RU2786103C2 - Heating spiral element for vape device and vape device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a heating spiral element for a vape device and to a vape device. The heating spiral element for the vape device contains a heating spiral located at an inlet end of an evaporating chamber and a mouthpiece located at an outlet end of the evaporating chamber. The evaporating chamber and the mouthpiece are made as a single whole.

EFFECT: simplification of a process of exchanging a heating spiral of a vape device.

15 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a vape device and a heating coil, and more particularly to disposable heating coils for electronic cigarettes or vape devices.

The dangers of smoking have been scientifically proven. Electronic cigarettes, or vape devices, eliminate the production of smoke from burning tobacco products by evaporating "e-liquid" or e-liquid for e-cigarettes. More specifically, the e-liquid is vaporized in the vape device and the resulting vapor is inhaled instead of the smoke that is produced when tobacco products such as cigarettes are burned.

Heating coils are used in electronic cigarettes or vape devices to heat and vaporize e-liquid. Heating coils heat the e-liquid when connected to a power source, usually a battery. Further, the heating coils must be replaced periodically as they wear out over time. However, the method of replacing the heating coils in the known devices is not easy, which is frustrating for consumers and may encourage them to return to simpler cartridge-type products or even cigarettes. For example, when replacing heating coils in products on the market today, consumers may come into contact with the e-liquid contained in the container with their hands, which in some cases can cause skin irritation. Moreover, replacement can be problematic and result in accidental changes to user settings.

Therefore, the aim of the invention is to offer a simpler, faster and more hygienic way to replace the heating coil of a vape device than known products on the market, thereby making the replacement of the heating coil more convenient and easy for the consumer.

This task is realized by means of a heating coil having the features of claim 1 and a vape device having the features of claim 8. In the following, preferred embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

The heating coil or vape device according to the invention includes a heating coil located at the inlet end of the vaporization chamber and a mouthpiece located at the outlet end of the vaporization chamber, and is characterized in that the vaporization chamber and the mouthpiece are integrally formed.

Thus, the heating coil according to the invention is formed as one whole part with the evaporation chamber and the mouthpiece, and when it is time to replace the heating coil, the entire heating coil is removed by unscrewing the mouthpiece from the evaporation tank to which the heating coil is attached, which allows you to remove heating coil together with the mouthpiece. Then formed as one whole part of the mouthpiece, the evaporation chamber and the coil are disposed of in a hygienic way. The mouthpiece and coil are recycled as a whole, which complies with the requirements of the European Union's Tobacco Products Directive (Directive of the European Union on tobacco products), which entered into force on May 20, 2017.

State of the art

US 2016366946 A1 discloses an electronic cigarette vaporizer system comprising a piezoelectric pump with multiple piezo actuators, in which a microcontroller independently adjusts the phase or timing or power of each voltage pulse that triggers the piezo actuator.

US 2017095005 A1 discloses a cartridge for a vape device, the cartridge comprises: a flattened body having a long axis and a short axis; a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the flattened body; a reservoir within the flattened body, a reservoir configured to hold volatilized material; a resistive heater comprising a pair of plates extending along a long axis, a wick extending between the pair of plates, and a resistive heating element in direct contact with the pair of plates and with the wick, the wick being configured to contact evaporating material from the reservoir; and a pair of open flat contact protrusions integral with the plates and folded on the outer surface of the distal end of the cartridge and configured to close the circuit with the vape device when the cartridge is inserted into the vape device.

RU 2619735 C1 discloses a device containing an electronic device for battery power in the first and second different modes, which consume different levels of electrical power; and a part that is separated from the device in preparation for its operation, wherein the detachable part generates a magnetic field, and the electronic device is configured to detect changes in the magnetic field in the device and change its mode in response to this.

In the prior art, the heating coil is a separate heating coil, as is the mouthpiece. In contrast, according to the invention, the mouthpiece is connected to the heating coil and the replacement of the heating coil is carried out by unscrewing the mouthpiece together with the heating coil. This prevents the heating coil from coming into contact with the consumer's hands and therefore the e-liquid.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating coil is provided with an evaporator chamber having an outer annular groove. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a seal is located in the outer annular groove. Preferably, the seal is a silicone ring or a vulcanized natural rubber ring. A silicone ring or vulcanized natural rubber ring placed under the base of the mouthpiece ensures that no liquid is lost.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating coil has an inlet which is adjacent to the inlet end of the evaporation chamber. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a flange is provided next to the inlet. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fastening element is located on the heating element.

The vape device according to the invention includes a vapor chamber for holding e-liquid and a heating coil inserted into the intake channel of the vapor chamber, wherein the heating coil includes a heating coil located at the inlet end of the vapor chamber and a mouthpiece located at the inlet end of the vapor chamber. the outlet end of the evaporation chamber, and in which the evaporation chamber and the mouthpiece are integrally formed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vape device includes a floating inner cuff, which is located in the intake channel. Preferably, the floating inner collar seals the outlet in the receiving channel when the heating coil is not inserted into the receiving channel. This prevents e-liquid from entering the evaporation chamber when the heating coil is removed.

Preferably, the floating inner collar moves away from the outlet when the heating coil is inserted into the receiving channel. When the heating coil is inserted, the collar is pressed down by the flange on the heating coil to allow the e-liquid to flow into the vapor chamber and soak the heating coil soft pack material. The flange size can be 0.5mm.

In an advantageous embodiment, a first fastening element is provided on the heating coil and a second fastening element, which cooperates with the first fastening element, is provided on the evaporation vessel.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fastening element and the second fastening element cooperate to keep the vape device in operation, in which the e-liquid flows from the outlet of the evaporator tank through the inlet of the heating coil element. Preferably, the first fastener and the second fastener cooperate to hold the vape device in its original state, in which the outlet on the evaporator tank is hermetically sealed by the outer surface of the heating coil. According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the first fastener is an external thread and the second fastener is an internal thread.

Further other features of the invention follow from the claims, description and drawings. Features and combinations of features indicated in the above description, as well as features and combinations of features indicated in the description of the figures and/or only shown in the figures, can also be used in other combinations or independently, without going beyond the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention which are not explicitly shown or described in the figures, but which are derived from the described embodiments by way of separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as disclosed. Therefore, embodiments and combinations of features that do not have all the features of the original independent claim should also be considered as disclosed.

The following describes examples of preferred embodiments of the invention, shown schematically in the drawings, namely:

Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art mouthpiece 2' and body 3'.

Fig. 2 illustrates the heating coil 1 of the invention, formed in one piece.

Fig. 3 illustrates a heating coil 1 that can be inserted into an evaporation vessel 11.

In FIG. 4 shows a top view of a vape device in which the heating coil can be switched between the operating position 31 and the rest position 32.

In FIG. 5a shows a side view of the heating coil inserted into the evaporation vessel in operating position 31.

In FIG. 5b shows a side view of the heating coil inserted into the evaporator vessel at the initial position 32.

In FIG. 6 shows in detail the flange 8, made on the heating element 1.

The terms "electronic cigarette", "e-cigarette" and "vape device" are often used interchangeably. However, the term "electronic cigarette" is sometimes used to mean that the e-liquid being vaporized contains nicotine, while "vape device" refers to a device that uses e-liquid without nicotine. The heating coil and vape device of the invention work equally well in both cases. Thus, the term "vape device" is used throughout the text of the description, regardless of the type of e-liquid used, and covers vape devices as well as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes.

In addition, the term "evaporator tank" in the present description includes the body in which the e-liquid storage tank is located. However, the evaporator tank can contain other components in addition to said tank, such as a battery to power the heating coil, a memory to store user settings, or a display to show the level of the e-liquid tank. Thus, the term "evaporator tank" in the present description means any body that has at least a reservoir for storing e-liquid.

In the prior art, as shown in FIG. 1, the mouthpiece 2' and the housing 3', which houses the vapor chamber and heating coil, are separate parts. More specifically, the mouthpiece 2' is inserted into the body 3' as indicated by arrow 20. When a worn heating coil needs to be replaced, the mouthpiece is first detached, after which the body 3' with the heating coil can be replaced. Sometimes the 3' body that includes the heating coil is also called the "coil", and replacing the coil means that the entire 3' body is being replaced. Likewise, the mouthpiece 2' can be replaced separately from the body 3'.

For purposes of clarity of description, a housing assembly is provided that includes a heating coil, also referred to herein as a heating coil, to indicate that replacement of a heating coil consists of replacing the entire heating coil, not just the resistive wire forming the actual heating coil.

When it comes time to replace the heating coil in a prior art vape device, the vapor chamber usually still contains e-liquid and/or condensation. Since the vapor chamber and the mouthpiece are in hydraulic communication, the e-liquid can spill through the opening in the body 3' onto the mouthpiece 2'. In some cases it may also be difficult to remove the body 3' from the evaporator tank, or the mouthpiece 2' may unexpectedly come off during the replacement process.

To avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a simple, hygienic and efficient way to replace the heating coil, the quick change heating element was invented. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, integrally formed heating element 1 includes an evaporation chamber 3 and a mouthpiece 2, which are in hydraulic communication. The heating element 1 has an elongated shape, usually cylindrical, and contains a heating coil 16 located near the inlet 6. Typically, the heating coil 16 is provided with a capillary material (not shown). The capillary material, sometimes also referred to as padding, initially absorbs the e-liquid even before the e-liquid has evaporated for when the heating coil 16 is energized. Various arrangements of the capillary material and the heating coil 16 are possible. . Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, but covers other arrangements known to those skilled in the art.

The evaporation chamber has an inlet end 7 and an outlet end 7'. The resistance wire of the heating coil 16 is heated when an electrical current, usually from a battery, is passed through the heating coil 16 which vaporises the e-liquid in the capillary material. The air and the evaporated e-liquid form a vapor which flows in a common direction along the longitudinal axis of the heating element from the inlet end 7 to the outlet end 7' of the evaporation chamber 3 to the mouthpiece 2. An opening 30 in the mouthpiece allows the user to inhale the vapor. Near the mouthpiece, i.e. in the direction of the outlet end of the evaporation chamber, an outer annular groove 4 is formed in the outer wall of the evaporation chamber. In the direction of the inlet end 7, the first fastening element 9 is located on the heating element 1.

As noted above, in FIG. 2 shows a heating element 1 which includes an evaporator chamber 3 having an outer annular groove 4. Generally, the annular groove is made towards the outlet end 7' of the evaporator chamber 3. The exact location of the annular groove 4 is not critical, provided that the annular groove is closer to the outlet end 7' than the inlet 6.

In FIG. 3 shows the heating element 1, which is inserted into the receiving channel 12 of the evaporation tank 11 by moving the heating element in the direction of the arrow 21. A floating inner cuff 13 is located in the receiving channel 12. The floating inner cuff 13 seals the outlet 14 located in the receiving channel 12 when the heating the element 1 is not inserted into the evaporation tank 11. The outlet 14 is in fluid communication with the tank of the evaporation tank 11, where the tank part contains the e-liquid. When the heating element 1 is inserted into the evaporation vessel 11, the flange 8 catches the floating inner collar 13 and pushes it down so that the outlet 14 becomes open. When the heating element is fully inserted and the first fastener 9 and the second fastener 15 are engaged, the heating element 1 can be held in an operating position 31 in which outlet 14 and inlet 6 are aligned so that e-liquid can flow from evaporation tank 11 into the evaporation chamber 3.

The first fastening element 9 can be made in the form of an external thread at the inlet end of the evaporation chamber, and the second fastening element in the form of a mating internal thread in the receiving channel 12. position 31 as shown in FIG. 4. In a particular embodiment, partially unscrewing the heating element results in misalignment of the inlet 6 and outlet 14 so that the vape device can be stored without loss of e-liquid. In another specific embodiment, the second fastening element 15 is installed with the possibility of free rotation in the receiving channel 12. After the heating element 1 is fully secured, additional application of torque rotates the second fastening element to displace the axes of the inlet 6 and outlet 14 and thus achieve storage positions 32 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the integral heating element 1 also has the advantage of making the vape device 10 more user-friendly, as it easily and quickly switches between the operating position and storage positions by simply turning the mouthpiece 2.

In FIG. 3 further shows the seal 5, which is located in the outer annular groove 4. Typically, the seal 5 is a silicone ring. However, the seal 5 can also be made from other materials such as vulcanized natural rubber. In addition, any other material known to a person skilled in the art that has sealing properties can also be used for seal 5. More specifically, seal 5 prevents leakage of e-liquid, vapor or condensate from the vape device through the gap between the receiving channel 12 and heating element 1.

On FIG. 4 shows a top view of a vape device 11 in which the heating element 1 can be switched between an operating position 31 and a storage position 32. In particular, the first fastener 9 and the second fastener 15 can be tightly connected such that the heating element 1 is held in place when the vape device 10 is used. to the storage position 32, in which the evaporation vessel 11 and the evaporation chamber 3 are no longer in hydraulic communication, as shown in FIG. 5b. Instead, the outer wall of the heating element 1 seals the outlet 14 and prevents e-liquid from flowing out of the evaporator tank 11. Accordingly, not only the replacement of the heating coil, but also the normal use of the vape device can become more simple and hygienic.

In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece 2 is marked 33 indicating whether the vape device 10 is in the operating position 31 or in the storage position 32. Thus, marking 33 serves as a visual indicator of the mode of operation of the vape device 10.

In FIG. 5a is a side view of the heating element 1 inserted into the evaporation vessel 11. More specifically, FIG. 5a shows the vape device 10 in the working position 31, in which the outlet 14 and the inlet 6 are aligned in such a way that the evaporation tank 11 and the evaporation chamber 3 are hydraulically connected. The seal 5 seals the heating element 1 in the intake channel 12 and prevents leakage of steam or e-liquid. Thus, the vapor from the vape device only comes out through the mouthpiece 2.

In FIG. 5b, which is also a side view of the heating element 1 inserted into the evaporator tank 11, the vape device is in storage position 32 because the inlet 6 and outlet 14 are not aligned to allow fluid communication.

In FIG. 6 shows in detail the flange 8 made on the heating element 1. The flange 8 captures the floating inner collar 13 when the heating element 1 is inserted into the receiving channel 12 of the evaporation tank 11.

According to one aspect of the invention, a simpler, faster, and more hygienic way to replace a worn heating coil 16 is provided, making replacement more convenient and hassle-free for the consumer. In particular, a worn heating coil 16 can be replaced much more easily by removing the heating element 1 from the evaporation tank 11 by simply turning the mouthpiece 2.

The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrates and describes the present invention. In addition, the disclosure of the invention demonstrates and describes only examples of implementation, but, as mentioned above, it should be understood that the invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications and conditions, and changes or improvements can be made within the concept expressed in this description, commensurate with the above ideas and/or prior art knowledge or experience.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is to be construed in an inclusive sense ("having" or "comprising"), and not in an exclusive sense ("consisting solely of").

List of reference positions

1 - heating element

2 - mouthpiece

2' - mouthpiece

3 - evaporation chamber

3' - body

4 - outer annular groove

5 - seal

6 - inlet

7 - inlet end

7' - outlet end

8 - flange

9 - the first fastener

10 - vape device

11 - evaporation tank

12 - receiving channel

13 - floating inner cuff

14 - outlet

15 - second fastener

16 - heating coil

20 - arrow

21 - arrow

30 - hole

31 - working position

32 - storage position

33 - marking.

Claims (19)

1. Heating coil element (1) for a vape device (10), containing a heating coil (16) located at the inlet end (7) of the evaporation chamber (3), and a mouthpiece (2) located at the outlet end (7') evaporation chamber (3), characterized in that the evaporation chamber (3) and the mouthpiece (2) are made as one piece. 2. Heating coil according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaporation chamber (3) has an external annular groove (4). 3. Heating element according to claim 2, characterized in that a seal (5) is located in the outer annular groove (4). 4. Heating coil according to claim 3, characterized in that the seal (5) is a silicone ring or a vulcanized natural rubber ring. 5. Heating spiral element according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that an inlet (6) is provided near the inlet end (7) of the evaporation chamber (3). 6. Heating spiral element according to claim 5, characterized in that a flange (8) is made near the inlet (6). 7. Heating spiral element according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, characterized in that the first fastening element (9) is located on the heating element (1). 8. Vape device (10) containing evaporation tank (11) for storing e-liquid and heating spiral element (1) inserted into the receiving channel (12) of the evaporation tank (11), and the heating spiral element (1) includes a heating coil (16) located at the inlet end (7) of the evaporation chamber, and a mouthpiece (2) located at the outlet end (7') of the evaporation chamber, characterized in that the evaporation chamber (3) and the mouthpiece (2) are made in one piece. 9. A vape device according to claim 8, characterized in that a floating inner cuff (13) is placed in the receiving channel (12). 10. The vape device according to claim 9, characterized in that the floating inner cuff (13) hermetically closes the outlet (14) in the intake channel when the heating coil (1) is not inserted into the intake channel (12). 11. A vape device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the floating inner cuff (13) moves away from the outlet (14) when the heating coil (1) is inserted into the intake channel (12). 12. Vape device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-11, characterized in that the first fastening element (9) is made on the heating spiral element (1), and the second fastening element (15) is made on the evaporation tank (11), which interacts with the first fastening element (9). 13. The vape device according to claim 12, characterized in that the first fastening element (9) and the second fastening element (15) cooperate to hold the vape device (10) in working condition (31), in which the e-liquid flows out of outlet (14) of the evaporation tank through the inlet (6) of the heating spiral element (1). 14. The vape device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the first fastening element (9) and the second fastening element (15) cooperate to hold the vape device in its initial state (32) of storage, in which the outlet (14) on the evaporation tank (11) is hermetically sealed by the outer surface of the heating spiral element (1). 15. Vape device according to paragraphs. 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the first fastening element (9) is an external thread, and the second fastening element (15) is an internal thread.

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