Electronic cigarette

Abstract

An electronic cigarette is provided. The electronic cigarette includes a casing having three chambers located sequentially within the cylindrical casing. A battery and a fluid are located in the casing. Sealing elements form partitions between the chambers. A tube element is located in the second chamber, providing an air passage through the second chamber that is filled with fluid. A heating element is located in the third chamber and a fiber element having a first segment communicating with the heating element, and a second segment located in the second chamber, the fiber element carrying the fluid from the second chamber to the heating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing comprising a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, the three chambers located sequentially within the cylindrical casing;   a battery located in the first chamber;   a fluid located in the second chamber;   a first sealing element forming a partition between the first and second chambers, the first sealing element structured to prevent fluid from passing from the second chamber into the first chamber;   an air pressure switch located at a distal end of the first chamber;   an air inlet provided on the external wall of the casing;   a second sealing element forming a partition between the second and third chambers, the second sealing element structured to prevent fluid from passing from the second chamber into the third chamber;   a tube element located in the second chamber, with a first distal end of the tube element located in the first sealing element, and a second distal end of the tube element located in the second sealing element, the tube element providing an air passage through the second chamber;   a heating element located in the third chamber; and   a fiber element having a first segment communicating with the heating element, and a second segment located in the second chamber, the fiber element carrying the fluid from the second chamber to the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled to a distal end of the cylindrical casing, the LED enclosing the distal end of the cylindrical casing. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising an end-cap coupled to a distal end of the cylindrical casing, the end-cap including an aperture and substantially enclosing the distal end of the cylindrical casing. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the cylindrical casing is comprises of a material selected from a group consisting of: a steel, a plastic, and a combination of a steel and a plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece coupled to a distal end of the cylindrical casing adjacent to the third chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the air inlet is located in a portion of the cylindrical casing that forms the first chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the second sealing element is comprised of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board located adjacent to a distal end of the first chamber, the electronic circuit board communicating with the air pressure switch. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the fluid is selected from a group consisting of: a glycol fluid, a fluid containing nicotine, a water-based “regular” cigarette flavored fluid, a water-based “menthol” cigarette flavored fluid, and a combination of two or more fluids. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the heating element is selected from a group consisting of: a platinum wire, a nickel chromium alloy wire, an iron chromium aluminum alloy wire, and a wire comprised of a rare earth element. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing comprising a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, the three chambers located sequentially within the cylindrical casing;   a battery located in the first chamber;   a fluid located in the second chamber;   a first sealing element forming a partition between the first and second chambers, the first sealing element structured to prevent fluid from passing from the second chamber into the first chamber;   an air pressure switch located at a distal end of the first chamber;   an air inlet provided on the external wall of the casing;   an electronic circuit board located at the distal end of the first chamber, the electronic circuit board communicating with the air pressure switch;   a light-emitting diode forming an end-cap at a distal end of the cylindrical casing opposite the mouthpiece, the light-emitting diode communicating with the electronic circuit board;   a second sealing element forming a partition between the second and third chambers, the second sealing element structured to prevent fluid from passing from the second chamber into the third chamber;   a tube element located in the second chamber, with a first distal end of the tube element located in the first sealing element, and a second distal end of the tube element located in the second sealing element, the tube element providing an air passage through the second chamber;   a heating element located in the third chamber;   a fiber element having a first segment communicating with the heating element, and a second segment located in the second chamber, the fiber element carrying the fluid from the second chamber to the heating element;   a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled to a first distal end of the cylindrical casing, the LED enclosing the first distal end of the cylindrical casing; and   an end-cap coupled to a second distal end of the cylindrical casing, the end-cap including an aperture and substantially enclosing the second distal end of the cylindrical casing.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the cylindrical casing is comprises of a material selected from a group consisting of: a steel, a plastic, and a combination of a steel and a plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece coupled to a distal end of the cylindrical casing adjacent to the third chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the air inlet is located in a portion of the cylindrical casing that forms the first chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the second sealing element is comprised of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board located adjacent to a distal end of the first chamber, the electronic circuit board communicating with the air pressure switch. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the fluid is selected from a group consisting of: a glycol fluid, a fluid containing nicotine, a water-based “regular” cigarette flavored fluid, a water-based “menthol” cigarette flavored fluid, and a combination of two or more fluids. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , where the heating element is selected from a group consisting of a platinum wire, a nickel chromium alloy wire, a iron chromium aluminum alloy wire, and a wire comprised of a rare earth element. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing comprising a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, the three chambers located sequentially within the cylindrical casing;   a battery located in the first chamber;   a fluid located in the second chamber;   a first sealing element forming a partition between the first and second chambers, the first sealing element structured to prevent fluid from passing from the second chamber into the first chamber;   an air pressure switch located at a distal end of the first chamber;   an air inlet provided on the external wall of the casing;   a second sealing element forming a partition between the second and third chambers, the second sealing element structured to prevent fluid from passing from the second chamber into the third chamber;   a tube element located in the second chamber, with a first distal end of the tube element located in the first sealing element, and a second distal end of the tube element located in the second sealing element, the tube element providing an air passage through the second chamber;   a first sealing cylinder located around the first distal end of the tube element and contacting the first sealing element, the first sealing cylinder preventing the fluid from contacting the first distal end of the tube element;   a second sealing cylinder located around the second distal end of the tube element and contacting the second sealing element, the second sealing cylinder preventing the fluid from contacting the second distal end of the tube element;   a heating element located in the third chamber;   a fiber element having a first segment communicating with the heating element, and a second segment located in the second chamber, the second segment passing through an aperture in the second sealing cylinder, so that the fiber element transmits the fluid from the second chamber to the heating element.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 19 , further comprising a second fiber element having a first segment communicating with the heating element, and a second segment located in the second chamber, the second segment passing through another aperture in the second sealing cylinder, so that the second fiber element transmits the fluid from the second chamber to the heating element.