Device for storing and vaporizing liquid media

• US 10,405,585 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2018
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V. (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Alarcon, Ramon, Rasmussen, Dennis, Tittiger, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgos-Guntin, Nelson R.
• Application Number:
  US15/996,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20190090540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 131329, 131273, 131271
• 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 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means

Abstract

A device for storing and vaporizing liquid media can comprise an annular liquid media storage tank and a heater configured to vaporize liquid stored in the annular liquid media storage tank.

Claims

1. A device for storing and vaporizing liquid media, comprising the following:

an outer tube mounted around at least a portion of an inner tube, wherein the outer tube comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner tube comprises an inner surface defining an air path and an outer surface, and wherein an annular liquid media storage tank is defined between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube;

a heater coil casing defining a heater coil chamber; and

a heater coil mounted at least partially within the heater coil casing, wherein the heater coil casing comprises an upper heater coil housing further defining a housing air outlet connected with a distal end of the inner tube and a lower heater coil support further defining a housing air inlet.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater coil is mounted at least partially within the heater coil casing between the housing air outlet and the housing air inlet.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a battery connector that includes a base portion, wherein the base portion of the battery connector is connected to the housing air inlet.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the upper heater coil housing overlaps an outer wall of the lower heater coil support.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater coil support includes a base plate portion from which an axially extending cylinder extends.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the base plate portion includes a first chamber air inlet tube and a second chamber air inlet tube.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first chamber air inlet tube and the second chamber air inlet tube are diametrically opposed from one another.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the axially extending cylinder defines a first heater notch and a second heater notch on a proximal lip of the axially extending cylinder, wherein the first heater notch and the second heater notch are transversely opposed to the first and second chamber air inlet tubes.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first heater notch and the second heater notch are diametrically opposed from one another.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising a wick that extends through the heater coil and is supported on either end by the first heater notch and the second heater notch.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first chamber air inlet tube and a second chamber air inlet tube are configured to direct an airflow on either side of the heater coil and wick.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first chamber air inlet tube and the second chamber air inlet tube extend proximally from the base plate portion.

13. A device for storing and vaporizing liquid media, comprising the following:

an air inlet;

an air outlet;

a heater coil casing defining a heater coil chamber, wherein the heater coil casing includes an upper heater coil housing, a proximal end of which is connected to the air outlet, and a lower heater coil support, a distal end of which is connected to the air inlet;

a heater coil mounted at least partially within the heater coil casing; and

a wick that extends through a center of the heater coil and through a first port in a first wall of the heater coil casing and through a second port in a second wall of the heater coil casing.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first port and the second port are diametrically opposed from one another.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first port and the second port are defined via a first and second heater notch formed on a proximal lip of the lower heater coil support.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the wick is disposed horizontally across the heater coil support.

17. An electronic cigarette, comprising the following:

an air inlet;

an air outlet;

a heater coil casing defining a heater coil chamber and comprising (i) an upper heater coil housing defining a housing air outlet in communication with the air outlet and (ii) a lower heater coil housing defining a housing air inlet in communication with the air inlet;

a heater coil mounted between the housing air outlet and the housing air inlet;

a wick extending through a first port and a second port in a sidewall of the heater coil casing;

a mouth piece connected with the air outlet; and

a battery connector connected with the air inlet.

18. The electronic cigarette of claim 17, wherein an inner wall of the upper heater coil housing overlaps an outer wall of the lower heater coil housing.

19. The electronic cigarette of claim 18, wherein the housing air inlet comprises a pair of housing air inlets.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein a proximal lip of the lower heater coil housing defines a first heater notch and a second heater notch, wherein the first heater notch and the second heater notch are diametrically opposed from one another.