SOLDERLESS PERSONAL VAPORIZING INHALER

• US 20130056013A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Terry, Nathan Andrew, Minskoff, Noah Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/328
• 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 40/70 Manufacture
• 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 2016/0018 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3693 by mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit t may simulate a cigarette. A flow of electrical power may be coupled through solderless pressure contacts to activate a heating element. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the liquid to be vaporized may be vaporized by an atomizer assembly. Vapors may then be aspirated by the user through an oral aspiration tube, where they may be inhaled.

Claims

1. A vaporizer comprising:

a wick element for directly contacting a liquid to be changed into a vapor;

a heating element having first and second extremities;

an inner contact member; and

a first pressure member to sandwich the first extremity of the heating element over said inner contact member to effect first solderless pressure contacts.

2. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner contact member and the first pressure member comprise metal members.

3. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner contact member includes at least an inner contact post.

5. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer contact member; and

a second pressure member to sandwich the second extremity of the heating element over the outer contact member to effect second solderless pressure contacts.

6. A vaporizer as recited in claim 5 wherein the outer contact member and the second pressure member comprise metal members.

7. A vaporizer as recited in claim 5 wherein the second pressure member comprises at least a portion of an oral aspiration tube fluidly coupled with the heating element for transporting vapor from the heating element to a user'"'"'s mouth.

8. A vaporizer as recited in claim 5 wherein the outer contact member comprises an outer contact sleeve.

9. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer contact sleeve; and

an oral aspiration tube having an extremity arranged for sandwiching the second extremity of the heating element over the outer contact sleeve to effect second solderless pressure contacts.

10. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a wire.

11. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising an outer contact member wherein the heating element is electrically coupled between the inner contact member and the outer contact member for energizing the heating element when the heating element is activated.

12. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising an outer contact member wherein the heating element is electrically coupled between the inner contact member and the outer contact member for conducting a flow of battery power when the heating element is activated.

13. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer contact member; and

substantially annular insulation interposed between the inner contact member and the outer contact member.

14. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer contact member; and

electrical insulation material interposed between the inner contact member and the outer contact member, wherein the electrical insulation material substantially avoids outgassing at approximately three hundred degrees Celsius.

15. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer contact member; and

electrical insulation material interposed between the inner contact member and the outer contact member, wherein the electrical insulation material substantially maintains dimensional stability at approximately three hundred degrees Celsius.

16. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a heating element support member; and

an air gap defined between at least a first portion of said wick element and a second portion of the heating element support member.

17. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a heating element support member thermally coupled with the heating element.

18. A vaporizer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a heating element support member, wherein the heating element includes at least a wire coiled about the heating element support member.

19. A vaporizer comprising:

a wick element for directly contacting a liquid to be changed into a vapor;

a heating element having first and second extremities;

an outer contact member; and

pressure member to sandwich the second extremity of the heating element over said outer contact member to effect solderless pressure electrical contacts.

4. A vaporizer as recited in claim 19 wherein the first pressure member includes at least a pressure cap to sandwich the first extremity of the heating element over said inner contact member to effect first solderless pressure contacts.

20. A vaporizer as recited in claim 19 wherein the outer contact member and the pressure member comprise metal members.

21. A vaporizer as recited in claim 19 wherein the pressure member comprises at least a portion of an oral aspiration tube fluidly coupled with the heating element for transporting vapor from the heating element to a user'"'"'s mouth.

22. A vaporizer as recited in claim 19 wherein the outer contact member comprises an outer contact sleeve.

23. A vaporizer as recited in claim 19 wherein the heating element is substantially “

L”

shaped.

24. A method of operating a vaporizer comprising:

providing solderless pressure contacts of a heating element;

coupling a flow of power through the solderless pressure contacts to electrically activate the heating element; and

changing a liquid into a vapor in response to electrical activation of the heating element.

25. A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising interrupting the flow of power through the solderless pressure contacts to electrically deactivate the heating element.

26. A vaporizer assembly method comprising:

arranging a wick element proximate to a heating element having first and second extremities;

arranging the heating element proximate to an inner contact member;

applying a first pressure member to sandwich the first extremity of the heating element over said inner contact member to effect first solderless pressure electrical contacts.

27. A vaporizer assembly method as recited in claim 26 further comprising arranging the second extremity of the heating element proximate to an outer contact member.

28. A vaporizer assembly method as recited in claim 27 further comprising applying second pressure member to sandwich the second extremity of the heating element over said outer contact member to effect second solderless pressure electrical contacts.