Vaporization device systems and methods

• US 10,058,129 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• 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:
  US15/379,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 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

Cartridges for vaporizer devices are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge includes a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material, a heater, and a first contact and a second contact. The heater includes a first plate, a second plate, a wick, and a resistive heating element in contact with the first plate and the second plate. The first contact and second contact respectively extend from the first plate and the second plate and over an exterior surface of the cartridge. The first and second contacts are integrally formed from the first and second plates, extend from the heater, are folded over the exterior surface of the cartridge, and are disposed and configured to complete an electrical circuit with a pair of contacts in a vaporization device when the cartridge is coupled to the vaporization device.

Claims

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

a body having a long axis and a short axis;

a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the body;

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

a heater comprising;

a pair of plates extending in the long axis;

a wick; and

a resistive heating element in contact with the pair of plates and with the wick, wherein the wick is configured to contact the vaporizable material; and

a pair of exposed contact tabs integrally formed from the pair of plates and folded over an outer surface of a distal end of the cartridge, each contact tab of the pair of exposed contact tabs disposed and configured to physically contact one of two contact surfaces within the vaporization device to complete an electrical circuit with the vaporization device when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device, the pair of exposed contact tabs disposed substantially in a first plane, the two contact surfaces within the vaporization device disposed substantially in a second plane, the first plane being substantially parallel to the second plane when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the body is transparent in at least one region.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is configured for insertion into a cartridge receptacle of the vaporization device, the cartridge receptacle comprising the two contact surfaces.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the resistive heating element at least partially encircles at least a portion of the wick, at least one time.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the resistive heating element is in physical contact with the pair of plates, and wherein the resistive heating element is in thermal contact with the wick.

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

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

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the distal end of the cartridge is substantially parallel to the first plane.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the cartridge forms a first portion of an air passage, the air passage in fluid communication with the heater.

10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the resistive heating element is configured to aerosolize the vaporizable material within a vaporization region of the heater, and wherein the vaporization region forms a second portion of the air passage.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the long axis extends between the proximal end of the body and the distal end of the body, and wherein the short axis is perpendicular to the long axis.

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

a body having a long axis and a short axis;

a reservoir holding a liquid vaporizable material within the body;

a heater proximate to a distal end of the body, the heater comprising;

a pair of plates extending in the long axis;

a wick; and

a resistive heating element in contact with the pair of plates and in contact with the wick, wherein the wick contacts the vaporizable material in the reservoir;

a pair of exposed contact tabs integrally formed from the pair of plates, extending from the heater, folded over an outer surface of the distal end of the body, and disposed substantially in a first plane, the pair of exposed contact tabs disposed and configured to complete an electrical circuit with a pair of contact surfaces in the vaporization device when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device, the pair of contact surfaces within the vaporization device disposed substantially in a second plane, the first plane being substantially parallel to the second plane when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device; and

a mouthpiece at least partially over the reservoir and having an opening.

13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the body is transparent in at least one region.

14. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the cartridge is configured for insertion into a cartridge receptacle of the vaporization device, the cartridge receptacle comprising the pair of contact surfaces.

15. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the resistive heating element at least partially encircles at least a portion of the wick, at least one time.

16. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at a proximal end of the body that is opposite the distal end of the body.

17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the long axis extends between the proximal end of the body and the distal end of the body, and wherein the short axis is perpendicular to the long axis.

18. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the resistive heating element is in physical contact with the pair of plates, and wherein the resistive heating element is in thermal contact with the wick.

19. A cartridge comprising:

a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a heater comprising;

a first plate and a second plate;

a wick; and

a resistive heating element in contact with the first plate and the second plate, wherein the resistive heating element is in contact with the wick,

and wherein the wick is configured to be in contact with the vaporizable material; and

a first contact and a second contact, respectively extending from the first plate and the second plate and over an exterior surface of the cartridge, wherein the first and second contacts are integrally formed from the first and second plates, wherein the first and second contacts extend from the heater, wherein the first and second contacts are folded over the exterior surface of the cartridge, and wherein the first and second contacts are disposed and configured to complete an electrical circuit with a pair of contacts in a vaporization device when the cartridge is coupled to the vaporization device, the first contact and the second contact disposed substantially in a first plane, the first plane substantially parallel to a second plane comprising the pair of contacts when the cartridge is coupled to the vaporization device.

20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the exterior surface is disposed at a first end of the cartridge, the cartridge further comprising:

a mouthpiece at a second end of the cartridge, the second end opposite the first end.

21. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the cartridge is transparent, and wherein the vaporizable material is visible through at least the portion.

22. The cartridge of claim 19, further comprising:

a first metal object comprising the first plate and the first contact; and

a second metal object comprising the second plate and the second contact.

23. The cartridge of claim 22, wherein the first metal object is substantially a same shape as the second metal object.

24. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the exterior surface is disposed proximate to a first end of the cartridge, the first end of the cartridge substantially parallel to the first plane.

25. The cartridge of claim 24, further comprising a mouthpiece at a second end of the cartridge, wherein the first end of the cartridge is opposite the second end.

26. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the resistive heating element at least partially encircles at least a portion of the wick, at least one time.

27. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the cartridge has a long axis extending from a proximal end of the cartridge to a distal end of the cartridge, wherein the first contact and the second contact are disposed at the distal end, and wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece at the proximal end.

28. The cartridge of claim 27, wherein the cartridge has a short axis that is perpendicular to the long axis.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a vaporization device; and

a cartridge comprising;

a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a heater comprising;

a first plate and a second plate;

a wick; and

a resistive heating element in contact with the first plate and the second plate, wherein the resistive heating element is in contact with the wick, and wherein the wick is configured to be in contact with the vaporizable material; and

a first contact and a second contact, respectively extending from the first plate and the second plate and over an exterior surface of the cartridge, wherein the first and second contacts are integrally formed from the first and second plates, wherein the first and second contacts extend from the heater, wherein the first and second contacts are folded over the exterior surface of the cartridge, and wherein the first and second contacts are disposed and configured to complete an electrical circuit with a pair of contacts in a vaporization device when the cartridge is coupled to the vaporization device, the first contact and the second contact disposed substantially in a first plane, the first plane being substantially parallel to a second plane comprising the pair of contacts when the cartridge is coupled to the vaporization device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the vaporization device further comprises:

a cartridge receptacle, the cartridge receptacle comprising the pair of contacts.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the exterior surface is disposed at a first end of the cartridge, the cartridge further comprising:

a mouthpiece at a second end of the cartridge, the second end opposite the first end.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the cartridge is transparent, and wherein the vaporizable material is visible through at least the portion.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the cartridge further comprises:

a first metal object comprising the first plate and the first contact; and

a second metal object comprising the second plate and the second contact.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first metal object is substantially a same shape as the second metal object.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the exterior surface is disposed proximate to a first end of the cartridge, the first end of the cartridge substantially parallel to the first plane.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece at a second end of the cartridge, wherein the first end of the cartridge is opposite the second end.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the resistive heating element at least partially encircles at least a portion of the wick, at least one time.

38. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the cartridge has a long axis extending from a proximal end of the cartridge to a distal end of the cartridge, the first contact and the second contact disposed at the distal end, the cartridge further comprising a mouthpiece at the proximal end.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the cartridge has a short axis that is perpendicular to the long axis.