Electronic Cigarette Cartridge with Compressible Wick

Abstract

An electronic cigarette cartridge has a liquid store and a fluid transfer element, which includes a compressible wick and flexible contact surface. The fluid transfer element is configured to receive liquid from the liquid store and the flexible contact surface is configured to release liquid held in the compressible wick from the electronic cigarette cartridge when the fluid transfer element is compressed.

1 . An electronic cigarette cartridge comprising a liquid store and a fluid transfer element, the fluid transfer element comprising a compressible wick and a flexible contact surface;
 wherein the fluid transfer element is configured to receive liquid from the liquid store and wherein the flexible contact surface is configured to release liquid held in the compressible wick from the electronic cigarette cartridge when the fluid transfer element is compressed.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid store is fluidically connected to the compressible wick by an opening between the liquid store and the fluid transfer element. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible wick is located inside the liquid store. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer element further comprises a plug in which the compressible wick is housed, the plug being receivable in the liquid store and having a first end arranged to face liquid in the liquid store and wherein a buffer is arranged on the first end to transport liquid from the liquid store to the compressible wick by capillary action. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the buffer comprises a plurality of plates arranged to extend from the compressible wick into the liquid store, with channels arranged between the plurality of plates such that in use liquid is drawn from the liquid store to the compressible wick by capillary action. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer element is located outside the liquid store, and the liquid store is engageable by the fluid transfer element such that, in operation, the fluid transfer element transfers a portion of liquid from the liquid store to a heater in an electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer element further comprises a mesh arranged on a surface of the compressible wick such that the mesh forms the flexible contact surface, and wherein the mesh is arranged to allow liquid to pass there-through when a compression is applied to the compressible wick. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the mesh is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic cigarette for use with the electronic cigarette cartridge of  claim 1 , the electronic cigarette comprising a compressing element and a heater;
 wherein the compressing element is arranged to move relative to the fluid transfer element from a first position separated from the fluid transfer element to a second position pressing against the flexible contact surface of the fluid transfer element to compress the compressible wick such that liquid is releasable from the compressible wick and adsorbable on the heater.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 9 , wherein the heater is arranged on the compressing element such that the heater is pressed against the flexible contact surface of the fluid transfer element when the compressing element is in the second position and a portion of liquid releasable from the compressible wick is adsorbable on the heater; and
 wherein the heater is arranged to vaporise an adsorbed portion of liquid when the compressing element is released from the flexible contact surface.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 9 , wherein the heater is proximal to but separated from the fluid transfer element and arranged such that the compressing element is pressed against the flexible contact surface of the fluid transfer element when the compressing element is in the second position, and whereby a portion of liquid is released from the compressible wick and is adsorbed on the heater; and
 wherein the heater is arranged to vaporise an adsorbed portion of liquid when the compressing element has moved from the second position to the first position.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating the electronic cigarette of  claim 9 , the method comprising:
 moving the compressing element to press against the flexible contact surface of the fluid transfer element such that liquid is released from the fluid transfer element;   establishing a fluidic bridge between the released liquid and the heater such that a portion of the released liquid is adsorbed onto the heater; and   heating the adsorbed liquid by the heater to generate a vapour when the fluidic bridge is broken.