Pod assembly, dispensing body, and e-vapor apparatus including the same

• US 10,299,517 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawes, Eric, Lau, Raymond, Bramley, Alistair
• Primary Examiner(s): Szewczyk, Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US16/160,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20190045846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0297 Heating of fluids for non specified applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/12 characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material

Abstract

An e-vapor apparatus may include a pod assembly and a dispensing body configured to receive the pod assembly. A vaporizer may be disposed in the pod assembly and/or the dispensing body. The pod assembly may include a vapor precursor compartment, a device compartment, and a vapor channel extending from the device compartment and traversing the vapor precursor compartment. The pod assembly is a smart pod configured to receive, store, and transmit information that can be communicated with the dispensing body and/or another electronic device. The proximal portion of the dispensing body includes a vapor passage and a through-hole. The vapor passage may extend from an end surface of the proximal portion to a side wall of the through-hole. The through-hole is configured to receive the pod assembly such that the vapor channel of the pod assembly is aligned with the vapor passage of the dispensing body.

Claims

1. A pod assembly for an e-vapor apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of external surfaces including a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a first side face between the front face and the rear face, a second side face opposite the first side face, a downstream end face, and an upstream end face opposite the downstream end face, a portion of at least the front face or the rear face being transparent, the downstream end face defining an outlet;

a liquid compartment configured to hold a liquid formulation such that the liquid formulation is visible through at least the front face or the rear face;

a vaporizer compartment in fluidic communication with the liquid compartment, the vaporizer compartment being adjacent to the upstream end face, the vaporizer compartment configured to heat the liquid formulation, the vaporizer compartment including a heater and a wick;

a vapor channel extending from the vaporizer compartment, through a center of the liquid compartment, and to the outlet, the vapor channel being visible through at least the front face or the rear face; and

a plurality of electrical contacts having respective planar surfaces at the upstream end face and electrically connected to the heater in the vaporizer compartment, the vapor channel being between the outlet and the plurality of electrical contacts.

2. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein a width of a downstream section of the vapor channel is less than a width of a corresponding section of the liquid compartment based on a side view, the downstream section being closer to the downstream end face than the upstream end face.

3. The pod assembly of claim 2, wherein the downstream section of the vapor channel is closer to the front face and the rear face than to the first side face and the second side face.

4. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein at least the first side face or the second side face defines a recess configured for engagement as part of an attachment structure.

5. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the vapor channel and at least a portion of the liquid formulation in the liquid compartment is between the downstream end face and the vaporizer compartment.

6. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the heater includes a wire coil formed of a nickel-chromium alloy.

7. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer compartment is visible through at least the front face or the rear face.

8. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein an entirety of the vapor channel is downstream from the heater.

9. The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact being closer to the first side face than the second side face, the second electrical contact being closer to the second side face than the first side face, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact having respective planar surfaces.

10. An e-vapor apparatus comprising:

a pod assembly including a plurality of external surfaces, a liquid compartment, a vaporizer compartment, a vapor channel, and a plurality of electrical contacts, the plurality of external surfaces including a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a first side face between the front face and the rear face, a second side face opposite the first side face, a downstream end face, and an upstream end face opposite the downstream end face, a portion of at least the front face or the rear face being transparent, the downstream end face defining an outlet, the liquid compartment configured to hold a liquid formulation such that the liquid formulation is visible through at least the front face or the rear face, the vaporizer compartment in fluidic communication with the liquid compartment, the vaporizer compartment being adjacent to the upstream end face, the vaporizer compartment configured to heat the liquid formulation, the vaporizer compartment including a heater and a wick, the vapor channel extending from the vaporizer compartment, through a center of the liquid compartment, and to the outlet, the vapor channel being visible through at least the front face or the rear face, the plurality of electrical contacts having respective planar surfaces at the upstream end face and electrically connected to the heater in the vaporizer compartment, the vapor channel being between the outlet and the plurality of electrical contacts; and

a device body defining a pod compartment having a first compartment side wall, a second compartment side wall opposite the first compartment side wall, a third compartment side wall between the first compartment side wall and the second compartment side wall, and a fourth compartment side wall opposite the third compartment side wall, the pod assembly configured to engage with the first compartment side wall and the second compartment side wall when received by the device body, the vapor channel of the pod assembly coinciding with a central longitudinal axis of the device body, the device body including a magnet, the device body including a battery configured to supply power to the heater.

11. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least the first compartment side wall or the second compartment side wall of the device body includes a mating member.

12. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least the first side face or the second side face of the pod assembly defines a recess configured to engage with the mating member of the device body as part of an attachment structure for securing the pod assembly to the device body.

13. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the recess is configured to engage with the mating member so as to produce an audible click.