TITLE: SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICE
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to simulated smoking devices that create a (typically nicotine-containing) vapour to be inhaled. In particular, it relates to devices that vaporise an unpressurised liquid, particularly but not exclusively devices configured to vaporise an unpressurised liquid by heating. To the extent that such devices are electrically powered, they may be known as 'electronic cigarettes'.
BACKGROUND ART
Such an electronic cigarette is known, e.g. from W02014/153823, and comprises a reservoir for unpressurised liquid and a vaporiser configured to vaporise liquid from the reservoir and having a liquid inlet in communication with the reservoir and a vapour outlet.
This type of unpressurised device employs a different operating principle to, is to be distinguished from, the genus of device in which a vapour is generated using liquid or gas from a pressurised reservoir, as known e.g. from US6216705.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulated smoking device for generating a vapour to be inhaled, the device comprising: a reservoir for unpressurised liquid; and a vaporiser configured to vaporise liquid from the reservoir; wherein the reservoir has a liquid filling port having an automatic shut-off valve and an air vent having an automatic shut-off valve.
An automatic shut off valve ensures that, once filling is complete (the air displaced by the filling escaping through the vent), liquid cannot leak out of the reservoir.
By contrast, in conventional unpressurised devices, an elongate reservoir chamber is typically refilled by removal of a mouthpiece assembly forming one end of the chamber so that the nozzle of a fill bottle can be inserted and liquid dribbled down the inside surface of the chamber. However, until the mouthpiece is replaced so as to close the open end of the reservoir, there is a significant risk of liquid leakage from the reservoir.
Similar problems arise in those conventional devices where a battery/atomiser unit, at the opposite end to the mouthpiece, is removed to allow reservoir refilling.
The liquid filling port may be configured to accept a filling nozzle.
The liquid filling port may also serve as the air vent. To this end, the port may be configured to provide an air vent between the bore of the port and the outer surface of a filling 20 nozzle.
The shut-off valve of the liquid filling port may also serve as the shut-off valve of the air vent.
The shut-off valve may be configured to open in response to the insertion of a filling nozzle in the liquid filling port. The shut-off valve may comprise a valve member biased into a first position in which it shuts the liquid filling port. The valve member may be displaceable out of its first position by engagement of a filling nozzle.
The valve member may be a flap configured to cover the liquid filling port in its first position. The flap may comprise resilient material and be configured to resist deformation 5 from its first position to its second position.
The liquid filling port may be formed in a wall of the reservoir having a circular symmetry about a first axis. The flap may be formed by a member having circular symmetry about the first axis. The flap may be formed by a conical membrane. The flap may be located inside the reservoir, on a surface substantially wetted by the liquid.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulated smoking device for generating a vapour to be inhaled, the device comprising: an elongate reservoir for unpressurised liquid, the reservoir having two ends and a side wall therebetween; and a vaporiser configured to vaporise liquid from the reservoir and having a liquid inlet in communication with the reservoir and a vapour outlet; wherein the reservoir has a liquid filling port in the side wall.
In conventional devices, the elongate liquid reservoir chamber is refilled by removal of a mouthpiece assembly forming one end of the chamber so that the nozzle of a fill bottle can be inserted and liquid dribbled down the inside surface of the chamber. The mouthpiece assembly releasably engages the outlet of the vaporiser, which typically extends along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir chamber. Therefore, when the mouthpiece is removed to refill the reservoir, care must be taken that liquid does not enter the vaporiser outlet. By contrast, a liquid filling port in the side wall of the reservoir, between the two ends, avoids the need to remove an end of the reservoir and hence the risk of liquid entering the vaporiser outlet.
The elongate reservoir may have the form of a cylinder.
The side wall of the elongate reservoir may have a substantially circular section taken perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
The device may comprise a valve mechanism configured to close or open the liquid filling port.
The valve mechanism may comprise a shutter moveable transverse to the axis of the 10 liquid filling port.
The shutter may be configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis.
The shutter may be formed by a circular collar extending around the side wall of the elongate reservoir.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulated smoking device for generating a vapour to be inhaled, the device comprising: a vaporiser having a vapour outlet; a mouthpiece through which vapour from the vapour outlet is inhaled; a valve mechanism actuable to obstruct or allow vapour inhalation through the mouthpiece; and a latch configured to lock the valve mechanism such that it obstructs vapour inhalation through the mouthpiece.
In contrast to the 'child proof' mechanism of the aforementioned W02014/153823, and which discloses a valve mechanism actable to obstruct or allow vapour inhalation through a mouthpiece, the present invention adds an additional layer of security -namely the operation of a latch -that must be overcome before the valve mechanism can be actuated This renders the device of the present invention more child proof.
The valve mechanism may comprise a valve member and a valve seat that are relatively moveable between a first position in which vapour inhalation through the mouthpiece is obstructed and a second position in which vapour inhalation through the 10 mouthpiece is allowed.
The mouthpiece may be configured for inhalation of vapour substantially along a first axis, the valve member and valve seat being relatively moveable along that first axis.
The mouthpiece may be configured for movement relative to the vaporiser along the first axis so as to move the valve member relative to the valve seat The mouthpiece may comprise the valve seat. The valve member may be fixed relative to the vaporiser.
The latch may be configured to move between a third position in which it locks the valve mechanism such that it obstructs vapour inhalation through the mouthpiece and a fourth position in which the valve mechanism is not so locked.
The latch may be configured to rotate about the first axis between said third and fourth positions.
The latch may be configured to engage the mouthpiece when in said third position.
The latch may be a collar. The collar may be co-axial with the first axis. The collar may be configured to engage a protuberance on the mouthpiece when in said third position and to allow free movement of the protuberance when in said fourth position.
The various aspects of the invention can be particularlised using features of the 5 other aspects. In particular, the collar of the second aspect may also serve as the collar of the third aspect.
Common to all aspects, the device may comprise a heater for vaporising a liquid. The heater may be electrically powered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a detailed axial sectional view of the device of figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed axial sectional view of the device of figure 1 when being filled; Figures 4A and B are a detailed axial sectional views of the mouthpiece of the device in open and shut positions respectively; Figures 5A to C are perspective views of the device showing the collar in various 20 positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Referring to figure 1, an electronic cigarette 10 comprises an elongate reservoir 20 for the (typically nicotine-containing) liquid to be vaporised and inhaled. As shown, the reservoir is cylindrical having a longitudinal axis A. The reservoir is defined by a side wall 22 of substantially circular section taken perpendicular to axis A. The left-hand end of the reservoir as viewed in figure 1 is defined by a spacer 60, sealed against the inner surface of side wall 22 by an 0-ring 70 and supporting at its centre by 5 means of a screw thread 80 one end of a vaporiser (atomiser) 30.
Vaporiser 30 comprises a vaporisation chamber 40 having a liquid inlet 50 in communication with the reservoir. Liquid is vaporised in the chamber by the action of a heater 90 powered by electricity supplied from a battery (indicated by dashed lines at 100) via contacts 110. By inhalation of a user, the resulting vapour is drawn out of the chamber through outlet 120, from where it flows via vapour tube 130 to mouthpiece 140. Mouthpiece 140 effectively defines the right-hand end of the reservoir and to this end has a seal 150 to the vapour tube 130 and a seal 160 to the side wall 22.
In contrast to conventional designs, there is no need to remove mouthpiece 140 to refill the reservoir with liquid. Rather, as shown in figures 2 and 3, a liquid filling port 200 is 15 provided in the circularly-symmetric side wall 22 to accept the nozzle 210 of a tilling bottle 220. This allows liquid to be introduced into the reservoir as indicated by arrow B. Port 200 is also dimensioned to provide an air vent between the inner, bore surface 201 of the port and the outer surface 211 of the filling nozzle, allowing the air displaced from the reservoir by the filling liquid to vent as indicated by arrow C. Filling port / air vent 200 is further provided with an automatic shut-off valve in the form of a resilient flap 230 formed by a resilient member having circular symmetry about the first axis A, specifically a conical membrane (although cylindrical or other shapes are possible).
As shown in figure 2, flap 230 is located inside the reservoir, on an inner surface 22' of the side wall 22 that, as such, will be substantially wetted by the liquid. In the first position shown in figure 2, the flap covers the liquid filling port in its first position. The elastic properties of the flap material and the conical shape of the membrane ensure that the flap is biased into the first position.
As shown in figure 3, insertion of a filling nozzle 210 into port 200 displaces/deforms the flap 230 out of its first position and into a second position in which liquid and air flow B,C can take place. The resilient nature of the flap resulting from its shape and material resists deformation from its first position to its second position, creating a natural spring that ensures that the flap retums automatically to its first position as soon as the nozzle is removed from the port 200, thereby shutting off the port 200 so as to prevent leakage of liquid out of the reservoir.
Figures 4A and B show the operation of a valve mechanism 300 that can be actuated to control the passage of vapour to the mouthpiece along an axis D (and corresponding in the embodiment shown to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir, A). A conical valve member 310 is fixed to the end of the vapour tube 130 (which is in tum fixed to vaporiser 30) while a valve seat 320 is formed in the bore 140' of the mouthpiece 140.
Moving the mouthpiece 140 to the left along axis D as viewed in figure 4A forces valve seat 320 into engagement with valve member 310 as shown in figure 4B, thereby obstructing vapour flow. The seal between the member and seat is facilitated by the resilient nature of the material from which the mouthpiece 140 and seat 320 is made. Moving the mouthpiece 140 to the right along axis D as viewed in figure 4B disengages valve seat 320 from valve member 310, thereby allowing vapour flow.
To prevent unintended movement of the mouthpiece out of the 'shut' position of figure 4B there is provided a latch 400 in the form of a collar 410 rotatable about axis D and provided on its internal surface with a groove, channel or similar feature 420.
In a first rotational position, shown in figure 4B, feature 420 engages a corresponding protuberance or upstand 430 on the mouthpiece so as to prevent axial movement of the mouthpiece out of the 'shut' position. However, rotation of the collar to the second position shown in figure 4A disengages feature 420 and upstand 430, allowing mouthpiece 140 to move into the 'open' position of figure 4A.
Referring to the perspective views of figures 5A-C, not only does collar 410 serve as a latch for the mouthpiece valve mechanism 300, it also serves as a valve to open or close the liquid filling port 200. Specifically, collar 410 is formed with a hole 500 that, in the particular position shown in figure 5C, aligns with port 200 to allow insertion of a filling nozzle. However, in the other rotational positions shown in figures 5A and B, and in which the mouthpiece valve mechanism is latched shut and opened respectively, there is no alignment, the collar instead serving as a shutter that blocks the port, the shutter effectively extending around the side wall 22 of the elongate reservoir and rotating about the longitudinal axis A thereof.
It should be understood that this invention has been described by way of examples only and that a wide variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of 20 the invention.