet spigot 23 extends towards the mouth end 3 and receives the inlet end 12 of tube 11. The overlying ends of the sheets 18, 19 are retained between an annular, depending flange 24 and the inlet spigot 23 at the inlet end of tube 11, and generally fill the space between the interior surface of housing 2 and the tube 11. The annular support member 20 is conveniently flexible and. made of silicon for example, so that it can be easily manipulated into housing 2 during manufacture. The sheets 18, 19 are wrapped around, the tube 11 and thereby locate the wicking fibres 15 along the length of the outer surface of the tube 11 Spigot 23 includes a through hole to provide an air inlet passageway 23a into the tube 11.

The mouth end end stopper 6 includes a mouthpiece spigot 25 that receives the outlet end 13 of tube 11. The end stopper 6 includes an axial outlet passageway 26 through the spigot to pass vapour to a user through the mouth end. 3 of housing 2. Also, the mouth end stopper 6 includes a depending flange 27 so that the stopper 6 can be push-fitted into the mouth end 3 of housing 2. The outlet end 13 of tube 11 may extend slightly beyond the matrix 18, 19. This leaves an end section of the tube 11 protruding past the matrix 18, 19. Thus there is a gap between the matrix and the mouth end 3 of the housing 2. Also, the mouthpiece spigot 25 which extends into the tube outlet end 13 is longer than the depending flange 27 that engages with the housing 2 so as to provide a gap between the porous matrix 18, 19 and the end stopper 6. This arrangement prevents or reduces leakage of the liquid held in the sheets 18, 19 through the mouth end 3 of the housing. Thus, the annular support member 20 and the mouth end stopper 6 with their respective spigots 23, 25 cooperate with the tube 11 and the housing 2 to provide a sealed plenum containing the porous sheets 18, 19 so as to retain the nicotine containing liquid in the sheets 18, 19 without signifigant leakage, and to allow the liquid to wick along wicking fibres 15 to be vapourised on operation of the heater coil 16.

A washer 28, conveniently made of rigid plastics material such as polypropylene, is provided between the vaporiser 10 and battery 8 to provide rigidity to the housing 2 in the region of the annular support member 20. The washer 28 includes an air passageway opening 29 and also openings 30 which receive the electrical leads 17a, 17b. The tubular housing 2 thus is relatively rigid to the touch of the user's fingers in the region of the battery 8 and the washer 28 but is more resilient to the touch in the region containing the vaporiser 10 to provide characteristics of tactility that are similar to those of a conventional tobacco containing cigarette. An air passageway extends from the inlet openings 7 in the end cap 5 between the sensor circuitry 9 and battery 8 to the air passageway 29 in the washer 28 and thence to the inlet 12 of tube 11.

The sensor circuitry 9 may include a light source in the form of LED 31 which, when operated is visible through the translucent end cap 5.

When the user draws on the mouth end 3, air is drawn through the air inlet 7 in the direction of arrow A past the battery 8 and into the tube 11. The drawing action reduces the air pressure within the housing 2, which is sensed by the sensor circuitry 9. In response, electrical power from the battery 8 is switched by the sensor circuitry 9 to pass through leads 17a, 17b and energise heater coil 16. As a result, liquid which has been wicked by the wicking fibres 15 from surrounding porous matrix layers 18, 19 is heated and thereby vaporised so that a stream of nicotine containing vapour is passed through the outlet passageway 26 for the user. Also, in response to the pressure reduction, the sensor circuitry illuminates the LED 31 to mimic the burning of a conventional tobacco containing cigarette. Also, referring to Figures 3 and 4, atomisation apertures 32 are formed in the tube 11 so that when the user draws on the mouth end 3, the resulting pressure reduction in tube 11 draws liquid from the surrounding porous matrix layers 18, 19 through the apertures 32 and as a result, the liquid is atomised, thereby producing an atomised stream 33 shown in Figure 4. In this example, the atomisation apertures 32 are provided between the inlet end 12 of tube 11 and the heater coil 16 so that the atomised droplets 33 then pass the heater 16, which encourages further vaporisation of the atomised liquid.

Typically, the atomisation apertures 32 are of a diameter between o.i-o.smm. In the example of Figure 3, the atomisation apertures 32 are shown diametrically opposite one another but other configurations are possible, for example a distributed arrangement along the tube 11, which may be spatially uniform or otherwise. Also, one or more of apertures 32 may be provided downstream of the heater coil 16, towards the outlet end of the tube 11.

A modified arrangement is illustrated in Figure 5 with an alternative form of side openings to receive the wicking fibres 15. The coil 16 can be slid into an elongate slot 34 formed in tube 11 which is then closed by means of an overlying cylindrical sheath 35 that is conveniently made of fibreglass material so as to have similar properties to tube 11, which is slid into place from outlet end 13. In this example, the wicking fibres 15 extend towards the inlet opening 12 of tube 11 rather than the outlet end 13, with the advantage that their ends can be sandwiched between the tube 11 and the porous matrix sheet, and held firmly between the region of the tube 11 on spigot 23 and the depending flange 24 of the annular support member 20.

In another modification, the device shown in Figure 1 and 2 may have a two part housing 2 so that the vaporiser 10 is attached to the battery 8 and sensor circuitry 9 by a releasable coupling (not shown) along hatched line X shown in Figure 2.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for a superior electronic cigarette. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/ or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and

modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette comprising a generally cylindrical housing with a proximal mouth end and a distal end, and within the housing:

a vaporiser to produce vapour to be delivered to the mouth end,

a batter}', and

sensor circuitry to detect a user drawing on the mouth end and connect the battery to power the vaporiser to produce vapour,

the vaporiser comprising:

a tube having inlet and outlet ends and extending longitudinally of the housing, supports at opposite ends of the tube for directing airflow into and out of the tube from the inlet to the outlet,

a porous matrix containing a vaporisable liquid extending around the tube, wicking fibres extending through side openings in the tube and configured to wick the vaporisable liquid from the porous matrix into the tube,

an electrical heater coil in the tube configured to be powered by the battery to vaporise liquid on the wicking fibres in the tube, so that vapour is supplied along the tube to the outlet end when the user draws thereon, and

an atomisation aperture in the tube configured to allow liquid to be drawn into the tube from the porous matrix so as to be atomised by passage through the aperture when the user draws on the mouth end.

2. An electronic cigarette according to claim i wherein the atomisation aperture is disposed between the inlet end of the tube and the heater coil.

3. An electronic cigarette according to claim 1 including at least one further said atomisation aperture in the tube.

4. An electronic cigarette according to claim 3 wherein the atomisation apertures are distributed along the length of the tube.

5. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim including first and second of said atomisation apertures diametrically opposed to one another in the tube.

6. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim wherein the supports include a mouth end stopper that is push-fitted into the mouth end of the housing, the mouth end stopper including a mouthpiece spigot onto which the outlet end of the tube is received, and an outlet passageway extending through the spigot to provide an outlet for vapour from the tube.

7. An electronic cigarette according to claim 6 including a gap between the porous matrix and the mouth end stopper.

8. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim wherein the supports include an annular support member including a peripheral surface to engage with the interior of the housing, an inlet spigot on which the inlet end of the tube is mounted, and an inlet passageway extending through the inlet spigot to provide an inlet for air into the tube.

9. An electronic cigarette according to claim 8 wherein the annular support member includes a depending peripheral flange such that the porous matrix is retained between the tube on the spigot of the support member and the flange.

10. An electronic cigarette according to claim 8 or 9 wherein ends of the wicking fibres are retained sandwiched between the tube and the porous matrix between the spigot and the flange.

11. An electronic cigarette according to claim 8, 9 or 10 including a washer between the annular support member and the battery.

12. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim including an air inlet opening at the distal, end of the housing

13. An electronic cigarette according to claim 12 including an air feed passageway between the battery and the housing, extending from the air inlet opening to the inlet end of the tube.

14. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim wherein the sensor circuitry is disposed between the battery and the distal end of the housing.

15. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim including a light source powered by the battery under the control of the sensor circuitry to be illuminated in response to the user drawing on the mouth end.

16. An electronic cigarette according to claim 15 wherein the light source is disposed at the distal end of the housing.

17. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim including an end cap push fitted into the distal end of the housing.

18. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises a first part containing the battery releaseably coupled to a second part containing the vaporiser.

19. An electronic cigarette according to any preceding claim wherein the porous matrix comprises inner and outer sheets of overlying fibrous material with outer sheet having a greater pore size than the inner sheet, for wicking the liquid to the inner sheet by capillary action.

20. An electronic cigarette substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.