Solderless directly written heating elements

• US 10,136,672 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Minskoff, Noah Mark, Terry, Nathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Felton, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/279,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit t may simulate a cigarette. A flow of electrical power may be coupled through solderless pressure contacts to activate a heating element. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the liquid to be vaporized may be vaporized by an atomizer assembly. Vapors may then be aspirated by the user through an oral aspiration tube, where they may be inhaled.

Claims

1. A vaporizer comprising:

a heating element directly written to a support member, the heating element including first and second extremities;

an inner contact member; and

a first pressure member to sandwich the first extremity of the heating element over said inner contact member to effect first solderless pressure contacts.

2. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner contact member and the first pressure member comprise directly written metal members.

3. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner contact member includes at least an inner contact post.

4. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer contact member; and

a second pressure member to sandwich the second extremity of the heating element over the outer contact member to effect second solderless pressure contacts.

5. A vaporizer as recited in claim 4 wherein the outer contact member and the second pressure member comprise directly written metal members.

6. A vaporizer as recited in claim 4 wherein the second pressure member comprises at least a portion of an oral aspiration tube fluidly coupled with the heating element for transporting vapor from the heating element to a user'"'"'s mouth.

7. A vaporizer as recited in claim 4 wherein the outer contact member comprises an outer contact sleeve.

8. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a directly written outer contact member wherein the heating element is electrically coupled between the inner contact member and the outer contact member for energizing the heating element when the heating element is activated.

9. A vaporizer comprising:

a wick element for directly contacting a liquid to be changed into a vapor;

a directly written heating element having first and second extremities;

an outer contact member; and

pressure member to sandwich the second extremity of the heating element over said outer contact member to effect solderless pressure electrical contacts.

10. A vaporizer as recited in claim 9 wherein the outer contact member and the pressure member comprise directly written metal members.

11. A vaporizer as recited in claim 9 wherein the pressure member comprises at least a portion of an oral aspiration tube fluidly coupled with the heating clement for transporting vapor from the heating element to a user'"'"'s mouth.

12. A vaporizer as recited in claim 9 wherein the outer contact member comprises an outer contact sleeve.

13. A vaporizer as recited in claim 9 wherein the heating element is substantially “

L”

shaped.

14. A vaporizer assembly method comprising:

directly writing a heating element having first and second extremities to a support member;

arranging the heating element proximate to an inner contact member;

applying a first pressure member to sandwich the first extremity of the heating element over said inner contact member to effect first solderless pressure electrical contacts.

15. A vaporizer assembly method as recited in claim 14 further comprising arranging the second extremity of the heating element proximate to an outer contact member.

16. A vaporizer assembly method as recited in claim 15 further comprising applying second pressure member to sandwich the second extremity of the heating element over said outer contact member to effect second solderless pressure electrical contacts.