RESERVOIR FILLING SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE

• US 20160120227A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arie Holtz, Robert Levitz
• Inventors: LEVITZ, Robert, HOLTZ, Arie
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/015 with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/221 specially adapted operating means therefor operating means per se F16K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1823 for ball check valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/60 Handles form, features or function of taps or faucet handles for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material

Abstract

A reservoir refill system for an electronic vaping device includes a refill container and a reservoir. The refill container contains a pre-vapor formulation. The refill container includes a body, an opening in the body, and a first interlocking ring including at least one groove or at least one protrusion therein. The reservoir is configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation and includes a reservoir body, an opening in the reservoir body, and a second interlocking ring including at least one groove or at least one protrusion therein at an opening of the reservoir. The first interlocking ring is configured to mate with the second interlocking ring so as to release the pre-vapor formulation from the refill container to the reservoir.

Claims

1. A cartridge of an electronic vaping device, the cartridge comprising:

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir being refillable, and the reservoir including,

an opening, and

a first interlocking ring at the opening, the first interlocking ring including at least one of a groove and a protrusion, the first interlocking ring configured to connect to a second interlocking ring attached to a refill container.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking ring includes at least one of a plurality of grooves and a plurality of protrusions spaced about a circumference of the first interlocking ring.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the opening in the reservoir further comprises:

a valve, the valve including a spring-loaded disk and a gasket.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the spring-loaded disk is configured to be depressed so as to allow pre-vapor formulation to flow into the reservoir.

5. The cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a chimney support configured to maintain the spring loaded disk in place until the first interlocking ring is connected to a second interlocking ring.

6. The cartridge of claim 3, further comprising:

a perforated disk including at least one perforation therein, the at least one perforation sized and configured to receive at least one tooth, the at least one tooth configured to depress the spring-loaded disk.

7. An electronic vaping device comprising:

a housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir in the housing, the reservoir being refillable, and the reservoir comprising;

an opening; and

a first interlocking ring at the opening, the first interlocking ring including at least one of a groove and a protrusion, the first interlocking ring configured to connect to a second interlocking ring attached to a refill container; and

a heater in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

a power supply configured to supply power to the heater.

8. The electronic vaping device of claim 7, wherein the first interlocking ring includes at least one of a plurality of grooves and a plurality of protrusions spaced about a circumference of the first interlocking ring.

9. The electronic vaping device of claim 7, wherein the opening in the reservoir further comprises:

a valve, the valve including a spring loaded disk, a perforated disk, and a gasket.

10. The electronic vaping device of claim 9, wherein the perforated disk includes at least one perforation therein, the at least one perforation sized and configured to receive at least one tooth, the at least one tooth configured to depress the spring-loaded disk so as to allow pre-vapor formulation to flow into the reservoir.

11. The electronic vaping device of claim 9, further comprising:

a chimney support configured to maintain the spring loaded disk in place until the first interlocking ring is connected to a second interlocking ring.

12. A reservoir refill system comprising:

a refill container containing a pre-vapor formulation, the refill container including,

a container body,

an opening in the container body, and

a first interlocking ring including at least one of a first groove and a first protrusion therein positioned at the opening in the container

body; and

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir including,

a reservoir body configured to contain the pre-vapor formulation,

an opening in the reservoir body, and

a second interlocking ring including at least one of a second groove and a second protrusion therein, the second interlocking ring positioned at the opening in the reservoir body, the first interlocking ring configured to mate with the second interlocking ring.

13. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring are colored.

14. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring are the same color.

15. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring include at least one of a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second protrusions spaced about a circumference thereof and wherein the plurality of first grooves are sized and configured to mate with the plurality of second protrusions.

16. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring is formed of plastic.

17. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein the opening in the reservoir further includes a valve.

18. The reservoir refill system of claim 17, wherein the valve includes a spring loaded disk, a perforated disk, and a gasket.

19. The reservoir refill system of claim 18, wherein the perforated disk includes at least one perforation therein, the at least one perforation sized and configured to receive at least one tooth, the at least one tooth configured to depress the spring-loaded disk so as to allow pre-vapor formulation to flow into the reservoir.

20. The reservoir refill system of claim 18, wherein the reservoir further comprises:

a chimney support configured to maintain the spring loaded disk in place until the first interlocking ring is connected to a second interlocking ring.

21. The reservoir refill system of claim 20, wherein the refill container further comprises:

a ball valve in a neck of the opening, the ball valve including a spring-loaded ball; and

a crown adjacent the spring-loaded ball, the crown configured to shield the spring-loaded ball from being accessed.

22. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring is impregnated with at least one of a flavorant and a chemesthesis agent having one or more of a spicy, bitter, and sour taste.

23. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring includes a coating comprising at least one of a flavorant and a chemesthesis agent having one or more of a spicy, bitter, and sour taste.

24. The reservoir refill system of claim 12, further comprising:

a cap integrally formed with the first interlocking ring.

25. A reservoir refill system comprising:

a refill container containing a pre-vapor formulation, the refill container including,

a container body,

an opening in the container body,

a perforated disk having one or more holes therein, and

a spring-loaded disk; and

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body configured to contain the pre-vapor formulation;

an opening in the reservoir body; and

a crown including one or more teeth thereon, the teeth sized and configured to be received in the one or more holes in the perforated disk, the crown configured to depress the spring-loaded disk so as to allow pre-vapor formulation to flow into the reservoir.

26. The reservoir refill system of claim 25, further comprising:

a first interlocking ring including one or more of at least one groove and at least one protrusion therein at an opening in one of the container body and the reservoir body; and

a second interlocking ring including one or more of at least one groove and at least one protrusion therein at an opening of one of the container body and the reservoir body.

27. The reservoir refill system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring is impregnated with at least one of a flavorant and a chemesthesis agent having one or more of a spicy, bitter, and sour taste.

28. The reservoir refill system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first interlocking ring and the second interlocking ring includes a coating comprising at least one of a flavorant and a chemesthesis agent having one or more of a spicy, bitter, and sour taste.

29. A refill container comprising:

a body containing a formulation;

an opening in the body; and

a first interlocking ring at the opening of the body, the first interlocking ring including at least one of a groove and a protrusion therein, the interlocking ring configured to mate with a second interlocking ring attached to a reservoir configured to hold the formulation.

30. The refill bottle or tube of claim 29, further comprising:

a ball valve in a neck of the opening, the ball valve including a spring loaded ball; and

a crown adjacent the spring loaded ball, the crown configured to shield the spring loaded ball from being accessed, the crown including a plurality of teeth, the teeth sized and configured to be received in perforations in a perforated disk so as to depress a spring-loaded disk.

31. The refill bottle or tube of claim 29, further comprising:

a cap integrally formed with the first interlocking ring.

32. A method of refilling a reservoir of an electronic vaping device, the method comprising:

inserting at least one protrusion of a first interlocking ring into at least one groove of a second interlocking ring so as to engage a spring loaded ball of a refill container and a spring loaded disk of a reservoir; and

releasing a formulation from the refill container to the reservoir.

33. A cartridge of an electronic vaping device, the cartridge comprising:

a housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a chimney extending in the longitudinal direction, the chimney in the housing, the chimney including,

at least one protrusion along a length of the chimney, and

at least one stop along the length of the chimney;

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir being refillable, and the reservoir between the housing and the chimney; and

a valve circumscribing the chimney, the valve including,

a first ring abutting the at least one stop,

a second ring abutting the at least one protrusion, and

at least one pillar connecting the first ring and the second ring, the valve being formed of a flexible material.

34. The cartridge of claim 33, wherein the at least one pillar is generally convex and the second ring has a larger diameter than the first ring.

35. The cartridge of claim 33, wherein the flexible material is rubber.

36. The cartridge of claim 33, wherein the at least one pillar is generally concave and the first ring has a larger diameter than the second ring.

37. A reservoir refill system comprising:

a refill container containing a pre-vapor formulation, the refill container including,

a container body,

an opening in the container body, and

a ball valve assembly positioned at the opening, the ball valve assembly including,

a ball valve portion,

a shoulder portion extending from the ball valve portion, the shoulder portion including one or more openings extending therethrough, and

a gasket portion integrally formed with the ball valve, the gasket portion connected to the ball valve by the shoulder portion; and

a cartridge configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the cartridge configured to mate with the refill container, the cartridge including,

a housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a chimney extending in the longitudinal direction, the chimney in the housing, the chimney including,

at least one protrusion along a length of the chimney, and

at least one stop along the length of the chimney;

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir being refillable, and the reservoir between the housing and the chimney; and

a valve circumscribing the chimney, the valve including,

a first ring abutting the at least one stop,

a second ring abutting the at least one protrusion, and

at least one pillar connecting the first ring and the second ring, the valve being formed of a flexible material.

38. A refill container containing a pre-vapor formulation, the refill container comprising:

a container body;

an opening in the container body; and

a ball valve assembly positioned at the opening, the ball valve assembly including,

a ball valve portion,

a shoulder portion extending from the ball valve portion, the shoulder portion including one or more openings extending therethrough, and

a gasket portion integrally formed with the ball valve, the gasket portion connected to the ball valve by the shoulder portion.