Electronic cigarette

Abstract

An electronic cigarette is disclosed, which includes a housing, an atomizer assembly and a liquid reservoir. The housing defines an air intake on one end thereof and an air outlet on the other end thereof, the housing is hollow. The atomizer assembly received in the housing, which includes a support and a flexible heating element, the support is provided with a chimney connected to the air intake and the air outlet therein, the support defines a through hole communicated with the chimney thereon, the flexible heating element includes a body portion and an arm portion connected to the body portion, the body portion extends through the through hole and located in the chimney. The liquid reservoir surrounds an outer surface of the support; the arm portion is extended inside the liquid reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a housing defining an air intake on one end thereof and an air outlet on the other end thereof, the housing being hollow;   an atomizer assembly received in the housing, wherein the atomizer assembly comprises a support and a flexible heating element, the support is provided with a chimney interconnected to the air intake and the air outlet, the support defines a through hole communicated with the chimney, the flexible heating element comprises a body portion and an arm portion connected to the body portion, the body portion extends through the through hole and is located in the chimney; and   a liquid reservoir surrounded an outer surface of the support, the arm portion is extended inside the liquid reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid reservoir comprises a liquid storage medium. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of the arm portion is two, the two arm portions are located on opposed ends of the body portion, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 3 , wherein the flexible heating element has a U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the flexible heating element is 0.5 mm 2  to 3 mm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible heating element is a carbon fiber rod. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible heating element is a mixed woven body composed of flexible heating strips and heating resistant fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexible heating strips are metal wires or conductive fibers, the heating resistant fibers are selected from the group consisted of glass fibers, and carbon fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the support defines a plurality of air holes. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , furthering comprising a power supply assembly, wherein the power supply assembly comprises an electrode, a wire, and an electrode support, the electrode is connected to the arm portion by the wire, the electrode is fixed to the electrode support, the electrode support defines a pore, the airflow enters from the air intake, and goes out from the air outlet by passing through the pore and the chimney.