Vaporization device systems and methods

• US 10,045,568 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Monsees, James, Bowen, Adam, Christensen, Steven, Morenstein, Joshua, HibmaCronan, Christopher Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Felton, Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moreno Hernandez, Jerzi H
• Application Number:
  US15/832,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20180103686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 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: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/57 Temperature control
• 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 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• 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 3/04 Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material

Abstract

Vaporizer devices and apparatuses are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge for use with a vaporization device comprises a flattened body, a mouthpiece, a reservoir within the flattened body, a heater, and a pair of flat contact tabs. The flattened body comprises a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, and a transverse axis that is perpendicular to and shorter than the longitudinal axis. The mouthpiece is proximate to the proximal end of the flattened body, and the heater comprises of a pair of plates, a wick, and a resistive heating element. The pair of flat contact tabs are integrally formed from the plates and folded over an outer surface of the flattened body proximate to the distal end of the flattened body.

Claims

1. A cartridge for use with a vaporization device, the cartridge comprising:

a flattened body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, and a transverse axis that is perpendicular to and shorter than the longitudinal axis;

a mouthpiece proximate to the proximal end of the flattened body;

a reservoir within the flattened body, the reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a heater comprising;

a pair of plates extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis,

a wick extending along at least the transverse axis, at least a portion of the wick disposed between the pair of plates, and

a resistive heating element in contact with the pair of plates and the wick, wherein at least another portion of the wick is configured to contact the vaporizable material when the vaporizable material is present; and

a pair of flat contact tabs integrally formed from the plates and folded over an outer surface of the flattened body proximate to the distal end of the flattened body, the pair of flat contact tabs configured to complete a circuit with the vaporization device when the distal end is inserted into the vaporization device.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the flattened body is transparent.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the pair of contact tabs are configured to mate with a pair of electrical contacts in a cartridge receptacle of the vaporization device to complete the circuit.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the resistive heating element is wound around the wick at least one time.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a condensation chamber.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is fitted onto and over the proximal end of the flattened body.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is coupled to the flattened body with a snap-fit coupling.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an air inlet passage proximate to the distal end.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a channel integral to an exterior surface of the flattened body, wherein the channel forms a first side of an air inlet passage to the heater.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the resistive heating element is attached to the pair of plates.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is positioned to enclose the proximal end of the flattened body, and wherein the mouthpiece has a notch exposing part of the flattened body.

12. A cartridge for use with a vaporization device, the cartridge comprising:

a flattened body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, and a transverse axis that is perpendicular to and shorter than the longitudinal axis;

a reservoir within the flattened body and holding a vaporizable material;

a mouthpiece proximate to the proximal end of the flattened body;

a heater comprising;

a pair of plates extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis,

a wick extending along at least the transverse axis, at least a first portion of the wick disposed between the pair of plates, and at least a second portion of the wick disposed within the reservoir and in contact with the vaporizable material, and

a resistive heating element directly in contact with each plate of the pair of plates and in thermal contact with the wick; and

a pair of flat contact tabs integrally formed from the pair of plates and folded over an outer surface of the flattened body proximate to the distal end of the flattened body, the pair of flat contact tabs extending from the heater and configured to complete a circuit with the vaporization device when the distal end is inserted into the vaporization device.

13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the flattened body is transparent.

14. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the heater further comprises a condensation chamber.

15. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the heater encloses the distal end of the flattened body.

16. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the mouthpiece is fitted onto and over the proximal end of the flattened body.

17. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the mouthpiece is coupled to the flattened body with a snap-fit coupling.

18. The cartridge of claim 12, further comprising a channel integral to an exterior surface of the flattened body, wherein the channel forms a first side of an air inlet passage to the heater.

19. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the resistive heating element is attached to the pair of plates.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a vaporizer body comprising;

a power source;

a cartridge receptacle; and

a pair of contacts within the cartridge receptacle; and

a cartridge comprising;

a flattened body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, and a transverse axis that is perpendicular to and shorter than the longitudinal axis;

a mouthpiece proximate to the proximal end of the flattened body;

a reservoir within the flattened body, the reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a pair of plates extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis;

a wick extending along at least the transverse axis, at least a first portion of the wick disposed between the pair of plates;

a resistive heating element in contact with the pair of plates and the wick, wherein at least a second portion of the wick is configured to contact the vaporizable material when the vaporizable material is present; and

a pair of flat contact tabs integrally formed from the pair of plates and folded over an outer surface of the flattened body proximate to the distal end of the flattened body, the pair of flat contact tabs configured to complete a circuit with the pair of contacts and the power source when the distal end is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.