Integrated Pump Case for E-Cigarette Liquid Refill Spills
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic smoking devices face challenges in refilling their liquid reservoirs, as current methods often result in spills, flooding of the atomizer, and inconvenience due to the need for separate refill bottles, which can lead to unpleasant experiences and potential ingestion of the liquid.
Innovation Solution
A case designed for electronic smoking devices that includes a primary receiving portion for the device, a secondary receiving portion for a liquid cartridge, and a pump system with an actuation element to facilitate the transport and refilling of liquid within the case, preventing spills and simplifying the refilling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple pipette-like attachment is used for refilling, then the refill bottle is simple and easy to manufacture, but liquid spills during the refill procedure and the process is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pump system with a pump chamber and piston as an intermediary mechanism between the refill bottle and the device reservoir. This pump system controls liquid transfer through controlled suction and discharge, preventing spills and enabling precise refilling without direct manual pouring, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and ease of operation
2Device complexity
If manual refilling is used, then the refill process is simple, but liquid may drip into the air tube causing atomizer flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system acts as a controlled intermediary that transfers liquid only when needed, preventing uncontrolled dripping into the air tube. The piston mechanism ensures liquid is delivered in controlled amounts to the reservoir, protecting the atomizer from flooding while maintaining system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the liquid transfer mechanism before refilling begins. The piston is pre-configured to control liquid flow, ensuring that liquid is delivered carefully to the reservoir without risking entry into the air tube, thus preventing atomizer flooding in advance
3Ease of operation
If the device is disassembled for refilling, then the liquid reservoir can be accessed, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is pre-configured within the case to perform liquid transfer automatically when the reservoir is inserted. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for manual disassembly and refilling operations, allowing users to simply insert the reservoir and activate the pump through the actuation element, thus saving time while maintaining accessibility
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate refill bottles are used, then the liquid reservoir can be refilled, but additional components must be transported and stored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the refill bottle, pump system, and liquid transfer mechanism into a single integrated case unit. This combination eliminates the need for separate refill bottles and their associated storage requirements, as the pump system is housed within the case and automatically transfers liquid from the reservoir when activated, thus reducing overall complexity while maintaining refill capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The case allows for a safe and convenient refill of the liquid reservoir, preventing spills and maintaining the device's functionality while ensuring user safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a pump system with an actuation element, adapted to provide liquid from a liquid cartridge received by the secondary receiving portion to the liquid outlet via the liquid channel system upon an actuation of the actuation element
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided a case (200) for an electronic smoking device (10). The case (200) comprises a primary receiving portion (101), adapted to receive an electronic smoking device (10) and a secondary receiving portion (102), adapted to receive a liquid cartridge (300), adapted to contain a liquid. Furthermore, the case (200) comprises a liquid channel system (110) for the transport of liquid within the case (200). Moreover, the case (200) comprises a pump system (120) with an actuation element (130), adapted to provide liquid from a liquid cartridge (300) received by the secondary receiving portion (102) to a liquid outlet (112) of the liquid channel system (110) via the liquid channel system (110) upon an actuation of the actuation element (130).