Electronic vaping device with floating atomizer

Abstract

An electronic vaping device is provided including a power supply portion comprising a power supply, an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion comprising a liquid reservoir storing a liquid, and an atomizer adapted to atomize the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir when operated by the power supply. The atomizer is adapted to float on the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

1 . An electronic vaping device comprising:
 a power supply portion including a power supply,   an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion including
 a liquid reservoir configured to store a liquid, and 
 an atomizer positioned within the liquid reservoir and electrically coupled to the power supply via a noncontact-type connection, the atomizer configured and arranged to
 float on the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir, and 
 atomize the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir when operated by the power supply. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic vaping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer includes
 a floating element configured and arranged to float on the liquid surface, and   a heating element that is supported by the floating element and is configured and arranged to be positioned in contact with the liquid when the floating element floats on the liquid surface,   wherein the noncontact-type connection includes a first antenna coil positioned within the floating element, the first antenna coil configured to receive energy from the power supply via inductive coupling.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic vaping device according to  claim 2 , wherein the power supply portion further includes control electronics electrically coupled to the power supply, and a second antenna coil electrically coupled to the control electronics;
 wherein the control electronics are configured to supply power from the power supply to the second antenna coil.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic vaping device according to  claim 3 , wherein the second antenna coil is configured to induce a magnetic field in response to a current, and in response to the magnetic field a voltage is induced at the first antenna coil thereby powering the atomize. 
     
     
         5 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The electronic vaping device according to  claim 1 , wherein the noncontact-type connection is an inductive coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic vaping device according to  claim 2 , wherein the floating element is a torus shape, and the first antenna coil extends through the floating element in a planar spiral. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An atomizer for an electronic vaping device, the atomizer comprising:
 an antenna coil, and   a heating element electrically coupled to the antenna coil, the heating element configured and arranged to atomize liquid stored in a liquid reservoir of the electronic vaping device in response to receiving a voltage from the antenna coil.   
     
     
         16 . The atomizer of  claim 15 , further including a floating element configured and arranged to float on the liquid surface of the liquid reservoir, the floating element supports the heating element, and
 wherein the heating element is configured and arranged to be positioned in contact with the liquid when the floating element floats on the liquid surface.   
     
     
         17 . The atomizer of  claim 16 , wherein the floating element is a torus shape, and the antenna coil extends through the floating element in a planar spiral. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The atomizer of  claim 15 , wherein the antenna coil is configured and arranged to receive energy via an inductive coupling and thereby power the heating element. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)