Vaporization device systems and methods

• US 10,117,465 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moreno Hernandez, Jerzi H
• Application Number:
  US15/813,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20180064175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• 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 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/57 Temperature control
• 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 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• 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 3/04 Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters
• 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, a cartridge for use with a vaporization device comprises a wick, a resistive heating element in contact with the wick, a heater chamber configured to be disposed within a receptacle of the vaporization device, a plastic enclosure defining at least a portion of the heater chamber, and heater contacts comprising exposed contact tabs and fixation sites disposed proximate to opposite sides of the heater chamber, the heater contacts having surfaces defining at least a portion of the opposite sides, the exposed heater contact tabs positioned and configured to electrically couple with contacts within the receptacle. The resistive heating element is attached to and suspended between the fixation sites, the plastic enclosure is configured to receive the surfaces, and the heater chamber comprises at least a portion of the resistive heating element and at least a portion of the wick.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a cartridge having a non-cylindrical shape, the cartridge comprising;

a heater chamber having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a first heater contact comprising a first exposed heater contact tab and a first fixation site, the first fixation site disposed proximate to the first side, the first heater contact having a first surface defining at least a portion of the first side;

a second heater contact comprising a second exposed heater contact tab and a second fixation site, the second fixation site disposed proximate to the second side, the second heater contact having a second surface defining at least a portion of the second side;

a wick;

a resistive heating element in contact with the wick, the resistive heating element attached to the first fixation site and the second fixation site, the heater chamber comprising at least a portion of the resistive heating element and at least a portion of the wick, wherein the resistive heating element is suspended between the first fixation site and the second fixation site, and wherein the resistive heating element is configured to generate an aerosol from a vaporizable material within the heater chamber; and

a plastic enclosure further defining the heater chamber, the plastic enclosure configured to receive the first surface and the second surface; and

a device body having a non-cylindrical shape, the device body comprising;

a cartridge receptacle configured to insertably receive the cartridge, the heater chamber disposed within the cartridge receptacle when the cartridge is insertably received within the cartridge receptacle;

a first receptacle contact positioned to electrically couple with either of the first exposed heater contact tab or the second exposed heater contact tab when the cartridge is insertably received within the cartridge receptacle; and

a second receptacle contact positioned to electrically couple with either of the first exposed heater contact tab or the second exposed heater contact tab when the cartridge is insertably received within the cartridge receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first exposed heater contact tab comprises a third surface disposed at a third side of the heater chamber, wherein the second exposed heater contact tab comprises a fourth surface disposed at the third side, and wherein the third side is substantially perpendicular to the first side of the heater chamber and substantially perpendicular the second side of the heater chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third surface and the fourth surface are disposed in a plane parallel to the third side of the heater chamber when the cartridge receptacle insertably receives the cartridge.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plastic enclosure defines the third side of the heater chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plastic enclosure comprises:

a first opening, the first heater contact extending through the first opening, the first exposed heater contact tab disposed outside of the heater chamber; and

a second opening, the second heater contact extending through the second opening, the second exposed heater contact tab disposed outside of the heater chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistive heating element comprises:

a coil wrapped around the wick;

a first end extending from the coil, the first end attached to the first fixation site; and

a second end extending from the coil, the second end attached to the second fixation site.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the first end is disposed between the first surface of the first heater contact and a first interior surface of the plastic enclosure, and wherein at least a portion of the second end is disposed between the second surface of the second heater contact and a second interior surface of the plastic enclosure that is opposite the first interior surface of the plastic enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first end is attached to the first fixation site by tensile force, and wherein the second end is attached to the second fixation site by tensile force.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface define a volume therebetween, at least the portion of the wick and at least the portion of the resistive heating element disposed within the volume.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a first shape formed from electrically conductive material, the first shape comprising the first heater contact; and

a second shape formed from electrically conductive material, the second shape comprising the second heater contact, the first shape substantially the same as the second shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heater contact and the second heater contact are configured to complete an electrical circuit with the first receptacle contact and the second receptacle contact to provide power to the resistive heating element.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wick is configured to contact the vaporizable material and draw the vaporizable material towards the resistive heating element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, and wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a mouthpiece at the proximal end, the first heater contact and the second heater contact positioned proximate to the distal end.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first exposed heater contact tab and the second exposed heater contact tab are disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the proximal end and substantially parallel to the distal end when the cartridge receptacle insertably receives the cartridge.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a condensation chamber, and wherein the mouthpiece further comprises an aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the condensation chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a storage compartment configured to hold the vaporizable material, the storage compartment comprising four exterior walls between the distal end and the proximal end.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the four exterior walls are disposed to form a generally rectangular shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cartridge comprises the vaporizable material, wherein the mouthpiece is opaque, and wherein the vaporizable material is visible through a surface of the storage compartment.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heater contact and the second heater contact comprise a heat sink configured to absorb and dissipate heat produced by the resistive heating element.

20. A cartridge for insertion into a receptacle of a vaporizer device body, the cartridge having a non-cylindrical shape, the cartridge comprising:

a heater chamber having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the heater chamber configured to be disposed within the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle;

a first heater contact comprising a first exposed heater contact tab and a first fixation site, the first fixation site disposed proximate to the first side, the first heater contact having a first surface defining at least a portion of the first side, the first exposed heater contact tab positioned and configured to electrically couple with either of a first receptacle contact within the receptacle or a second receptacle contact within the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle;

a second heater contact comprising a second exposed heater contact tab and a second fixation site, the second fixation site disposed proximate to the second side, the second heater contact having a second surface defining at least a portion of the second side, the second exposed heater contact tab positioned and configured to electrically couple with either of the first receptacle contact or the second receptacle contact when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle;

a wick;

a resistive heating element in contact with the wick, the resistive heating element attached to the first fixation site and the second fixation site, the heater chamber comprising at least a portion of the resistive heating element and at least a portion of the wick, wherein the resistive heating element is suspended between the first fixation site and the second fixation site, and wherein the resistive heating element is configured to generate an aerosol from a vaporizable material within the heater chamber; and

a plastic enclosure further defining the heater chamber, the plastic enclosure configured to receive the first surface and the second surface.