Fillable vaporizer cartridge and method of filling

• US 10,279,934 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Christensen, Steven, Keller, Aaron, Monsees, James, Atkins, Ariel
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelly, Timothy P
• Application Number:
  US15/430,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20170233114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• 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 40/40 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: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/14 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/18 Controlling escape of air from containers or receptacles during filling

Abstract

Methods of filling a tank reservoir of an electronic cigarette or cartridge for an electronic cigarette with a vaporizable material so that air is not entrapped within the cartridge. In particular, described herein are methods of filing a tank volume of a cartridge for an electronic cigarette from a bottom or side surface opposite a wick so that the wick remains at least partially dry and can vent air during filling until the tank volume is full.

Claims

1. A method of filling a tank volume of a vaporizer cartridge with a liquid vaporizable material, the method comprising:

positioning a first end of the tank volume above a second end of the tank volume, wherein a wick is positioned proximate to the first end and an elastomeric material is positioned proximate to the second end, and wherein opposing ends of the wick are in communication with the tank volume;

inserting a needle through the elastomeric material and into the tank volume;

injecting, through the needle, a liquid vaporizable material into the tank volume; and

venting air out of the tank volume through the wick thereby allowing filling of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the needle is inserted off-center from a longitudinal axis of the tank volume thereby substantially filling a first half of the tank volume before substantially filling a second half of the tank volume.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning comprises vertically aligning the wick above the elastomeric material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the needle comprises a beveled distal tip and an aperture directed at a wall defining the tank volume and extending between the first end and the second end.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting further comprises inserting the needle through a pre-cut port or valve.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the needle comprises a blunt distal tip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises nicotine and an organic acid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the organic acid comprises benzoic acid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting further comprises injecting the liquid vaporizable material at a rate between about 0.5 ml/sec and 2 ml/sec.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filling a first volume of the tank volume and a second volume of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material, wherein the first volume and the second volume are formed in part by a cannula disposed within the tank volume, and wherein the first volume is substantially filled prior to the second volume being substantially filled.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising keeping at least one end of the opposing ends of the wick dry until the tank volume is substantially void of air.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

withdrawing the needle from the tank volume thereby allowing the elastomeric material to provide a fluidic seal thereby preventing fluid from flowing through the elastomeric material.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the vaporizer cartridge comprises positioning a plurality of vaporizer cartridges in parallel and concurrently inserting one of a plurality of needles into a corresponding one of the plurality of vaporizer cartridges, and concurrently injecting the liquid vaporizable material into each of the plurality of vaporizer cartridges.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are positioned on opposing sides of the tank volume.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a pressure in a fluid line in communication with the needle; and

stopping injection when a threshold pressure is detected, wherein the threshold pressure indicates the tank volume being substantially full of the liquid vaporizable material.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein a middle portion of the wick is positioned between the opposing ends of the wick and outside of the tank volume.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein a first end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a first volume of the tank volume and a second end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a second volume of the tank volume.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the wick is porous.

14. A method of filling a tank volume of a vaporizer cartridge with a liquid vaporizable material, the method comprising:

positioning a first side of the vaporizer cartridge above a second side of the vaporizer cartridge, wherein a wick is positioned proximate to a first end of the vaporizer cartridge and an elastomeric material is positioned proximate to a second end of the vaporizer cartridge, wherein the first side and the second side respectively extend between the first end and the second end, and wherein opposing ends of the wick are in communication with the tank volume;

inserting a needle through the elastomeric material and into the tank volume;

injecting, through the needle, the liquid vaporizable material-into the tank volume; and

venting air out of the tank volume through the wick thereby allowing filling of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vaporizer cartridge further comprises a cannula disposed within the tank volume thereby forming a first volume of the tank volume, a second volume of the tank volume, and a passageway extending along a side of the cannula between the first volume and the second volume.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

filling a first volume of the tank volume and a second volume of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material, wherein the first volume and the second volume are formed in part by a cannula disposed within the tank volume, and wherein the first volume is substantially filled prior to the second volume being substantially filled.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a pressure in a fluid line in communication with the needle; and

stopping injection when a threshold pressure is detected, wherein the threshold pressure indicates the tank volume being full of the liquid vaporizable material.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein a middle portion of the wick is positioned between the opposing ends of the wick and outside of the tank volume.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein a first end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a first volume of the tank volume and a second end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a second volume of the tank volume.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the wick is substantially parallel to the elastomeric material.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the wick is porous.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, result in operations comprising:

positioning a first side of a vaporizer cartridge above a second side of a vaporizer cartridge, wherein a wick is positioned proximate to a first end of the vaporizer cartridge and an elastomeric material is positioned proximate to a second end of the vaporizer cartridge, wherein the first side and the second side respectively extend between the first end and the second end, and wherein opposing ends of the wick are in communication with a tank volume of the vaporizer cartridge;

inserting a needle through the elastomeric material and into the tank volume;

injecting, through the needle, the liquid vaporizable material-into the tank volume; and

venting air out of the tank volume through the wick thereby allowing filling of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the vaporizer cartridge further comprises a cannula disposed within the tank volume thereby forming a first volume of the tank volume, a second volume of the tank volume, and a passageway extending along a side of the cannula between the first volume and the second volume.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

filling a first volume of the tank volume and a second volume of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material, wherein the first volume and the second volume are formed in part by a cannula disposed within the tank volume, and wherein the first volume is substantially filled prior to the second volume being substantially filled.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a pressure in a fluid line in communication with the needle; and

stopping injection when a threshold pressure is detected, wherein the threshold pressure indicates the tank volume being full of the liquid vaporizable material.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein a middle portion of the wick is positioned between the opposing ends of the wick and outside of the tank volume.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein a first end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a first volume of the tank volume and a second end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a second volume of the tank volume.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the wick is substantially parallel to the elastomeric material.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the wick is porous.

35. A system, comprising:

at least one data processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one data processor, result in operations comprising;

positioning a first side of a vaporizer cartridge above a second side of a vaporizer cartridge, wherein a wick is positioned proximate to a first end of the vaporizer cartridge and an elastomeric material is positioned proximate to a second end of the vaporizer cartridge, wherein the first side and the second side respectively extend between the first end and the second end, and wherein opposing ends of the wick are in communication with a tank volume of the vaporizer cartridge;

inserting a needle through the elastomeric material and into the tank volume;

injecting, through the needle, the liquid vaporizable material-into the tank volume; and

venting air out of the tank volume through the wick thereby allowing filling of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the vaporizer cartridge further comprises a cannula disposed within the tank volume thereby forming a first volume of the tank volume, a second volume of the tank volume, and a passageway extending along a side of the cannula between the first volume and second volume.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the operations further comprise:

filling a first volume of the tank volume and a second volume of the tank volume with the liquid vaporizable material, wherein the first volume and the second volume are formed in part by a cannula disposed within the tank volume, and wherein the first volume is substantially filled prior to the second volume being substantially filled.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a pressure in a fluid line in communication with the needle; and

stopping injection when a threshold pressure is detected, wherein the threshold pressure indicates the tank volume being full of the liquid vaporizable material.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein a middle portion of the wick is positioned between the opposing ends of the wick and outside of the tank volume.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein a first end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a first volume of the tank volume and a second end of the opposing ends of the wick is positioned in a second volume of the tank volume.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the wick is substantially parallel to the elastomeric material.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the wick is porous.