US20200390160A1 - Electronic Cigarette with Push Actuating Arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a housing assembly, a cartridge, a control circuitry and a push actuating arrangement. The push actuating arrangement includes an atomizer movably supported in the housing assembly, a mouth piece connected to the atomizer and movably supported in the housing assembly, and an actuating member movably mounted on the housing assembly to operate between an idle position and an actuated position. In the idle position, the actuating member is moved to retain the atomizer and the mouth piece in the housing assembly. In the actuated position, the actuating member is driven to move with respect to the housing assembly so as to expose the mouth piece to an exterior of the housing assembly for user's smoking.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONField of Invention
• The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette, and more particularly to an electronic cigarette comprising a pushing actuating arrangement which is capable of normally retaining an atomizer and a mouthpiece within a housing assembly when the electronic cigarette is not in use, and allowing the atomizer and the mouthpiece to be exposed out of the housing assembly for use by a user.
Description of Related Arts
• An electronic cigarette usually comprises a main housing, a cigarette cartridge accommodated in the main housing for storing a predetermined liquid solution, a heating element supported in the main housing for heating or vaporizing the liquid solution stored in the cartridge, and a display screen provided on the main housing for displaying the various operational parameters of the electronic cigarette.
• A major disadvantage of the above-mentioned conventional electronic cigarette is that the mouthpiece is usually exposed to ambient environment so that it poses a serious hygienic problem when the electronic cigarette is used for an extended period of time. Some sorts of caps may be used to cover the mouthpiece. However, when the caps are used over an extended period of time, they also pose hygienic problem.
• Another disadvantage is that when the mouthpiece and atomizer altogether may make the entire electronic cigarette inconvenient to carry. Various components of an electronic cigarette may be configured in elongated structure so that a user may need extra space in carrying it.
• As a result, there is a need to develop an electronic cigarette which may improve hygienic problem of the mouthpiece and at the same time, has a more compact structure for ease of carrying.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
• An objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic cigarette comprising a pushing actuating arrangement which is capable of normally retaining an atomizer and a mouthpiece within a housing assembly when the electronic cigarette is not in use, and allowing the atomizer and the mouthpiece to be exposed out of the housing assembly for use by a user.
• Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic cigarette comprising an actuating member movably mounted on the housing assembly to operate between an idle position and an actuated position, wherein in the idle position, the actuating member is moved to retain the atomizer and the mouth piece in the housing assembly, wherein in the actuated position, the actuating member is driven to move with respect to the housing assembly so as to expose the mouth piece to an exterior of the housing assembly for user's smoking.
• An objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic cigarette comprising a pushing actuating arrangement which may reduce the electronic cigarette to a relatively compact size when it is not in use.
• In order to accomplish the above objective, the present invention provides an electronic cigarette, comprising:
• a housing assembly;
• a cartridge supported in the housing assembly for storing a predetermined amount of liquid solution;
• a control circuitry comprising a main microprocessor connected to the cartridge for controlling a vaporization of the liquid solution; and
• a push actuating arrangement, which comprises:
• an atomizer movably supported in the housing assembly and electrically connected to the control circuitry for vaporizing the liquid solution retrieved from the cartridge;
• a mouth piece connected to the atomizer and movably supported in the housing assembly; and
• an actuating member movably mounted on the housing assembly to operate between an idle position and an actuated position, wherein in the idle position, the actuating member is moved to retain the atomizer and the mouth piece in the housing assembly, wherein in the actuated position, the actuating member is driven to move with respect to the housing assembly so as to expose the mouth piece to an exterior of the housing assembly for user's smoking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic cigarette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an actuating member is in an idle position.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic cigarette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an actuating member is in an actuated position.
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic cigarette according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the electronic cigarette according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electronic cigarette according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is another schematic diagram of the electronic cigarette according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the electronic cigarette according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• The present invention will be further described in detail in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.
• Referring toFIG. 1 toFIG. 7 of the drawings, an electronic cigarette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The electronic cigarette comprises ahousing assembly10, acartridge20, a control circuitry30, and a push actuatingarrangement40.
• Thecartridge20 is supported in thehousing assembly10 for storing a predetermined amount of liquid solution.
• The control circuitry30 comprises a main microprocessor31 and electrically connected to thecartridge20 for controlling a vaporization of the liquid solution.
• Thepush actuating arrangement40 comprises anatomizer41, amouth piece42 and an actuatingmember43. Theatomizer41 is movably supported in thehousing assembly10 for vaporizing the liquid solution retrieved from thecartridge20.
• Themouth piece42 is connected to theatomizer41 and movably supported in thehousing assembly10.
• The actuatingmember43 is movably mounted on thehousing assembly10 to operate between an idle position and an actuated position, wherein in the idle position, the actuatingmember43 is moved to retain theatomizer41 and themouth piece42 in thehousing assembly10, wherein in the actuated position, the actuatingmember43 is driven to move with respect to thehousing assembly10 so as to expose at least themouth piece42 to an exterior of thehousing assembly10 for user's smoking.
• According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electronic cigarette comprises thehousing assembly10 which comprises amain housing11 having an elongated structure to resemble an elongated structure of a cigarette. Thecartridge20 is accommodated in themain housing11 to store a predetermined amount of liquid solution which will then be atomized to produce vapor for inhalation.
• Thehousing assembly10 further comprises a plurality of end covers12 provided on afree end portion112 of themain housing11. Themain housing11 has a receivingcavity111 formed therein, wherein theend covers112 are arranged to selectively open and close thereceiving cavity111. Thecartridge20 and the control circuity30 are normally received in thereceiving cavity111 and protected by thehousing assembly10.
• Thehousing assembly10 further comprises a plurality of (but at least one)resilient elements14 for normally exerting a urging force toward the end covers12 so as to normally retain the end covers12 to close thereceiving cavity111. Theend covers12 may be pivotally moved to open thereceiving cavity111 for allowing theatomizer41 and themouth piece42 to be exposed out of thehousing assembly10.
• Referring toFIG. 3 andFIG. 5 of the drawings, thehousing assembly10 further comprises aretention frame15 received in themain housing11. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theretention frame15 comprises a plurality ofretention members151 connected to the end covers12 while theresilient elements14 are connected to theretention members151 respectively. Theretention members151 are arranged to slide with respect to themain housing11 and normally pulled to retain the end covers12 to close the receivingcavity111. Theresilient elements14 are provided at a lower portion of themain housing11 while theretention members151 are provided between the end covers12 and theresilient elements14. Thus, when theresilient elements14 exert a normal pulling force toward theretention members151, theretention members151 pull the end covers12 to close the receivingcavity111.
• Referring toFIG. 2 of the drawings, the electronic cigarette further comprises a supportingframe50 received in thereceiving cavity111 of thehousing assembly10, wherein at least some of thecartridge20, the control circuitry30 and thepush actuating arrangement40 are supported by the supportingframe50. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecartridge20 and the control circuitry30 are also supported by the supportingframe50 which is received in thereceiving cavity111 of thehousing10.
• The push actuatingarrangement40 further comprises a plurality of slidingmembers44 slidably mounted on the supportingframe50, wherein the slidingmembers44 are engaged with the actuatingmember43 in such a manner that when the actuatingmember43 slides with respect to the supportingframe50, the actuatingmember43 is arranged to drive the slidingmembers44 to slide in the same direction with respect to the supportingframe50.
• Accordingly, the supportingframe50 has a plurality of slidingtracks51 arranged to slidably engage with the slidingmembers44 respectively. The slidingmembers44 may therefore slide along thesliding tracks51 of the supportingframe50 when they are driven by the actuatingmember43. As show inFIG. 3 toFIG. 6 of the drawings, thesliding tracks51 are formed along a longitudinal axis of the supportingframe50, so that thesliding members44 may also be driven to slide along a longitudinal axis of the supportingframe50.
• According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecartridge20 is connected to theatomizer41 which is then connected to themouth piece42. When the actuatingmember43 is in the idle position, they are all received in the receivingcavity111 of themain housing11. The slidingmembers44 are connected to theatomizer41 and arranged to actuate the operation thereof when the slidingmembers44 are slid to a predetermined position along the slidingtracks51.
• As shown inFIG. 5 of the drawings, the supportingframe50 may be received in thereceiving cavity111. On the other hand, the actuatingmember43 is movably connected to afront side53 of the supportingframe50. The supportingframe50 further has an actuatingslot54 while the actuatingmember43 has a driving latch431 arranged to engage in the actuatingslot54 in such a manner that when the actuatingmember43 is driven to slide with respect to thehousing assembly10, the supportingframe50 is also driven to slide with respect to thehousing assembly10. Note that the sidewalls of thesliding tracks51 of the supportingframe50 are arranged to exert biasing force against the slidingmembers44 so that when the supportingframe50 is driven to slide, the slidingmembers44 are also driven to slide along thesliding tracks51.
• Themain housing11 of thehousing assembly10 further has anaccess slot13 aligning with the driving latch431 so that the driving latch431 is arranged to engage with theactuating slot54 of the supportingframe50 by penetrating through theaccess slot13.
• Each of the slidingmembers44 is elongated in shape and has astopper441 protruded at a mid-portion of the corresponding slidingmember44. Moreover, each of the slidingmembers44 has adepressing portion442 arranged to normally depress a switch of theatomizer41 when the actuatingmember41 is in the idle position.
• Themain housing11 has a plurality ofrestriction grooves55 aligned with the slidingtracks51 respectively for restricting a further sliding movement of the slidingmembers44 in the sliding tracks51. Referring toFIG. 3 toFIG. 4 of the drawings, therestriction grooves55 are formed on afront portion112 of themain housing11 wherein thestoppers441 are arranged to protrude from the slidingmembers44 to slidably engage with therestriction grooves55 respectively. When the slidingmembers44 slide, thestoppers441 will also slide until thestoppers441 hit an end of therestriction grooves55. When thestoppers441 reach the end of therestriction grooves55, further sliding movement on the part of the slidingmembers44 with respect to thehousing assembly10 will be restricted. However, when the slidingmembers44 are stopped, the supportingframe50 may further be slid so as to expose theatomizer41 and themouth piece42 to an exterior of thehousing assembly10.
• The operation of the present invention is as follows: the actuatingmember43 is normally in idle position so that the slidingmembers44 are arranged to depress aswitch411 of theatomizer41. When theswitch411 is depressed, theatomizer41 is switched off. When a user wishes to actuate the electronic cigarette of the present invention, he or she needs to manually push the actuatingmember43 so as to drive the supportingframe50 and the slidingmembers44 to slide toward the end covers12. When thestoppers441 the ends (such as upper ends) of therestriction grooves55, the slidingmembers44 are prevented from further sliding along the sliding tracks51. At the same time, however, the supportingframe50 may continue to slide with respect to thehousing assembly10 and theretention frame15 can eventually push the end covers12 to open. Themouth piece42 and theatomizer41 may therefore partially expose out of thehousing assembly10. Furthermore, when theatomizer41 is pushed to partially expose out of thehousing assembly10, theswitch411 is arranged to be released because further sliding movements of the slidingmembers44 are prevented and the slidingmembers44 are kept stationary in the sliding tracks51. Thedepressing portions442 of the slidingmembers44 are disengaged from theatomizer41 so as to release theswitch411. Theatomizer41 will then be switched on for atomizing the liquid in thecartridge20.
• When the user has finished using the electronic cigarette, he or she may manually slide the actuatingmember43 back to the original idle position. The supportingframe50, theatomizer41 and themouth piece42 will retract back to thehousing assembly10 and the end covers12 will close again due to the normal pulling force exerted by theresilient element14 through theretention frame15. Moreover, when the supportingframe50 is slid back to the original position, the slidingmembers44 will also slide along the slidingtracks51 until thedepressing portions442 depress against theswitch411 of theatomizer41 again. At this position, theatomizer41 will then be switch off again. Note that the actuatingmember43 and the supportingframe50 may keep sliding with respect to thehousing assembly10 until the actuatingmember43 is back to the original idle position. Further sliding movement of the slidingmembers44 will also be restricted by another end (such as lower ends) of therestriction grooves55.
• With the above configurations, a user may be able to actuate a well-coveredmouth piece42 by using his single hand and whenever necessary. When the electronic cigarette is not in use, themouth piece42 and theatomizer41 are protected in thehousing assembly10.
• The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could be used to practice the present invention.

Claims (10)

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising:

a housing assembly;

a cartridge supported in said housing assembly for storing a predetermined amount of liquid solution;

a control circuitry comprising a main microprocessor connected to said cartridge for controlling a vaporization of said liquid solution; and

a push actuating arrangement, which comprises:

an atomizer having a switch movably supported in said housing assembly and electrically connected to said control circuitry for vaporizing said liquid solution retrieved from said cartridge;

a mouth piece connected to said atomizer and movably supported in said housing assembly; and

an actuating member movably mounted on said housing assembly to operate between an idle position and an actuated position, wherein in said idle position, said actuating member is moved to retain said atomizer and said mouth piece in said housing assembly, wherein in said actuated position, said actuating member is driven to move with respect to said housing assembly so as to expose said mouth piece to an exterior of said housing assembly for user's smoking.

2. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said housing assembly comprises a main housing and at least one end cover provided on a free end portion of said main housing, said main housing having a receiving cavity, wherein said end cover is arranged to selectively open and close said receiving cavity.

3. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 2, further comprising a supporting frame received in said receiving cavity of said main housing, said push actuating arrangement further comprises at least one sliding member slidably mounted on said supporting frame, wherein said sliding member is engaged with said actuating member in such a manner that when said actuating member slides with respect to said supporting frame, said actuating member is arranged to drive said sliding member to slide in said same direction with respect to said supporting frame.

4. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 3, wherein said supporting frame has at least one sliding track arranged to slidably engage with said sliding member so that said sliding members is arranged to slide along said sliding track of said supporting frame when said sliding member is driven by said actuating member.

5. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 4, wherein said actuating member is movably connected to said supporting frame, said supporting frame having an actuating slot while said actuating member having a driving latch arranged to engage in said actuating slot in such a manner that when said actuating member is driven to slide with respect to said housing assembly, said supporting frame is also driven to slide with respect to said supporting frame.

6. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 5, wherein said sliding member is elongated in shape and has a stopper protruded from said sliding member, said sliding member further having a depressing portion arranged to normally depress said switch of said atomizer when said actuating member is in said idle position.

7. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 6, wherein said main housing further has at least one restriction groove aligned with said sliding track for restricting a further sliding movement of said sliding member in said sliding track when said stopper is slid to hit an end of said restriction groove.

8. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 7, wherein said housing assembly further comprises at least one resilient element arranged to normally exert an urging force toward said end cover so as to normally retain said end covers to close said receiving cavity.

9. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said housing assembly further comprises a retention frame received in said main housing, said retention frame comprising at least one retention member connected to said end cover while said resilient element is connected to said retention member so that said retention member is arranged to slide with respect to said main housing and is normally pulled to retain said end cover to close said receiving cavity.

10. The electronic cigarette, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said main housing of said housing assembly further has an access slot align with said driving latch so that said driving latch is arranged to engage with said actuating slot of said supporting frame by penetrating through said access slot.

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