PTC heating device

In a PTC heating device for incorporation in electric vaporizer apparatus for heating and vaporizing liquid material, said electric vaporizer apparatus including a case, storage means for containing said liquid material housed in said case, said case having an opening for allowing said storage means to be received in and removed from said case, and a wick, for drawing said liquid material from said storage means therethrough, said wick having an elongagted body for immersion in said liquid material in said storage means, one end portion of said elongated body projecting from said storage means, said PTC heating device including a substantially plate-like PTC thermistor having first and second electrodes on respective first and second surfaces thereof, a first and a second electrode member comprising a pair of plates between which said PTC thermistor is interposed, said first electrode member including a first substantially planar contact section in contact with said first electrode of said PTC thermistor, said second electrode member including a second contact section in engagement with said second electrode of said PTC thermistor;

• a casing of heating-resistant electrically insulating material having a recess formed therein, said PTC thermistor and said first and second electrode members being disposed within said recess;
• a heat-conducting member made of heat-resistant, electrically insulating material having good thermal conductivity arranged on said first electrode member;
• and a heat-radiating member arranged on said heat-conducting member for heating and vaporizing said liquid material, drawn up from said storage means by said wick, the improvement comprising:
• said heat-radiating member taking the form of a substantially U-shaped body having a substantially U-shaped opening for receiving said one end portion of said elongated body of said wick projecting from said storage means when said PTC heating device is incorporated in said electric vaporizer apparatus enabling said one end portion of said wick projecting from said storage means to be readily removed from said opening portion of said heat-radiating member when said liquid material contained in said storage means is consumed in use of said electric vaporizer apparatus and said storage means is removed from said case of said electric vaporizer apparatus for replacement.

In a PTC heating device incorporated in electric vaporizer apparatus for heating and vaporizing liquid material, said electric vaporizer apparatus including a case, storage means for containing said liquid material housed in said case, said case having an opening for allowing said storage means to be received in and removed from said case, and a wick for drawing said liquid material from said storage means therethrough, said wick having an elongated body for immersion in said liquid material in said storage means, and at least one end portion of said elongated body projecting from said storage means,

• said PTC heating device including two substantially plate-like PTC thermistors each having a first electrode and a second electrode on respective first and second surfaces thereof;
• first and second electrode members between which said PTC thermistors are disposed;
• a casing of heat-resistant electrically insulating material having a recess formed therein, said PTC thermistors and said first and second electrode members being disposed within said recess;
• a cover plate of electrically insulating material located on said casing having said PTC thermistors and said electrode members disposed therein, said cover plate being positioned to close said recess of said casing;
• and a heat-radiating member for heating and vaporizing said liquid material drawn up from said storage means by said wick, the improvement comprising:
• said casing being formed into a substantially U-shape;
• said recess being formed into a substantially U-shape corresponding to that of said casing;
• said first electrode member taking the form of a substantially U-shaped strip-like body having a substantially planar contact section at each side thereof, said first electrode member being disposed in said recess of said casing in a manner causing said planar contact sections of said strip-like body to respectively engage the inner surfaces of both side portions of a wall of said casing surrounding an open portion of said casing;
• each of said PTC thermistors being disposed in said recess of said casing in a manner to contact one of said planar contact sections of said first electrode member at said second electrode thereof;
• said second electrode member being formed of elastic material having a substantially U-shaped strip-like body and a contact section at each side thereof, said second electrode member being disposed in said recess of said casing in a manner to surround said first electrode member and contacting said first electrodes of said PTC thermistors to elastically press said PTC thermistors onto side portions of said wall of said casing surrounding said open portion of said U-shaped casing through said first electrode member;
• said cover plate being formed into a substantially U-shape and located on said casing having said electrode members and said PTC thermistors disposed in the recess thereof;
• and
• said heat-radiating member taking the form of a body in substantially the shape of an inverted Ohm symbol having said one end portion of said elongated body of said wick projecting from said storage means disposed in an open central portion thereof when said PTC heating device is incorporated in said electric vaporizer apparatus, a socket portion being formed along said inverted Ohm symbol body, said heat radiating member being mounted with respect to an assembly of said casing, and said cover plate in a manner to cause said socket portion to receive the side of said U-shaped portion of said assembly therein;
• wherein when said liquid material contained in said storage means is removed from said case of said electric vaporizer apparatus for replacement, said one end portion of said wick, projecting from said storage means, can readily be removed from said open portion of said heat-radiating member.