ATOMIZER AND ELECTRONIC ATOMIZATION DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

Priority is claimed to Chinese Patent Application No. 202421244030.2, filed on May 31, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

This application relates to the field of atomization technologies, and in particular, to an atomizer and an electronic atomization device.

BACKGROUND

An atomizer generally includes an atomization core and a liquid storage cavity. The atomization core is in fluid communication with the liquid storage cavity. The atomization core heats and atomizes an aerosol-forming material in the liquid storage cavity when energized, to generate aerosols to be inhaled by a user through a suction nozzle.

Currently, a high-power atomization core generates a relatively large amount of aerosols, which easily form a large amount of condensates in an airflow channel. As a result, a user easily inhales the condensates into a mouth during smoking or the condensates flow out of the suction nozzle when the atomizer is inverted during smoking, resulting in a problem of a liquid leakage.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an atomizer, comprising: a housing having a liquid storage space and a gas flow path therein; a liquid storage member arranged in the liquid storage space; an atomization core arranged in the housing and in fluid communication with the liquid storage member and the gas flow path; a first sealing member arranged on a side of the liquid storage member; and a first liquid absorbing member having an air outlet hole, the air outlet hole being a part of the gas flow path, wherein the first sealing member is provided with at least one back-suction channel, and wherein the back-suction channel is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member and the first liquid absorbing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic atomization device according to this application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional diagram of the electronic atomization device provided in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an atomizer of the electronic atomization device provided in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional diagram of the atomizer provided in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic enlarged view of an area A of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a first sealing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4 at an angle.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the first sealing member provided in FIG. 6 at another angle.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional diagram of the first sealing member provided in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a first liquid absorbing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a second sealing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4 at an angle.

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of the second sealing member provided in FIG. 10 at another angle.

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a second liquid absorbing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a base of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an atomizer and an electronic atomization device, to resolve a problem in the prior art that a high-power atomization core has a large atomization amount and therefore condensates cannot be sucked back in time and flow out through a suction nozzle.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an atomizer, including:

• • a housing, having a liquid storage space and a gas flow path therein;
  • a liquid storage member, arranged in the liquid storage space;
  • an atomization core, arranged in the housing and in fluid communication with both the liquid storage member and the gas flow path;
  • a first sealing member, arranged on a side of the liquid storage member;
  • a first liquid absorbing member, having an air outlet hole, where the air outlet hole is a part of the gas flow path.

The first sealing member is provided with at least one back-suction channel, and the back-suction channel is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member and the first liquid absorbing member.

The gas flow path includes an air outlet channel and an airflow channel, the atomization core is arranged in the airflow channel, and the air outlet channel is located downstream from the atomization core.

The first sealing member is arranged on a side of the liquid storage member close to the air outlet channel, and has a first vent hole in communication with the airflow channel, the first vent hole is a part of the gas flow path, the first liquid absorbing member is arranged on a surface of the first sealing member away from the liquid storage member, and the air outlet hole is in communication with the air outlet channel and the first vent hole.

The back-suction channel includes a first back-suction groove, a communication groove, and a second back-suction groove that are in communication in sequence, the first back-suction groove is arranged on a surface of the first sealing member close to the first liquid absorbing member, the second back-suction groove is arranged on a surface of the first sealing member close to the liquid storage member, and the communication groove is arranged on a side wall of the first vent hole.

The surface of the first sealing member away from the liquid storage member is further provided with at least one third back-suction groove, the third back-suction groove is in communication with the at least one first back-suction groove, and the third back-suction groove is provided around the first vent hole; and/or

the surface of the first sealing member close to the liquid storage member is further provided with at least one fourth back-suction groove, the fourth back-suction groove is in communication with the at least one second back-suction groove, and the fourth back-suction groove being provided around the first vent hole; and/or

• • a side wall of the first vent hole is further provided with at least one fifth back-suction groove, the fifth back-suction groove is in communication with the at least one communication groove, and the fifth back-suction groove extends in a circumferential direction of the first vent hole.

The width of at least one of the first back-suction groove, the communication groove, and the second back-suction groove is in a range of 0.1-2 mm and the depth thereof is in a range of 0.1-2 mm.

The diameter of the airflow channel is greater than the diameter of the air outlet channel.

The diameter of the first vent hole gradually decreases in a direction from the liquid storage member to the first liquid absorbing member.

The atomizer further includes:

• • a second sealing member, arranged on an end of the liquid storage member away from the first sealing member and having a second vent hole; and
  • a second liquid absorbing member, arranged on a surface of the second sealing member away from the liquid storage member and having an avoidance hole, where the avoidance hole is in communication with the second vent hole and is a part of the gas flow path.

A surface of the second sealing member close to the liquid storage member has at least one sixth back-suction groove, and/or a surface of the second sealing member away from the liquid storage member has at least one seventh back-suction groove.

A liquid guide rate of the liquid storage member is greater than a liquid guide rate of the first liquid absorbing member; and/or a proportion of a liquid injection amount of the liquid storage member to a total amount of an aerosol-forming material allowed to be accommodated in a liquid storage member is less than 75%.

In order to resolve the foregoing technical problem, a technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: An electronic atomization device is provided, including:

• • an atomizer, which is any atomizer described above; and
  • a power supply assembly, electrically connected to the atomizer and configured to supply energy to the atomizer.

The power of the atomization core of the atomizer is in a range of 14-30 W; and/or

• • an atomization amount of the atomizer for a single puff is in a range of 10-24 mg/puff.

Beneficial effects of this application are as follows. Different from the prior art, this application discloses an atomizer and an electronic atomization device. The atomizer includes: a housing, having a liquid storage space and a gas flow path therein; a liquid storage member, arranged in the liquid storage space; an atomization core, arranged in the housing and in fluid communication with both the liquid storage member and the gas flow path; a first sealing member, arranged on a side of the liquid storage member; a first liquid absorbing member, having an air outlet hole, where the air outlet hole is a part of the gas flow path; and the first sealing member is provided with at least one back-suction channel, and the back-suction channel is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member and the first liquid absorbing member. Because the at least one back-suction channel that is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member and the first liquid absorbing member is provided on the first sealing member, partial condensates are absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member, other condensates can be sucked back into the liquid storage member through the back-suction channel, which effectively resolves a problem in the prior art that a high-power atomization core has a large atomization amount and therefore condensates cannot be sucked back in time and flow out of an atomizer through a suction nozzle, thereby improving user experience.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

Electronic atomization device 300; Atomizer 100; Power supply assembly 200; Housing 1; Liquid storage space 11; Air outlet channel 12; Liquid storage member 2; Airflow channel 21; Atomization core 3; First sealing member 4; First vent hole 41; First back-suction groove 42; Second back-suction groove 43; Communication groove 44; Third back-suction groove 45; Mounting groove 46; First liquid absorbing member 5; Air outlet hole 51; Vent tube 6; Second sealing member 7; Second vent hole 71; Sixth back-suction groove 72; Seventh back-suction groove 73; Eighth back-suction groove 74; Ninth back-suction groove 75; Second liquid absorbing member 8; Avoidance hole 81; Base 9; Air inlet 91; Electrode hole 92; Electrical connection member 10; Sealing plug 101.

Technical solutions in embodiments of this application are clearly and completely described below with reference to drawings in the embodiments of this application. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some rather than all of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of this application.

Terms “first”, “second”, and “third” in the embodiments of this application are merely used for description, and shall not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance or an implicit indication of a quantity of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with “first”, “second”, and “third” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of this application, “a plurality of” means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise definitely and specifically defined. In addition, terms “include”, “have”, and any variant thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, a method, a system, a product, or a device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, and instead, optionally further includes a step or a unit that is not listed, or optionally further includes another step or unit that is intrinsic to the process, the method, the product, or the device.

“An embodiment” mentioned in the specification means that particular features, structures, or characteristics described with reference to the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The phrase appearing at various locations in this specification unnecessarily indicates a same embodiment or an independent or alternative embodiment exclusive to another embodiment. A person skilled in the art explicitly or implicitly understands that the embodiments described in the specification may be combined with other embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic atomization device according to this application, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional diagram of the electronic atomization device provided in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an atomizer of the electronic atomization device provided in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, this application provides an electronic atomization device 300. The electronic atomization device 300 may be configured to atomize an aerosol-forming material. The electronic atomization device 300 includes an atomizer 100 and a power supply assembly 200, and the atomizer 100 is electrically connected to the power supply assembly 200.

The atomizer 100 is configured to store and atomize an aerosol-forming material to form aerosols that may be inhaled by a user. The atomizer 100 may specifically be applied to different fields such as medical care, cosmetology, and recreational smoking. In a specific embodiment, the atomizer 100 may be applied to an electronic aerosol-generating device, to atomize an aerosol-forming material and generate aerosols for inhalation by a user. The following embodiments are all described by using the recreational smoking as an example.

For a specific structure and functions of the atomizer 100, reference may be made to a specific structure and functions of an atomizer 100 involved in the following embodiments, and same or similar technical effects can be implemented. Details are not described herein.

The power supply assembly 200 includes a battery (not marked) and a controller. The battery is configured to provide electric energy for operation of the atomizer 100, so that the atomizer 100 can atomize the aerosol-forming material to form aerosols. The controller is configured to control the operation of the atomizer 100. The power supply assembly 200 further includes other elements such as a battery holder and an airflow sensor.

The atomizer 100 and the power supply assembly 200 may be integrally arranged, or may be detachably connected to each other, which may be designed according to a specific demand. The atomizer 100 and the power supply assembly 200 provided in this embodiment are detachably connected to each other.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 9, FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional diagram of the atomizer provided in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a partial schematic enlarged view of an area A of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a first sealing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4 at an angle, FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the first sealing member provided in FIG. 6 at another angle, FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional diagram of the first sealing member provided in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a first liquid absorbing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the atomizer 100 includes a housing 1, a liquid storage member 2, an atomization core 3, a first sealing member 4, and a first liquid absorbing member 5. The housing 1 has a liquid storage space 11 and a gas flow path (not marked) therein. The liquid storage member 2 is arranged in the liquid storage space 11. Specifically, the liquid storage member 2 has pores therein to store an aerosol-forming material. The atomization core 3 is arranged in the housing 1, and the atomization core 3 is in fluid communication with both the liquid storage member 2 and the gas flow path, so that the aerosol-forming material stored in the liquid storage member 2 can flow toward the atomization core 3, for the atomization core 3 to heat and atomize the aerosol-forming material to generate aerosols when energized. The first sealing member 4 is arranged on a side of the liquid storage member 2, the first liquid absorbing member 5 has an air outlet hole 51, and the air outlet hole 51 is a part of the gas flow path. The first scaling member 4 is provided with at least one back-suction channel (not marked), and the back-suction channel is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2 and the first liquid absorbing member 5.

It may be understood that, because the first sealing member 4 is arranged on a side of the liquid storage member 2, the back-suction channel is provided on the first sealing member 4, and the back-suction channel brings the liquid storage member 2 into fluid communication with the first liquid absorbing member 5, partial condensates accumulating at the air outlet hole 51 can be absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member 5, which reduces a risk that the condensates flow out of the atomizer 100. In addition, when the first liquid absorbing member 5 is full of absorbed condensates and therefore can no longer absorb condensates, or when the first liquid absorbing member 5 cannot absorb condensates as quickly as condensates are generated from condensation of aerosols formed by the atomization core 3, the back-suction channel on the first sealing member 4 can cause the condensates absorbed in the first liquid absorbing member 5 and the condensates accumulating at the air outlet hole 51 to be directly sucked back to the liquid storage member 2 through the back-suction channel. In this way, a problem of a liquid leakage caused by condensates flowing out of the atomizer 100 when the atomizer 100 is inverted as a result of the high-power atomization core 3 having a large atomization amount and therefore condensates failing to be sucked back in time can be effectively resolved, thereby preventing a user from inhaling the condensates during smoking.

Specifically, in some implementations, the gas flow path includes an air outlet channel 12 and an airflow channel 21. The first sealing member 4 is arranged on a side of the liquid storage member 2 close to the air outlet channel 12, and has a first vent hole 41 that is in communication with the airflow channel 21. The first vent hole 41 is a part of the gas flow path. The first liquid absorbing member 5 is arranged on a surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the liquid storage member 2, and has an air outlet hole 51. The air outlet hole 51 is in communication with the air outlet channel 12 and the first vent hole 41. In other words, the air outlet channel 12 is provided spaced apart from the airflow channel 21 and the first vent hole 41, and the air outlet channel 12 is in communication with the airflow channel 21 through the air outlet hole 51 and the first vent hole 41 in sequence.

In a specific implementation, the air outlet channel 12 is formed on the housing 1, the airflow channel 21 is formed in the liquid storage member 2, the atomization core 3 is arranged in the airflow channel 21 formed in the liquid storage member 2, and the air outlet channel 12 is located downstream from the atomization core 3. The airflow channel 21, the first vent hole 41, the air outlet hole 51, and the air outlet channel 12 are sequentially in communication with each other to form a part of the gas flow path. In other implementations, the airflow channel 21 may not be provided in the liquid storage member 2, An airflow channel 21 independent of the liquid storage member 2 may be provided, provided that the airflow channel 21 can be in communication with the air outlet channel 12, which may be designed according to a demand.

In some implementations, referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 8, the back-suction channel includes a first back-suction groove 42, a communication groove 44, and a second back-suction groove 43 that are in communication in sequence. Specifically, a surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the first liquid absorbing member 5 has at least one first back-suction groove 42, a surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2 has at least one second back-suction groove 43, and a side wall of the first vent hole 41 has at least one communication groove 44 in communication with the first back-suction groove 42 and the second back-suction groove 43.

Specifically, because the at least one first back-suction groove 42 is provided on the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the first liquid absorbing member 5, the at least one second back-suction groove 43 is provided on the surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the first liquid absorbing member 5, that is, a surface close to the liquid storage member 2, the at least one communication groove 44 is provided on the side wall of the first vent hole 41, and the communication groove 44 brings the first back-suction groove 42 into communication with the second back-suction groove 43 to form the back-suction channel, when the first liquid absorbing member 5 full of absorbed condensates and therefore can no longer absorb condensates, or when the first liquid absorbing member 5 cannot absorb condensates as quickly as condensates are generated from condensation of aerosols formed by the atomization core 3, the back-suction groove structures in communication with each other can cause the condensates in the first liquid absorbing member 5 and condensates accumulating at the first vent hole 41 or in the air outlet channel 12 to be directly sucked back to the liquid storage member 2 through the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43. In this way, a problem of a liquid leakage caused by condensates flowing out of the atomizer 100 through the air outlet channel 12 when the atomizer 100 is inverted as a result of the high-power atomization core 3 having a large atomization amount and therefore condensates failing to be sucked back in time can be effectively resolved, thereby preventing a user from inhaling the condensates at a port of the air outlet channel 12 during smoking, effectively preventing bubbling caused by excessive stacking of condensates in the air outlet channel 12, the first vent hole 41, and the airflow channel 21 of the atomizer 100, and improving user experience.

In some other implementations, the back-suction channel may be provided as a through hole that extends through the first sealing member 4, and the through hole is provided spaced apart from the first vent hole 41 of the first sealing member 4. Because the at least one through hole that extends through the first sealing member 4 is provided on the first sealing member 4, the first liquid absorbing member 5 can be brought into fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2 directly the through hole, to suck the condensates absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member 5 back into the liquid storage member 2, thereby avoiding a liquid leakage as a result of the condensates flowing out of the atomizer 100 through the air outlet channel 12 when the first liquid absorbing member 5 is full of absorbed condensates.

In some other implementations, the back-suction channel may include only the first back-suction groove 42 and the communication groove 44 that are in communication with each other, that is, the back-suction channel may not include the second back-suction groove 43. The first back-suction groove 42 is provided on the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the first liquid absorbing member 5, the communication groove 44 is provided on the side wall of the first vent hole 41, and an end of the communication groove 44 away from the first back-suction groove 42 is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2, so as to bring the first liquid absorbing member 5 into fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2 through the back-suction channel, so as to suck the condensates absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member 5 back into the liquid storage member 2.

In some other implementations, the back-suction channel may include only the communication groove 44 and the second back-suction groove 43 that are in communication with each other. The second back-suction groove 43 is provided on the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2, the communication groove 44 is provided on the side wall of the first vent hole 41, and an end of the communication groove 44 away from the second back-suction groove 43 is in fluid communication with the first liquid absorbing member 5, so as to suck the condensates absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member 5 back into the liquid storage member 2.

In some other implementations, the back-suction channel may include only the communication groove 44. The communication groove 44 is provided on the side wall of the first vent hole 41, one end of the communication groove 44 is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2, and an other end is in fluid communication with the first liquid absorbing member 5, so as to suck the condensates absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member 5 back into the liquid storage member 2.

The back-suction channel may be provided in any of the above manners, or may be provided in other manners, provided that the first liquid absorbing member 5 can be brought into fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2 through the back-suction channel, so as to suck the condensates absorbed by the first liquid absorbing member 5 back into the liquid storage member 2. The back-suction groove may be designed according to a demand, which is not limited in this application.

Specifically, in an embodiment, the power of the atomization core 3 of the atomizer 100 of the electronic atomization device 300 is in a range of 14-30 W, and an atomization amount of the atomization core 3 for a single puff of a user is in a range of 10-24 mg/puff. It may be understood that, because the power of the atomization core 3 is set to the foregoing range, and the atomization amount for a single puff of a user is set to the foregoing range, the power of the atomization core 3 is relatively large, and an amount of aerosols generated from atomization per unit time is relatively large. Therefore, the first liquid absorbing member 5 and the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 of the first sealing member 4 of the atomizer 100 of this application have a better back-suction effect and higher efficiency, and the structure of this application is more superior.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 9, in some implementations, the diameter of the airflow channel 21 of the atomizer 100 is greater than the diameter of the air outlet channel 12, and the diameter of the first vent hole 41 of the first sealing member 4 gradually decreases in a direction from the liquid storage member 2 to the first liquid absorbing member 5. The diameter of an end of the first vent hole 41 close to the airflow channel 21 is greater than the diameter of an end close to the air outlet channel 12. Specifically, the diameter of an end of the first vent hole 41 close to the air outlet channel 12 is equal to the diameter of the air outlet channel 12, and the diameter of the end of the first vent hole 41 close to the airflow channel 21 is greater than or equal to the diameter of the airflow channel 21. Preferably, the diameter of the end of the first vent hole 41 close to the airflow channel 21 is set to be greater than the diameter of the airflow channel 21, to ensure better communication among the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43. Therefore, the condensates accumulating at the air outlet channel 12 and the first vent hole 41 can more smoothly flow into the liquid storage member 2 through the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43, thereby avoiding a problem that the condensates cannot be sucked back into the liquid storage member 2 as a result of the condensates directly flowing into the airflow channel 21 directly through the first vent hole 41 without passing through the second back-suction groove 43.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the atomizer 100 further includes a vent tube 6. The vent tube 6 is provided in the liquid storage member 2, and an inner wall surface of the vent tube 6 defines and forms the airflow channel 21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the vent tube 6 is a round tube. In other implementations, the vent tube 6 may be set to any other shape. A liquid storage space 11 is defined between an outer wall surface of the vent tube 6 and an inner wall surface of the housing 1, and the liquid storage member 2 is arranged in the liquid storage space 11.

The atomization core 3 includes a liquid guide member (not marked) and a heating element (not marked). The liquid guide member is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2. The heating element is arranged on an atomization surface (not marked) of the liquid guide member. The heating element is electrically connected to the power supply assembly 200 of the electronic atomization device 300, to heat and atomize the aerosol-forming material in the liquid guide member to generate aerosols under a heating condition. An atomization cavity (not marked) is defined in the liquid guide member of the atomization core 3, and the atomization cavity is in communication with the airflow channel 21. The heating element may be any element such as a heating mesh, a heating film, or a heating wire. The liquid guide member may be a porous structural member such as liquid guide cotton, porous ceramic, or porous glass.

The atomization core 3 may be arranged in the vent tube 6, and the atomization core 3 is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2. Specifically, a liquid inlet hole (not marked) may be provided on a tube wall of the vent tube 6, so that the liquid guide member of the atomization core 3 is in fluid communication with the liquid storage member 2, and the atomization cavity of the atomization core 3 is in communication with the airflow channel 21. Alternatively, the atomization core 3 may be directly arranged in the liquid storage member 2, so that the atomization cavity of the atomization core 3 is in communication with the airflow channel 21.

In some implementations, the atomization core 3 may include two heating elements arranged spaced apart. For example, the atomization core 3 includes two heating meshes. The two heating meshes are arranged spaced apart in an extension direction of the airflow channel 21, and the two heating meshes are respectively electrically connected to the power supply assembly 200, so as to form the high-power atomization core 3, thereby improving heating efficiency and atomization efficiency of the atomization core 3.

In some implementations, as shown in FIG. 4, an end of the vent tube 6 protrudes from a surface of the liquid storage member 2 close to the first sealing member 4, and the part of the vent tube 6 protruding from the liquid storage member 2 is inserted into an end of the first vent hole 41 close to the liquid storage member 2. Specifically, an end of the vent tube 6 close to the air outlet channel 12 is provided spaced apart from the end of the first vent hole 41 close to the air outlet channel 12. That is, the vent tube 6 implements communication with the air outlet hole 51 by means of the first vent hole 41, instead of implementing communication with the air outlet hole 51 or the air outlet channel 12 directly. In this way, it can be ensured that the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 of the first scaling member 4 fully achieve the back-suction function, thereby avoiding a problem that the condensates still flow out of the atomizer 100 as a result of the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 failing to achieve the back-suction function when the vent tube 6 is directly in communication with the air outlet channel 12.

In some implementations, a convex ring (not marked) may be arranged at a position on the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2 corresponding to the first vent hole 41 and the vent tube 6. The convex ring is arranged around the first vent hole 41. The part of the vent tube 6 protruding from the liquid storage member 2 is inserted into the convex ring, and an outer side surface of the vent tube 6 is arranged spaced apart from an inner side surface of the convex ring. A height of the part of the vent tube 6 protruding from the liquid storage member 2 is equal to a height of the convex ring, to further ensure the back-suction effect of the communication groove 44, the first back-suction groove 42, and the second back-suction groove 43.

Majority aerosols generated from atomization of the atomization core 3 flow into the airflow channel 21 through the atomization cavity, flow toward the air outlet channel 12 through the airflow channel 21, the first vent hole 41, and the air outlet hole 51 in sequence, and finally are inhaled at a port on an end of the air outlet channel 12 away from the air outlet hole 51. Minority aerosols accumulate at the airflow channel 21 and an area B in FIG. 4. Specifically, minority aerosols accumulate at the first vent hole 41 and the air outlet hole 51, and form condensates. It may be understood that, because the diameter of the airflow channel 21 of the atomizer 100 is greater than the diameter of the air outlet channel 12, and the diameter of the first vent hole 41 of the first sealing member 4 gradually decreases in the direction from the liquid storage member 2 to the first liquid absorbing member 5, the area B in FIG. 4 is a connection position for transitioning from the airflow channel 21 having a large hole diameter to the air outlet channel 12 having a small hole diameter. The hole diameter change at the position causes the condensates to accumulate at the first vent hole 41 and the air outlet hole 51 more easily. Because the first liquid absorbing member 5 and the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 that are in communication with each other are arranged, the condensates at the position can be effectively sucked back into the liquid storage member 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a flowing path S of the condensates that are sucked back is as follows: The condensates pass through the first back-suction groove 42 and the communication groove 44 in sequence, and then a part directly enters the liquid storage member 2, and an other part flows into the liquid storage member 2 when flowing through the second back-suction groove 43. In this way, the liquid storage member 2 achieves absorption of the condensates.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in some implementations, the surface of the first scaling member 4 close to the first liquid absorbing member 5 includes a plurality of first back-suction grooves 42. The plurality of first back-suction grooves 42 are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the first scaling member 4, and each first back-suction groove 42 extends in a radial direction of the first sealing member 4. Specifically, the plurality of first back-suction grooves 42 radiate outward from the first vent hole 41. In other words, from the first vent hole 41 of the first sealing member 4 to an edge of the first sealing member 4, the distance between two adjacent first back-suction groove 42 gradually increases. It may be understood that, because condensates more easily accumulate at a position closer to the first vent hole 41, setting the distance between two adjacent first back-suction groove 42 to decrease from ends of the adjacent first back-suction grooves close to the first vent hole 41 to ends thereof away from the first vent hole 41 can ensure a stronger back-suction capability and higher efficiency of the first back-suction groove 42 at position close to the first vent hole 41. The first back-suction groove 42 may extend in any manner such as a straight line shape, a curved line shape, or a broken line shape. Preferably, the end of the first back-suction groove 42 away from the first vent hole 41 extends to a side of the first sealing member 4, to increase a length of the first back-suction groove 42 and improve a capacity of the first back-suction groove 42.

In other implementations, only one first back-suction groove 42 may be provided, the first back-suction groove 42 may extend in any other direction, and the first back-suction groove 42 may be provided in any shape such as an annular shape or an arc shape, provided that an end of the first back-suction groove 42 can be in communication with the communication groove 44. Alternatively, the end of the first back-suction groove 42 away from the first vent hole 41 may not extend to the side of the first sealing member 4. In other words, the end of the first back-suction groove 42 away from the first vent hole 41 is provided spaced apart from the side of the first sealing member 4, which may be designed according to a demand.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in some implementations, the side wall of the first vent hole 41 has a plurality of communication grooves 44, and the plurality of communication grooves 44 are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the first vent hole 41. Specifically, the communication groove 44 extends from the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the first liquid absorbing member 5 to the surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the first liquid absorbing member 5, to bring the first back-suction groove 42 into communication with the second back-suction groove 43. In other implementations, only one communication groove 44 may be provided, provided that the first back-suction groove 42 can be brought into communication with the second back-suction groove 43.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in some implementations, the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2 has a plurality of second back-suction grooves 43. The plurality of second back-suction grooves 43 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the first sealing member 4. Specifically, each second back-suction groove 43 also extends in the radial direction of the first sealing member 4. Specifically, the plurality of second back-suction grooves 43 radiate outward from the first vent hole 41. In other words, from the first vent hole 41 of the first sealing member 4 to the edge of the first sealing member 4, the distance between two adjacent second back-suction groove 43 gradually increases. Similarly, setting the distance between two adjacent second back-suction groove 43 to decrease from ends of the adjacent first back-suction grooves close to the first vent hole 41 to ends thereof away from the first vent hole 41 can ensure a stronger back-suction capability and higher efficiency of the second back-suction groove 43 at position close to the first vent hole 41. The second back-suction groove 43 may extend in any manner such as a straight line shape, a curved line shape, or a broken line shape. Preferably, the end of the second back-suction groove 43 away from the first vent hole 41 extends to a side of the first sealing member 4, to increase a length of the second back-suction groove 43 and improve a capacity of the second back-suction groove 43.

In other implementations, only one second back-suction groove 43 may be provided, the second back-suction groove 43 may extend in any other direction, and the second back-suction groove 43 may be provided in any shape such as an annular shape or an arc shape, provided that an end of the second back-suction groove 43 can be in communication with the communication groove 44. Alternatively, the end of the second back-suction groove 43 away from the first vent hole 41 may not extend to the side of the first sealing member 4. In other words, the end of the second back-suction groove 43 away from the first vent hole 41 is provided spaced apart from the side of the first sealing member 4, which may be designed according to a demand.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in some implementations, the surface of the first scaling member 4 away from the liquid storage member 2 is further provided with at least one third back-suction groove 45, and the third back-suction groove 45 is in communication with at least one first back-suction groove 42. In a specific implementation, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the liquid storage member 2 is further provided with one third back-suction groove 45. The third back-suction groove 45 is in an annular shape. The third back-suction groove 45 is provided about the first vent hole 41. The surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the liquid storage member 2 is provided with a plurality of first back-suction grooves 42. The plurality of first back-suction groove 42 are provided at intervals. The third back-suction groove 45 is in communication with the plurality of first back-suction grooves 42. In other words, the plurality of first back-suction grooves 42 implement communication with each other through the third back-suction groove 45 in the annular shape. When the first back-suction groove 42 is to be brought into communication with the communication groove 44, only one first back-suction groove 42 needs to be brought into communication with the communication groove 44, which can implement fluid communication between all of the first back-suction grooves 42 and the communication groove 44.

In other implementations, a plurality of third back-suction groove 45, for example, two, three, or four third back-suction grooves may be provided. Each third back-suction groove 45 may be in an annular shape. The plurality of third back-suction grooves 45 may be provided at intervals in the radial direction of the first sealing member 4. Each third back-suction groove 45 may be in communication with some of the first back-suction grooves 42, or may be in communication with all of the first back-suction grooves 42. Alternatively, one third back-suction groove 45 may be provided. The third back-suction groove 45 may be in a shape other than the annular shape, such as an arc shape or a straight line shape. The third back-suction groove 45 may be in communication with some of first back-suction grooves 42. Alternatively, the third back-suction groove 45 may be provided as a linear or curved structure. Each third back-suction groove 45 may be in communication with some of the first back-suction grooves 42, or may be in communication with all of the first back-suction grooves 42. The plurality of third back-suction grooves 45 may be randomly distributed in any direction.

For example, eight first back-suction grooves 42 and three third back-suction grooves 45 are provided on the surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the liquid storage member 2. The eight first back-suction grooves 42 are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the first sealing member 4, and the three third back-suction grooves 45 are also distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the first sealing member 4. Shapes of the three third back-suction grooves 45 may be the same or different. One of the third back-suction grooves 45 is in communication with three first back-suction grooves 42, one of the other two third back-suction grooves 45 is in communication with three first back-suction grooves 42 of the other five first back-suction grooves 42, and the other third back-suction grooves is in communication with the other two first back-suction grooves 42, so that each third back-suction groove 45 is in communication with some of the first back-suction grooves 42.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in some implementations, the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2 is further provided with at least one fourth back-suction groove, and the fourth back-suction groove is in communication with at least one second back-suction groove 43. In a specific implementation, a surface of the first sealing member 4 away from the liquid storage member 2 is further provided with one fourth back-suction groove. The fourth back-suction groove is in an annular shape. The fourth back-suction groove is provided about the first vent hole 41. The surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2 is provided with a plurality of second back-suction grooves 43. The plurality of second back-suction groove 43 are provided at intervals. The fourth back-suction groove is in communication with the plurality of second back-suction grooves 43. In other words, the plurality of second back-suction grooves 43 implement communication with each other through the fourth back-suction groove in the annular shape. When the second back-suction groove 43 is to be brought into communication with the communication groove 44, only one second back-suction groove 43 needs to be brought into communication with the communication groove 44, which can implement fluid communication between all of the second back-suction grooves 43 and the communication groove 44. For other specific arrangement manners and communication manners of the fourth back-suction groove and the second back-suction groove 43, refer to the specific arrangement manner and communication manner of the third back-suction groove 45 and the first back-suction groove 42. Details are not described herein.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in some implementations, the side wall of the first vent hole 41 is further provided with at least one fifth back-suction groove, and the fifth back-suction groove is in communication with at least one communication groove 44. Specifically, in an implementation, the side wall of the first vent hole 41 is provided with one fifth back-suction groove. The fifth back-suction groove is in an annular shape and extends in the circumferential direction of the first vent hole 41. The side wall of the first vent hole 41 is further provided with a plurality of communication grooves 44 provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the first vent hole 41. One fifth back-suction groove is in communication with the plurality of communication grooves 44. In other words, the plurality of communication grooves 44 implement communication with each other through the fifth back-suction groove in the annular shape. When the communication groove 44 is to be brought into communication with the first back-suction groove 42 or the second back-suction groove 43, only one communication groove 44 needs to be brought into communication with the first back-suction groove 42 or the second back-suction groove 43, which can implement fluid communication between all of the communication grooves 44 and the first back-suction groove 42 or the second back-suction groove 43. For other specific arrangement manners and communication manners of the fifth back-suction groove and the communication groove 44, refer to the specific arrangement manner and communication manner of the third back-suction groove 45 and the first back-suction groove 42. Details are not described herein.

In some implementations, the first sealing member 4 may include only the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43. A specific arrangement manner may be any one of the foregoing implementations. Alternatively, the first sealing member may further include any one, two, or three of the third back-suction groove 45, the fourth back-suction groove, and the fifth back-suction groove. A specific arrangement manner may be any one of the foregoing implementations or a combination of two or more of the foregoing implementations, which may be designed according to a demand. This is not limited in this application. It may be understood that, providing the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, the second back-suction groove 43, the third back-suction groove 45, the fourth back-suction groove, and the fifth back-suction groove can cause the first sealing member 4 to have higher back-suction efficiency and a stronger back-suction effect for the condensates.

Specifically, in some implementations, a same quantity of first back-suction grooves 42, communication grooves 44, and second back-suction grooves 43 are provided. For example, a plurality of first back-suction grooves 42, communication grooves 44, and second back-suction grooves 43 are provided, and the quantities thereof are the same. For example, eight first back-suction grooves, communication grooves, and second back-suction grooves are provided. The plurality of the first back-suction grooves 42 and the plurality of the second back-suction grooves 43 are in communication with the plurality of the communication grooves 44 in one-to-one correspondence. Alternatively, only one first back-suction groove, communication groove, and second back-suction groove may be provided, and two ends of the communication groove 44 are respectively in communication with the first back-suction groove 42 and the second back-suction groove 43. The first sealing member 4 may be provided with one or more of the third back-suction grooves 45, the fourth back-suction grooves, or the fifth back-suction grooves, or none of the third back-suction grooves, the fourth back-suction grooves, or the fifth back-suction grooves.

In some implementations, the quantity of the second back-suction grooves 43 is greater than the quantity of the communication grooves 44. The surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the liquid storage member 2 is provided with the fourth back-suction groove. The fourth back-suction groove is in communication with a plurality of second back-suction grooves 43. Because the fourth back-suction groove brings the plurality of second back-suction grooves 43 into communication, even if only one of the plurality of second back-suction grooves 43 is in communication with the communication groove 44, all of the second back-suction grooves 43 can be in fluid communication with the communication groove 44.

In some implementations, the quantity of the first back-suction grooves 42 may be less than the quantity of the communication grooves 44, or may be equal to the quantity of the communication grooves 44. When the quantity of the first back-suction grooves 42 is equal to the quantity of the communication grooves 44, the third back-suction groove 45 or the fifth back-suction groove may not be provided, or the third back-suction groove 45 or the fifth back-suction groove may be provided. When the quantity of the first back-suction grooves 42 is less than the quantity of the communication grooves 44, the fifth back-suction groove is provided on the side wall of the first vent hole 41, and the fifth back-suction groove is in communication with a plurality of communication grooves 44, so that even if only one communication groove 44 is in communication with one second back-suction groove 43, fluid communication of all of the communication grooves 44 with the second back-suction groove 43 can be achieved.

In some implementations, the width of at least one of the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm, and the depth thereof is in a range of 0.1-2 mm. Specifically, the width of the first back-suction groove 42 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm, and the depth of the first back-suction groove 42 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm; and/or the width of the communication groove 44 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm, and the depth of the communication groove 44 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm; and/or the width of the second back-suction groove 43 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm, and the depth of the second back-suction groove 43 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm. Setting the depths and widths of the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 to the foregoing ranges can cause the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43 to have a better back-suction effect and higher back-suction efficiency.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a specific implementation, a surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the air outlet channel 12 has a mounting groove 46. The first liquid absorbing member 5 is embedded in the mounting groove 46. The first back-suction groove 42 is provided on a bottom wall of the mounting groove 46. The first back-suction groove 42 extends from the communication groove 44 to a side wall of the mounting groove 46. In other implementations, the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the air outlet channel 12 may not be provided with the mounting groove 46, and the first liquid absorbing member 5 is directly arranged on the surface of the first sealing member 4 close to the air outlet channel 12.

A liquid guide rate of the liquid storage member 2 is greater than a liquid guide rate of the first liquid absorbing member 5. Specifically, in an implementation, the liquid storage member 2 is liquid storage cotton, the first liquid absorbing member 5 is liquid absorbing cotton, and the density of the liquid storage member 2 is less than the density of the first liquid absorbing member 5. Preferably, the density of the liquid storage cotton is 0.07±0.02 g/cm³, and/or the density of the liquid absorbing cotton is 0.175±0.02 g/cm³. In this way, it can be ensured that the liquid guide rate of the liquid storage member 2 is greater than the liquid guide rate of the first liquid absorbing member 5, and it is ensured that the condensates in the first liquid absorbing member 5 or the condensates in the first vent hole 41 and the air outlet hole 51 can be smoothly sucked back into the liquid storage cotton through the first back-suction groove 42, the communication groove 44, and the second back-suction groove 43.

In some implementations, a proportion of a liquid injection amount of the liquid storage member 2 to a total amount of an aerosol-forming material that can be accommodated in the liquid storage member 2 is less than 75%, to ensure that the liquid storage member 2 has a sufficient capability of absorbing the condensates, so as to avoid a problem that the liquid storage member 2 cannot absorb the condensates in time and the condensates flow out of the atomizer 100 during the atomization as a result of the liquid injection amount in the liquid storage member 2 being excessively large or the liquid storage member 2 being in nearly a full state. For example, if the volume of the liquid storage member 2 is 17 cm³, and the porosity of the liquid storage member 2 is 70%, the total volume of an aerosol-forming material that can be accommodated in the liquid storage member 2 is 17*70%, and specifically, is 11.9 ml. The liquid injection amount in the liquid storage member 2 is less than 11.9*75%. Specifically, the liquid injection amount in the liquid storage member 2 is less than 8.925 ml.

Referring to FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a second sealing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4 at an angle, FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of the second sealing member provided in FIG. 10 at another angle, FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a second liquid absorbing member of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4, and FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a base of the atomizer provided in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, in some implementations, the atomizer 100 further includes a second sealing member 7, a second liquid absorbing member 8, and a base 9. The second sealing member 7 is arranged on an end of the liquid storage member 2 away from the first sealing member 4. Specifically, the second sealing member 7 is arranged on an end of the liquid storage member 2 away from the air outlet channel 12, and has a second vent hole 71 correspondingly in communication with the airflow channel 21. The second liquid absorbing member 8 is arranged on a surface of the second sealing member 7 away from the liquid storage member 2, and has an avoidance hole 81 at a position corresponding to the second vent hole 71. The avoidance hole 81 is in communication with the second vent hole 71 and is used as a part of the gas flow path. Specifically, the base 9 is arranged on an end of the second liquid absorbing member 8 away from the liquid storage member 2, and blocks a port of the housing 1. Specifically, the base 9 has an air inlet 91 and an electrode hole 92. The electrode hole 92 and the air inlet 91 are correspondingly located in a space formed by the avoidance hole 81, and the avoidance hole 81 is in communication with the air inlet 91 and the airflow channel 21, so that an external airflow can enter the airflow channel 21 through the air inlet 91, the avoidance hole 81, and the second vent hole 71 in sequence, thereby carrying the aerosols generated from atomization toward the air outlet channel 12 throughout the gas flow path.

Further, the atomizer 100 further includes an electrical connection member 10. The electrical connection member 10 is inserted in the electrode hole 92. One end of the electrical connection member 10 is electrically connected to the atomization core 3, and specifically, is electrically connected to the heating element of the atomization core 3, and an other end is electrically connected to the power supply assembly 200, thereby implementing electrical connection between the atomization core 3 and the power supply assembly 200.

As shown in FIG. 10, in some implementations, a surface of the second sealing member 7 close to the liquid storage member 2 has at least one sixth back-suction groove 72. The sixth back-suction groove 72 may be configured to accommodate condensates or hold a part of the aerosol-forming material overflowing from the liquid storage member 2, and may guide the condensates formed from atomization, so that the condensates are absorbed by the liquid storage member 2 arranged in contact with the sixth back-suction groove 72, thereby avoiding a problem that normal operation of the electronic atomization device 300 is affected as a result of the condensates generated from atomization or the aerosol-forming material in the liquid storage member 2 flowing out of the atomizer 100 or toward the power supply assembly 200 through the second vent hole 71. In some implementations, the width of the sixth back-suction groove 72 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm, and the depth of the sixth back-suction groove 72 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm.

As shown in FIG. 11, in some implementations, the surface of the second sealing member 7 away from the liquid storage member 2 has at least one seventh back-suction groove 73. The condensates generated from atomization may be guided through the seventh back-suction groove 73, to be absorbed by the second liquid absorbing member 8 that is in contact with the seventh back-suction groove 73, to further avoid the problem that normal operation of the electronic atomization device 300 is affected as a result of the condensates generated from atomization flowing out of the atomizer 100 or toward the power supply assembly 200. In some implementations, the width of the seventh back-suction groove 73 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm, and the depth of the seventh back-suction groove 73 is in a range of 0.1-2 mm. In a specific implementation, the second liquid absorbing member 8 is liquid absorbing cotton, and the density of the second liquid absorbing member 8 may be the same as or different from the density of the first liquid absorbing member 5.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in some implementations, the second sealing member 7 is provided with at least one sixth back-suction groove 72 and at least one seventh back-suction groove 73. The sixth back-suction groove 72 and the seventh back-suction groove 73 are not in communication, to preventing a part of the aerosol-forming material overflowing from the liquid storage member 2 and the condensates generated from atomization from flowing out of the atomizer 100 or toward the power supply assembly 200.

In other implementations, the second sealing member 7 is provided with at least one sixth back-suction groove 72 and at least one seventh back-suction groove 73. The sixth back-suction groove 72 and the seventh back-suction groove 73 may be in communication with each other through a through hole that extends through the second sealing member 7 or a communication groove provided on a side wall of the second vent hole 71, to form a back-suction channel, so as to suck the condensates absorbed by the second liquid absorbing member 8 back to the liquid storage member 2 through the back-suction channel, thereby improving utilization of the aerosol-forming material, and preventing the condensates from flowing out of the atomizer 100 or toward the power supply assembly 200.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in some implementations, the surface of the second sealing member 7 close to the liquid storage member 2 may further include at least one eighth back-suction groove 74, and the eighth back-suction groove 74 is in communication with the at least one sixth back-suction groove 72; and/or the surface of the second sealing member 7 away from the liquid storage member 2 may further have at least one ninth back-suction groove 75, and the ninth back-suction groove 75 is in communication with the at least one seventh back-suction groove 73. The eighth back-suction groove 74 or the ninth back-suction groove 75 may be provided with reference to the manner in which the third back-suction groove 45 of the first sealing member 4 is provided, and may have the same or similar technical effect. Details are not described herein.

The first sealing member 4 and the second sealing member 7 may be made of a scaling material such as silicon or rubber, and is configured to seal the liquid storage space 11, to prevent a leakage of the aerosol-forming material in the liquid storage space 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the atomizer 100 further includes a sealing plug 101. One end of the sealing plug 101 is embedded in the air outlet channel 12, and an other end covers the port of the air outlet channel 12. The sealing plug is configured to block a port on an end of the air outlet channel 12 away from the airflow channel 21 when the atomizer 100 is idle or is not inhaled, to prevent the aerosol-forming material from leaking out through the port of the air outlet channel 12 when a user does not inhale the atomizer 100 or when the atomizer is inverted.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.