Vaporizer

• US 10,667,561 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VMR Products LLC (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMR Products LLC (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Verleur, Jan Andries, Recio, Dan, Lu, Yifeng, Zhang, Yinjun, Fajardo, Arturo, Verleur, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed Ali, Mohamed K
• Application Number:
  US16/181,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20190069605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/00 Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid 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 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/90 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3633 thermally insulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6027 Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 : Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 : Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/20 : having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment
• 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 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 : with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic cigarette or vaporizer may include a shell and a cartomizer receivable within a chamber within a portion of the shell. A basin may be included in the cartomizer to hold a vaporizable fluid, dry substance, or other vaporizable substance such as a wax. A heating element may be provided within the basin which may have a flexible non-conductive material and a flexible conductive material.

Claims

1. A vaporizer comprising:

a battery portion having a battery portion first end and a battery portion second end opposite the battery portion first end, the battery portion comprising;

a battery housing segment proximate the battery portion first end, the battery housing segment housing a battery;

a cartomizer receiving segment proximate the battery portion second end, the cartomizer receiving segment defining a chamber having an opening at a chamber insertion end distal to the battery housing segment and a chamber base end opposite the chamber insertion end, the chamber base end proximate the battery housing segment;

a battery electrical contact proximate the chamber base end, the battery electrical contact configured to receive an electrical current from the battery; and

an outer shell commonly shared by the battery housing segment and the cartomizer receiving segment; and

a cartomizer having a cartomizer insertion end configured for insertion into the opening at the chamber insertion end, the cartomizer comprising;

a cartomizer body;

a basin within the cartomizer body, the basin configured to hold a vaporizable liquid substance;

a heating element proximate the basin and positioned such that the entire heating element is disposed between the opening at the chamber insertion end and the chamber base end when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber such that the outer shell protects the heating element; and

a wicking element configured to deliver the vaporizable liquid to the heating element; and

a cartomizer electrical contact disposed proximate the cartomizer insertion end, the cartomizer electrical contact configured to contact the battery electrical contact to direct the electrical current from the battery electrical contact to the heating element to heat the vaporizable substance.

2. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the basin, the mouthpiece extending outside the chamber when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber.

3. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising one or more electrical circuits configured to control one or more functions of the vaporizer.

4. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 3, wherein the one or more electrical circuits are connected with the battery electrical contact and/or the cartomizer electrical contact.

5. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 3, wherein the one or more electrical circuits are configured to switch the heating element between an active state and an inactive state.

6. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 3, wherein the one or more electrical circuits configured to control the vaporizer are operable to switch the heating element between a conduction heating and a convection heating.

7. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 3, wherein the one or more electrical circuits comprise at least one of an integrated circuit, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a micro control unit.

8. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 3, further comprising an accelerometer operable to detect tilting or changes in orientation of the battery portion.

9. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more electrical circuits are configured to react to a shift in the orientation of the battery portion detected by the accelerometer.

10. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more electrical circuits are configured to activate the vaporizer when the accelerometer detects a shaking or an inverting of the vaporizer.

11. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the battery portion further comprises a connection mechanism to secure and align the cartomizer within the chamber.

12. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the connection mechanism comprises a magnet in or proximate to the chamber.

13. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer shell is formed of metal.

14. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a window formed in the outer shell, the window provided on or proximate to the chamber to permit viewing of the cartomizer when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber.

15. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartomizer contains the vaporizable substance, and wherein the vaporizable substance comprises a liquid comprising nicotine.

16. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the battery portion comprises an indicator operable to indicate a status of the vaporizer.

17. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 16, wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

18. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 16, wherein the status comprises one or more of power remaining in the battery, a charge state of the battery, or an activation state of the vaporizer.

19. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 16, wherein the status comprises a status change.

20. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 19, wherein the status change comprises the insertion of the cartomizer into the chamber.

21. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the battery electrical contact comprises a pogo pin.

22. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 21, wherein the pogo pin extends into the chamber when the cartomizer is not inserted into the chamber, and wherein the pogo pin is contacted and at least partially compressed when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber.

23. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 22, wherein the pogo pin that is pressed against the cartomizer electrical contact establishes an electrical connection between cartomizer electrical circuitry and the battery electrical contact when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber.

29. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the basin comprises a ceramic material.

30. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the heating element is disposed at a base of the basin and proximate to the cartomizer insertion end, the heating element configured to heat the vaporizable substance within the basin.

24. A vaporizer comprising:

a battery portion having a battery portion first end and a battery portion second end opposite the battery portion first end, the battery portion comprising;

a battery housing segment proximate the battery portion first end, the battery housing segment housing a battery;

a cartomizer receiving segment proximate the battery portion second end, the cartomizer receiving segment defining a chamber having an opening at a chamber insertion end, the chamber insertion end being distal to the battery housing segment, the chamber also having a chamber base end opposite the chamber insertion end and proximate the battery housing segment;

a plurality of battery electrical contacts proximate the chamber base end, the plurality of battery electrical contacts comprising a plurality of contact surfaces configured to receive an electrical current from the battery; and

an outer shell; and

a cartomizer having a cartomizer insertion end configured for insertion into the opening at the chamber insertion end, the cartomizer comprising;

a cartomizer body;

a basin within the cartomizer body, the basin configured to hold a vaporizable liquid substance;

a heating element, wherein the entire heating element is disposed between the opening and the chamber base end when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber such that the outer shell protects the heating element; and

a wicking element configured to deliver the vaporizable liquid substance to the heating element; and

a plurality of cartomizer electrical contacts disposed and configured to contact the plurality of battery electrical contacts to direct the electrical current from the plurality of battery electrical contacts to the heating element to heat the vaporizable substance.

25. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 24, further comprising one or more electrical circuits configured to control one or more functions of the vaporizer.

26. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 25, wherein the one or more electrical circuits are connected with the plurality of battery electrical contacts and/or the plurality of cartomizer electrical contacts.

27. The vaporizer in accordance with claim 25, wherein the one or more electrical circuits are configured to switch the heating element between an active state and an inactive state.

28. A vaporizer comprising:

a battery portion having a battery portion first end and a battery portion second end opposite the battery portion first end, the battery portion comprising;

a battery housing segment for housing a battery;

a cartomizer receiving segment proximate the battery housing segment, the cartomizer receiving segment defining a chamber, the chamber having an opening at a chamber insertion end and a chamber base end that is opposite the chamber insertion end and proximate to the battery housing segment, the chamber base end comprising a plurality of battery electrical contacts configured to receive an electrical current from the battery, the plurality of battery electrical contacts being positioned in a line; and

an outer shell containing the battery housing segment and the cartomizer receiving segment; and

a cartomizer having a cartomizer body configured for insertion into the opening at the chamber insertion end, the cartomizer body having a mouthpiece end and a cartomizer insertion end, the cartomizer comprising;

a basin within the cartomizer body, the basin configured to hold a vaporizable liquid substance;

a heating element proximate the basin, wherein the entire heating element is disposed between the opening at the chamber insertion end and the chamber base end when the cartomizer is inserted into the chamber such that the outer shell protects the heating element;

a wicking element configured to deliver the vaporizable liquid substance to the heating element; and

a mouthpiece disposed at the mouthpiece end; and

a plurality of cartomizer electrical contacts proximate the cartomizer insertion end, the plurality of cartomizer electrical contacts configured to align and to contact the plurality of battery electrical contacts to direct the electrical current to the heating element to heat the vaporizable substance.