Personal vaporizing inhaler cartridge

• US 9,861,772 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2010
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodward, Valerie L
• Application Number:
  US12/780,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20110277760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,796 Days
• Field of Search: 12820011-20013, 12820221, 12820312-20327, 12820413, 131273
• 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 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0001 Details of inhalators; Constructional features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/213 by spraying or atomising of the liquids

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 vaporizing unit, comprising:

a first cylindrical cartridge;

a second cylindrical cartridge; and

a chamber comprising;

a cylindrical cartridge receiving portion configured to receive the first cylindrical cartridge having a first end and a second end and holding a fluid to be vaporized;

a first passage for air to be drawn from outside the personal vaporizing unit formed by at least one space between a first exterior surface of the first cartridge and an interior surface of the chamber, wherein the first passage establishes a first volume of air typically drawn into the personal vaporizing unit,

wherein the cylindrical cartridge receiving portion is configured to receive the second cylindrical cartridge in place of the first cylindrical cartridge; and

a second passage for air to be drawn from outside the personal vaporizing unit formed by a second exterior surface of the second cartridge and the interior surface of the chamber, wherein the second passage defines a second volume of air typically drawn into the personal vaporizing unit, further wherein the second volume differs from the first volume based on differences between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface.

2. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1, wherein at least an end surface of the first cylindrical cartridge is translucent to diffuse light produced internally to the personal vaporizing unit.

3. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1, wherein the chamber is configured to hold the first cylindrical cartridge to place a wick in direct contact with the fluid.

4. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 3, further comprising a puncturing element that breaks a seal on one of the cylindrical cartridges to allow the fluid to be vaporized by the personal vaporizing unit such that the puncturing element comprises the wick.

5. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one space is created by a flat surface on the first cylindrical cartridge and a round inner diameter of the chamber.

6. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1, wherein air is drawn from outside the personal vaporizing unit to the at least one space through a space determined by at least one stand-off that creates a space between the first end and an intake end of the personal vaporizing unit.

7. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical cartridge has at least one anti-vacuum channel in an interior surface that allows air into a cartridge chamber holding the fluid to be vaporized.

8. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 1, wherein the personal vaporizing unit is configured to have a first end of the personal vaporizing unit placed in a human mouth and the first end of the first sealed cylindrical cartridge is at an opposite end from the first end of the personal vaporizing unit.