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.
2016
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.
Join us next issue where we will
conclude our look at some of the
key events in the vaping industry
next time.
VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE USA 55