ELECTRONIC EVAPORABLE SUBSTANCE DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20080257367A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NJOY electronic cigarettes
• Original Assignee: NJOY electronic cigarettes
• Inventors: Paterno, Greg, Burrows, David, Babinski, Kryzystof, Gurman, Hal R.
• Application Number:
  US11/739,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20080257367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/328
• 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 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• 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 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

An improved electronic evaporable substance delivery device delivers nicotine-containing vapor to a user from a smoking device. The smoking device comprises a case having therein a power source, microprocessor, heating element and nicotine-containing cartridge. Microprocessor-controlled heating of the heating element causes air passing thereover to be heated. Passage of the heated air in proximity of the cartridge causes boiling of cartridge contents, and the release of a nicotine-containing vapor. A user may ingest the nicotine-containing vapor via a mouthpiece located at a first end of the case.

Claims

1. An electronic evaporable substance delivery device comprising, in combination:

a case;

a power source located in an interior of said case;

a printed circuit board located in said interior of said case;

a microprocessor located on said printed circuit board and in communication with said power source;

a heating element in communication with said microprocessor;

a cartridge containing an evaporable substance proximate said heating element;

an air path opening located in said case;

a mouthpiece located at a first end of said case wherein said mouthpiece has a channel therein and is in communication with said air path opening so that air entering said case through said air path opening may be sucked though said mouthpiece; and

a switch configured to activate said microprocessor upon a sucking of air through said interior of said case by a user.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said evaporable substance is nicotine.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source is a replaceable battery.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a heat shield interposed between said heating element and said printed circuit board.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display device in communication with said microprocessor, said display device configured to display data of at least one of a substance intake and battery power levels.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a light located at a second end of said case, said light configured to indicate at least one of a substance intake level and battery power levels.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pocket clip coupled to an exterior of said case.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said case and said mouthpiece substantially resemble a tobacco cigarette.

10. An electronic nicotine delivery device comprising, in combination:

a case;

a power source located in an interior of said case;

a printed circuit board located in said interior of said case;

a microprocessor located on said printed circuit board and in communication with said power source;

a heating element in communication with said microprocessor;

a nicotine-containing cartridge proximate said heating element;

an air path opening located in said case;

a mouthpiece located at a first end of said case wherein said mouthpiece has a channel therein and is in communication with said air path opening so that air entering said case through said air path opening may be sucked though said mouthpiece;

a display device in communication with said microprocessor, said display device configured to display data of at least one of a substance intake and battery power levels;

a switch configured to activate said microprocessor upon a sucking of air through said interior of said case by a user; and

a light located at a second end of said case, said light configured to indicate at least one of a nicotine intake level and battery power levels.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said power source is a replaceable battery.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery.

13. The device of claim 10 further comprising a heat shield interposed between said heating element and said printed circuit board.

14. A method for delivering an evaporable substance comprising:

providing an electronic evaporable substance delivery device comprising, in combination;

a case;

a power source located in an interior of said case;

a printed circuit board located in said interior of said case;

a microprocessor located on said printed circuit board and in communication with said power source;

a heating element in communication with said microprocessor;

a cartridge containing an evaporable substance proximate said heating element;

an air path opening located in said case;

a mouthpiece located at a first end of said case wherein said mouthpiece has a channel therein and is in communication with said air path opening so that air entering said case through said air path opening may be sucked though said mouthpiece; and

a switch configured to activate said microprocessor upon a sucking of air through said interior of said case by a user;

providing power from said power source to said microprocessor;

said microprocessor causing said heating element to heat;

air entering said case being heated by said heating element;

said heated air coming into proximity with said evaporable substance in said cartridge;

at least a portion of said evaporable substance boiling and producing a vapor; and

said vapor exiting said case via said mouthpiece.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said evaporable substance is nicotine.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of said microprocessor calculating an amount of nicotine exiting said case via said mouthpiece.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying said amount of nicotine exiting said case via said mouthpiece to a user.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of displaying occurs on a display device located on said case.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said amount of nicotine exiting said case via said mouthpiece to a user is communicated from said case to another device.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said heating element comprises at least one of a heating coil, a light emitting diode, an infra-red device, a laser, a vibration chamber, a flame, and a pressure chamber.