ACTIVATION TRIGGER FOR A PERSONAL VAPORIZING INHALER

• US 20110277756A1
• Filed: 05/15/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Terry, Nathan Andrew, Minskoff, Noah Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,746,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.21
• 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 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/04 operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised air-humidification, e.g. "room humidifiers" F24F6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• 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 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.

Claims

1. A personal vaporizer unit, comprising:

a vaporizer that vaporizes a substance in response to being activated;

a first conductive surface configured to contact a first body part of a person holding said personal vaporizer unit; and

,

a second conductive surface, conductively isolated from said first conductive surface, configured to contact a second body part of said person, wherein said personal vaporizer unit activates said vaporizer in response to detecting a change in conductivity between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

2. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface is used to pass a charging current to a battery.

3. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1, wherein said change in conductivity comprises a drop in impedance between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

4. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1, wherein said change in conductivity comprises a change in capacitance between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

5. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1, wherein said first body part is a finger.

6. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 5, wherein said second body part is a lip.

7. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 5, wherein said second body part is a second finger.

8. A method of operating a personal vaporizing unit, comprising:

detecting a first impedance between a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface;

detecting a second impedance between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface;

based on said second impedance meeting a criteria, activating said personal vaporizing unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first impedance is substantially non-conductive and said second impedance indicates electrical continuity.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said first impedance is associated with only one of a first body part and a second body part being in contact with only one of said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first body part is a finger.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second body part is a lip.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said second body part is a second finger.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said second impedance is associated with a first body part being in contact with said first conductive surface and a second body part being in contact with said second conductive surface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first body part is a finger.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second body part is a lip.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said second body part is a second finger.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

charging a battery of said personal vaporizing unit by passing a current through at least one of said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.