Pod assembly and e-vapor apparatus including the same

• US 10,314,343 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2018
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• 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: Newcomb, Ryan, Bache, Terry, Hawes, Eric, Lau, Raymond, Popa, Cristian, Yorkshades, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Szewczyk, Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US16/010,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20180295888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 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: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes

Abstract

An e-vapor apparatus may include a pod assembly including a pre-vapor formulation compartment, a first electrical connector, a vapor channel traversing the pre-vapor formulation compartment, and a vaporizer, the pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein and in fluidic communication with the vaporizer during an operation of the e-vapor apparatus, the first electrical connector including first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion configured to contact an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion configured to contact a cathode portion of the vaporizer. The e-vapor apparatus may further include a dispensing body including a second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector.

Claims

1. An e-vapor apparatus comprising:

a pod assembly including a pre-vapor formulation compartment, a first electrical connector and a vaporizer, the pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein and in fluidic communication with the vaporizer during an operation of the e-vapor apparatus, the first electrical connector including,

first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion connected to an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion connected to a cathode portion of the vaporizer; and

a dispensing body defining a receiving area to receive the pod assembly, the dispensing body including a second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector.

2. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a part that extends away from a surface of the first electrical connector.

3. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 2, wherein the part that extends away from the surface of the first electrical connector is semi-circular.

4. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are configured to apply a spring force on the second electrical connector.

5. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector further includes,

first data contacts, the first data contacts being blade-shaped.

6. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second electrical connector includes,

a body, the body defining slots for receiving the first data contacts;

and

second data contacts in the slots.

7. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second data contacts are configured to apply a spring force on the first data contacts.

8. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first extended portion and the second extended portion are configured to apply a spring force on the vaporizer.

9. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-vapor formulation compartment and the first electrical connector are at opposite ends of the pod assembly.

10. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector further includes a memory device and an air flow sensor.

11. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing body is configured to supply power to the pod assembly and communicate with the pod assembly.

12. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein dimensions of the receiving area correspond to dimensions of the pod assembly.

13. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the receiving area is a through-hole.

14. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pod assembly further includes a vapor channel traversing the pre-vapor formulation compartment and the dispensing body includes a mouthpiece that includes a vapor passage, the vapor passage being in fluidic communication with the vapor channel when the pod assembly is electrically connected to the dispensing body.

15. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment structure on a side wall of the receiving area, the attachment structure configured to engage and hold the pod assembly upon insertion into the receiving area.

16. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment structure on a side surface of the pod assembly, the attachment structure configured to engage and hold the pod assembly upon insertion into the receiving area.

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

a pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein;

a vaporizer configured to be in fluidic communication with the pre-vapor formulation compartment; and

a device compartment configured to be in fluidic communication with the pre-vapor formulation compartment, the device compartment including,

a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector including,

first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion connected to an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion connected to a cathode portion of the vaporizer.

18. The pod assembly of claim 17, wherein each of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a part that extends away from a surface of the first electrical connector.

19. The pod assembly of claim 18, wherein the part that extends away from the surface of the first electrical connector is semi-circular.

20. The pod assembly of claim 17, wherein the first electrical connector further includes,

first data contacts, the first data contacts being blade-shaped.

21. The pod assembly of claim 17, wherein the first electrical connector further includes a memory device and an air flow sensor.