Vaporization and dosage control for electronic vaporizing inhaler

• US 10,721,970 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2019
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avanzato Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Avanzato Technology Corp.
• Inventors: King, Charles William, Corry, Charles Dominic, Mingilino, Christopher, Tutt, Timothy, Fornarelli, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US16/431,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20190281900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 131180, 131329
• 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 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• 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 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0297 Heating of fluids for non specified applications

Abstract

An electronic vaporizing inhaler comprises a liquid reservoir adapted to receive vaping liquid, and a vaporizer. The vaporizer comprises a solid partition having a plurality of capillary apertures extending transversely through the solid partition, wherein the capillary apertures provide fluid communication between the vaporizer and the liquid reservoir. A sponge is disposed in physical contact with the solid partition and overlays the plurality of capillary apertures. A wick is disposed in physical contact with and overlaying the sponge, and a heating element is disposed above the wick.

Claims

1. An electronic vaporizing inhaler, comprising:

a liquid reservoir adapted to receive vaping liquid; and

a vaporizer, comprising;

a heating element;

a solid partition disposed between the heating element and the liquid reservoir and having a plurality of capillary apertures extending transversely through the solid partition;

a sponge disposed in physical contact with the solid partition and overlaying the plurality of capillary apertures on a side of the solid partition facing the heating element; and

a wick disposed in physical contact with and overlaying the sponge, wherein

a perimeter wall extends from a first side of the solid partition, wherein the perimeter wall has tall regions and short regions, a plurality of ridges extends internally from the perimeter wall, and a disc is disposed on the plurality of ridges inside the perimeter wall so that the solid partition, the perimeter wall, and the disc define a cavity having windows disposed through the perimeter wall.

2. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 1, wherein a plug extends from a second side of the solid partition, wherein the plug has a radial dimension that is smaller than a radial dimension of the perimeter wall.

3. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 1, wherein the heating element is selected from the group consisting of coils, thick films, thin films, and combinations thereof.

4. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 1, wherein the heating element has a positive temperature coefficient and an operating temperature in a range from 150°

C. to 250°

C.

5. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical storage device;

a microprocessor in electrical communication with the electrical storage device, wherein the microprocessor is configured to direct current from the electrical storage device to the heating element; and

a sensor configured to detect when a user draws on the electronic vaporizing inhaler, wherein the sensor is in electrical communication with the microprocessor and wherein the sensor activates the microprocessor when it detects that a user has drawn on the electronic vaporizing inhaler.

6. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a mechanical pressure sensor.

7. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a digital pressure sensor.

8. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 5 further comprising a housing that contains the electrical storage device, the vaporizer, the microprocessor, the sensor, and the liquid reservoir, and wherein a first end of the housing comprises a mouthpiece through which a user can inhale vapor from the vaporizer.

9. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 8, wherein the housing is a single piece and the electronic vaporizing inhaler is disposable.

10. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 8, wherein the housing is two separable pieces, wherein the electrical storage device, the microprocessor, and the sensor are contained in a first piece, and the vaporizer, the liquid reservoir, and the mouthpiece are contained in a second piece.

11. An electronic vaporizing inhaler, comprising:

a liquid reservoir adapted to receive vaping liquid; and

a vaporizer, comprising;

a solid partition having a plurality of capillary apertures extending transversely through the solid partition, wherein the capillary apertures provide fluid communication between the vaporizer and the liquid reservoir;

a sponge disposed in physical contact with the solid partition and overlaying the plurality of capillary apertures;

a wick disposed in physical contact with and overlaying the sponge; and

a heating element disposed above the wick;

wherein a perimeter wall extends from a first side of the solid partition, wherein the perimeter wall has tall regions and short regions, a plurality of ridges extends internally from the perimeter wall, and a disc is disposed on the plurality of ridges inside the perimeter wall so that the solid partition, the perimeter wall, and the disc define a cavity having windows disposed through the perimeter wall.

12. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 11, wherein the heating element has a positive temperature coefficient and an operating temperature in a range from 150°

C. to 250°

C.

13. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 11, further comprising a sensor configured to detect when a user draws on the electronic vaporizing inhaler, wherein the sensor is in electrical communication with the microprocessor and wherein the sensor activates the microprocessor when it detects that a user has drawn on the electronic vaporizing inhaler.

14. An electronic vaporizing inhaler, comprising:

a liquid reservoir adapted to receive vaping liquid; and

a vaporizer, comprising;

a solid partition having a plurality of capillary apertures extending transversely through the solid partition, wherein the capillary apertures provide fluid communication between the vaporizer and the liquid reservoir;

a sponge disposed in physical contact with the solid partition and overlaying the plurality of capillary apertures;

a wick disposed in physical contact with and overlaying the sponge; and

a heating element disposed above the wick;

wherein a perimeter wall extends from a first side of the solid partition, wherein the perimeter wall has tall regions and short regions, a plurality of ridges extends internally from the perimeter wall, and a disc is disposed on the plurality of ridges inside the perimeter wall so that the solid partition, the perimeter wall, and the disc define a cavity having windows disposed through the perimeter wall; and

wherein a plug extends from a second side of the solid partition, wherein the plug has a radial dimension that is smaller than a radial dimension of the perimeter wall.

15. The electronic vaporizing inhaler of claim 14, wherein the heating element has a positive temperature coefficient and an operating temperature in a range from 150°

C. to 250°

C., and wherein the sensor is a digital pressure sensor or a mechanical pressure sensor.