F E AT U R E
2003
Having spent a year perfecting his design, Lik patented the invention
and the company he worked for began to mass produce his new
electronic cigarettes.
Lik was working for Golden Dragon Holdings which changed its name
to Ruyan, meaning “like smoke” once the huge potential for this new
invention began to be seen.
His original idea used a piezoelectric ultrasound element to vaporise
a nicotine solution in a cigarette-shaped device although modern
devices use battery-powered heating elements instead.
This is an extract from his original patent application where he
explains the differenvvt parts which make up his e-cig.
“[It] includes a shell; a mouthpiece; an air inlet provided in the external
wall of the shell; an electronic circuit board, a normal pressure cavity,
a sensor, a vapor-liquid separator, an atomizer, and a liquid-supply
arranged sequentially within the shell.
“A stream passage is provided on one side of the sensor. A negative
pressure cavity provided in the sensor. An atomization cavity is
arranged in the atomizer. The electronic circuit board comprises an
electronic switching circuit and a high frequency generator.”
2004
The idea became reality with the
production of these new electronic
cigarettes, which were shaped like a
traditional cigarette (now referred to as a
‘cigalike) got underway.
While the description on the patent
may sound complicated, the Hon
Lik e-cigarette had just three main
components - a battery, a plastic
cartridge containing a nicotine solution
suspended in propylene glycol, and an
ultrasonic atomizer.
2006
By now the invention had proved so
popular that the e-cigarettes were being
produced around the clock but that was
not enough to keep up with demand and
it looked like Mr Lik was set to become a
multi-millionaire however…
That same year reports in Chinese
media began to claim that e-cigarettes
were addictive and led to heart attacks
which hit sales hard and, at the same
time, rival companies in both China and
the USA came up with their own very
similar versions of his design which
led to protracted legal action for
copyright infringement.
In addition, the established tobacco
companies in China lobbied hard for the
imposition of tough regulations which
would limit e-cigarette sales.
We w ill c o nc lu d e our look at s ome of t he k ey ev ent s in t he v a ping indust r y ne x t t i me .
VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE ISSUE 07 81