`Hon
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,365,742 B2
`Feb. 5, 2013
`
`USOO8365742B2
`
`,
`
`,
`
`anes
`
`2/1987 Takeda
`4,641,053 A
`4/1988 Gerth
`4,735,217 A
`7/1988 Clearman
`4,756,318 A
`9/1988 Myer
`4,771,796 A
`Eggfcllts
`2
`8/1990 EgilmeX
`4,945,929 A
`8/1990 Gori
`4,945,931 A *
`EIOOkaa
`2 i
`5,060,671 A * 10/1991 Counts et al‘
`5,080,114 A *
`1/1992 Rudolph etal.
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`C t'
`d
`( on “we )
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`1135860
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`Continued
`(
`)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`International Search Report issued Aug. 16, 2007 in corresponding
`PCT Application No. PCT/CN2007/001575 ?led May 15, 2007, and
`El'htr lt'
`th t,6
`.
`ng ls
`ans 3 Ion ere 0
`pages
`(Continued)
`
`CN
`CN
`
`(54) AEROSOL ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE
`
`.
`-
`(75) Inventor. le Hon, Hong Kong (CN)
`(73) Assignee: Ruyan Investment (Holdings) Limited,
`Hong Kong (HK)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent 1s exltenbded gar adjusted under 35
`U-S-C-154( ) YO YS-
`
`.
`
`.
`
`(21) App1.No.: 13/079,937
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 5, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011/0209717 A1
`
`Sep. 1,2011
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(62) Division of application No. 12/226,818, ?led as
`apphcanon NO' PCT/CN2007/001575 on May 15’
`2007
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`May 16, 2006 (CN) .................... .. 2006 2 0090805 U
`
`(51) Int- 0-
`(200601)
`A24F 47/ 00
`131/273; 131/194; 131/360; 128/202.21
`(52) US. Cl.
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 131/360,
`S
`1,
`_
`?l f
`1311/194’ 2713122800221
`ee app Icanon e or comp ete seam lstory'
`.
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`Primar Examiner * Richard Cris ino
`y
`P
`Assistant Examiner * Dionne Walls Mayes
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Perkins Coie LLP
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An aerosol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly,
`an atomizer assembly andacigarette bottle assembly and also
`includes a shell a Which is hollow and inte ra11 formed.
`g y
`Said battery assembly connects With said atomizer assembly
`and both are located in said shell (a). Said cigarette bottle
`assembly is located in one end of the shell (a), Which is
`detachable. Said cigarette bottle assembly ?ts With said atom
`izer assembly. Said shell (a) has through-air-inlets (a1).
`
`3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`4 51
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`21178
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`W00049901
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`WOO3034847
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`W0
`WOO3022364
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`W0
`WOO3055486
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`WOO3101454
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`W0
`WOO4001407
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`W0
`WO2004023222
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`W02004080216
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`Which corresponds to the priority document of WO2005/099494
`(Hon ’494) Oct. 27, 2005, cited by the Examiner in the Nov. 27, 2012
`Of?ce Action identi?ed above.
`Machine translation of Chinese Patent Application 03111582.9
`Which corresponds to the priority document of WO2004/095955
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`VMR-Ex. 1001-003
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 5, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 0f8
`
`US 8,365,742 B2
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`52 54 53
`Figural
`
`2134515178
`
`_u_.__ M.
`
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`Figure 3
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`Figure 4
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`Ewbl
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`VMR-Ex. 1001-004
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`Feb. 5, 2013
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`813
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`811\/“\
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`812
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`VMR-Ex. 1001-005
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 5, 2013
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`101
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`Figure 1 1
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`Figure 12
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`VMR-Ex. 1001-006
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`Feb. 5, 2013
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`Figure 14
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`Figure 15
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`Figure 16
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`VMR-Ex. 1001-007
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`Figure 1 8
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`2
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`52 54 53
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`Figure 19
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`VMR-Ex. 1001-008
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 5, 2013
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`Sheet 6 0f8
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`
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`Feb. 5,2013
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`Sheet 7 0f8
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`VMR-Ex. 1001-010
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`Feb. 5, 2013
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`Sheet 8 0f8
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`US 8,365,742 B2
`
`1
`AEROSOL ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Smoking causes serious respiratory system diseases and
`cancer, though it is hard to persuade the smokers to com
`pletely quit smoking.
`Nicotine is the effective ingredient in cigarettes. Nicotine
`acts on the receptor of the central nervous system.
`Nicotine is a micromolecular alkaloid, which is basically
`harmless to human bodies at a small dosage. Plus, its half life
`period is extremely short in blood. Tar is the major harmful
`substance in tobacco. Tobacco tar comprises several thou
`sands of ingredients, dozens of which are carcinogenic sub
`stances.
`To provide cigarette substitutes that contain nicotine but
`not harmful tar, many products have been used. These prod
`ucts are not as harmful as tar, but are absorbed very slowly. As
`a result, smokers can’t be satis?ed in full. In addition, the
`smokers are deprived of the “smoking” habit.
`The electronic cigarettes currently available on the market
`may resolve the above-mentioned issue, though they are com
`plicated in structure. They don’t provide the ideal aerosol
`effects, and their atomizing e?iciency is not high.
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, an aero
`sol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly, an atom
`izer assembly and a bottle assembly. The battery assembly
`connects with the atomizer assembly and both are located in
`a housing. The bottle assembly is located in one end of the
`housing and ?ts with the atomizer assembly.
`The battery assembly may include the battery, an operating
`indicator, electronic circuit board, and air?ow sensor, which
`are connected with the battery, and with the signal output of
`the air?ow sensor connected the electronic circuit board.
`A component for liquid storage of the cigarette bottle
`assembly stores the nicotine liquid. Smokers can enjoy the
`feel of smoking, with no ?re hazard since there is no need for
`igniting.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is the side section view of an electronic cigarette.
`FIG. 2 is the section view of the housing (a) separated from
`the cigarette bottle assembly.
`FIG. 3 is the diagram of the axial structure of the cigarette
`bottle assembly, illustrating the ventilating groove on the
`peripheral surface of the cigarette holder housing.
`FIG. 4 is the side section view of the cigarette bottle assem
`bly, illustrating the structure of the air channel.
`FIG. 5 is the side section view of a porous component of the
`atomizer.
`FIG. 6 is the diagram of the structure of an electric heating
`rod of the atomizer.
`FIG. 7 is the side section of the atomizer, illustrating the
`locations of and connection relation between the electric
`heating rod and porous component.
`FIG. 8 is the diagram of the atomizer, illustrating the loca
`tions of and connection relation between the electric heating
`rod and porous component.
`FIG. 9 is the section view of a check valve.
`FIG. 10 is the front section view of a restriction component
`in a second embodiment.
`FIG. 11 is a diagram of the axial structure of the cigarette
`bottle assembly in another embodiment.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 11.
`FIG. 13 is a diagram of the structure of the electric heating
`rod of the atomizer in another embodiment.
`FIG. 14 is a section view of the porous component of the
`atomizer in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13.
`FIG. 15 is a diagram of the axial structure of FIG. 14.
`FIG. 16 is a side section view of the atomizer in the
`embodiment of FIG. 13, illustrating the locations of and con
`nection relation between the electric heating rod and porous
`component.
`FIG. 17 is a diagram of the axial structure of the atomizer
`in another embodiment.
`FIG. 18 is the side section view of the atomizer shown in
`FIG. 17.
`FIG. 19 is the side section view of another electronic ciga
`rette embodiment.
`FIG. 20 is the electric circuit diagram of an electronic
`cigarette.
`FIG. 21 is another electric circuit diagram of an electronic
`cigarette.
`FIG. 22 is a diagram of a charging device, illustrating the
`locations of and connection relation of various internal parts.
`FIG. 23 is the side section view of the charging device.
`FIG. 24 is the diagram of the front structure of the charging
`device.
`
`SPECIFIC MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`As shown in FIGS. 1-10, an aerosol electronic cigarette
`includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a
`cigarette bottle assembly, and also includes a shell or housing
`(a), which is hollow and integrally formed. The battery
`assembly connects with the atomizer assembly and both are
`located in the shell. The cigarette bottle assembly is located in
`one end of the shell, which is detachable. The cigarette bottle
`assembly ?ts with the atomizer assembly. The shell has
`through-air-inlets (a1).
`In this speci?c embodiment, the battery assembly includes
`the battery, and the operating indicator (1), electronic circuit
`board (4), and air?ow sensor (5), which are connected with
`the battery. It also includes a check valve (7). The signal
`output of the air?ow sensor (5) is connected with the said
`electronic circuit board (4). The battery is a rechargeable
`battery (3), which may be either a rechargeable polymer
`lithium ion battery or a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The
`air?ow sensor (5) may be alternatively a semiconductor
`force-sensitive chip capacitance sensor or an inductance sen
`sor.
`The rechargeable battery (3) has a ?exibly connected
`charging plug (2). The blades (21) of the charging plug (2)
`come out of the other end of the shell (a). Between the charg
`ing plug (2) and rechargeable battery (3) is a spring (6), which
`lies against the body of the rechargeable battery (3) on one
`end, while its free end lies against the charging plug (2),
`forming a ?exible structure, which buffers the charging plug
`(2) when plugged for charging, thus protecting the recharge
`able battery against any damage. Of course, the rechargeable
`battery (3) in this embodiment has a charging slot on it, which
`replaces the structure of charging plug (2) to perform the
`charging function and protect the rechargeable battery (3)
`against any damage. The operating indicator (1) is a LED. In
`this embodiment, there are two LEDs. The electronic circuit
`board (4) includes an electronic switch circuit, which controls
`the electric circuit according to the input signals, so that the
`rechargeable battery (3) electri?es the electric heating rod
`(82) inside the atomizer (8) and the LEDs as well.
`
`VMR-Ex. 1001-012
`
`
`
`US 8,365,742 B2
`
`3
`As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air?ow sensor (5) has a
`silica gel corrugated membrane (53), which connects with
`magnetic steel (54) with a reed relay (52) on one of its ends.
`Both ends of the said reed relay (52) correspond to the relay
`electrodes (51) respectively.
`As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the atomizer assembly is an atom
`izer (8), which includes a porous component (81) and a heat
`ing rod (82). The body of the porous component (82) has a
`run-through atomizing chamber (811). The diameter of the
`electric heating rod (82) is less than the diameter of the
`atomizing chamber (811). The electric heating rod (82) enters
`into the atomizing chamber (811), and there is a clearance
`between the electric heating rod (82) and interior wall of the
`atomizing chamber (811), which forms a negative pressure
`cavity (83). One end of the porous component (81) ?ts with
`the cigarette bottle assembly. As FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 show, the
`porous component (81) has a protuberance (812) on the other
`end, and the protuberance (812) ?ts with the cigarette bottle
`assembly. The protuberance (812) is a protruding half sphere,
`on the side of which there is a run-through hole (813) con
`necting to the atomizing chamber (811). Of course, the pro
`tuberance (812) may also be a taper, rectangle or any other
`shape. The porous component (81) is made of foamed nickel,
`stainless steel ?ber felt, macromolecular polymer foam or
`foamed ceramics, providing the remarkable capabilities in
`liquid absorption and diffusion, and the ability to absorb the
`liquid stored in the cigarette bottle assembly.
`As shown in FIG. 6, the electric heating rod (2) includes a
`cylinder (821). The heating wire (822) is wound on the wall of
`the cylinder (821). On the wall of both ends of the cylinder
`(821), there are mandrils (823) respectively, which lie against
`the interior wall of the atomizing chamber (811) of the porous
`component (81). There is a negative pressure cavity (83)
`between the electric heating rod and interior wall of the atom
`izing chamber.
`The heating wire is made of platinum wire, nickel-chro
`mium alloy wire or iron-chromium alloy wire containing rare
`earth, or is ?aked. The electric heating rod (82) may alterna
`tively have on its peripheral wall the heating layer made of
`electrically conductive ceramic PTC material, to replace the
`heating wire.
`In this embodiment, the battery assembly and atomizer
`assembly are mutually connected and then installed inside the
`integrally formed shell (a) to form a one-piece part. The
`rechargeable battery (3) may be charged without frequent
`change of battery. The user just needs to plug the cigarette
`bottle assembly into the open end of the shell (a), for easy use
`and very easy change.
`As shown in 3 and 4, the cigarette bottle assembly includes
`a hollow cigarette holder shell (b), and a perforated compo
`nent for liquid storage (9) inside the shell (b). The perforated
`component for liquid storage (9) is made of such materials as
`PLA ?ber, terylene ?ber or nylon ?ber, which are suitable for
`liquid storage. Alternatively, it may be plastic foam molding
`or column of multi-layer plates made through plastic injec
`tion with polyvinyl chloride, ploypropylene and polycarbon
`ate. One end of the cigarette holder shell (b) plugs into the
`shell (a), and the outer peripheral surface of the cigarette
`holder shell (b) has an inward ventilating groove (b2). On one
`end surface of the cigarette holder shell (b), there is an air
`channel (b1) extending inward. The air channel (b1) is located
`in the center on the surface of one end of shell (b).
`As shown in FIGS. 1-9, one end of the porous component
`(81) lies against one end surface of the perforated component
`for liquid storage (9), and contacts the perforated component
`for liquid storage (9). It absorbs the cigarette liquid from the
`perforated component for liquid storage (9). When the
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`smoker smokes, the cavity of the cigarette holder shell (b) is
`in the negative pressure state. In the shell (b), one end of the
`air?ow sensor (5) forms a normal pressure cavity, while the
`other end forms a negative pressure cavity. The air pressure
`difference between the normal pressure cavity and negative
`pressure cavity or the high-speed air?ow enables the mag
`netic steel (54) of the air?ow sensor (5) to drive the reed relay
`(52) to contact the relay electrode (51).
`As shown in FIG. 20, the electric circuit is electri?ed, and
`the electronic switch circuit on the electronic circuit board (4)
`is electri?ed. Thus, the rechargeable battery (3) starts to elec
`trify the electric heating rod (82) inside the atomizer (8), and
`at the same time, the LEDs, which are electri?ed by the
`rechargeable battery (3), emit light. The air enters the normal
`pressure cavity through the air inlet (a1), passes the check
`valve (7) via the air?ow passage in the air?ow sensor (5), and
`?ows to the negative pressure cavity (83) in the atomizer (8).
`Since the negative pressure cavity (83) provides the negative
`pressure compared with the outside, the air ?ow sprays into it,
`bringing the cigarette liquid from the porous component (81)
`to spray into the negative pressure cavity (83) in the form of
`?ne drops.
`In the meantime, the electric heating rod (82) is electri?ed
`by the rechargeable battery (3) under the control of electronic
`circuit board (4), to heat the ?ne drips for atomization. After
`atomization, the big-diameter ?ne drips are re-absorbed by
`the porous component (81) under the action of vortex, while
`the small-diameter ?ne drips are suspended in the air?ow to
`form aerosol, which is discharged through the negative pres
`sure cavity (83) and run-through hole (813), ?ows into the
`cigarette holder shell (b) of the cigarette bottle assembly, and
`is absorbed by the air channel (b1). When the aerosol enters
`the cigarette holder shell (b), multiple small liquid drops are
`condensed into bigger ones, which fall into the clearance
`between the cigarette holder shell (b) and air channel (b1)
`without being absorbed by the air channel (b1). The perfo
`rated component for liquid storage (9) of the cigarette bottle
`assembly and the porous component (81) of the atomizer (8)
`contact each other to achieve the capillary impregnation for
`liquid supply.
`The unit and its connecting structure of this invention may
`also be loaded with drugs for delivery to the lung.
`As shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24, the electronic cigarette
`(5) is held in a charging device. The charging device includes
`a case (1), which contains an auxiliary charging storage bat
`tery (2) inside it, and holds the electronic cigarette (5) and the
`charger (3) for the rechargeable battery embedded in the
`electronic cigarette (5), as well as the power supply circuit.
`The power inputs of the auxiliary charging storage battery (2)
`and charger (3) are connected with the power supply respec
`tively. The charger (3) in this embodiment is a constant volt
`age & current charger. It may be a GY5210 charger, or any
`other constant voltage & current charger. The case (1) has a
`spare liquid supply bottle (4) in it. The power output of the
`auxiliary charging storage battery (2) is connected with the
`power input of the charger (3). The power output of the
`charger (3) is a charging slot (31), which ?ts with the charging
`plug of the rechargeable battery inside the electronic ciga
`rette, or a charging plug, which ?ts with the charging slot of
`the rechargeable battery.
`As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, on the body ofthe shell (1),
`there is a pair of slide ways (12) corresponding to the position
`of the electronic cigarette, and on the slide ways, there is a
`slide cover (11).
`In the second preferred embodiment, a restriction compo
`nent (10), which is detachable, is set on one end of the porous
`component (81). There is a restriction hole (101) on the body
`
`VMR-Ex. 1001-013
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`US 8,365,742 B2
`
`5
`of the restriction component (10). The restriction hole (101)
`corresponds to the atomizing chamber (811). The pore diam
`eter of the restriction hole is less than the inner diameter of the
`atomizing chamber (811) to the extent that the size of the
`restriction component (1 0) installed on the porous component
`(81) varies, for the purpose of air?ow capacity control. On the
`basis of different applications, the restriction component of
`different sizes and pore diameters may be used.
`In the third preferred embodiment of this utility model, as
`shown in 11 and 12, on the outer peripheral wall of the
`cigarette shell (b), there is a protruding rib (b2) that is evenly
`partitioned. The perforated component for liquid storage (9)
`enters the cigarette holder shell (b) and lies against the pro
`truding rib (b2). Thus, there appears a clearance between the
`outer peripheral surface of the perforated component for liq
`uid storage (9) and the interior wall of the shell (b). The
`clearance is for connection the shell (a) and cigarette holder
`shell (b). When the user smokes, the air channel (b1) absorbs
`the air to cause air?ow inside the shell (a), thus triggering the
`air?ow sensor (5) and eventually starting the electronic ciga
`rette. Also, the atomizer (8) works to atomize the cigarette
`liquid and produce gas ?ow, which enters the cigarette holder
`shell (b).
`In the fourth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13,
`14, 15 and 16, on one end of the cylinder (821), there is a ?xed
`plate (84), whose outer peripheral wall has partitioned sup
`ports (841). The outer ends of the supports (841) lie against
`the interior wall of the shell (a), thus suspending the cylinder
`(821), which is connected with the ?xed plate (84), in the
`cavity of the shell (a). On the surface of the ?xed plate (84),
`there is a mandril (842), whose front end lies against one end
`of the porous component (81), so that the ?xed plate (84) is
`separated from the atomizing chamber (811) of the porous
`component (81). As a result, the run-through hole on one end
`of the atomizing chamber (811) won’t be blocked, and the
`mist generated in the atomizing chamber (811) can be dis
`persed. One end of the porous component (81) has two pro
`tuberances (812) at the outlet of the atomizing chamber (811).
`Between the two protuberances (812) is a clearance. The two
`protuberances (812) lie against the perforated component for
`liquid storage (9).
`In the ?fth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17
`and 18, the atomizer assembly is an atomizer (8), which
`includes a frame (82), the porous component (81) set on the
`frame (82), and the heating wire (83) wound on the porous
`component (81). The frame (82) has a run-through hole (821)
`on it. The porous component (81) is wound with heating wire
`(83) in the part that is on the side in the axial direction of the
`run-through hole (821). One end of the porous component
`(81) ?ts with the cigarette bottle assembly. The porous com
`ponent (81) is made of foamed nickel, stainless steel ?ber felt,
`macromolecular polymer foam or foamed ceramics.
`In the sixth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the
`air?ow sensor (5) has a silica gel corrugated membrane (53),
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`which connects with magnetic steel (54) with a Hall element
`(52), or a magneto-diode or a magneto-triode on one of its
`ends. FIG. 21 shows the electric circuit of the electronic
`cigarette of this solution.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An aerosol electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette
`bottle assembly, and a shell that is hollow and integrally
`formed;
`the battery assembly electrically connected with the atom
`izer assembly, and both are located in the shell;
`the cigarette bottle assembly is detachably located in one
`end of the shell, and ?ts with the atomizer assembly
`inside it;
`the shell has through-air-inlets;
`the atomizer assembly is an atomizer, which includes a
`porous component and a heating body;
`the heating body is heating wire;
`the atomizer includes a frame;
`the porous component is supported by the frame;
`the heating wire is wound on the porous component;
`the frame has a run-through hole;
`a heating wire wound on a part of the porous component
`that is substantially aligned with the run-through hole;
`and with the porous component also positioned substan
`tially within the cigarette bottle assembly.
`2. An electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a
`housing with the battery assembly electrically con
`nected to the atomizer assembly;
`a liquid storage component in the housing;
`with the housing having one or more through-air-inlets;
`the atomizer assembly including a porous component sup
`ported by a frame having a run-through hole;
`a heating wire wound on a part of the porous component in
`the path of air ?owing through the run-through hole; and
`the porous component substantially surrounded by the liq
`uid storage component.
`3. An electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a
`housing with the battery assembly electrically con
`nected to the atomizer assembly;
`with the housing having one or more through-air-inlets and
`an outlet;
`the atomizer assembly includes a frame having a run
`through hole, and a porous component between the
`frame and the outlet;
`a heating wire wound on a part of the porous component
`which is substantially aligned with the run-through hole;
`and
`with the porous component in contact with a liquid supply
`in the housing.
`
`VMR-Ex. 1001-014
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`
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`PATENT NO.
`APPLICATION NO.
`DATED
`INVENTOR(S)
`
`: 8,365,742 B2
`: 13/079937
`: February 5, 2013
`; Lik Hon
`
`Page 1 of 1
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identi?ed patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:
`
`On the Title page, in Item (54), under “Title”, in column 1, line 1, and in specification, column 1, line
`
`1, delete “AEROSOL ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE” and insert -- ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE --,
`
`therefor.
`
`In the Specifications:
`
`In column 1, line 2, below “Title” insert -- This application is divisional of US. Patent Application
`
`No. 12/226,818, ?led Oct. 29, 2008, which is the US national stage application to International
`
`Patent Application No. PCT/CN2007/00157 5, filed on May 15, 2007, which claims priority, under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 119, to Chinese Patent applica