Vaporizer apparatus

• US 10,076,139 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Monsees, James, Bowen, Adam, Christensen, Steven, Morenstein, Joshua, HibmaCronan, Christopher Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Felton, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/257,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material

Abstract

Vaporizer devices and apparatuses are provided. In some implementations, an apparatus comprises a cartridge and a vaporizer body. The cartridge comprises a storage compartment configured to hold a vaporizable material, a heater comprising a resistive heating element for generating an aerosol, and a mouthpiece comprising an opening for passage of the aerosol. The vaporizable material is visible through at least one side of the storage compartment. The vaporizer body comprises a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a cartridge receptacle at the proximal end, the cartridge receptacle configured to house the cartridge. The cartridge receptacle comprises a notch extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and a portion of the storage compartment is visible through the notch when the cartridge is housed in the cartridge receptacle.

Claims

1. A vaporizer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a cartridge having;

a storage compartment configured to hold a liquid vaporizable material, the storage compartment comprising an elongate storage compartment, wherein the liquid vaporizable material is visible through the storage compartment, and wherein the storage compartment comprises a distal end and a proximal end;

a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the storage compartment;

an opening through the mouthpiece and at a proximal end of the mouthpiece; and

a heater at the distal end of the storage compartment, wherein the heater comprises a heating chamber, a wick within the heating chamber, and a resistive heating element in thermal contact with the wick; and

a vaporizer, the vaporizer having;

a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a front side, a back side, and a pair of lateral sides extending between the distal and proximal ends of the body, wherein the body comprises an elongate and opaque body, wherein the body is resistive to rolling when placed on a flat surface because a diameter between the front and back sides is smaller than a diameter between the pair of lateral sides, yielding a relatively flattened body;

a cartridge receptacle formed at the proximal end of the body, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a proximal-facing opening into the proximal end of the body, and wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a proximal edge around the proximal-facing opening, and wherein the proximal edge of the cartridge receptacle forms a notch in the front side of the body, the notch extending towards the distal end of the body so that a portion of the storage compartment is visible through the notch when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle;

a pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle, the pair of electrical contacts configured to connect to electrical contacts on the cartridge when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle; and

a detent on each of the pair of lateral sides, wherein the detents project into the cartridge receptacle and engage a mating region on the storage compartment to hold the cartridge within the cartridge receptacle and with the mouthpiece outside of the cartridge receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an opaque mouthpiece.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises the liquid vaporizable material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises the liquid vaporizable material, and wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises a nicotine solution.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the notch comprises a rectangular, triangular or oval cutout region.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cannula within the storage compartment is visible through the notch when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a rectangular cross-section.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pair of electrical contacts comprises pogo pins.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an opaque cover that is secured over the proximal end of the storage compartment, the opaque cover having a front side adjacent to a first side of the storage compartment extending between the proximal and distal ends of the storage compartment, wherein a distal end of the opaque cover terminates in a distal edge that extends around a perimeter of the storage compartment from a position between the distal end and the proximal end of the storage compartment.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cartridge further comprises a cartridge notch in the front side of the mouthpiece and extending from the distal edge of the opaque cover towards the proximal end of the mouthpiece, wherein the cartridge notch exposes a region of the storage compartment beneath the mouthpiece, and wherein the cartridge notch aligns with the notch in the front side of the body when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle.

11. A vaporizer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a cartridge having;

a storage compartment configured to hold a liquid vaporizable material, the storage compartment comprising an elongate storage compartment, wherein the liquid vaporizable material is visible through the storage compartment and wherein the storage compartment comprises a distal end and a proximal end;

a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the storage compartment;

an opening through the mouthpiece and at a proximal end of the mouthpiece; and

a heater at the distal end of the storage compartment, wherein the heater comprises a heating chamber, a wick within the heating chamber, and a resistive heating element in thermal contact with the wick;

a cannula within the storage compartment and extending through the liquid vaporizable material from the heater to the proximal end of the storage compartment so that the liquid vaporizable material at least partially surrounds the cannula when the storage compartment is filled with the liquid vaporizable material, wherein the cannula forms a fluid connection between the heating chamber and the opening through the mouthpiece from which vaporized liquid vaporizable material may be inhaled; and

a vaporizer, the vaporizer having;

a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a front side, a back side, and opposite lateral sides extending between the distal and proximal ends of the body, wherein the body comprises an elongate and opaque body, wherein the body is resistive to rolling when placed on a flat surface because a diameter between the front and back sides is smaller than a diameter between the opposite lateral sides, yielding a relatively flattened body;

a cartridge receptacle formed at the proximal end of the body, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a proximal-facing opening into the proximal end of the body, and wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a proximal edge around the proximal-facing opening, and wherein the proximal edge of the cartridge receptacle forms a notch in the front side of the body, the notch extending towards the distal end of the body so that a portion of the storage compartment and the cannula are visible through the notch when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle;

a pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle, the pair of electrical contacts configured to connect to electrical contacts on the cartridge when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle; and

a detent on each of the opposite lateral sides, wherein the detents project into the cartridge receptacle and engage a mating region on the storage compartment to hold the cartridge within the cartridge receptacle and with the mouthpiece outside of the cartridge receptacle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an opaque mouthpiece.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storage compartment comprises the liquid vaporizable material.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the notch comprises a rectangular, triangular or oval cutout region.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the body comprises a rectangular cross-section.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pair of electrical contacts comprises pogo pins.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an opaque cover that is secured over the distal end of the storage compartment, the opaque cover having a front side adjacent to a first side of the storage compartment extending between the proximal and distal ends of the storage compartment, wherein a distal end of the opaque cover terminates in a distal edge that extends around a perimeter of the storage compartment from a position between the distal end and the proximal end of the storage compartment.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cartridge further comprises a cartridge notch in the front side of the mouthpiece and extending from the distal edge of the opaque cover towards the proximal end of the mouthpiece, wherein the cartridge notch exposes a region of the storage compartment beneath the mouthpiece, and wherein the cartridge notch aligns with the notch in the front side of the body when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle.

19. A vaporizer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a cartridge having;

a storage compartment holding a liquid vaporizable material that is visible through the storage compartment, the storage compartment comprising an elongate storage compartment, wherein the storage compartment comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the storage compartment further comprises a first side extending between the distal end of the storage compartment and the proximal end of the storage compartment;

a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the storage compartment, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an opaque cover that is secured over the proximal end of the storage compartment, the opaque mouthpiece having a front side adjacent to the first side of the storage compartment, wherein a distal end of the opaque cover terminates in a distal edge that extends around a perimeter of the storage compartment from a position between the distal end and the proximal end of the storage compartment of the opaque cover;

a cartridge notch in the front side of the mouthpiece and extending from the distal edge of the opaque cover towards a proximal end of the mouthpiece, wherein the cartridge notch exposes a region of the storage compartment beneath the mouthpiece;

an opening through the mouthpiece and at the proximal end of the mouthpiece;

a heater at the distal end of the storage compartment, wherein the heater comprises a heating chamber, a wick within the heating chamber, and a resistive heating element in thermal contact with the wick; and

a cannula within the storage compartment and extending through the liquid vaporizable material from the heater to the proximal end of the storage compartment so that the liquid vaporizable material at least partially surrounds the cannula, wherein the cannula forms a fluid connection between the heating chamber and the opening through the mouthpiece from which vaporized liquid vaporizable material may be inhaled, and wherein the cannula is visible through the cartridge notch; and

a vaporizer, the vaporizer having;

a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a front side, a back side, and opposite lateral sides extending between the distal and proximal ends of the body, wherein the body comprises an elongate and opaque body, wherein the body is resistive to rolling when placed on a flat surface because a diameter between the front and back sides is smaller than a diameter between the opposite lateral sides, yielding a relatively flattened body;

a cartridge receptacle formed at the proximal end of the body, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a proximal-facing opening into the proximal end of the body, and wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a proximal edge around the proximal-facing opening, and wherein the proximal edge of the cartridge receptacle forms a receptacle notch in the front side of the body, the receptacle notch extending towards the distal end of the body so that a portion of the storage compartment and the cannula are visible through the receptacle notch when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle;

a pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle, the pair of electrical contacts configured to connect to electrical contacts on the cartridge when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle; and

a friction capture between the cartridge receptacle and the storage compartment to hold the cartridge within the cartridge receptacle and with the mouthpiece outside of the cartridge receptacle,

wherein the cartridge notch aligns with the receptacle notch when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a cartridge comprising;

a storage compartment configured to hold a vaporizable material, wherein the vaporizable material is visible through at least one side of the storage compartment;

a heater comprising a resistive heating element for generating an aerosol for inhalation, the aerosol comprising the vaporizable material; and

a mouthpiece comprising an opening for passage of the aerosol; and

a vaporizer body comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end opposite the proximal end; and

a cartridge receptacle at the proximal end, the cartridge receptacle configured to house the cartridge, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a notch extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and wherein a portion of the storage compartment is visible through the notch when the cartridge is housed in the cartridge receptacle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the storage compartment and the vaporizer body are non-cylindrical.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a mouthpiece notch extending from a first end of the cartridge towards a second end of the cartridge opposite the first end, wherein the opening is at the second end, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an opaque mouthpiece covering a second portion of the storage compartment, and wherein a third portion of the storage compartment is visible through the mouthpiece notch when the cartridge is housed in the cartridge receptacle.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the mouthpiece is attached to a first end of the cartridge, and wherein the heater is positioned near a second end of the cartridge opposite the first end of the cartridge.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the heater further comprises a heating chamber and a wick within the heating chamber, and wherein the resistive heating element is in thermal contact with the wick.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a cannula within the storage compartment, wherein the cannula extends from the heater towards the mouthpiece, wherein the cannula forms a connection between the heater and the opening of the mouthpiece.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the cannula is visible through a mouthpiece notch in the mouthpiece.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cartridge receptacle forms an opening into the proximal end.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the vaporizable material is visible through the portion of the storage compartment.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cartridge and the vaporizer body, when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporizer body, form a longitudinal axis from the distal end of the vaporizer body to a proximal end of the cartridge, and wherein each of the cartridge and the vaporizer body have a first transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis which is longer than a second transverse axis, the second transverse axis perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and the first transverse axis.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a difference in length between the first transverse axis and the second transverse axis results, at least in part, in the coupled cartridge and vaporizer body being generally resistive to rolling when placed on a flat surface.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the storage compartment and the vaporizer body each have a cross-section that is generally rectangular.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

the vaporizable material, wherein the vaporizable material comprises one or more glycols.

33. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cartridge comprises one or more electrical contacts configured to electrically couple with one or more electrical contacts in the cartridge receptacle.

34. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cartridge comprises a plurality of electrical contacts configured to electrically couple with a plurality of electrical contacts in the cartridge receptacle.

35. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cartridge comprises a friction capture between the cartridge receptacle and the storage compartment, and wherein the friction capture is configured to couple with the cartridge receptacle.

36. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the mouthpiece lies outside of the cartridge receptacle when the cartridge is housed in the cartridge receptacle.

37. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the notch aligns, when the cartridge is housed in the cartridge receptacle, with a mouthpiece notch in the mouthpiece.