111111
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`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008365742B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Hon
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,365, 742 B2
`Feb.5,2013
`
`(54) AEROSOL ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Lik Hon, Hong Kong (CN)
`
`(73) Assignee: Ruyan Investment (Holdings) Limited,
`Hong Kong (HK)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/079,937
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 5, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011/0209717 Al
`
`Sep. 1, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(62) Division of application No. 12/226,818, filed as
`application No. PCT/CN2007/001575 on May 15,
`2007.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`May 16, 2006
`
`(CN) ...................... 2006 2 0090805 U
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A24F 47100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .... 1311273; 131/194; 131/360; 128/202.21
`(58) Field of Classification Search . ... ... ... ... .. ... 131/360,
`131/194, 273; 128/202.21
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
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`Primary Examiner- Richard Crispino
`Assistant Examiner- Dionne Walls Mayes
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Perkins Coie LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An aerosol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly,
`an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly and also
`includes a shell (a) which is hollow and integrally formed.
`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 fits with said atom(cid:173)
`izer assembly. Said shell (a) has through-air-inlets (al).
`
`3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`4 51 5 al 7 8
`
`9
`
`bl
`
`2
`
`52 54 53
`
`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.1
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`
`US 8,365,742 B2
`Page 2
`
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`

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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`
`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.3
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.5,2013
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`Sheet 1 of8
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`US 8,365,742 B2
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`4 51 5 a1 7 8
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`9
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`2
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`52 54 53
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`Figure 1
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`bl
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`Figure 2
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`b
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`Figure 3
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`Figure 4
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`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.4
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 2 of8
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`811
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`823
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`811
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`81
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`Figure 5
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`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.5
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`Feb.5,2013
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`Sheet 3 of8
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`Figure 8
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`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.6
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`Sheet 4 of8
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`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.7
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`U.S. Patent
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`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.8
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb.5,2013
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`

`
`US 8,365,742 B2
`
`1
`AEROSOL ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Smoking causes serious respiratory system diseases and 5
`cancer, though it is hard to persuade the smokers to com(cid:173)
`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 10
`harmless to human bodies at a small dosage. Plus, its halflife
`period is extremely short in blood. Tar is the major harmful
`substance in tobacco. Tobacco tar comprises several thou(cid:173)
`sands of ingredients, dozens of which are carcinogenic sub(cid:173)
`stances.
`To provide cigarette substitutes that contain nicotine but
`not harmful tar, many products have been used. These prod(cid:173)
`ucts are not as harmful as tar, but are absorbed very slowly. As
`a result, smokers can't be satisfied 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(cid:173)
`plicated in structure. They don't provide the ideal aerosol
`effects, and their atomizing efficiency is not high.
`
`15
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`2
`FIG.12 is a sectional viewtakenalonglineA-AofFIG.ll.
`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(cid:173)
`nection relation between the electric heating rod and porous
`component.
`FIG.17 is a diagram ofthe axial structure ofthe 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(cid:173)
`rette embodiment.
`FIG. 20 is the electric circuit diagram of an electronic
`cigarette.
`FIG. 21 is another electric circuit diagram of an electronic
`20 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
`25 device.
`
`SPECIFIC MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, an aero-
`sol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly, an atom(cid:173)
`izer assembly and a bottle assembly. The battery assembly 30
`connects with the atomizer assembly and both are located in
`a housing. The bottle assembly is located in one end of the
`housing and fits with the atomizer assembly.
`The battery assembly may include the battery, an operating
`indicator, electronic circuit board, and airflow sensor, which 35
`are connected with the battery, and with the signal output of
`the airflow 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 fire hazard since there is no need for 40
`igniting.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`50
`
`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(cid:173)
`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 55
`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(cid:173)
`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.
`
`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 fits with the atomizer assembly. The shell has
`through-air-inlets (a1).
`In this specific embodiment, the battery assembly includes
`the battery, and the operating indicator (1), electronic circuit
`board (4), and airflow sensor (5), which are connected with
`the battery. It also includes a check valve (7). The signal
`output of the airflow sensor (5) is connected with the said
`electronic circuit board (4). The battery is a rechargeable
`45 battery (3), which may be either a rechargeable polymer
`lithium ion battery or a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The
`airflow sensor (5) may be alternatively a semiconductor
`force-sensitive chip capacitance sensor or an inductance sen(cid:173)
`sor.
`The rechargeable battery (3) has a flexibly 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(cid:173)
`ingplug (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 flexible structure, which buffers the charging plug
`(2) when plugged for charging, thus protecting the recharge(cid:173)
`able battery against any damage. Of course, the rechargeable
`battery (3) in this embodiment has a charging slot on it, which
`60 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
`65 the electric circuit according to the input signals, so that the
`rechargeable battery (3) electrifies the electric heating rod
`(82) inside the atomizer (8) and the LEDs as well.
`
`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.12
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`

`
`US 8,365,742 B2
`
`4
`3
`As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airflow sensor (5) has a
`smoker smokes, the cavity of the cigarette holder shell (b) is
`silica gel corrugated membrane (53), which connects with
`in the negative pressure state. In the shell (b), one end of the
`airflow sensor (5) forms a normal pressure cavity, while the
`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
`other end forms a negative pressure cavity. The air pressure
`electrodes (51) respectively.
`5 difference between the normal pressure cavity and negative
`As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the atomizer assembly is an atom-
`pressure cavity or the high-speed airflow enables the mag-
`netic steel (54) of the airflow sensor (5) to drive the reed relay
`izer (8), which includes a porous component (81) and a heat-
`(52) to contact the relay electrode (51).
`ing rod (82). The body of the porous component (82) has a
`As shown in FIG. 20, the electric circuit is electrified, and
`rnn-through atomizing chamber (811). The diameter of the
`electric heating rod (82) is less than the diameter of the 10 the electronic switch circuit on the electronic circuit board ( 4)
`atomizing chamber (811 ). The electric heating rod (82) enters
`is electrified. Thus, the rechargeable battery (3) starts to elec-
`into the atomizing chamber (811), and there is a clearance
`trify the electric heating rod (82) inside the atomizer (8), and
`between the electric heating rod (82) and interior wall of the
`at the same time, the LEDs, which are electrified by the
`atomizing chamber (811), which forms a negative pressure
`rechargeable battery (3), emit light. The air enters the normal
`cavity (83). One end of the porous component (81) fits with 15 pressure cavity through the air inlet (a1), passes the check
`the cigarette bottle assembly. As FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 show, the
`valve (7) via the airflow passage in the airflow sensor (5), and
`porous component (81) has a protuberance (812) on the other
`flows to the negative pressure cavity (83) in the atomizer (8).
`end, and the protuberance (812) fits with the cigarette bottle
`Since the negative pressure cavity (83) provides the negative
`assembly. The protuberance (812) is a protruding half sphere,
`pressure compared with the outside, the air flow sprays into it,
`on the side of which there is a run-through hole (813) con- 20 bringing the cigarette liquid from the porous component (81)
`necting to the atomizing chamber (811). Of course, the pro-
`to spray into the negative pressure cavity (83) in the form of
`tuberance (812) may also be a taper, rectangle or any other
`fine drops.
`shape. The porous component (81) is made of foamed nickel,
`In the meantime, the electric heating rod (82) is electrified
`by the rechargeable battery (3) under the control of electronic
`stainless steel fiber felt, macromolecular polymer foam or
`foamed ceramics, providing the remarkable capabilities in 25 circuit board ( 4), to heat the fine drips for atomization. After
`liquid absorption and diffusion, and the ability to absorb the
`atomization, the big-diameter fine drips are re-absorbed by
`the porous component (81) under the action of vortex, while
`liquid stored in the cigarette bottle assembly.
`As shown in FIG. 6, the electric heating rod (2) includes a
`the small-diameter fine drips are suspended in the airflow to
`cylinder (821). The heating wire (822) is wound on the wall of
`form aerosol, which is discharged through the negative pres-
`the cylinder (821). On the wall of both ends of the cylinder 30 sure cavity (83) and run-through hole (813), flows into the
`(821 ), there are mandrils (823) respectively, which lie against
`cigarette holder shell (b) of the cigarette bottle assembly, and
`the interior wall of the atomizing chamber (811) of the porous
`is absorbed by the air channel (b1 ). When the aerosol enters
`component (81). There is a negative pressure cavity (83)
`the cigarette holder shell (b), multiple small liquid drops are
`between the electric heating rod and interior wall of the atom-
`condensed into bigger ones, which fall into the clearance
`35 between the cigarette holder shell (b) and air channel (b1)
`izing chamber.
`without being absorbed by the air channel (b1). The perfo-
`The heating wire is made of platinum wire, nickel-chro-
`rated component for liquid storage (9) of the cigarette bottle
`mium alloy wire or iron-chromium alloy wire containing rare
`earth, or is flaked. The electric heating rod (82) may alterna-
`assembly and the porous component (81) of the atomizer (8)
`tively have on its peripheral wall the heating layer made of
`contact each other to achieve the capillary impregnation for
`electrically conductive ceramic PTC material, to replace the 40 liquid supply.
`The unit and its connecting structure of this invention may
`heating wire.
`In this embodiment, the battery assembly and atomizer
`also be loaded with drugs for delivery to the lung.
`As shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24, the electronic cigarette
`assembly are mutually connected and then installed inside the
`(5) is held in a charging device. The charging device includes
`integrally formed shell (a) to form a one-piece part. The
`rechargeable battery (3) may be charged without frequent 45 a case (1), which contains an auxiliary charging storage bat-
`tery (2) inside it, and holds the electronic cigarette (5) and the
`change of battery. The user just needs to plug the cigarette
`charger (3) for the rechargeable battery embedded in the
`bottle assembly into the open end of the shell ( a),for easy use
`electronic cigarette (5), as well as the power supply circuit.
`and very easy change.
`As shown in 3 and 4, the cigarette bottle assembly includes
`The power inputs of the auxiliary charging storage battery (2)
`a hollow cigarette holder shell (b), and a perforated campo- 50 and charger (3) are connected with the power supply respec-
`tively. The charger (3) in this embodiment is a constant volt-
`nent for liquid storage (9) inside the shell (b). The perforated
`component for liquid storage (9) is made of such materials as
`age & current charger. It may be a GY5210 charger, or any
`other constant voltage & current charger. The case (1) has a
`PLA fiber, terylene fiber or nylon fiber, which are suitable for
`spare liquid supply bottle ( 4) in it. The power output of the
`liquid storage. Alternatively, it may be plastic foam molding
`or colunm of multi-layer plates made through plastic injec- 55 auxiliary charging storage battery (2) is connected with the
`power input of the charger (3). The power output of the
`tion with polyvinyl chloride, ploypropylene and polycarbon-
`charger(3) is a charging slot (31), which fits with the charging
`ate. One end of the cigarette holder shell (b) plugs into the
`shell (a), and the outer peripheral surface of the cigarette
`plug of the rechargeable battery inside the electronic ciga-
`holder shell (b) has an inward ventilating groove (b2). On one
`rette, or a charging plug, which fits with the charging slot of
`end surface of the cigarette holder shell (b), there is an air 60 the rechargeable battery.
`As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, on the body of the shell (1),
`channel (b1) extending inward. The air channel (b1) is located
`there is a pair of slide ways (12) corresponding to the position
`in the center on the surface of one end of shell (b).
`As shown in FIGS. 1-9, one end of the porous component
`of the electronic cigarette, and on the slide ways, there is a
`(81) lies against one end surface of the perforated component
`slide cover (11).
`for liquid storage (9), and contacts the perforated component 65
`In the second preferred embodiment, a restriction campo-
`nent (10), which is detachable, is set on one end of the porous
`for liquid storage (9). It absorbs the cigarette liquid from the
`perforated component for liquid storage (9). When the
`component (81). There is a restriction hole (101) on the body
`
`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.13
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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(cid:173)
`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 5
`(81) varies, for the purpose of airflow 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 10
`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(cid:173)
`truding rib (b2). Thus, there appears a clearance between the
`outer peripheral surface of the perforated component for liq- 15
`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 airflow inside the shell (a), thus triggering the
`airflow sensor (5) and eventually starting the electronic ciga- 20
`rette. Also, the atomizer (8) works to atomize the cigarette
`liquid and produce gas flow, which enters the cigarette holder
`shell (b).
`In the fourth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13,
`14,15 and 16, on one endofthe cylinder (821), there is a fixed 25
`plate (84), whose outer peripheral wall has partitioned sup(cid:173)
`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 fixed plate (84), in the
`cavity of the shell (a). On the surface of the fixed plate (84), 30
`there is a mandril (842), whose front end lies against one end
`of the porous component (81), so that the fixed plate (84) is
`separated from the atomizing chamber (811) of the porous
`component (81). As a result, the run-throughhole on one end
`of the atomizing chamber (811) won't be blocked, and the 35
`mist generated in the atomizing chamber (811) can be dis(cid:173)
`persed. One end of the porous component (81) has two pro(cid:173)
`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 40
`liquid storage (9).
`In the fifth 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 45
`component (81). The frame (82) has a rnn-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
`rnn-through hole (821). One end of the porous component
`(81) fits with the cigarette bottle assembly. The porous com- so
`ponent (81) is made offoamed nickel, stainless steel fiber felt,
`macromolecular polymer foam or foamed ceramics.
`In the sixth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the
`airflow sensor (5) has a silica gel corrugated membrane (53),
`
`6
`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(cid:173)
`izer assembly, and both are located in the shell;
`the cigarette bottle assembly is detachably located in one
`end of the shell, and fits 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 rnn-through hole;
`a heating wire wonnd on a part of the porous component
`that is substantially aligned with the run-through hole;
`and with the porous component also positioned substan(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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 wonnd on a part of the porous component in
`the path of air flowing through the run-through hole; and
`the porous component substantially surrounded by the liq(cid:173)
`uid storage component.
`3. An electronic cigarette, comprising:
`a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a
`housing with the battery assembly electrically con(cid:173)
`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 rnn
`through hole, and a porous component between the
`frame and the outlet;
`a heating wire wonnd on a part of the porous component
`which is substantially aligned with the run-throughhole;
`and
`with the porous component in contact with a liquid supply
`in the housing.
`
`* * * * *
`
`NU MARK Ex. 1008 p.14