FIELD

The invention relates to a wick constructed to absorb and transport a liquid and to turn it into a vapour in an electronic cigarette. It further relates to a method to produce such a wick and an electronic cigarette having such a wick.

BACKGROUND

WO2014/130692 discloses an electronic cigarette with a wick comprising fused metal beads and particles. WO2013/1 16565 discloses electronic cigarettes in which wicks are used to absorb, transport and evaporate a liquid. The wick is heated with an electronic coil provided around the wick to evaporate the liquid. WO2014/088889 discloses an apparatus and method for winding a heating element about a wick.

A disadvantage of the construction with the electronic coil around the wick is that it is preferably to produce it by hand and to avoid places where the wick is not regularly heated it should be produced by hand with precision.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an objective to provide an improved wick which is more easily produced or at least an alternative wick.

Accordingly there is provided a wick constructed to absorb and transport a liquid and to turn it into a vapour for an electronic cigarette, wherein the wick comprises:

at least one string of wick material adopted to absorb and transport the liquid;

at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material adopted to heat the liquid and to turn it into a vapour;

wherein the wick is constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being formed into a rope;

wherein the at least one string of wick material has a first helical form and the at least one wire has a second helical form and the first and second helical form are fitting complementary into each other by being constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being twisted around each other into the rope,

or the wick is constructed by the string of wick material and the wire being at least partially braided, knitted or weaved into the rope. By forming the at least one string of wick material and the at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material at least partially into the rope the wick can be more easily produced by machine. According to an embodiment the wick is constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being twisted around each other into the rope.

By twisting the at least one string of wick material and the at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material around each other into the rope the wick can be more easily

produced by machine. A regular distance between the wires can be better controlled by twisting such that the wick is more regularly heated.

According to an embodiment the at least one string of wick material has a first helical form and the at least one wire has a second helical form and the first and second helical form are fitting complementary into each other by being constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being twisted around each other.

The string of wick material may in this way assure the regular distance between parts of the wire or the wires. According to a further embodiment the wick comprises: multiple strings of wick material, and at least two wires being at least partially twisted around each other. Multiple strings may be four strings.

In this way the multiple strings of wick material may assure the regular distance between the wires.

According to an embodiment the wick is constructed such that the at least two wires have no electrical contact with each other within the wick.

This is to assure that there is no hotspot created in the wick where the two wires have contact.

According to an embodiment the wick is constructed such that the two metal wires extend at a substantially constant distance from each other.

This is to assure that there is no hotspot created in the wick where the two wires are at a smaller distance from each other.

According to an embodiment the wick is constructed to have a cross-section of the wick having at least two axes of symmetry. This construction helps in creating a regular distance between the wires.

According to an embodiment the wick is provided with a kernel string, preferably of wick material.

This construction helps in creating strength in the wick.

According to an embodiment the wick is constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being braided, knitted or weaved into the rope.

By braiding, knitting or weaving a strong wick is created.

According to an embodiment the wire is provided with carbon or metal. The metal may comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of copper, stainless steel, chromium, nickel, aluminium, and iron; and alloys, and combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment the string of wick material comprises a bundle of glass or ceramic filaments.

The bundle of glass or ceramic filaments, has the right temperature resistance.

According to an embodiment the at least one string of wick material and the at least one wire in the wick have the same length.

The wick may thereby be produced over large lengths in a continuous process. The produced large length wick may be cut in multiple smaller pieces to be mounted in electronic cigarettes.

According to an embodiment there is provided a method to produce a wick to absorb and transport a liquid and to turn it into a vapour for an electronic cigarette, wherein the method comprises forming a rope of at least one string of wick material adopted to absorb and transport the liquid and at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material adopted to heat the liquid and to turn it into a vapour,

wherein the at least one string of wick material is being constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being twisted around each other so that the string of wick material has a first helical form and the at least one wire has a second helical form and the first and second helical form are fitting complementary into each other;

or the wick is constructed by the string of wick material and the wire being at least partially braided, knitted or weaved into the rope.

By forming the at least one string of wick material and the at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material at least partially into a rope the wick can be more easily produced by machine. According to an embodiment the method comprises twisting around each other at least one string of wick material adopted to absorb and transport the liquid and at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material adopted to heat the liquid and to turn it into a vapour.

By twisting the at least one string of wick material and the at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material at least partially around each other into the rope the wick can be more easily produced by machine. A regular distance between the wires can be better controlled by twisting such that the wick is more regularly heated. According to an embodiment the method comprises at least partially twisting together multiple, preferably four, strings of wick material and two wires.

In this way the multiple strings of wick material may assure the regular distances between the wires. According to an embodiment the string of wick material and the wire have the same length.

The wick may thereby be produced over large lengths in a continuous process. The wick may be cut in smaller pieces to be mounted in the electronic cigarette. According to an embodiment the string of wick material and the wire are twisted around a kernel string, preferably of wick material.

This construction helps in creating strength in the wick and keeping a constant distance between the wires. According to an embodiment forming the rope comprises braiding, knitting or weaving together the string of wick material and the wire.

By braiding, knitting or weaving a strong and regular wick is created.

According to an embodiment there is provided an electronic cigarette to provide a vapour, wherein the electronic cigarette comprises the wick.

According to an embodiment the electronic cigarette comprises a liquid supply and an end portion of the wick with its string of wick material extends into the liquid supply.

The end portion of the wick may be provided in the liquid supply so that it easily adsorbs the liquid. According to an embodiment the electronic cigarette comprises two electronic contact portions constructed to supply an electrical current to at least one of the wires and thereby defining a vaporizing portion of the wick between the electronic contact portions, the vaporizing portion being away from the end portion of the wick.

The electronic contact portions provide a convenient way to provide electricity to the wires.

According to an embodiment the two end portions of the wick with their string of wick material extend into the liquid supply and the vaporizing portion of the wick is in between the two end portions.

In this way the two end portions may be used to absorb the liquid into the wick into the direction of the vaporizing portion.

According to an embodiment the two electronic contact portions comprise clamps to clamp (e.g. make electrical contact to) at least one of the wires of the wick.

In this way conveniently an electronic contact is made with the wire.

According to an embodiment the end portions of the wick are not formed into a rope. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the wick and the method to produce the wick will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 depicts how the wick is twisted from strings of wick material and wires into a rope;

Figure 2 depicts a cross-section of the wick of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 depicts a wick mounted on a reservoir of an electronic cigarette;

Figure 4 depicts a wick according to a further embodiment mounted on a reservoir of an electronic cigarette;

Figure 5 depicts a wick according to yet a further embodiment mounted on a reservoir of an electronic cigarette;

Figure 6 depicts how the wick is braided from strings of material and wires into a rope; and,

Figure 7 depicts how the wick is braided from strings of material and wires into a rope in an alternative way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 depicts how the wick is constructed. The wick 1 comprises at least one string 3 of wick material adopted to absorb and transport the liquid, and at least one wire 5 comprising electrically conductive material adopted to heat the liquid and to turn it into a vapour. The wick 1 is constructed by the string of wick material and the wire at least partially being formed into a rope. By forming the at least one string of wick material and the at least one wire comprising electrically conductive material at least partially into a rope the wick can be more easily produced by machine.

The wick may be partially twisted into the rope by the string 3 of wick material and the wire 5 being twisted around each other. By twisting around each other the at least one string 3 and the at least one wire 5 into a rope the wick 1 can be more easily produced and the regular distances between the wires 5 can be better controlled.

The at least one string 3 of wick material will get a first helical form and the at least one wire 5 will get a second helical form and the first and second helical form are fitting complementary into each other by being constructed by the string of wick material and the wire being twisted around each other. The string 3 of wick material may in this way assure the regular distance between parts of the wire or the wires 5.

The wick may comprise multiple strings 3 of wick material, and at least two wires 5 being twisted around each other. Multiple strings may be four strings. In this way the multiple strings of wick material may assure the regular distances between the wires.

The wick is constructed such that the at least two wires have no electrical contact with each other within the wick. This is to assure that there is no hotspot, shortcuts or sparks created in the wick where the two wires may have contact.

The wick 1 is constructed such that the two metal wires 5 extend at a substantially constant distance from each other to assure that there is no hotspot created in the wick where the two wires are at a smaller distance of each other.

Figure 2 depicts a cross-section of the wick of figure 1. The wick 1 is constructed to have a cross-section of the wick having at least two axes of symmetry. One axis of symmetry is located horizontally through the centre of the wires 5. Another axis of symmetry is located vertically in between the strings 3 of wick material.

Optionally a kernel string 6 may be used in the centre of the wick 1 to assure a good regular distance between the wires 5. The kernel string 6 may be made from wick material or alternatively a non-absorbent material.

The construction may help in creating a regular distance between the wires 5. The wire may be provided with metal comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of copper, stainless steel, chromium, nickel, aluminium, and iron; and alloys, and combinations thereof. The string 3 of wick material comprises a bundle of glass or ceramic filaments. The bundle of glass or ceramic filaments, has the right temperature resistance.

The at least one string 3 of wick material and the at least one wire 5 in the wick may have the same length. The wick may thereby be produced over large lengths in a continuous process in a machine. The wick 1 may be cut in smaller pieces to be mounted in the electronic cigarette.

The string of wick material and the wire in the wick 1 may have the same length. The wick may thereby be produced over large lengths in a continuous process. The wick may be cut in smaller pieces to be mounted in the electronic cigarette. The wick may be partially formed into a rope and at other parts the wire and the strings of wick material may be unbound.

Figure 3 depicts a wick 1 mounted on a reservoir of an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette comprises a liquid supply 7 and an end portion 9 of the wick 1 with its string of wick material and its wire extends into the liquid supply 7.

The wick 1 may be provided in the liquid supply 7. The electronic cigarette comprises two electronic contact portions 1 1 constructed to supply an electrical current to at least one of the wires and thereby defining a vaporizing portion 13 of the wick between the electronic contact portions, the vaporizing portion being away from the end portion of the wick and the wick being formed in a rope at the vaporizing portion. The electronic contact portions 1 1 provide a convenient way to provide electricity to the wires 5 in the wick 1.

Two end portions 9, 15 of the wick 1 with their string of wick material and their wire may extend into the liquid supply 7 and the vaporizing portion 13 of the wick is in between the two end portions. In this way the two end portions 9, 15 may be used to absorb the liquid into the wick into the direction of the vaporizing portion 13. The two electronic contact portions 1 1 comprise clamps to clamp (e.g. make electrical contact to) at least one of the wires of the wick 1. In this way conveniently an electronic contact is between the wire(s) of the wick 1 and the leads 17.

Figure 4 depicts a wick 1 according to a further embodiment mounted on a reservoir 7 of an electronic cigarette. The embodiment is the same as the embodiment in figure 3 except that no leads are shown and that the end portion 19 is not formed into a rope. The end portion 19 is left unbound. The end portions 19 may be unbound and still be used to absorb the liquid into the wick 1 into the direction of the vaporizing portion 13. The end portion 19 of the wick being unbound may be produced by unravelling an end portion of a manufactured rope. The end portion 19 may also be produced by not twisting, braiding or weaving the wires and the string of wick material at the end of the wick.

Figure 5 depicts a wick 1 according to yet a further embodiment mounted on a reservoir 7 of an electronic cigarette with an extra electronic contact portion 21. The embodiment is the same as the embodiment in figure 3 except that no leads are shown and that the extra electronic contact portion 21 is provided. The provided three electronic contact portions 21 may create two vaporizing portions 13. The electronic contact portions 1 1 , 21 may comprise clamps to clamp at least one of the wires of the wick 1. By connecting the contact portions 1 1 to a first pole of a battery and the extra contact portion 21 to another pole of the battery the heat generated by the wick 1 may be increased.

Figure 6 depicts how at least a portion of the wick can be braided from strings of material and wires into a rope. The wick 1 comprises at least one string 3 of wick material adopted to absorb and transport the liquid, and at least one wire 5 comprising electrically conductive material adopted to heat the liquid and to turn it into a vapour. More specifically, the wick 1 is made from braiding one wire 5 with two strings of wick material 3 into the rope.

Figure 7 depicts how at least a portion of the wick is braided with a different technique from strings of wick material and wires into a rope. The wick 1 comprises at least one string 3 of wick material adopted to absorb and transport the liquid, and at least one wire 5 comprising electrically conductive material adopted to heat the liquid and to turn it into a vapour. More specifically, the wick 1 is made from braiding one wire 5 with four strings of wick material 3 into the rope.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term multiple, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the system without departing from the scope as defined in the claims.