Electronic cigarette having reusable base with heating element

Abstract

An electronic cigarette has a base part and a cartridge configured to be assembled thereto. The base part includes a battery and at least one heating element connected to the battery. The cartridge includes: a substance chamber configured for containing therein a substance to be smoked, wherein the substance chamber has a substance outlet; a vaporization chamber in communication with the substance outlet for receiving the substance therein; and at least one heat transfer unit configured, at least when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, for being heated by the heating element of the base part and for heating the substance provided via the substance outlet.

Claims

1. A cartridge for an electronic cigarette, said cartridge being configured to be assembled to a base part of the electronic cigarette, the base part having a battery and at least one heating element connected to the battery, said cartridge comprising: a substance chamber configured for containing therein a substance to be smoked, said substance chamber comprising a substance outlet; a vaporization chamber in communication with the substance outlet for receiving said substance therein; and at least one heat transfer unit configured, at least when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, for contacting and being heated by the heating element of the base part and for heating the substance being provided via said substance outlet for its vaporization in the vaporization chamber; wherein the cartridge further comprises a sorption member at least partially disposed within the vaporization chamber.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein heat is delivered from the heat transfer unit to the sorption member by conduction.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer unit has a first side configured, when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, for interfacing the heating element for receiving heat therefrom, and a second side facing the substance outlet for providing heat to the substance as the substance is provided from the substance outlet.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, the heating element is separated from the vaporization chamber by the heat transfer unit.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a porous member interposed between the substance outlet and the vaporization chamber, and configured for allowing passage of said substance from said substance chamber to said vaporization chamber.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein said vaporization chamber is interposed between the porous member and the heat transfer unit.

7. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the porous member has a first surface facing the substance outlet, and a second surface facing the heat transfer unit.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7, further comprising a mouthpiece having a mouthpiece channel, wherein the porous member is formed with a hole extending therethrough between the first surface and the second surface and establishing fluid communication between the vaporization chamber and the mouthpiece channel via a vaporization channel, thereby allowing the vaporized substance to escape from the vaporization chamber via the mouthpiece.

9. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the porous member is sized and shaped to fit within a cross-section of one of the vaporization chamber and the substance chamber.

10. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a cartridge housing at least partially including said substance chamber and said vaporization chamber, and a vaporization channel extending along the cartridge housing and in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber; wherein the cartridge housing has a proximal end configured with a mouthpiece that is in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber via the vaporization channel, and a distal end associated with the heat transfer unit.

11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said heat transfer unit is disposed at said distal end.

12. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said heat transfer unit is perpendicular to the vaporization channel.

13. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said cartridge housing comprises a first air inlet formed therein for establishing fluid communication between an exterior of the cartridge and the vaporization chamber for allowing passage of air into the vaporization chamber for its vaporization therein with the substance.

14. The cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said first air inlet is disposed in proximity to the distal end of the cartridge.

15. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the base part has a base housing having an interfacing portion associated with the heating element and configured for interfacing the distal end of the cartridge housing when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, so as to bring the heating element into proximity or contact with the heat transfer unit.

16. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein said cartridge housing comprises a first air inlet formed therein for establishing fluid communication between an exterior of the cartridge and the vaporization chamber for allowing passage of air into the vaporization chamber for its vaporization therein with the substance and wherein said interfacing portion comprises a second air inlet formed therein that is configured, at least when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, for establishing fluid communication between an exterior of the electronic cigarette and the vaporization chamber via the first and second air inlets for allowing passage of air into the vaporization chamber for its vaporization therein with the substance.

17. The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, said first air inlet and said second air inlet are inline with each other.

18. An electronic cigarette comprising a base part and a cartridge configured to be assembled thereto, said base part comprising a battery and at least one heating element connected to the battery, and said cartridge comprising: a substance chamber configured for containing therein a substance to be smoked, said substance chamber comprising a substance outlet; a vaporization chamber in communication with the substance outlet for receiving said substance therein; and at least one heat transfer unit configured, at least when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, for contacting and being heated by the heating element of the base part and for heating the substance being provided via said substance outlet for its vaporization in the vaporization chamber; wherein the cartridge further comprises a sorption member at least partially disposed within the vaporization chamber.

19. The electronic cigarette according to claim 18, wherein heat is delivered from the heat transfer unit to the sorption member by conduction.

20. The electronic cigarette according to claim 18, wherein the battery is configured for electrically heating the heating element of the base part, so that the heating element provides heat by conduction to the heat transfer unit.

21. The electronic cigarette according to claim 18, wherein the base part further comprises a processor associated with electrical components of the electronic cigarette, including said battery.

22. The electronic cigarette according to claim 21, wherein the base part further comprises a sensing unit connected to the processor for identifying movement or positioning of the electronic cigarette and thereby allow a gesture-based operation of the electronic cigarette.

23. The electronic cigarette according to claim 21, wherein the base part comprises a pressure sensor or a microphone, connected to the processor for providing puff detection.

24. The electronic cigarette according to claim 21, wherein the processor is configured for turning off the electronic cigarette when a puff number breathed in and/or puffing time is equivalent to a defined puff number and/or puffing time.

25. A cartridge for an electronic cigarette, said cartridge being configured to be assembled to a base part of the electronic cigarette, the base part having a battery and at least one heating element connected to the battery, said cartridge comprising: a substance chamber configured for containing therein a substance to be smoked, said substance chamber comprising a substance outlet; a vaporization chamber in communication with the substance outlet for receiving said substance therein; and at least one heat transfer unit configured, at least when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, for being heated by the heating element of the base part and for heating the substance being provided via said substance outlet for its vaporization in the vaporization chamber; wherein the cartridge further comprises a sorption member at least partially disposed within the vaporization chamber; wherein, when the cartridge is assembled to the base part, the heating element is separated from the vaporization chamber by the heat transfer unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

(3) FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-section of one example of a cartridge used in the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-section of another example of a cartridge used in the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 2C is a schematic cross-section of yet another example of a cartridge used in the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a disassembled electronic cigarette according to another example of the present disclosed subject matter; and

(7) FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic cigarette of FIG. 3A in its assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(8) Attention is first drawn to FIG. 1 in which a schematic cross-section of the electronic cigarette of the present application is shown, generally designated 1 and comprising a base part 10 and a cartridge 20 attached to one another.

(9) The base part 10 comprises a cylindrical housing 12 accommodating therein a battery 14 connected to a heating element 16 located at a first end 12a of the housing 12 and having an interface surface 17 configured for matching a corresponding interface surface 27 of the cartridge. The battery 14 is configured for providing the heating element 16 with the necessary power for its operation, allowing it to become heated to a required temperature.

(10) The battery 14 is also connected to a processor unit 18 and a sensor 15, providing the required power for their operation. The processor unit 18 is connected to both the sensor 15 and the heating element 16. Both processor unit 18 and the sensor 15 are located, in this specific example, on an opposite side of the battery 14 to that of the heating element 16, wherein the battery 14 acts as a divider between the heating element 16 and other sensitive components of the electronic cigarette 1. However, this arrangement is not compulsory and any other arrangement of the components within the base part 10 may be applicable.

(11) In addition, the sensor 15 can be configured for identifying movement, orientation and spatial position of at least the base part 10, and providing this information (hereinafter: spatial data) to the processor 18. Based on the spatial data, the processor 18 can determine whether to turn the heating element 16 on/off, and/or if to set a certain operational regime of the electronic cigarette 1, e.g. standby mode, regulation of vapor amount, timed smoking programs etc.

(12) Thus, in operation, upon identification of a predetermined gesture of the user by the sensor 15, this information is provided from the sensor 15 to the processor 18, which then determines, based on said gesture, the proper operational mode of the electronic cigarette 1. Upon determining such a mode, the processor 18, which is directly linked to the heating element 16, provides the latter with the proper operational signal determining the required temperature and heating rate of the heating element 16, while the power for such heating is supplied by the battery 14.

(13) As a result, the electronic cigarette 1 can be configured for being operated using gestures and positions thereof, for example, a double-shake of the electronic cigarette 1 can indicate to the processor to turn the electronic cigarette 1 on/off whereas holding the electronic cigarette 1 in a vertical orientation can indicate the processor to set a ‘standby’ mode for the electronic cigarette 1. It should be appreciated that the sensor can be of various types (e.g. sound, motion, orientation, acceleration etc.), whereby the gestures required from the user in order to operate the electronic cigarette can change correspondingly, e.g. (knocking the electronic cigarette against a surface, speed of motion eng.).

(14) With additional reference being made to FIG. 2A, the cartridge 20 of the electronic cigarette 1 comprises a cartridge housing 22 accommodating a heat transfer unit 24 located at a distal end 22a of the cartridge housing 22 and having the interface surface 27 configured for matching a corresponding interface surface 17 of the heating element 16, when the cartridge 20 is attached to the base 10. At an opposite proximal end 22b of the cartridge housing 22, the cartridge 20 comprises a mouthpiece 30, configured for being introduced into a user's mouth (not shown).

(15) The housing 22 is formed with a substance chamber 28 configured for containing therein a flavored substance S to be smoked by the user. The chamber 28 is extending between the proximal end 22b and the distal end 22a, but is spaced from the distal end 22a. The substance chamber 28 surrounds a vaporization chamber 23 formed as hole therein. The vaporization chamber 23 coextends with a vaporization channel 25 which coextends with a mouthpiece channel 32 of the mouthpiece 30.

(16) The housing 20 further accommodates therein a sorption member 26 juxtaposed between the heat transfer unit 24 and the substance chamber 28 The sorption member 26 is configured, on the one hand, for absorbing therein some of the substance S, and, on the other hand, for being heated by the heat transfer unit 24 thereby allowing the substance S absorbed therein to vaporize into the vaporization chamber 23 and escape from the vaporization chamber 23 via the vaporization channel 25 to the user via the mouthpiece 30. Although not shown in FIG. 2A, the vaporization chamber 23 is in fluid communication with the exterior of the electronic cigarette 1 for receiving air thereto when the user inhales the smoked substance via the mouthpiece 30.

(17) In operation, the heating element 16 is heated up by the battery and provides it heat to the heat transfer unit 24 via conduction between the interface surfaces 17, 27. Thus, the sorption member 26 is heated indirectly via the heat transfer unit 24 and not directly via the heating element, leading to considerable advantages in terms of safety, temperature control and reliability of the electronic cigarette 1.

(18) As a result of heating of the sorption member 26, the substance S absorbed therein vaporizes in the vaporization chamber 23 and the vapor escapes the cartridge 20 via the vaporization channel 25 as indicated by the arrows.

(19) It is important to note that in this example, the sorption member 26 takes up substantially all the space between the substance chamber 28 and the heat transfer unit 24 so that it has a first surface 26a configured for absorbing the substance S from the substance chamber 28 and a second, opposite surface 26b configured for being heated by the heat transfer unit 24.

(20) Turning now to FIGS. 2B and 2C, two additional examples of cartridge designs are shown, generally designate 20′ and 20″ respectively.

(21) In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the sorption member 26′ is in the form of a ring having its first side rim 26a′ disposed within the substance chamber 28 so that it is immersed in the substance S. A second side rim 26b′ is disposed closer to the heat transfer unit 24 and configured for being heated thereby. It is observed that the sorption member 26′ does not occupy the entire space delimited between the substance chamber 28 and the heat transfer unit 24, which constitutes, in this example, a vaporization chamber 23.

(22) Under this example, any substance S being vaporized owing to the heat provided by the heat transfer unit 24 first resides in the vaporization chamber 23 and is gradually and continuously removed therefrom via the channel 25 according to the user's puffs and sucking on the mouthpiece.

(23) With attention being drawn to FIG. 2C, yet another example is shown, generally designated 20″ in which, instead of a ring-like sorption member 26′, the one used here is a sorption member 26″ which has extensions dipped in the substance S contained in the substance chamber 28, gradually absorbing the substance S into the member 26″. The operation is similar to that previously described with respect to FIG. 2B.

(24) Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, illustrating a cross-sectional view of another example of an electronic cigarette, generally designated 100 and comprising a base part 110 and a cartridge 150. In FIG. 3A the base part 110 and the cartridge 150 are assembled to each other, and being operated by a user.

(25) The base part 110 comprises a cylindrical base housing 112 accommodating therein a battery 114 connected to a heating element 116 located at a first end 112a of the base housing 112 and having an interface surface 117. The battery 114 is configured for providing the heating element 116 with the necessary power for its operation, allowing it to become heated to a required temperature.

(26) The cartridge 150 is structured of a cartridge housing 152 having a proximal end 154 with a mouthpiece 156 configured for being introduced into a user's mouth (not shown), and a distal end 158 configured to be introduced into the first end 112a of the base housing 110. The cartridge housing 152 includes a substance chamber 160 extending along its length and containing therein a substance 162 to be smoked. The substance chamber has a substance outlet 161 disposed at the distal end 158 of the cartridge housing 150, and configured for allowing the substance 162 to escape from the substance chamber 160.

(27) The cartridge housing 152 further comprises a vaporization chamber 170 in communication with the substance outlet 161 for receiving the substance 162 therein, and a heat transfer unit 180 configured, when the cartridge is assembled to the base part 110, for being heated by the heating element 116 of the base part 110 and for heating the substance 162 being provided via the substance outlet 161 for its vaporization in the vaporization chamber 170. The vaporization chamber 170 is in fluid communication with a vaporization channel 172 extending from the vaporization chamber 170 to the mouthpiece 156. The vaporization chamber 170 coextends with the substance chamber 160, while the substance chamber 160 fully surrounds the vaporization channel 172. The heat transfer unit 180 is perpendicular to the vaporization channel 172. The heating element can include a temperature sensor (not shown) attached thereto or integrated therein for providing a signal determining the required temperature and heating rate of the heating element 116, while the power for such heating is supplied by the battery 114.

(28) The heat transfer unit 180 has a first side 181 configured, when the cartridge 150 is assembled to the base part 110, for interfacing a heating surface 117 of the heating element 116 for receiving heat therefrom, and an opposite second side 182 facing the vaporization chamber 170 for providing heat to the substrate being provided from the substrate outlet 161.

(29) The base housing 112 has an interfacing portion 120 disposed in proximity to the heating element 116 and configured for interfacing the distal end 158 of the cartridge housing 152 when the cartridge 150 is assembled to the base part 110, so as to bring the heating element 116 to contact with the heat transfer unit 180. In particular, in assembly of the cartridge 150 with the base part 110, the heating surface 117 is fully matched with the first side 181 of the heat transfer unit 180 for transferring heat from the heating element 116 to the heat transfer unit 180, and from the heat transfer unit 180 via the second side 182 to the vaporization chamber 170 in which the smoked substance is heated and vaporized. The configuration of the electronic cigarette is thus such that when the cartridge 150 is assembled to the base part 110, the heating element 116 is separated from the vaporization chamber 170 by the heat transfer unit 180.

(30) The cartridge housing 154 further comprises a first air inlet 159 formed at the distal end 158 for establishing fluid communication between an exterior of the cartridge 150 and the vaporization chamber 170 for allowing passage of air into the vaporization chamber 170 for its vaporization therein with the substance 162 being supplied via the substance outlet 161.

(31) The interfacing portion 120 comprises a second air inlet 121 formed therein, and configured when the cartridge 150 is assembled to the base part 110 for establishing fluid communication between an exterior of the electronic cigarette 100 and the vaporization chamber 170 via the first air inlet 159 for allowing passage of air into the vaporization chamber 170 for its vaporization therein with the substance 162 being supplied via the substance outlet 161. As shown in FIG. 3b, when the cartridge 150 is assembled to the base part 110, said first air inlet 159 and said second air inlet 121 are inline with each other.

(32) The vaporization chamber 170 includes a sorption member 175 disposed therein. The sorption member 175 is configured, on the one hand, for absorbing some of the substance 162, and, on the other hand, for being heated by the heat transfer unit 180 thereby allowing the substance 162 absorbed therein to vaporize into the vaporization chamber 170 and escape from the vaporization chamber 170 via the vaporization channel 172 to the user via the mouthpiece 156.

(33) The cartridge housing 152 further comprises a porous member 190 interposed between the substance outlet 161 and the vaporization chamber 170, so that the vaporization chamber 170 is interposed between the porous member 190 and the heat transfer unit 180. The porous member 190 has a first surface 191 facing the substance outlet 161 and an opposite second surface 192 facing the sorption member 175 in the vaporization chamber 170, for allowing passage of the substance 162 from said substance chamber 160 to the sorption member 175. The second surface 192 is associated with the heat transfer unit 180 by facing its second side 182 and is separated from the heat transfer unit 180 by said vaporization chamber 170 for allowing introduction of the substance 160 from the second surface 192 into the sorption member 175 in the vaporization chamber 170 for its heating and thereby its vaporization therein. The porous member 190 is sized and shaped to fit the cross-section of the distal end 158 of the cartridge housing 154.

(34) The porous member 190 is formed with a hole 193 extending therethrough between the first surface 191 and the second surface 192 and establishing fluid communication between the vaporization chamber 170 and the mouthpiece 156 via the vaporization channel 172, thereby allowing the vaporized substance to escape from the vaporization chamber 170, and in particular, from the sorption member 175 via the mouthpiece 156 during smoking the vaporized substance by the user. During operation of the electronic cigarette 100, the heat is configured to be delivered from the heat transfer unit 180 to the sorption member 175 by conduction.

(35) It should be indicated that according to other examples, the sorption member 175 and the porous member 190 can be integrated in the same member, so that the sorption member is in direct contact with the substance outlet 161.

(36) Reference is now made specifically to FIG. 3B to explain the manner of operation of the electronic cigarette 100 during use by a user. In operation, the heating element 116 is heated up by the battery 114 and provides heat from its heating surface 117 to the first side 181 of the heat transfer unit 180 via 24 by conduction. The heat from the heat transfer unit is designated by an arrow 200. During use of the electronic cigarette 100 by a user, the user inhales air which is provided to the vaporization chamber 170, and in particular, to the sorption member 175 via the second air inlet 121 and the first air inlet 159, and designated by an arrow 210. Simultaneously, the smoked substance 160 is provided via the second surface 192 of the porous member 190 to the vaporization chamber 170 as well, and this substance is designated by an arrow 220. The smoked substance 220 is mixed with the air 210 and heated by the heat 200 is the vaporization chamber 170. The heating of the air 210 and the smoked substance 220 results in their vaporization in the sorption member 175 within the vaporization chamber 170. The vaporized substance, which is designated by an arrow 230, is afterwards transferred via the vaporization channel 172 to the mouthpiece 156, and from there to the user.

(37) During the above operation, the sorption member 175 is heated indirectly via the heat transfer unit 180 and not directly via the heating element 116, leading to considerable advantages in terms of safety, temperature control and reliability of the electronic cigarette 100.

(38) The battery 114 is also connected to an electronic unit 115 including a processor 118 and a sensing unit 119, for providing the required power for operation of the electronic unit 115 and its components. The processor 118 is connected to both the sensing unit 119 and the heating element 116. The sensing unit 119 can be configured for identifying movement, orientation and spatial position of at least the base part 110, and providing this information (hereinafter: spatial data) to the processor 118. Based on the spatial data, the processor 118 can determine whether to turn the heating element 116 on/off, and/or if to set a certain operational regime of the electronic cigarette 100, e.g. standby mode, regulation of vapor amount, timed smoking programs etc.

(39) Thus, in operation, upon identification of a predetermined gesture of the user by the sensing unit 119, this information is provided from the sensing unit 119 to the processor 118, which then determines, based on said gesture, the proper operational mode of the electronic cigarette 100. Upon determining such a mode, the processor 118, which is directly linked to the heating element 116, provides the latter with the proper operational signal determining the required temperature and heating rate of the heating element 116, while the power for such heating is supplied by the battery 114.

(40) As a result, the electronic cigarette 100 can be configured for being operated using gestures and positions thereof, for example, a double-shake of the electronic cigarette 100 can indicate to the processor to turn the electronic cigarette 100 on/off whereas holding the electronic cigarette 100 in a vertical orientation can indicate the processor to set a ‘standby’ mode for the electronic cigarette 100. It should be appreciated that the sensing unit 119 can include various types of sensors (e.g. sound, motion, orientation, acceleration etc.), whereby the gestures required from the user in order to operate the electronic cigarette 100 can change correspondingly, e.g. (knocking the electronic cigarette against a surface, speed of motion eng.).

(41) The base part 110 further comprises a puff detector 111 (e.g., a pressure sensor or a microphone), connected to the processor 118 for providing puff detection. The puff detector 111 is disposed in fluid communication with the second air inlet 121 via a third air inlet 122, so that when air 210 passes along the second air inlet 210, it also enters into the third air inlet 122. The air that passes along the third air inlet 122 is shown in FIG. 3B by arrows 240. During operation of the electronic cigarette, the puff detector 111 and the processor 118 are configured to identify air pressure changes of the air 240, and performing different operations respectively. This operation includes, for example, counting puffs for various purposes, turning off the cigarette when the puff number breathed is equivalent to a defined puff number and/or puffing time, and detecting the power with which the user breathes and thereby automatically adapting the quantity of the delivered smoked substance. The information provided by the puff detector 111 can allow the processor 118 to determine, based on the number of puffs and length of each puff, what is the estimated number of corresponding ‘real life cigarettes’ smoked by the user and alert him to the fact. For example, the processor 118 can be configured to provide a signal to the user that he has smoked over ten cigarettes and set an alert. Alternatively, the user may be able to set, in advance, a cigarette limit after which the electronic cigarette shuts down for a predetermined amount of time.

(42) Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.