Electronic vaporizer system

• US 10,287,155 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AYR Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AYR Ltd.
• Inventors: Murison, Ian, Marsh, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Yaary, Eric
• Application Number:
  US15/253,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 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 that includes an air pressure valve or device to enable excess air to escape from an e-liquid reservoir in the vaporizer during pressurized filling of the vaporizer with e-liquid. If the vaporizer includes a ceramic cell, then the air pressure device is the wall of the ceramic cell and the reservoir is the chamber arranged outside of the external wall of the ceramic cell.

Claims

1. An electronic vaporiser system including an electronic vaporiser, in which the electronic vaporiser includes an air pressure valve or device to enable excess air to escape from a liquid reservoir in the vaporiser during re-filling of the vaporizer with pressurised atomisable liquid, in which the system includes (i) a user-replaceable cartridge, which is not user-refillable;

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

(iii) an electric or electronic pump that is configured to withdraw atomisable liquid from the user-replaceable cartridge and pump pressurized atomisable liquid to the reservoir in the vaporiser; and

in which (iv) a heating element is not in the user-replaceable cartridge but is instead in, or in liquid communication with, the reservoir.

2. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the reservoir is a child reservoir and is filled by a parent reservoir, the parent reservoir being in the cartridge that is removable from the vaporiser or that is removable from a case that stores, re-fills and re-charges the vaporiser.

3. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 2 in which the child reservoir supplies atomisable liquid to enable an atomizing unit to draw in controlled amounts of atomisable liquid for vaping.

4. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 3 in which the parent reservoir is in the user-removable and replaceable, sealed or closed capsule or cartridge, of capacity 10 mL or less, and is slotted into or otherwise used by the vaporiser or a portable re-fill/re-charge case for the vaporiser, and a fluid transfer mechanism operates to transfer atomisable liquid from the capsule or cartridge into the child reservoir in the vaporiser, of capacity 3 mL or less.

5. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the vaporiser includes a ceramic cell and the air pressure device is a wall of the ceramic cell.

6. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 5 in which the ceramic cell includes a cylindrical wicking cylinder with a cylindrical bore and with an embedded heating coil wound within the bore.

7. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 6 in which the reservoir is a chamber arranged outside of the external wall of the ceramic cell.

8. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 2 in which the child reservoir includes (i) one or more small channels and (ii) a second child reservoir fed by the small channel(s) which surrounds an atomising unit and from which the atomisable liquid is drawn into the atomising unit.

9. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 2 in which the valve or device permits air to enter into the child reservoir in the vaporiser as liquid is consumed in normal use by the vaporiser.

10. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 2 in which the valve or device permits air to enter into the child reservoir if the ambient air pressure changes.

11. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the valve or device is a barrier made of an air-porous material, coated with or otherwise including a barrier or layer of an air-porous substance that is not porous to atomisable liquid.

12. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 11 in which the barrier or layer of the air-porous substance that is not porous to atomisable liquid is an oleophobic material or a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic material.

13. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 12 in which the valve or device in which the oleophobic material is one of:

sintered phosphor bronze, sintered stainless steel and sintered PU plastic.

14. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 12 in which the air-porous substance is a PTFE membrane.

15. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 14 in which the PTFE membrane is compressively secured into an aperture that is connected to an air passage that leads to a child reservoir.

16. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the valve or device is made of a porous ceramic material.

17. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette.

18. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 17 in which the electronic vaporiser includes no control buttons.

19. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 17 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.

20. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 19 in which the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section.

21. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 which is re-fillable only from the user-replaceable, closed cartridge.

22. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 21 in which the electronic vaporiser is refillable with atomisable liquid only when inserted, whole and intact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfer mechanism to transfer atomisable liquid into the vaporiser under pressure.

23. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 11 in which the air-porous material is a sintered polymer or metal.

24. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 including a case for storing the electronic vaporiser.

25. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 24 in which the case includes the electric or electronic pump.

26. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 24 in which the replaceable cartridge is removably insertable to the case.

27. 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.

28. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the atomisable liquid includes nicotine.

29. The electronic vaporiser system of claim 1 in which the atomisable liquid does not include nicotine.