Electronic vaporiser system

• US 10,081,531 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AYR Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Beyond Twenty Ltd.
• Inventors: Murison, Ian, Marsh, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Yaary, Eric
• Application Number:
  US15/253,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/167 in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/015 with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases
• 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 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/27 preventing use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 : with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 : Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 : for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 : Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 : Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0038 : moved by a spring-like mechanism B65D83/005, B65D83/0817, B65D83/0858 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/70 : for materials not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 : for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0288 : Container connection means for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 : by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/346 : by reading a code
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/36 : Arrangements of flow- or pressure-control valves associated with nozzles B67D7/42
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 : Filling nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/54 : with means for preventing escape of liquid or vapour or for recovering escaped liquid or vapour B67D7/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/62 : power operated
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 : Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/003 : driven by piezoelectric means F04B43/046 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 : Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0404 : Frequency of the electric current
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/04 : the means being electric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/046 : with piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 : Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 : Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/044 : spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 24/00 : Devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating enclosures equalising valves F16K17/00; arrangement or mounting in pipes or pipe systems F16L55/07; venting or aerating as an additional function of steam traps or like apparatus F16T; ventilation of rooms, vehicles, see the appropriate subclass, e.g. F24F
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 : for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2825 : in household appliances or professional audio/video equipment testing LAN's H04L43/50; testing TV systems H04N17/00; testing loudspeakers H04R29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4166 : Controlling feed or in-feed G05B19/4163 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37371 : Flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 : Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 : After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 : The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 : Applications
• 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 3/141 : Conductive ceramics, e.g. metal oxides, metal carbides, barium titanate, ferrites, zirconia, vitrous compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/00 : Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation

Abstract

An electronic cigarette vaporizer system includes a case and a vaporizer that is stored in the case; the system includes a non-contact sensor that detects release or withdrawal of the vaporizer from the case. When withdrawal of the vaporizer is detected, then the vaporizer electronic circuitry changes state, e.g. to a ready mode, or a pre-heating mode in which an inhalation detector is activated or to a heating mode, where an atomizing unit in the vaporizer is at least partly activated so that the vaporizer is fully heated when the first inhalation is taken.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette vaporiser system that includes a case and an electronic vaporiser that is stored in the case, and a heating element in the electronic vaporiser, wherein the system includes a non-contact sensor that detects release or withdrawal of the vaporiser from the case, in which the electronic vaporiser system includes (i) a user-replaceable, e-liquid cartridge that is attached to or integral with at least a part of the system, but is not user-refillable and includes no heating element;

and (ii) an e-liquid reservoir that is separate from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge; and

(iii) an electric or electronic pump that is configured to withdraw e-liquid from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge and pump pressurised e-liquid to the e-liquid reservoir; and

wherein the heating element is not in the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge but is instead in, or in e-liquid communication with, the e-liquid reservoir.

2. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which when withdrawal of the vaporiser is detected, then a vaporiser electronic circuitry changes state.

3. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 2 in which the vaporiser changes state to a ready mode.

4. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 3 in which the vaporiser changes state to a ready or pre-heating mode in which an inhalation detector is activated.

5. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 2 in which the vaporiser changes state to a heating mode, in which an atomising unit is at least partly activated.

6. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 5 in which when withdrawal of the vaporiser from the case is detected by the vaporiser or the vaporiser receives data indicating that the vaporiser has been withdrawn from the case, the vaporiser system automatically starts heating the atomizing unit so that the vaporiser is at its optimal operational temperature when the user takes his first vape.

7. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the case includes some or all of the non-contact sensor.

8. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the vaporiser includes some or all of the non-contact sensor.

9. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the sensor is a non-contact magnetic sensor that detects when the vaporiser enters and leaves the case by sensing the presence, proximity or movement of a small magnet or strip of metal in the vaporiser or some other mechanism for disrupting the local magnetic field around the sensor.

10. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 9 in which the non-contact magnetic sensor is a reed switch, or Hall effect sensor.

11. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 8 in which a light sensor in the vaporiser detects when light is incident on the vaporiser, inferring that the vaporiser is now in an open case or no longer in the case at all.

12. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 7 in which the case includes a small LED light source and sensor;

the LED is illuminated when the vaporiser is in the case and light reflected from the vaporiser is detected by the sensor;

withdrawal of the vaporiser triggers the light sensor since light is no longer reflected off the vaporiser into the sensor.

13. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the non-contact sensor is an IMU (inertial measurement unit) in the vaporiser.

14. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the case re-fills the vaporiser with e-liquid and re-charges a battery in the vaporiser.

15. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 which is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system.

16. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiser includes no control buttons that could impede smooth ejection from the case.

17. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with rounded corners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser.

18. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiser is filled from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge.

19. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole and intact and not dis-assembled, into the case and the case includes a fluid transfer mechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser.

20. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the case includes the electric or electronic pump.

21. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiser includes the electric or electronic pump and the user-replaceable cartridge is removably insertable or integral to the vaporiser.

22. The electronic vaporizer system of claim 1, further comprising a structure that is configured to enable excess air-pressure arising from the pressured e-liquid to escape from the e-liquid reservoir and that is non-porous to the pressurized e-liquid.

23. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1, in which the pump is in a desktop station.