Vaporization device systems and methods

• US 10,701,975 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bowen, Adam, Christensen, Steven, HibmaCronan, Christopher Nicholas, Monsees, James, Morenstein, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Lore R
• Application Number:
  US15/813,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20180064174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• 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 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0015 located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 : using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 : Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods to generate an inhalable vapor in an electronic vaporization device. The vaporization device may generate a vapor with one or more defined characteristics. In some cases, the vapor may have a predetermined aerosol number density and/or a predetermined average aerosol diameter. The vaporization device may generate a vapor from a vaporizable material. In some cases, the vaporizable material may be a liquid material housed in a cartridge. The vaporization device may comprise a rechargeable power storage device.

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising:

a top end;

a bottom end opposite the top end;

a first side substantially perpendicular to the bottom end;

a second side substantially perpendicular to the bottom end and opposite the first side;

a mouthpiece proximate to the top end;

a storage compartment configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a wick assembly proximate the bottom end, the wick assembly comprising a wicking material and a heating element in contact with the wicking material, the wicking material comprising a first wick end and a second wick end opposite the first wick end, the heating element configured to heat the vaporizable material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user;

a first plate positioned proximate to the first side, the first plate electrically coupled to the heating element;

a second plate positioned proximate to the second side, the second plate electrically coupled to the heating element; and

a heater chamber comprising a volume entirely between the first plate and the second plate, the first plate and the second plate proximate to opposing sides of the heater chamber, the wicking material extending;

from the first wick end, through the volume, to the second wick end, and substantially parallel to the first plate and the second plate.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are configured to complete an electrical circuit with the heating element to provide power to the heating element.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, further comprising:

a first flexible tab having a first contact surface proximate to the bottom end of the cartridge, the first flexible tab coupled to the first plate; and

a second flexible tab having a second contact surface proximate to the bottom end, the second flexible tab coupled to the second plate.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are configured to couple with a pair of contacts in a vaporizer device to complete the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit comprising a battery within the vaporizer device and the heating element.

5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the first plate comprises a first shape that includes the first flexible tab having a first flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber, and the second plate comprises a second shape that includes the second flexible tab having a second flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the cartridge is configured to complete an electrical circuit with a battery of a vaporizer device body to provide power to the heating element, wherein the first flexible part is disposed to couple with a first device contact of the vaporizer device body and the second flexible part is disposed to couple with a second device contact of the vaporizer device body, the coupling of the first flexible part and the first device contact and the coupling of the second flexible part and the second device contact completing the electrical circuit comprising the heating element, the first flexible part, the second flexible part, the device contact, and the battery.

7. The cartridge of claim 5 further comprising:

a plastic enclosure disposed to cover a portion of the first plate and a portion of the second plate, the portion of the first plate forming at least a portion of a first wall defining the heater chamber, the portion of the second plate forming at least a portion of a second wall defining the heater chamber, the first wall opposite the second wall, and wherein the first flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber protrudes though a first opening in the plastic enclosure and the second flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber protrudes though a second opening in the plastic enclosure.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the first shape has a flexible spring value to bias the first flexible part against the first device contact, and wherein the second shape has a flexible spring value to bias the second flexible part against the second device contact when the cartridge is insertably received in the vaporizer device body.

9. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the first shape has a flexible spring value to bias the first flexible part against the second device contact, and wherein the second shape has a flexible spring value to bias the second flexible part against the first device contact when the cartridge is insertably received in the vaporizer device body.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the wicking material is configured to contact the vaporizable material and draw the vaporizable material towards the heating element.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first plate is substantially parallel to the first side of the cartridge, and wherein the second plate is substantially parallel to the second side of the cartridge.

12. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the heating element is wrapped around the wicking material at least one time.

13. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising the vaporizable material, wherein the vaporizable material comprises a nicotine formulation.

14. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are positioned proximate to the bottom end.

15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a condensation chamber, and wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a first aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the condensation chamber and a second aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the condensation chamber.

16. The cartridge of claim 15, wherein the condensation chamber is configured so that the aerosol is cooled to a temperature between 35°

C. and 70°

C. before exiting the first aerosol outlet and the second aerosol outlet.

17. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the storage compartment comprises four exterior walls between the top end and the bottom end.

18. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the mouthpiece is opaque and the storage compartment is configured so that the vaporizable material is visible through a surface of the storage compartment.

19. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first plate comprises a flattened shape formed from electrically conductive material.

20. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the opposing sides of the heater chamber comprise plastic and wherein the first plate and the second plate are disposed to provide a heat sink configured to absorb and dissipate heat produced by the heating element.

21. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the opposing sides of the heater chamber comprise plastic and wherein the first plate and the second plate are disposed to provide a heat shield configured to protect the opposing sides from heat produced by the heating element.

22. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a third side substantially perpendicular to the bottom end; and

a fourth side substantially perpendicular to the bottom end and opposite the third side, wherein a first dimension between the third side and the second side is longer than a second dimension between the first side and the second side.

23. The cartridge of claim 22, wherein the first side is substantially parallel to the second side.

24. The cartridge of claim 22, wherein the cartridge has a substantially rectangular cross-section formed at least in part by the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side.

25. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has a non-cylindrical cross-section formed at least in part by the first side and the second side.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a cartridge comprising;

a top end;

a bottom end opposite the top end;

a first side substantially perpendicular to the bottom end;

a second side substantially perpendicular to the bottom end and opposite the first side;

a mouthpiece proximate to the top end;

a storage compartment configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a wick assembly proximate the bottom end, the wick assembly comprising a wicking material and a heating element in contact with the wicking material, the wicking material comprising a first wick end and a second wick end opposite the first wick end, the heating element configured to heat the vaporizable material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user;

a first plate positioned proximate to the first side, the first plate electrically coupled to the heating element;

a second plate positioned proximate to the second side, the second plate electrically coupled to the heating element; and

a heater chamber comprising a volume between the first plate and the second plate, the first plate and the second plate proximate to opposing sides of the heater chamber, the wicking material extending;

from the first wick end, through the volume, to the second wick end, and parallel to the first plate and the second plate; and

a vaporizer device comprising;

a receptacle configured to insertably receive the cartridge;

a first contact configured to electrically couple with the first plate; and

a second contact configured to electrically couple with the second plate.

27. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the first plate and the second plate are

configured to complete an electrical circuit with the heating element to provide

power to the heating element.

28. The cartridge of claim 27, further comprising:

a first flexible tab having a first contact surface proximate to the bottom end of the cartridge, the first flexible tab coupled to the first plate; and

a second flexible tab having a second contact surface proximate to the bottom end, the second flexible tab coupled to the second plate.

29. The cartridge of claim 28, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are configured to couple with the first contact and the second contact in a vaporizer device to complete the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit comprising a battery within the vaporizer device and the heating element.

30. The cartridge of claim 29 wherein the first plate comprises a first shape that includes the first flexible tab having a first flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber, and the second plate comprises a second shape that includes the second flexible tab having a second flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber.

31. The cartridge of claim 30, wherein the cartridge is configured to complete an electrical circuit with a battery of a vaporizer device body to provide power to the heating element, wherein the first flexible part is disposed to couple with a first device contact of the vaporizer device body and the second flexible part is disposed to couple with a second device contact of the vaporizer device body, the coupling of the first flexible part and the first device contact and the coupling of the second flexible part and the second device contact completing the electrical circuit comprising the heating element, the first flexible part, the second flexible part, the device contact, and the battery.

32. The cartridge of claim 30, further comprising:

a plastic enclosure disposed to cover a portion of the first plate and a portion of the second plate, the portion of the first plate forming at least a portion of a first wall defining the heater chamber, the portion of the second plate forming at least a portion of a second wall defining the heater chamber, the first wall opposite the second wall, and wherein the first flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber protrudes though a first opening in the plastic enclosure and the second flexible part that extends out of the heater chamber protrudes though a second opening in the plastic enclosure.

33. The cartridge of claim 32, wherein the first shape has a flexible spring value to bias the first flexible part against the first device contact, and wherein the second shape has a flexible spring value to bias the second flexible part against the second device contact when the cartridge is insertably received in the vaporizer device body.

34. The cartridge of claim 32, wherein the first shape has a flexible spring value to bias the first flexible part against the second device contact, and wherein the second shape has a flexible spring value to bias the second flexible part against the first device contact when the cartridge is insertably received in the vaporizer device body.

35. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the wicking material is configured to contact the vaporizable material and draw the vaporizable material towards the heating element.

36. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the first plate is substantially parallel to the first side of the cartridge, and wherein the second plate is substantially parallel to the second side of the cartridge.

37. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the heating element is wrapped around the wicking material at least one time.

38. The cartridge of claim 26, further comprising the vaporizable material, wherein the vaporizable material comprises a nicotine formulation.

39. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the first plate and the second plate are positioned proximate to the bottom end.

40. The cartridge of claim 39, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a condensation chamber, and wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a first aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the condensation chamber and a second aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the condensation chamber.

41. The cartridge of claim 40, wherein the condensation chamber is configured so that the aerosol is cooled to a temperature between 35°

C. and 70°

C. before exiting the first aerosol outlet and the second aerosol outlet.

42. The cartridge of claim 39, wherein the storage compartment comprises four exterior walls between the top end and the bottom end.

43. The cartridge of claim 39, wherein the mouthpiece is opaque and the storage compartment is configured so that the vaporizable material is visible through a surface of the storage compartment.

44. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the first plate comprises a flattened shape formed from electrically conductive material.

45. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the opposing sides of the heater chamber comprise plastic and wherein the first plate and the second plate are disposed to provide a heat sink configured to absorb and dissipate heat produced by the heating element.

46. The cartridge of claim 26, wherein the opposing sides of the heater chamber comprise plastic and wherein the first plate and the second plate are disposed to provide a heat shield configured to protect the opposing sides from heat produced by the heating element.