CARTRIDGE AND FLUID RESERVOIR FOR A VAPORIZER

• US 20150335075A1
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Minskoff, Noah Mark, Terry, Nathan Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/720,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20150335075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures

Abstract

A personal vaporizing unit (PVU) generates a vapor that is inhaled by a user. A substance (e.g. liquid) in a cartridge is vaporized or atomized by a heating element that heats the liquid. When the PVU is activated, and the user provides suction, the liquid to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through a wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing the heating element. The airflow through PVU may have airflow directed around the cartridge and using standoff features to create a more air-tight connection.

Claims

1. A personal vaporizing unit comprising:

a distal assembly that includes a battery;

a proximal assembly coupled with the distal assembly and comprising;

a liquid reservoir fluid tank holding a liquid to be vaporized;

a heating element that heats liquid; and

one or more reservoir wicks for receiving the liquid adjacent the heating element, wherein one of the reservoir wicks supports the heating element.

2. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir fluid tank is part of a cartridge.

3. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 2 wherein the cartridge includes a connector assembly for connecting with the distal assembly.

4. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 2 wherein the cartridge includes a mouthpiece for air flow.

5. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 4 wherein the cartridge comprises an airflow directional standoff to cause an air tight seal that directs the air flow.

6. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 5 wherein the directional standoff comprises a change in a radius of the liquid reservoir fluid tank to modify or block one path of the air flow.

7. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1 wherein the wicks are part of an atomizer that heats the liquid for vaporization

8. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 7 wherein the atomizer further comprises the heating element that heats droplets of the liquid to form a vapor of the liquid that is mixed with air.

9. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1 wherein the distal assembly comprises a processor coupled with the battery.

10. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1 wherein the one or more reservoir wicks comprises two wicks wherein a first wick supports the heating element and a second wick transfers liquid towards the heating element.

11. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 10 wherein a channel is disposed through the first wick.

12. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 10 wherein the first wick is surrounded by the heating element.

13. A personal vaporizing unit, comprising:

a main body portion comprising a battery for powering the personal vaporizing unit;

a cartridge that includes a fluid reservoir for holding fluid and an atomizer for vaporizing the fluid; and

an air flow path through the cartridge that passes by the atomizer and outside of the fluid reservoir to an outlet, wherein the cartridge includes a directional standoff to cause an air tight seal that directs the air flow.

14. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 13 wherein the directional stand off blocks at least a portion of the air flow path.

15. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 13 wherein the directional stand off comprises a portion of the fluid reservoir having a smaller radius to improve the air flow by changing a shape of the air flow path.

16. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 13 wherein the directional stand off comprises a portion of the fluid reservoir having a larger radius to improve the air flow by changing a shape of the air flow path.

17. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 13 wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a heating element that is part of the atomizer.

18. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 17 wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a wick that exposes the liquid to the heating element, wherein the air flow path passes the wick and includes the vaporized fluid.

19. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 13 wherein the air flow path comprises a clean air intake on a side of the personal vaporizing unit.

20. A cartridge in an electronic cigarette comprising:

a chamber that establishes an air flow path that includes a directional standoff in the airflow path;

a liquid reservoir fluid tank within the chamber and holding a liquid to be vaporized;

a wick for receiving the liquid; and

a heating element that heats liquid from the wick, wherein the wick supports the heating element.