Electronic Cigarette

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a housing with an aperture leading to a receiving chamber within the housing wherein the receiving chamber is configured to receive and accommodate a capsule; a piercing member configured to pierce the capsule within the receiving chamber; and a slidable cover configured to be moved between an open position in which a capsule can be introduced through the aperture and a closed position in which the slidable cover covers the aperture; wherein the piercing member and the slidable cover are coupled and configured to be moved in unison.

1 . An electronic cigarette comprising:
 a housing having an aperture leading to a receiving chamber within the housing, wherein the receiving chamber is configured to receive and accommodate a capsule;   a piercing member configured to pierce the capsule within the receiving chamber; and   a slidable cover configured to be moved between an open position in which a capsule can be introduced through the aperture and a closed position in which the slidable cover covers the aperture;   wherein the piercing member and the slidable cover are coupled and configured to be moved in unison.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , wherein the piercing member is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the piercing member extends into the receiving chamber in the extended position when the slidable cover is in the closed position and wherein the piercing member is retracted from the receiving chamber in the retracted position when the slidable cover is in the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing member is moveable in an axial direction of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 3 , wherein the slidable cover is moveable in the axial direction of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 3 , wherein the slidable cover is rotatable around the axial direction of the electronic cigarette, whereby the slidable cover can be moved between the opened position and the closed position depending on an angular position of the slidable cover in relation to a center axis of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 2 , wherein the piercing member is provided with at least one inlet opening configured to receive liquid from the capsule when the at least one inlet opening is located inside the capsule. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 6 , wherein the piercing member further comprises a delivery structure configured to conduct the liquid stored in the capsule from the at least one inlet opening of the piercing member towards a vaporizer structure of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 7 , further comprising a liquid intermediate storage portion, wherein the piercing member comprises a tip with at least one outlet opening connected to the delivery structure; and
 wherein the piercing member is configured such that the at least one outlet opening is fluidically connected to the liquid intermediate storage portion when the piercing member is in the extended position.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the liquid intermediate storage portion is connected to a wick extending to, or through, a heater structure of the electronic cigarette for transporting the liquid from the liquid intermediate storage portion to the heater structure.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 2 , wherein the piercing member is provided with a catch configured to engage with the capsule such that, when the piercing member is being retracted from the extended position towards the retracted position, the capsule is pulled from a capsule seating within the receiving chamber 
     
     
         11 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing structure that is arranged and configured to bias the slidable cover into the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with an abutment limiting the movement of the slidable cover. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a controlling circuit configured to activate or deactivate the electronic cigarette based on a position of the slidable cover. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is formed in a lateral side of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the slidable cover is slidable with respect to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 6 , wherein the piercing member further comprises a conduit configured to conduct the liquid stored in the capsule from the at least one inlet opening of the piercing member towards a vaporizer structure of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 16 , further comprising a pad of a fibrous or porous material, wherein the piercing member comprises a tip with at least one outlet opening connected to the delivery structure; and
 wherein the piercing member is configured such that the at least one outlet opening is fluidically connected to the liquid intermediate storage portion when the piercing member is in the extended position.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 17 , wherein the fibrous or porous material includes cotton, silica, ceramics, or silicon. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring that is arranged and configured to bias the slidable cover into the closed position.