Vaporizer tank with atomizer

• US 10,039,323 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NJOY electronic cigarettes
• Original Assignee: NJOY electronic cigarettes
• Inventors: Schuler, David, Miller, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROGERS, ADAM JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/801,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 239302-350, 239 34- 70
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence

Abstract

A tank of a vaporizing device is described, wherein the tank may comprise an atomizer and a reservoir for containing a liquid adjacent to the atomizer. The atomizer may include a wick and a heating element, wherein the tank includes a barrier that separates the wick from liquid in the reservoir. The barrier may be at least partially permeable to allow for transfer of liquid from the reservoir to the wick for vaporization. The tank may include a connector coupled to the atomizer and configured to electrically connect the atomizer to a power supply.

Claims

1. A tank for a vaporizing device, the tank comprising:

an atomizer having an outer housing and comprising a wick, a heating element, and an insulating element housed within the outer housing;

a reservoir adjacent to the atomizer, the reservoir being configured to contain a liquid; and

a barrier that separates the wick from the reservoir, the barrier having a first side that forms an end wall of the reservoir and a second side in contact with the wick, the barrier being at least partially permeable to allow for transfer of liquid from the reservoir to the wick housed within the atomizer,

wherein the wick is radially inward of a walled structure, the insulating element is radially between the walled structure and the outer housing, and an air gap is radially between the walled structure and the insulating element.

2. The tank of claim 1, wherein the wick comprises a fibrous absorbent material.

3. The tank of claim 1, wherein the heating element extends at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the tank, and wherein the wick at least partially radially surrounds the heating element.

4. The tank of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises an absorbent material.

5. The tank of claim 1, wherein the barrier includes a central opening for receiving vaporized liquid from the atomizer.

6. The tank of claim 1, wherein the insulating element is coupled to an inner surface of the outer housing to at least partially insulate the outer housing from heat generated by the heating element.

7. The tank of claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises a coil extending along a longitudinal axis of the tank.

8. The tank of claim 1, wherein:

the heating element comprises a vertical coil coaxial with an airway of the tank; and

wherein the insulating element is coupled to an inner surface of the outer housing to at least partially insulate the outer housing from heat generated by the heating element.

9. The tank of claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled to the atomizer, wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect the atomizer to a power supply.

10. The tank of claim 9, wherein the connector comprises a housing that includes at least one notch to provide an air inlet in communication with an airway of the tank.

11. The tank of claim 10, wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches, and wherein the connector includes a skirt portion that includes the plurality of notches and extends from an end of the atomizer.

12. The tank of claim 10, further comprising a sleeve coupled to an outer surface of the connector housing, the sleeve including at least one aperture that corresponds to the at least one notch of the connector, wherein the sleeve is moveable with respect to the connector for adjusting a size of the air inlet.

13. The tank of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece integral with the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is between the mouthpiece and the atomizer.

14. The tank of claim 1, wherein the reservoir surrounds an airway configured to receive vaporized liquid.

15. The tank of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is transparent.

16. A tank for a vaporizing device, the tank comprising:

a housing that contains a wick, an insulating element, and a heating element, with the wick, the insulating element, and the heating element enclosed within the housing;

a reservoir adjacent to the housing, the reservoir being configured to contain a liquid; and

a barrier that separates the wick from the reservoir, wherein the barrier includes a central opening, the barrier being at least partially permeable to allow for transfer of liquid from the reservoir to the wick through a portion of the barrier radially outward of the central opening;

wherein the heating element is separated from the housing by an air gap, and

wherein the wick is radially inward of a walled structure, the insulating element is radially between the walled structure and the housing, and the air gap is radially outward of the wick and radially between the walled structure and the insulating element.

17. The tank of claim 16, wherein the insulating element is coupled to an inner surface of the housing to at least partially insulate the housing from heat generated by the heating element;

wherein the heating element extends at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the tank, and

wherein the wick at least partially radially surrounds the heating element.

18. The tank of claim 16, further comprising the liquid, wherein the reservoir defines a container coupled to the barrier, such that the liquid exits the reservoir only through the barrier.

19. A tank for a vaporizing device, the tank comprising:

an atomizer including a housing that encloses a wick, a heating element, a barrier, and an insulating element, wherein the wick comprises an absorbent material; and

a reservoir adjacent to the atomizer, the reservoir being configured to contain a liquid;

wherein the barrier of the atomizer separates the wick from the reservoir, the barrier being porous to allow for transfer of liquid from the reservoir to the wick;

wherein the insulating element is coupled to the housing to at least partially insulate the housing from heat generated by the heating element; and

wherein the wick is radially inward of a walled structure, the insulating element is radially between the walled structure and the housing, and an air gap is radially between the walled structure and the insulating element.

20. The tank of claim 19, further comprising a connector coupled to the atomizer, wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect the atomizer to a power supply;

wherein the heating element extends at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the tank, and

wherein the wick at least partially radially surrounds the heating element.