Pod assembly, dispensing body, and e-vapor apparatus including the same

• US 9,999,258 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newcomb, Ryan, Bache, Terry, Hawes, Eric, Lau, Raymond, Popa, Cristian, Yorkshades, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Szewczyk, Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US15/601,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20170360098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• 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: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes

Abstract

An e-vapor apparatus may include a pod assembly including a pre-vapor formulation compartment, a first electrical connector, a vapor channel traversing the pre-vapor formulation compartment, and a vaporizer, the pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein and in fluidic communication with the vaporizer during an operation of the e-vapor apparatus, the first electrical connector including first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion configured to contact an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion configured to contact a cathode portion of the vaporizer. The e-vapor apparatus may further include a dispensing body including a second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector.

Claims

1. An e-vapor apparatus comprising:

a pod assembly including a pre-vapor formulation compartment, a first electrical connector, a vapor channel traversing the pre-vapor formulation compartment, and a vaporizer, the pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein and in fluidic communication with the vaporizer during an operation of the e-vapor apparatus, the first electrical connector including,

first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion configured to contact an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion configured to contact a cathode portion of the vaporizer; and

a dispensing body defining a receiving area to receive the pod assembly, the dispensing body including a second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector.

2. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a part that extends away from the exterior of the first electrical connector.

3. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 2, wherein the part that extends away from the exterior of the first electrical connector is semi-circular.

4. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are configured to apply a spring force on the second electrical connector.

5. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector further includes,

first data contacts, the first data contacts being blade-shaped.

6. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second electrical connector includes,

a body, the body defining slots for receiving the first data contacts;

and

second data contacts on the body and in the slots.

7. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second data contacts are configured to apply a spring force on the first data contacts.

8. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first extended portion and the second extended portion are configured to apply a spring force on the vaporizer.

9. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-vapor formulation compartment and the first electrical connector are at opposite ends of the pod assembly.

10. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector includes a memory device and an air flow sensor.

11. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing body is configured to supply power to the pod assembly and communicate with the pod assembly via at least one electrical contact.

12. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein dimensions of the receiving area correspond to dimensions of the pod assembly.

13. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the receiving area is a through-hole.

14. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing body includes a mouthpiece that includes a vapor passage, the vapor passage being in fluidic communication with the vapor channel when the pod assembly is electrically connected to the dispensing body.

15. The e-vapor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment structure on at least one of a side wall of the receiving area and a side surface of the pod assembly, the attachment structure configured to engage and hold the pod assembly upon insertion into the receiving area.

16. A pod assembly for an e-vapor apparatus, comprising:

a pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein, a vapor channel traversing the pre-vapor formulation compartment;

a vaporizer configured to be in fluidic communication with the pre-vapor formulation compartment; and

a device compartment configured to be in fluidic communication with the pre-vapor formulation compartment, the device compartment including,

a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector including,

first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion configured to contact an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion configured to contact a cathode portion of the vaporizer.

17. The pod assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a part that extends away from the exterior of the first electrical connector.

18. The pod assembly of claim 17, wherein the part that extends away from the exterior of the first electrical connector is semi-circular.

19. The pod assembly of claim 16, wherein the first electrical connector further includes,

first data contacts, the first data contacts being blade-shaped.

20. The pod assembly of claim 16, wherein the first electrical connector includes a memory device and an air flow sensor.