Electronic cigarette

Abstract

An electronic cigarette is provided in two or three sections. One section is a reusable barrel containing the electrical components, including a rechargeable battery and a heater or atomizer. Another section may include the atomizer and a replaceable and disposable cartridge having the desired volatile substance, such as nicotine, a medicament, and/or a flavoring agent.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An electronic cigarette comprising:
 a generally cylindrical cigarette shaped three sectioned body having a reusable first section including a battery and an air inlet and an electrical control circuit;   a second disposable section including a cartridge with an atomizer and a volatile substance, said second section sealably coupled to said first section; and   a third section sealably and removably coupled to said second section, wherein said third section includes a non-wicking filter and a reservoir of an active ingredient such that as air passes through said second section and vaporizes said volatile substance which flows through said reservoir and is exhausted through a mouthpiece at an end of said third section.   
     
     
         41 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 40  wherein said first section includes a flow sensor responsive to detected air flow for applying operating power to said atomizer when a user draws air into said mouthpiece. 
     
     
         42 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 41  wherein said volatile substance includes propylene glycol and/or glycerin. 
     
     
         43 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 42  wherein said active ingredient includes nicotine. 
     
     
         44 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 43  wherein a flavoring agent is added to said active ingredient. 
     
     
         45 .- 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . An electronic cigarette comprising:
 a generally cylindrical cigarette shaped two sectioned body having a reusable first section including a battery and an air inlet and a second disposable section including a cartridge with a reservoir including an active ingredient, said second section including a mouthpiece for drawing vaporized contents from said cartridge;   an atomizer and a source of a volatile substance in said first section which is selectively coupled to said battery and coupled to said source of volatile substance to be vaporized and entrained in air drawn into said first section through said inlet; and   wherein said second section is sealably and removably coupled to said first section, wherein said cartridge is positioned in said second section downstream of said atomizer such that said vaporized volatile substance passes through said cartridge and vaporizes said active ingredient which is exhausted through said mouthpiece.   
     
     
         57 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 56  and further including a flow sensor and an electrical control circuit coupled to said battery and responsive to detected air flow for applying operating power to said atomizer when a user draws air into said mouthpiece. 
     
     
         58 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 57  wherein said volatile substance includes propylene glycol and/or glycerin. 
     
     
         59 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 58  wherein said active ingredient includes nicotine. 
     
     
         60 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 59  wherein said active ingredient includes a flavoring agent. 
     
     
         61 . The electronic cigarette as defined in  claim 60  wherein said cartridge includes a non-wicking filter positioned upstream of said reservoir. 
     
     
         62 .- 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A replaceable cartridge for an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising:
 a generally cylindrical housing;   an atomizer near one end of said housing;   a source of volatile substance positioned in said housing in communication with said atomizer; and   a reservoir for an active ingredient, said reservoir positioned in said housing in one of an upstream and downstream position of said source of volatile substance.   
     
     
         78 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 77  wherein said active ingredient includes nicotine. 
     
     
         79 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 78  wherein said reservoir further includes a flavoring agent. 
     
     
         80 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 79  wherein said volatile substance includes propylene glycol and/or glycerin. 
     
     
         81 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 80  wherein opposite ends of said housing are sealed with a gas impermeable sealing material. 
     
     
         82 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 77  and further including a non-wicking filter positioned between said source of volatile substance and said reservoir. 
     
     
         83 . A replaceable cartridge for an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising:
 a generally cylindrical housing;   a source of volatile substance positioned in said housing and extending longitudinally along said housing and occupying only a first section of said cylindrical housing; and   a reservoir for an active ingredient, said reservoir positioned in said housing adjacent said source of volatile substance and occupying a second section of said cylindrical housing.   
     
     
         84 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 83  wherein the dimensions of said first and second sections can be varied to vary the amount of volatile substance and active ingredient used in the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         85 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 84  wherein said active ingredient includes nicotine. 
     
     
         86 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 85  wherein said reservoir further includes a flavoring agent. 
     
     
         87 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 86  wherein said volatile substance includes propylene glycol and/or glycerin. 
     
     
         88 . The cartridge as defined in  claim 87  wherein opposite ends of said housing are sealed with a gas impermeable sealing material. 
     
     
         89 .- 120 . (canceled)