WO2013040193A2

WO2013040193A2 - Electronic cigarette

Info

Publication number: WO2013040193A2
Application number: PCT/US2012/055139
Authority: WO
Inventors: David R. Johnson; Kenneth D. COOK; Lee Kang
Original assignee: L Perrigo Co
Current assignee: L Perrigo Co
Priority date: 2011-09-15
Filing date: 2012-09-13
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-15
Also published as: WO2013040193A3

Abstract

An electronic cigarette has a first section, which is a reusable barrel housing the electrical components, including a rechargeable battery and heater. A second section is sealably coupled to the barrel and forms a replaceable, disposable cartridge having volatile material therein. The first section provides heated air when the user draws air through a mouthpiece at the end of the disposable cartridge. The heated air flows through the volatile material, providing vaporized nicotine or other inhalant for the consumption by the user. The first section includes a heater coupled to the battery through an electrical control circuit controlled by a flow sensor, such that the heater is actuated upon inhaling by the user. By providing a heated air source separate from the volatile containing cartridge, the cost of manufacturing the replaceable cartridge is greatly reduced, and the quality and efficiency of the of the resultant product is improved.

Description

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and the benefit of U.S.

Provisional Application No. 61/535,088 entitled ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE, filed on September 15, 2011, by David R. Johnson, et al, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery-operated electronic cigarette for supplying vaporized nicotine or other materials to a user for simulating the act of smoking.

[0003] There exists a variety of proposed electronic cigarettes to simulate the act of smoking while reducing and/or eliminating the harmful chemicals associated with actual cigarettes. Such efforts are illustrated in the following U.S. and foreign patents and published applications: 8,156,944; 8,079,371; 7,845,359; 7,832,410; 7,726,320; 6,443,146; 6,196,218; 5,894,841; 5,819,756; 5,865,185; 5,666,977; 5,564,442; 5,505,214; 5,249,586; 5,144,962; 4,947,875; 4,947,874; 4,922,901; 4,907,606; 4,848,374; 4,735,217; 3,200,819; D 624,238; D 590,991; D 590,990; D 590,989; D 590,988; 2011/0036346; 2011/0011396; 2010/0031968; 2010/0242974; 2010/0200008; 2009/0188490; 2009/0126745; 2009/0095311; 2008/0276947; 2008/0257367; 2006/0196518; and 2005/0016550, as well as DE 19935706 and DE 29713866.

[0004] Although some of the proposals have met with moderate success in the marketplace, the cost and reliability of such prior electronic cigarettes is questionable. Moreover, such prior art devices expose nicotine or other volatile materials in contact with a heating element, which then becomes contaminated and require frequent replacement. Accordingly, there is a need for a different approach which will provide a cost effective, reliable, and consumer-satisfying product for delivering a controlled amount of nicotine or other inhalant to the user which may be used for smoking cessation or nicotine replacement therapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an electronic cigarette is provided in two sections. The first section is a reusable generally cylindrical barrel containing the electrical components, including inter alia a rechargeable battery and heater. The second section is a generally cylindrical member including a replaceable and disposable cartridge having the desired volatile material therein. The second section is sealably coupled to the first section in axial alignment to form the completed electronic cigarette. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first section provides heated air when the user draws air through a mouthpiece at the end of the disposable cartridge remote from the first section. The heated air flows through the volatile material, providing vaporized nicotine or other inhalant for consumption by the user. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first section includes a heater coupled to the battery supply through an electrical control circuit controlled by a flow or pressure sensor, such that the heater is instantly and momentarily actuated upon inhaling by the user. By providing a heated air source separate and in axially spaced relationship from the volatile containing cartridge, the cost of use and manufacturing of the electronic cigarette, including the replaceable cartridge, is greatly reduced while the quality and efficiency of the of the resultant product is improved.

[0006] These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig. 1 is a diagram in schematic form of a prior art electronic cigarette; and

[0008] Fig. 2 is a diagram in schematic form of the electronic cigarette of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] Fig. 1 is representative of prior art electronic cigarettes with a power head 10 and a replaceable aerosol chamber 12. The aerosol chamber 12 includes an atomizer, which is directly in communication with a nicotine supplying bottle that, in turn, supplies nicotine to the user through the mouthpiece when the user inhales on the mouthpiece. This prior art represents a two-part electronic cigarette with a power head which is reusable using a rechargeable lithium battery and the aerosol chamber with an atomizer and source of material to be vaporized which must be replaced at frequent intervals with replacement cartridges. A sealed coupling couples the power head to an aerosol chamber. The aerosol is typically formed by a heater in contact with the source of volatile material.

[0010] Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown the electronic cigarette 15 embodying the present invention, which includes a first generally cylindrical section 20 and a second generally cylindrical section 30. The first section 20 houses a rechargeable electrical power source, such as a lithium ion battery 21, and, at its outer end, an LED 23 and lens to simulate a lighted cigarette. A microprocessor 24 is coupled to battery 21 and receives control signals from a conventional pressure or flow sensor 25 when an individual inhales through mouthpiece 38 at the end of the remote end of the second section 30. The microprocessor couples battery 21 to a heater 26 when flow sensor 25 detects the flow of incoming air through air intake apertures 28 formed through the wall of first section 20 near sensor 25. This activates heater 26 to substantially instantly heat air, as illustrated by airwaves 27. The heater is, in one embodiment, a resistance wire heater made of nichrome wire formed in a mesh to provide instant heat once power is applied. The mesh design allows a significant flow of heated air at a temperature of from about 140°C to about 200°C when a user draws on the mouthpiece 38. This heated airstream is represented at 27. Microprocessor 24 is also coupled by conductors 22 to LED 23 to illuminate LED 23 when a user inhales, thereby providing the illusion of a lighted cigarette.

[0011] A sealed bayonet coupling 29 extends between sections 20 and 30, such that the replaceable second section 30 can be easily periodically replaced. The first section 20 includes a suitable recharging connector (not shown), such that the battery 21 can be recharged on a plug-in stand coupled to an AC supply, such that it can be reused multiple times. Section 20 is generally cylindrical and can be made of a durable material, such as stainless steel, aluminum, a polymeric material, or other suitable material.

[0012] The second section 30 is sealed at both ends and includes a cartridge 32 with a material to be vaporized. The end 33 facing section 20 has a seal which is pierced when the two sections are joined at coupling 29 while the mouthpiece 38 has a peel-away seal. The mouthpiece 38 may be integral with the second section or a separately attached member. The cartridge likewise may be a separate element with peel-away seals at opposite ends which, when peeled away, is inserted in the second section 30. For ease of use, the second section includes the cartridge and mouthpiece, and the end of the first section 20 facing the second section end 33 includes a projection (not shown) which pierces the seal at the proximate end of the second section 30. O-rings 34 and 36 seal the cartridge 32 within section 30, such that the heated stream of air 27 flows through the cartridge and then is exhausted through mouthpiece 38 carrying the active ingredients from the cartridge to the user.

[0013] The cartridges 32 are packed with synthetic cotton fiber or other wicking material saturated with a mixture of polyethylene glycol, nicotine, water, and, if desired, a flavorant such as menthol or the like, in an azeotropic mixture. Other volatile mixtures, including, for example, glycerin, could be employed including various medicaments. The cartridge 32 provides usage of from about 150 to about 200 puffs in one embodiment. The heated air 27 flowing from heater 26 effects the vaporization of the nicotine in cartridge 32, which then flows through mouthpiece 38 to the user. The cartridge 27 is in axially spaced- apart relationship to the heater 26, such that the heater does not become contaminated by the material to be vaporized and has a significantly longer useful lifetime than electronic cigarettes in which the heater is in direct or wicking contact with the substance to be vaporized. Also, the flow through cartridges 32 are relatively inexpensive and readily available.

[0014] The casing for the second or cartridge section 30 typically will be made of a high density polymer, such as polyethylene or polyacetate, to withstand the temperatures involved and provide the user with a comfortable holding surface for the device during use. The overall shape and size of the electronic cigarette 15 is about that of a conventional cigarette and holder. The cartridges 32 may be positioned in the second section 30 with a different sealing arrangement than that shown in Fig. 2 as long as the axial flow of heated air 27 transfuses the cartridge 32.

[0015] It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic cigarette comprising:

a first generally cylindrical body having an air inlet;

a source of heated air positioned in said first body; and

a second generally cylindrical body including a cartridge containing a volatile substance to be vaporized and a mouthpiece, said second generally cylindrical body coupled in axial relationship to said first cylindrical body wherein said cartridge is positioned in said second body in spaced relationship downstream of said source of heated air, such that said heated air passes through said cartridge and vaporizes said volatile substance which exits through said mouthpiece when a user draws on said electronic cigarette.

2. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 1 wherein said source of heated air includes a battery coupled to an electrical heater positioned in said first body.

3. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 2 wherein said first body of said electronic cigarette includes a sensor for detecting air being drawn in through said air inlet and a control circuit coupled to said sensor, to said battery, and to said electrical heater to activate said heater upon the detection of air flow in said body.

4. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 3 wherein said heater heats air to a temperature of from about 140°C to about 200°C.

5. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 4 wherein said heater is a mesh wire heater.

6. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 5 wherein said first body and second body are coupled by a disconnectable sealed coupling.

7. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 6 wherein said cartridge is filled with a wicking material saturated with said volatile substance.

8. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 7 wherein said volatile substance includes polyethylene glycol.

9. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 8 wherein said volatile substance includes nicotine.

10. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 9 wherein said volatile substance includes a flavorant.

11. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 10 wherein said wicking material is synthetic cotton.

12. An electronic cigarette comprising:

a generally cylindrical cigarette shaped two sectioned body having a reusable first section including a battery and an air inlet and a second disposable section including a cartridge with a volatile material, said second section axially aligned with said first section and including a mouthpiece for drawing vaporized contents from said cartridge;

a heater in said first section which is selectively coupled to said battery for heating air drawn into said first section through said inlet; and

wherein said second section is sealably and removably coupled to said first section, wherein said cartridge is positioned in said second section in spaced relationship downstream of said heater, such that said heated air passes through said cartridge and vaporizes said volatile substance which is exhausted through said mouthpiece.

13. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 12 wherein said first section includes one of a flow sensor and pressure sensor and an electrical control circuit coupled to said battery and responsive to detected air flow for applying operating power to said heater when a user draws air into said mouthpiece.

14. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 13 wherein said heater is a wire mesh heater.

15. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 14 wherein said heater heats air to a temperature of from about 140°C to about 200°C.

16. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 15 wherein said cartridge is filled with a wicking material saturated with said volatile substance.

17. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 16 wherein said volatile substance includes one of glycerin and polyethylene glycol.

18. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 17 wherein said volatile substance includes nicotine.

19. The electronic cigarette as defined in claim 18 wherein said volatile substance includes a flavorant.

20. A method of providing a vaporized volatile substance in an electronic cigarette comprising the steps of:

drawing air into an elongated cylindrical body;

heating the air with a heater;

providing a volatile substance in axial spaced relationship to the heater;

vaporizing the volatile substance with the flow of heated air through a medium containing one of a medicament and flavorant; and

providing a mouthpiece for a user to draw the vaporized substance and medicament into the user's mouth.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein said heating step comprises providing a wire mesh heater coupled to a battery for heating said volatile substance.

22. The method as defined in claim 21 wherein said medicament is nicotine.

23. The method as defined in claim 23 and further comprising the step of placing the medicament in a replaceable section.