<P> Hon Lik registered a patent for the modern e-cigarette design in 2003 . The e-cigarette was first introduced to the Chinese domestic market in 2004 . Many versions made their way to the U.S. , sold mostly over the Internet by small marketing firms . E-cigarettes entered the European market and the US market in 2006 and 2007 . The company that Lik worked for , Golden Dragon Holdings , registered an international patent in November 2007 . The company changed its name to Ruyan ( 如 烟 , literally `` Resembling smoking '' ) later the same month and started exporting its products . Many US and Chinese e-cig makers copied his designs illegally , so Lik has not received much financial reward for his invention ( although some US manufacturers have compensated him through out of court settlements ) . Ruyan later changed its company name to Dragonite International Limited . Most e-cigarettes today use a battery - powered heating element rather than the earlier ultrasonic technology design . </P>
<P> Hon Lik registered a patent for the modern e-cigarette design in 2003 . The e-cigarette was first introduced to the Chinese domestic market in 2004 . Many versions made their way to the U.S. , sold mostly over the Internet by small marketing firms . E-cigarettes entered the European market and the US market in 2006 and 2007 . The company that Lik worked for , Golden Dragon Holdings , registered an international patent in November 2007 . The company changed its name to Ruyan ( 如 烟 , literally `` Resembling smoking '' ) later the same month and started exporting its products . Many US and Chinese e-cig makers copied his designs illegally , so Lik has not received much financial reward for his invention ( although some US manufacturers have compensated him through out of court settlements ) . Ruyan later changed its company name to Dragonite International Limited . Most e-cigarettes today use a battery - powered heating element rather than the earlier ultrasonic technology design . </P>
when was the first e-cigarette sold in the us
when was the first e-cigarette sold in the us
2007
2007