Inductively heatable fluid reservoir for various fluid types
First Claim
1. A fluid delivery pod comprising:
- a first surface;
a second surface that opposes the first surface;
a reservoir body intermediate the first and the second surfaces, wherein the reservoir body is configured to house a fluid;
an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir;
a heating structure within the reservoir body and being electrically conductive to wirelessly receive inductive energy from an energy source that is external to the fluid reservoir to heat at least a portion of the fluid within the reservoir body; and
a valve assembly that is operative to, in response to an application of compression forces on the opposing first and the second surfaces, dispense at least a portion of the heated fluid through the outlet port;
wherein the first surface further comprises a piston that translates along at least a portion of the reservoir body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments, a fluid delivery pod includes a first surface, a second surface that opposes the first surface, a reservoir body, an outlet port, a heating structure, and a valve assembly. The reservoir body is between the first and the second surfaces. The reservoir body is configured to house a fluid. The outlet port is positioned on a surface of the pod. The surface is between the first and the second surfaces. The heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid housed within the reservoir body. The heating structure wirelessly receives energy from an energy source that is external to the fluid delivery pod. The wirelessly received energy heats the fluid housed within the reservoir body. In response to an application of compression forces on the first and the second surfaces, the valve assembly dispenses the heated fluid through the outlet port and out of the fluid delivery pod.
95 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A fluid delivery pod comprising:
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a first surface; a second surface that opposes the first surface; a reservoir body intermediate the first and the second surfaces, wherein the reservoir body is configured to house a fluid; an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir; a heating structure within the reservoir body and being electrically conductive to wirelessly receive inductive energy from an energy source that is external to the fluid reservoir to heat at least a portion of the fluid within the reservoir body; and a valve assembly that is operative to, in response to an application of compression forces on the opposing first and the second surfaces, dispense at least a portion of the heated fluid through the outlet port; wherein the first surface further comprises a piston that translates along at least a portion of the reservoir body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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10. A fluid reservoir comprising:
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a reservoir body that includes a first end, a second end, and a volume, wherein the reservoir body is configured and arranged to house a fluid in the volume, wherein the first end includes at least one of an aperture or an indent that is configured and arranged to receive an actuator; a piston housed within the volume of the reservoir body and configured and arranged to translate along a translation axis; a nozzle that communicates with an interior volume of the reservoir body and is configured and arranged to output the fluid housed within the reservoir; a valve assembly that includes a lower chamber and a first valve that resists the output of the fluid through the nozzle unless a dispensing force is applied to the reservoir, wherein the dispensing force increases an internal pressure of the fluid to overcome a resistance of the first valve; and a heating structure that is disposed within the reservoir body and that surrounds an outer surface of the lower chamber of the valve assembly, wherein when fluid is housed in the volume of the reservoir body, the heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid and configured and arranged to heat at least a portion of the fluid housed within the body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fluid reservoir that houses fluid, the reservoir comprising:
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a reservoir body that includes a longitudinal axis and a volume, wherein the reservoir body is configured and arranged to house at least a portion of the fluid in the volume; a piston configured and arranged to translate along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the reservoir body; a heating structure disposed within the reservoir body, wherein when fluid is housed in the volume of the reservoir body, the heating structure is thermally coupled and configured and arranged to energize at least a portion of the fluid housed within the body, wherein a length of the heating structure is based on fluid type of the housed fluid; a nozzle that communicates with an interior volume of the reservoir and is configured and arranged to output the housed fluid; and a valve assembly that resists the output of the fluid through the nozzle unless a compression force is applied to the reservoir along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification