Heating element

专利摘要:
Heating element The present invention relates to a vaporization device which comprises a cartridge having a reservoir which contains a vaporizable material and an atomization chamber which comprises a heating element. The heating element can heat the vaporizable material. The heating element may have two rigid portions which are spaced apart by a distance which defines a capillary space. The capillary space can suck the vaporizable material from the reservoir to a heating region to be vaporized. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1A.
公开号:FR3086845A1
申请号:FR1911132
申请日:2019-10-08
公开日:2020-04-10
发明作者:Ariel Atkins；Steven Christensen；Alexander J. Gould；Bryan White
申请人:Juul Labs Inc；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

Description Title of the invention: Heating element
Cross reference to the associated applications [0001] The present application claims priority over the provisional application for American patent n ° 62 / 742,554 entitled "HEATING ELEMENT" (heating element) and filed on October 8, 2018, integrated here in its entirety as reference.
Technical Field [0002] The present invention relates to vaporization devices, including heating elements for vaporization devices.
Background The vaporization devices, which can also be called vaporizers, electronic vaporization devices or e-vaporization devices, can be used to dispense an aerosol (for example matter suspended in the vapor phase and / or in the condensed phase in a stationary or mobile mass of air or any other carrier gas) containing one or more active ingredients by inhalation of the aerosol by a user of the vaporization device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a category of battery-powered vaporizers that can be used to simulate the smoking experience, but without burning tobacco or other substances. Vaporizers are gaining popularity both for prescription medical use for dispensing drugs, and for the consumption of tobacco, nicotine and other herbal vaporizable materials, including solids and / or liquids, and pre-filled capsules (cartridges, packaged containers, etc.) of such materials. The vaporization devices can in particular be portable, autonomous and practical to use.
[0004] During the use of a vaporization device, T user inhales an aerosol, colloquially called "vapor", which can be generated by a heating element which vaporizes (for example brings a liquid or a solid to pass at least partly in the gas phase) a vaporizable material which can be liquid, a solution, a solid, a paste, a wax and / or any other compatible form to be used with a specific vaporization device. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer may be provided inside a cartridge (eg a separable part of the vaporization device which contains vaporizable material) which comprises an outlet orifice (eg a mouthpiece) for inhalation of aerosol by a user.
To receive the inhalable aerosol generated by a spray device, a user can, in some examples, activate the spray device by taking a puff, pressing a button, and / or by any other approach. . The term "puff" as used herein may refer to inhalation performed by the user to draw a volume of air into the vaporization device such that the inhalable aerosol is generated by a combination of vaporizable material vaporized and air volume.
An approach by which a vaporization device generates an inhalable aerosol from a vaporizable material involves heating the vaporizable material in a vaporization chamber (for example a heating chamber) to cause the vaporizable material to be converted. in the gas (or vapor) phase. A vaporization chamber may refer to an area or volume in the vaporization device within which a source of heat (eg, by conduction, convection and / or radiation) heats a vaporizable material to produce a mixture of air and vaporized material to form vapor to allow a user of the vaporizing device to inhale the vaporizable material.
In some embodiments, the vaporizable material can be sucked out of a tank and into the vaporization chamber via a capillary penetration element (for example a wick). Aspirating the vaporizable material into the vaporization chamber may be at least in part due to the capillary action provided by the wick as the wick pulls the vaporizable material along the wick towards the vaporization chamber .
Vaporization devices can be controlled by one or more control devices, electronic circuits (for example sensors, heating elements) and / or their equivalents on the vaporizer. Vapors can also communicate wirelessly with an external control device (such as a computing device such as a smartphone).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Certain aspects of the present invention relate to a heating element for use in a vaporization device.
According to certain embodiments, a cartridge for a vaporization device comprises a reservoir and a heating element. The reservoir may contain a vaporizable material. The heating element can heat the vaporizable material. The heating element may include a capillary structure which has a plurality of rigid portions. Pairs of the plurality of rigid portions may be spaced from each other to define a capillary space therebetween. The capillary space can suck the vaporizable material from the reservoir to a heating region of the heating element to be heated. An aerosol can be generated by heating the vaporizable material drawn into the heating region of the heating element.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises an upper rigid portion and a lower rigid portion formed integrally with the upper portion and spaced from the upper rigid portion by a distance which defines the space capillary.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises an upper end portion in fluid communication with the reservoir, a lower end portion comprising a heating device, a lower rigid portion, and an upper rigid portion formed integrally with the lower rigid portion. The upper rigid portion may include a plurality of upwardly extending members. The capillary space can be formed between adjacent upwardly extending members of the plurality of upwardly extending members.
In some embodiments, the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises an interior rigid portion defining a channel and an exterior rigid portion surrounding the interior rigid portion and spaced from the interior rigid portion by a distance which defines l capillary space.
In some embodiments, the heating element is at least partially positioned inside the tank.
In some embodiments, an upper rigid portion of the plurality of rigid portions may include an upper spray portion having a plurality of upper spaces and a lower rigid portion of the plurality of rigid portions. The lower rigid portion may include a lower spray portion having a plurality of lower spaces. The plurality of upper spaces can be positioned laterally offset from the plurality of lower spaces.
In some embodiments, the cartridge may include an air inlet. The air inlet can direct an air flow through the heating region so that when the heating element is activated, the vaporizable material drawn into the capillary space at the heating region is evaporated in the air flow.
In some embodiments, the heating element includes an electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer may include a pattern of conductive tracks.
In some embodiments, the heating element comprises nichrome.
In some embodiments, the cartridge includes an atomization chamber housing which surrounds at least a portion of the heating element. The atomization chamber housing may include a cutting region. The cutting region can receive a porous material configured to absorb the vaporizable material. In some embodiments, the heating element forms a single rigid portion which is folded to define the upper rigid portion and the lower rigid portion. In certain embodiments, the upper rigid portion is positioned parallel to the lower rigid portion.
In some embodiments, the heating element has a plurality of perforations to allow the vaporizable material to evaporate through them.
According to certain embodiments, a method comprises the suction, through a capillary space formed between two rigid portions of a heating element, of a material vaporizable from a reservoir of a vaporization device up to a heating region. The heating element can be partially positioned inside at least a portion of the tank. Each of the two rigid portions may have a vaporization portion. The method can also include heating at least the vaporization portion of the two rigid portions so as to cause vaporization of the vaporizable material. The method may further include entraining the vaporizable vaporized material in an air flow along an air flow path to a nozzle of the vaporization device.
The details of one or more variants of the invention described here are explained in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention described here will appear on examining the description and the drawings as well as the claims. The claims following the description are intended to define the scope of the protected invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings The attached drawings incorporated into this application and constituting a part thereof illustrate certain aspects of the invention exposed here and, together with the description, help to explain some of the principles associated with the embodiments exposed. In the drawings:
[Fig.lA] Figure IA illustrates a block diagram illustrating characteristics of a cartridge-based vaporizer according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.lB] Figure IB illustrates a schematic representation of a vaporizer and a vaporizer cartridge;
[Fig.lC] Figure IC is a front view of a vaporizer and an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge;
[Fig.lD] Figure 1D is a front view of a vaporizer cartridge coupled to a vaporizer;
[Fig.lE] Figure 1E is a perspective view of a vaporizer cartridge;
[Fig. FIG. IF is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge coupled to a vaporizer;
[Fig.2A] Figure 2A illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.2B] Figure 2B illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.2C] Figure 2C illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.2D] Figure 2D illustrates a diagram of a heating element in an unfolded configuration according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.3A] Figure 3A illustrates a perspective view of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.3B] Figure 3B illustrates a perspective view of an atomization chamber of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.4] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.5A] Figure 5A illustrates a perspective view of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.5B] Figure 5B illustrates a perspective view of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.5C] Figure 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.6] Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.7A] Figure 7A illustrates a side view in cross section of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.7B] Figure 7B illustrates a side view in cross section of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.8] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an atomization chamber of a vaporizer cartridge in which at least a portion of a heating element is incorporated according to modes of realization of the present invention;
[Fig-9] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.lOA] Figure 10A illustrates a perspective view of a diagram of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.lOB] Figure 10B illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.l IA] Figure 1 IA illustrates a perspective view of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.l IB] Figure 1 IB illustrates a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.l IC] Figure 1 IC illustrates a bottom view of a heating element according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig.l2A] Figure 12A illustrates a perspective view of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig. 12B] Figure 12B illustrates a perspective view of a vaporizer cartridge in which a heating element is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig. 13A] Figure 13A illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig. 13B] Figure 13B illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention;
[Fig. 13C] Figure 13C illustrates a diagram of a heating element and a tank according to embodiments of the present invention; and [fig. 56 14] Figure 14 illustrates a process flow diagram illustrating features of a method of aspirating vaporizable material and vaporizing the vaporizable material in a vaporizing device according to embodiments of the present invention.
Detailed Description Embodiments of the present invention include methods, apparatuses, articles of manufacture and systems relating to the vaporization of one or more inhalation materials by a user. Examples of implementation include vaporizers and systems with vaporizers. The term "vaporization device" as used in the following description and the claims designates a stand-alone device, an device which has two or more two separable parts (for example a vaporizer body which comprises a battery and other equipment, and a cartridge which comprises a porisable material), and / or the like. A "spray system", as used herein, may include one or more components, such as a spray device. Examples of vaporizers according to embodiments of the present invention include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and / or the like. In general, such vaporizers are hand-held devices which heat (e.g., by convection, conduction, radiation, and / or a combination thereof) a vaporizable material to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizing device can be supplied inside a cartridge (for example a part of the vaporizer which contains the vaporizable material in a tank or other container) which can be refilled once empty, or which can be discarded so that a new cartridge containing an additional amount of vaporizable material of the same or different type can be used). A spray device may be a spray device using a cartridge, a spray device without a cartridge, or a multi-use spray device capable of being used with or without a cartridge. For example, a vaporization device may include a heating chamber (for example an oven or other region in which the material is heated by a heating element) configured to receive a vaporizable material directly in the heating chamber, and / or a reservoir or the like for containing the vaporizable material. In some embodiments, a vaporization device can be configured to be used with a vaporizable liquid material (for example a carrier solution in which an active and / or inactive ingredient is suspended or maintained in solution, or a liquid form of the vaporizable material itself), a paste, a wax and / or a solid vaporizable material. A solid vaporizable material may comprise a vegetable material which emits part of the vegetable material in the form of the vaporizable material (for example so that part of the vegetable material remains in the form of waste after the vaporization of the material for inhalation by a user), or optionally, may be a solid form of the vaporizable material itself, so that all of the solid material can optionally be vaporized for inhalation. A liquid vaporizable material may also be able to be completely vaporized or may comprise a portion of the liquid material which remains after all of the material suitable for inhalation has been vaporized.
If we refer to the block diagram of Figure IA, a vaporization device 100 may include an electrical power source 8 (for example a battery which may be a rechargeable battery), and a control device 19 (for example a processor, a circuit, etc., capable of executing logic) for controlling the distribution of heat to an atomizer 26 to cause the conversion of a porous material from a condensed form (for example a solid, a liquid, solution, suspension, part of an at least partially untreated plant material, etc.) in the gas phase. The controller 19 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. After conversion of the vaporizable material to the gas phase, and depending on the type of vaporizer, the physical and chemical properties of the vaporizable material and / or other factors, at least some of the vaporizable material in the gas phase may condense to form particulate matter at least in partial local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol which can form all or part of an inhalable dose supplied by the vaporization device 100 during aspiration or a puff of a user on the vaporization device 100. It should be noted that the interaction between the gaseous and condensed phases in an aerosol generated by a vaporization device 100 can be complex and dynamic due to factors such as the ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemical state, flow conditions in the air flow paths (both inside the device e vaporization 100 and in the respiratory tract of a person or an animal), and / or the mixture of the vaporizable material in gaseous phase or in aerosol phase with other air currents, etc., which can affect one or more physical parameters of an aerosol. In certain vaporization devices, in particular for vaporization devices designed to deliver volatile vaporizable materials, the inhalable dose can exist mainly in the gas phase (for example, the formation of particles in condensed phase can be very limited).
Certain aspects of the present invention may include the use of atomizing elements with a structure which need not be porous but which may on the contrary include a narrow wettable space between structural elements such that that the capillary pressure pulls the liquid vaporizable material from a reservoir to a heated area of the heating element for vaporization. Such structures can have advantages associated with more easily controllable capillary pressures, ease of manufacture and the like.
The vaporization devices 100 for use with liquid vaporizable materials (for example pure liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures, etc.) may include an atomizer 26 in which a capillary penetration element (by example a wick (not illustrated in figure 2), which can include any material capable of creating a movement of fluid by capillary pressure), transports a quantity of liquid vaporizable material towards a part of the atomizer which comprises an element heating (also not shown in Figure 2). The capillary penetration member is generally configured to draw the liquid vaporizable material from a reservoir configured to contain (and which may, during use, contain) the liquid vaporizable material, so that the liquid vaporizable material can be vaporized by the heat supplied by a heating element. The capillary penetration element may also optionally allow air to enter the reservoir and replace the volume of liquid removed. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the capillary faction can draw the liquid vaporizable material into the wick for vaporization by the heating element, and air can return to the reservoir 140 through the wick to at least partially equalize the pressure in the tank.
Other approaches allowing air to return to the reservoir 140 to equalize the pressure are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, vaporizers have used a wick formed of silica, cotton, or fiberglass-based material. A wick material based on silica can be formed by gathering fine continuous filaments, for example of silica glass, first in threads which are then joined together in a bundle to form the cord or the cord used as a wick. The bead can be specified by a nominal outside diameter, a number of wires, and / or a value indicating a linear density.
As used herein, the terms "wick" or "capillary penetration element" include any material capable of causing movement of fluid by capillary pressure.
The heating elements may be or include one or more of a conduction heating device, a radiation heating device, and a convection heating device. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, may include a material (e.g., a metal or an alloy, e.g., a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) configured to dissipate electrical power under the form of heat when the electric current passes through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. In some embodiments of the present invention, an atomizer may include a heating element which includes a resistive coil or other heating element wrapped around a capillary penetration element, positioned therein, integrated in a massive form thereof, pressed into thermal contact therewith, or otherwise arranged to supply heat thereto, to cause vaporization of a liquid vaporizable material drawn from a reservoir by the capillary penetration element for subsequent inhalation by a user in a gaseous and / or condensed phase (for example particles or aerosol droplets). Other capillary penetration elements, heating elements and / or configurations of atomizer assemblies are also possible.
However, atomization systems in which liquid is drawn into a fibrous wick from a reservoir, can be limited by the fact that the liquid can be drawn mainly in, at, or near points of end of the bead which are in contact with the liquid in the reservoir (for example, at the end points of continuous filaments of silica or other fibrous material used as a wick) then transported along the main axis from the wick to a heated region of the wick from which vaporization occurs. During use of a spray device, the liquid may not be renewed in the heated region as quickly as desired by a user while the liquid is vaporized from the heated region of the wick, and more liquid must move along the length of the wick for renewal. Improvements in the rate of liquid delivery may be desirable for such designs. In addition, certain materials used in the construction of the wick, such as glass fibers, can easily break and produce dust which may be undesirable and / or harmful.
In an example of a wick-based atomizer design, a typical wick may have a diameter of about 1.5 mm and an area of about 4.7 mm ² per mm of length. Increasing the length of the heated section may increase the heating area, but any vaporizable liquid should travel further to reach the center of the heater. Such configurations can limit the total power that can be used for vaporization without at the same time increasing the power density. This can increase the risk that incremental increases in power will result in loss of liquid instead of more efficient vaporization.
Additional improvements can be envisaged compared to a traditional atomizer system in which liquid is drawn into the wick from a reservoir. For example, a traditional atomizer system can be relatively complex, with several components, and there can be considerable variability in the manufacture and use of the wick as well as the coil components. In addition, the wick formed as described above by gathering fine continuous filaments first in son which are then joined together in a bundle to form the cord or cord used as a wick, can be fragile and their non-rigid structure may require precise and careful positioning, which increases the complexity of manufacturing. Some material properties (such as capillarity) of traditional wicks can be difficult to measure accurately without exposing the material to liquids. Some material properties can be estimated but are difficult to predict due to the high compressibility of the materials.
In other atomizer designs, the traditional wick and coil design is modified to incorporate a cylindrical ceramic wick that addresses certain design challenges associated with a non-rigid wick as well as the drawbacks due to the longitudinal suction of the liquid. However, such designs tend to have several parts which also leads to manufacturing complexity and can have other drawbacks.
In yet another atomizer design, a chimney-shaped coil design is implemented. One such design uses a ceramic wick shaped like a hollow tube with a heating coil on an inner portion of the hollow tube. Instead of drawing liquid from a reservoir along an axis of the wick, the liquid surrounds the perimeter of the chimney-shaped coil, which produces a large area of capillary penetration and a short distance of capillary penetration. However, this design tends to present a large number of parts, which gives rise to manufacturing complexities.
Each of the atomizers described above may involve additional challenges residing in the fact that the designs may not always have a compact volume, and on the contrary may occupy a considerable portion of the vaporization device in which they are incorporated. Reducing the volume of the atomizer, thereby allowing more volume for the vaporizable material, can be a key objective of a vaporizer design.
Certain vaporization devices can also or alternatively be configured to create an inhalable dose of vaporizable material in the gas phase and / or in the aerosol phase by heating a non-liquid vaporizable material, such as by for example a material vaporizable in the solid phase (for example a wax or the like) or a vegetable material (for example tobacco leaves and / or parts of tobacco leaves). In such vaporizing devices, a resistive heating element may be part of the walls of an oven or another heating chamber or be incorporated in another way or be in thermal contact with the walls of an oven or another heating chamber in which the non-liquid vaporizable material is placed. Alternatively, one or more resistive heating elements may be used to heat the air passing through or past the non-liquid vaporizable material to cause convective heating of the non-liquid vaporizable material. In yet other examples, one or more resistive heating elements may be disposed in intimate contact with the plant material such that direct heating by conduction of the plant material occurs from within a mass of the vegetable matter (for example unlike only by conduction inwards from the walls of an oven).
The heating element can be activated (for example, a control device which is optionally part of a vaporizer body, as explained below, can pass current from the source of electrical power through a circuit including the resistive heating element, which is optionally part of a vaporizer cartridge as explained below), in association with taking a puff by a user (e.g. aspiration, inhalation, etc.) on a nozzle 21 of the vaporizer to cause an air flow from an air inlet, along an air flow path which passes through an atomizer (for example a capillary penetration element and a heating element ). Optionally, air can flow from an air inlet through one or more condensation zones or chambers, to an air outlet in the nozzle. Incoming air passing along the air flow path passes over, through, etc. the atomizer, where the vaporizable material in the gas phase is entrained in the air. As noted above, the vaporizable entrained gas phase material can condense as it passes through the rest of the air flow path such that an inhalable dose of the vaporizable material aerosol can be delivered from the air outlet (for example in a nozzle 21 for inhalation by a user).
The activation of the heating element can be caused by an automatic detection of the puff on the basis of one or more signals generated by one or more sensors 29. These sensors 29 can include one or more of: a or more pressure sensors arranged to sense the pressure along the air flow path relative to ambient pressure (or optionally so as to measure absolute pressure variations), one or more motion sensors ( for example accelerometers) of the vaporization device 100, one or more flow sensors of the vaporization device 100, and / or a capacitive sensor of the vaporizer lip; in response to detection of user interaction with one or more input devices 41 (e.g., buttons or other tactile control devices of the vaporization device 100), receiving signals from a calculation device in communication with the vaporization device 100; and / or via other approaches to determine that a puff is in progress or imminent.
As mentioned here, a vaporization device 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention can be configured to be connected (for example wireless or via a wired connection) to a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) in communication with the vaporization device 100. To this end, the control device 19 may include a hardware communication element 49. The control device may also include a memory 41. The hardware communication element 49 can have firmware and / or can be software controlled to run one or more cryptographic protocols for communication.
A computing device can be a component of a vaporization system which also includes the vaporizer 100, and may include its own communication equipment which can establish a wireless communication channel with the communication material element 49 of the device 100. For example, a computing device used as part of a vaporization system may include a generic computing device (eg, smart phone, tablet, personal computer, any other portable device such as a smartwatch or its equivalent) which runs software to produce a user interface allowing a user of the device to interact with a vaporization device. In other embodiments of the present invention, such a device used as part of a vaporization system can be a dedicated piece of equipment such as a remote control or any other wireless or wired device having one or more controls physical or software interface (for example configurable on a screen or any other display device and selectable by the interaction of a user with a touch screen or any other input device such as a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, or the like). The vaporization device 100 may also include one or more outlets 37 or one or more devices intended to provide information to the user. For example, the outputs 37 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide a response to a user based on a state and / or an operating mode of the vaporization device 100.
A calculation device which is part of a vaporization system as defined above can be used for any or any function, for example dosage control (for example dose monitoring, dose setting, dose limitation, user monitoring, etc.), session control (e.g. session monitoring, session setting, session limitation, user monitoring, etc.), controlling the distribution of nicotine (for example switching from the vaporizable material containing nicotine to the material not containing it and vice versa, adjusting the amount of nicotine delivered, etc.), '' obtaining location information (e.g. location of other users, location of a reseller / store, vaping locations, relative or absolute location of the vaporizer itself, etc.), customization of the vaporizer (e.g. naming a vaporizer name, locking / password protecting the vaporizer, setting one or more parental controls, associating the vaporizer with a group of users, registering sprayer with a manufacturer or a maintenance organization under warranty, etc.), involvement in social activities with other users (for example games, communications on social networks, interactions with one or more groups, etc.) or the like. The terms "performing a session", "session", "vaporization session" or "vaping session" are used generically to refer to a period devoted to Γ use of the vaporizer. The period may include a period of time, a number of doses, an amount of vaporizable material and / or the like.
In the example in which a calculation device provides signals relating to the activation of the resistive heating element, or in other examples of coupling of a calculation device with a vaporization device to produce various controls or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions to provide a user interface and allow data manipulation. In one example, the detection by the computing device of a user interaction with one or more user interface elements can cause the computing device to signal to the vaporization device 100 to activate the heating element. , either at a full operating temperature to create an inhalable dose of vapor / aerosol, or at a lower temperature to start heating the heating element. Other functions of the vaporization device can be controlled by interaction of a user with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the vaporization device.
The temperature of a resistive heating element of a vaporization device can depend on a number of factors, including an amount of electrical power delivered to the resistive heating element and / or a duty cycle at which electrical power is delivered, heat transfer by conduction to other parts of the electronic vaporization device and / or to the environment, latent heat losses due to the vaporization of a vaporizable material from the penetrating element capillary and / or the atomiser forming a whole and the heat losses by convection due to the flow of air (for example the air moving through the heating element or the atomizer forming a whole when user sucks on the spray device). As noted above, to reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to a desired temperature, a vaporization device may, in some embodiments of the present invention, use signals from '' a sensor (for example a pressure sensor) to determine when a user is vacuuming. The sensor can be positioned in the air flow path and / or can be connected (for example by a passage or another path) to an air flow path containing an air inlet inlet of the device and an outlet via which the user inhales the vapor and / or aerosol produced so that the sensor undergoes changes (for example pressure changes) at the same time as the air passes through the vaporization device of the air inlet to the air outlet. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the heating element can be activated in association with a user puff, for example by automatic detection of the puff, by the pressure sensor detecting a change (for example a change of pressure) in the air flow path.
Or the sensors 29 may be positioned on or coupled (for example electrically or electronically connected, either physically or via a wireless connection) to the control device 19 (for example a printed circuit board assembly or any other type of printed circuit board). To take precise measurements and preserve the life of the vaporization device 100, it may be beneficial to provide an elastic seal 60 to separate an air flow path from other parts of the vaporization device 100. The seal 60, which can be a seal, can be configured to at least partially surround the sensor (s) 29 so that the connections of the sensor (s) 29 with the internal circuits of the vaporization device 100 are separated from part of the sensor (s) 29 exposed to the air flow path. In one example of a cartridge-based vaporizer, the seal 60 may also separate the parts of one or more electrical connections between a vaporizer body 50 and a vaporizer cartridge 52. Such arrangements of a seal 60 in a vaporization device 100 may be useful in mitigating potentially harmful impacts on the components of the vaporizer resulting from interactions with environmental factors such as water contained in the vapor or liquid phases, other fluids such as vaporizable material, etc. and / or to reduce the escape of air out of the air flow path provided in the vaporization device 100. The air, the liquid and / or any other unwanted fluid passing through and / or entering contact with the circuits of the vaporization device 100 can cause various undesirable effects such as the alteration of the pressure readings and / or can cause the formation of unwanted material, such as humidity, excess vaporizable material, etc. . in parts of the vaporizer where they can cause a poor pressure signal, degradation of the sensor (s) or other components, and / or a reduction in the life of the vaporizer 100. Leaks in the seal 60 may also cause a user to inhale the air passing over parts of the vaporization device 100 containing materials which may be undesirable to inhale or over parts constructed from such materials.
In some embodiments, a vaporizer body 50 includes a control device 19, an electric power source 8 (for example a battery), one or more sensors, charging contacts (for example to charge the source of electrical power 8), a seal or a sealing mechanism (or a seal) 60, and a cartridge receptacle 69 configured to receive a vaporizer cartridge 52 to be coupled to the vaporizer body 50 by the bias of one or more structures among a variety of fixation structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 52 includes a reservoir 55 for containing a liquid vaporizable material and a nozzle 21 having an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The vaporizer cartridge may include an atomizer 26 having a capillary penetrating element and a heating element or, alternatively, one or both of the capillary penetrating elements and the heating element may be part of the vaporizing body 50. In embodiments in which part or the other of the atomizer 26 (for example the heating element and / or the capillary penetration element) is part of the vaporizer body 50, the vaporization device may be configured to supply the liquid vaporizable material from a reservoir provided in the vaporizer cartridge to the part or parts of the atomizer included in the vaporizer body.
Cartridge-based configurations for vaporizers that generate an inhalable dose of non-liquid vaporizable material by heating a non-liquid vaporizable material are also included within the scope of the present invention. For example, a vaporizer cartridge may comprise a mass of a plant material treated and formed to be in direct contact with parts of one or more resistive heating elements and such a vaporizer cartridge may be configured to be mechanically coupled and electrically to a vaporizer body which comprises a control device, an electric power source and receptacle contacts to be connected to the corresponding cartridge contacts and closing a circuit with the resistive heating element or elements.
In the vaporization devices in which the electric power source 8 is part of a vaporizer body 50 and a heating element is disposed in a vaporizer cartridge 52 configured to be coupled to the vaporizer body 50, the vaporizer 100 may include electrical connection functions (for example means for closing a circuit) designed to close a circuit which includes the control device (for example a printed circuit board, a microcontroller or the like), the power source electric and the heating element. These functions may include at least two contacts (here designated by cartridge contacts 65) on a bottom surface of the vaporizer cartridge 52 and at least two contacts (here designated by receptacle contacts 62) disposed near a base of the receptacle cartridge of the vaporizer 100 so that the cartridge contacts 65 and receptacle contacts 62 make electrical connections when the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into and coupled to the cartridge receptacle 69. The circuit closed by these electrical connections can supply electric power to a heating element and can also be used for additional functions, such as measuring a resistance of the heating element for reuse in determining and / or the control of a temperature of the heating element on the basis of a thermal coefficient of resistivity of the heating element, for the identification of a cartridge on the basis of one or more electrical characteristics of a resistive heating element or other circuits of the vaporizer cartridge, etc. In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least two cartridge contacts and the at least two receptacle contacts can be configured to be electrically connected in one or the other of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more circuits necessary for the proper functioning of the vaporizer can be closed by inserting a vaporizer cartridge 52 into the cartridge receptacle 69 in a first direction of rotation (around an axis along which the cartridge of vaporizer 52 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 69 of the vaporizer body 50) such that a first cartridge contact among the at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to a first receptacle contact among the at least two contacts receptacle 62 and a second cartridge contact among the at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to a second receptacle contact among the at least two receptacle contacts 62. In addition, the circuit or circuits necessary for proper operation of the vaporizer can be closed by inserting a vaporizer cartridge 52 into the cartridge receptacle 69 in a se cond direction of rotation so that the first cartridge contact among the at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to the second receptacle contact among the at least two receptacle contacts 62 and that the second cartridge contact among the at least two cartridge contacts 65 is electrically connected to the first receptacle contact among the at least two receptacle contacts 62.
In an example of a fixing structure for coupling a vaporizer cartridge 52 to a vaporizer body, the vaporizer body 50 has one or more notches (for example dimples, protrusions, etc.) protruding toward the interior from an interior surface of the cartridge receptacle 69, an additional material (e.g., metal, plastic, etc.) formed to include a protruding portion in the cartridge receptacle 69, and / or the like. One or more exterior surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 52 may have corresponding recesses (not shown in Figure IA) which can adjust and / or snap in another way over such notches or protruding portions when the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 69 on the vaporizer body 50. When the vaporizer cartridge 52 and the vaporizer body 50 are coupled (for example by inserting one end of the vaporizer cartridge 52 into the cartridge receptacle 69 of the vaporizer body 50), the notches or protrusions of the vaporizer body 50 may adjust and / or be otherwise retained within the recesses of the vaporizer cartridge 52 to retain the vaporizer cartridge 52 in place once assembled. Such an assembly can provide sufficient support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 52 in place to ensure good contact between the at least two cartridge contacts 65 and the at least two receptacle contacts 62, while allowing release of the cartridge from vaporizer 52 of the vaporizer body 50 when a user pulls with reasonable force on the vaporizer cartridge 52 to disengage the vaporizer cartridge 52 from the cartridge receptacle 69.
In some embodiments, the cartridge receptacle 69 may have a non-circular cross section transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 69. For example, the non-circular cross section circular may be approximately rectangular, approximately elliptical (for example having an approximately oval shape), not rectangular, but with two sets of opposite parallel or approximately parallel sides (for example having a parallelogram type shape), or other shapes having a symmetry of revolution of at least order 2. In this context, approximate shapes indicate that a basic similarity with the described shape is apparent, but that the sides of the shape in question do not need to be completely linear and that the vertices do not need to be completely sharp. The rounding of edges and / or vertices of the cross-sectional shape is envisaged in the description of any non-circular cross-section mentioned here.
The at least two cartridge contacts 65 and the at least two receptacle contacts 62 can take various forms. For example, one or both sets of contacts may include conductive pins, tabs, posts, receiving holes for the pins or posts, or the like. Some types of contacts may include springs or other elements to provide better physical and electrical contact between the contacts on the vaporizer cartridge and the vaporizer body. The electrical contacts may be optionally coated with gold and / or may include other materials.
An atomizer component for a vaporization device, according to features of one or more embodiments of the present invention, may have advantages and improvements over current vaporizer configurations, manufacturing methods current and similar, while also introducing additional advantages, as described here.
FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of a vaporizer body 50 having a cartridge receptacle 69 in which the vaporizer cartridge 52 can be inserted in a removable manner. FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of a spray device 100 illustrating the spray cartridge 52 positioned so as to be inserted into the spray body 50. When a user takes a puff on the spray device 100, the air can pass between an exterior surface of the vaporizer cartridge 52 and an interior surface of a cartridge receptacle 69 on the vaporizer body 50. Air can then be drawn into an insertable end of the cartridge 52, through the vaporization chamber which includes or contains the heating element and the wick, and exit through an outlet of the nozzle 21 to supply the inhalable aerosol to a user. The reservoir 55 of the vaporizer cartridge 52 can be formed as a whole or in part from a translucent material so that a level of vaporizable material is visible inside the vaporizer cartridge 52. The nozzle 21 can be a separable component of the vaporizer cartridge 52 or may be integrally formed with one or more other components of the vaporizer cartridge 52 (for example formed as a unitary structure with the reservoir 55 and / or the like).
Following the above discussion concerning the fact that the electrical connections between a vaporizer cartridge 52 and a vaporizer body 50 are reversible so that at least two directions of rotation of the vaporizer cartridge 52 in the cartridge receptacle 69 is possible, in some vaporizing devices, the shape of the vaporizer cartridge 52, or at least one shape of the end of the vaporizer cartridge 52 which is configured to be inserted into the cartridge receptacle 69 , can have a symmetry of revolution of at least order 2. In other words, the vaporizer cartridge 52 or at least one insertable end of the vaporizer cartridge 52 can be symmetrical in a rotation of 180 ° around an axis along from which the vaporizer cartridge 52 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 69. In such a configuration, the system of circuits of the vaporization device 100 can withstand an identical operation whatever the symmetrical orientation of the spray cartridge 52.
Figures 1C-1D illustrate examples of features which can be included in vaporization devices according to embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. IC and 1D illustrate top views of an exemplary vaporization device 100 before (FIG. IC) and after (FIG. 1D) the connection of the vaporizer cartridge 52 to a vaporizer body 50.
1E illustrates a perspective view of a variant of a vaporizer cartridge 52 containing a liquid vaporizable material 51. Any suitable vaporizable material 51 can be contained inside the vaporizer cartridge 52 (for example inside a reservoir 140), including nicotine or other organic matter solutions.
Figure IL illustrates a perspective view of another example of a spray device 100 having a spray body 50 coupled to a separable spray cartridge 52. As illustrated, the spray device 100 may include one or more multiple outputs 37 (eg, LEDs) configured to provide information to a user based on a state, mode of operation and / or the like, of the vaporization device 100. In some aspects, the one or more outputs 37 may include a plurality of LEDs (for example 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 LEDs). The output (s) 37 (for example each individual LED) can be configured to produce light in one or more colors (for example in white, red, blue, green, yellow, etc.). The output (s) 37 can be configured to display different light patterns (for example by lighting specific LEDs, by varying a light intensity of one or more of the LEDs over time, by lighting one or more LEDs with different colors, and / or similar) to indicate different states, operating mode, and / or similar of the vaporization device 100. In certain embodiments, the outlet (s) 37 may be close and / or be at least partially arranged inside a lower end region 43 of the vaporization device 100. The vaporization device 100 may, in addition or as a variant, include charging contacts 47 accessible from the outside, which may be close and / or arranged at least partially inside the lower end region of the vaporization device 100.
2A illustrates a schematic view of a heating element 120 and a tank 55 according to embodiments of the present invention. The heating element 120 may define and / or include a capillary structure, such as one or more capillary spaces, capillary channels, and the like.
The heating element 122 may comprise one or more (for example two or more than two) rigid portions which are separated to define the capillary structure. For example, the rigid portion or portions may include a first portion of plate 124 and a second portion of plate 126 which are separated by a distance 128 (for example the capillary space, the capillary channel, etc.). The distance 128 includes the distance from which the first and second plate portions 124, 126. are separated. In other words, one dimension of the distance 128 is the distance between the first plate portions 124 and the second plate portions 126. The distance 128 can allow fluid such as vaporizable material to be retained between and / or drawn into the space between the rigid portions in different orientations. For example, the rigid portions (for example the first portion of plate 124 and the second portion of plate 126) can advantageously be spaced apart by the distance 128 to allow fluid (for example the vaporizable material) to be transported from and / or aspirated from the reservoir 55 of the vaporizer cartridge 52 to a vaporization portion 122 (e.g., the vaporization portions 122A, 122B) (in which the fluid is heated and / or vaporized to produce an aerosol) of the heating element 120, for example by means of a capillary action.
The distance 128 may advantageously be narrow to maintain strong capillary forces and / or sufficient to suck and / or otherwise retain the fluid between the rigid portions. For example, the size of the distance 128 can control the speed at which the fluid is replenished within the distance 128. In certain embodiments, the distance 128 can advantageously be chosen and / or dimensioned to limit or prevent the drainage of the vaporizable material into or out of the distance 128 too quickly, and / or to stabilize the vaporizable material within the distance 128. In certain embodiments, the size of the distance 128 can be advantageously chosen and / or sized to allow distance 128 to contain a sufficient amount of vaporizable material so that distance 128 does not need to be replenished during a puff, and / or can be easily replenished during and / or after a puff.
In certain embodiments, the size of the distance 128 (for example a distance between the first portion of plate 124 and the second portion of plate 126), measures approximately from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, from 0.1mm to 0.5mm, 0.1mm to 1mm, 0.2mm to 0.5mm, 0.3mm to 0.5mm, 0.5mm to 0.7 mm, 0.7mm to 0.9mm, 1.0mm to 1.5mm, 1.5mm to 2.0mm, 2.0mm to 2.5mm, 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm, and / or other intermediate ranges. In some embodiments, the size of the distance 128 is approximately equal to a thickness of each of the first and second plate portions 124, 126. In some embodiments, the size of the distance 128 is approximately equal to a thickness of the heating element 120 at the vaporization portion 122. In some embodiments, the size of the distance 128 is greater than the thickness of the first and second plate portions 124, 126. In other other embodiments, the size of the distance 128 is less than the thickness of the first and second plate portions 124, 126. In some embodiments, the size of the distance 128 along a first length distance 128 is greater than the thickness of the first and second plate portions 124, 126 and the size of distance 128 along a second length of distance 128 is less ure to the thickness of the first and second plate portions 124, 126.
In some embodiments, a length of the distance is approximately equal to a length of the first and second portion of plate 124, 126. In some embodiments, a length of the distance is approximately equal to one length of the vaporization portion 122 of the heating element 120. In certain embodiments, the length of the distance 128 is greater than the size of the distance 128.
In some embodiments, the dimensions of the rigid portions of the heating element 120 (for example the first and second plate portions 124, 126) can be selected to help minimize maximum hydrostatic potential across rigid portions (for example the first portion of plate 124 and / or the second portion of plate 126). The size of the distance 128 can also be changed at one or more portions of the heating element 120, such as portions of the heating element 120 positioned inside the tank 55, for vacuuming selective a certain amount of vaporizable material (and / or to bring it back to the tank and / or to replace the vaporizable material inside the tank, by balancing the back pressure) and / or to allow a certain amount of air to pass through, in front of, over and / or around the heating element 120. In some embodiments, the size of the distance 128 at a portion of the heating element 120, to accept a flow of vaporizable material in the heating device, can be identical and / or different by the size of the distance 128 at a portion of the heating element 120 to allow the flow (for example the return) d 'at ir to and / or from the reservoir 55.
Thus, the heating element 120, according to embodiments of the present invention, can effectively control an amount of vaporizable material heated and vaporized by the vaporization device 100. The heating element 120 can in addition and / or alternatively allow the vaporization device 100 to heat and vaporize the vaporizable material to produce an aerosol without using capillary penetration elements, such as a fibrous capillary penetration element.
Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, the heating element 120 (for example a capillary structure) comprises a first portion of plate 124 and a second portion of plate 126. As indicated above, the first portion of plate 124 and second portion of plate 126 define one or more rigid portions. Each of the first and second plate portions 124, 126 extends from a proximal end portion 193A to a distal end portion 193B. The proximal end portion 193A can be positioned inside the reservoir 55 and the distal end portion 193B can be positioned outside of the reservoir 55 and / or away from it. For example, Figure 2B illustrates a schematic side view of the heating element 120 and the tank 55, with an example of an air flow path 118 and a liquid flow path 117 and Figure 2C illustrates a schematic view from below of the heating element 120 and of the tank 55, with the example of an air flow path 118.
FIG. 2D illustrates an example of the heating element 120 in an unfolded configuration. For example, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 can be integrally formed as a single structure which is folded along a central lateral axis. In some examples of manufacturing methods, the heating element 120 may be formed as a single plate by stamping, punching, laser cutting, die-stamping, die-casting, stretch-forming, and / or other forming processes. manufacturing.
The heating element 128 can form a resistive heating structure which can be heated to suck a vaporizable material from the reservoir 55 through, for example, a non-porous driven capillary system. For example, the heating element 120 may be formed of a conductive material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heating element 120 can be plated with a conductive material before or after the heating element 120 is formed by any of the manufacturing processes listed above, as well as others. Once the heating element 120 is formed, the heating element can be folded along a central lateral axis between the first and second plate portions 124, 126, so that at least the portions vaporization 122A, 122B of the first and second plate portions 124, 126 are approximately parallel to form the distance 128 (for example the capillary space) and / or to induce a capillary action. In some embodiments, the first and second plate portions 124, 126 are inclined relative to each other. In some embodiments, the heating element 120 may also include a separate heating device 120A or conductive tracks of a heating circuit 120A for heating the heating element 120, as explained in more detail below.
As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the first and second plate portions 124, 126 can be formed to present one or more spaces to allow ventilation of the vaporizable material from the capillary space to the airway 118. The spaces may be surrounded by edges of adjacent sections of the first and second plate portions 124, 126 to allow the vaporizable material to be ventilated from the capillary space to the airway 118.
Generally, when a user takes a puff on the nozzle 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air flows into the vaporizer cartridge 52 and along the airway 118. In association with the puff of the user, the heating element 120 can be activated, as explained below. When the heating element 120 is activated, this results in an increase in temperature due to the passage of current through the heating element 120, to generate heat. The heat is transferred to a certain amount of the vaporizable material by thermal transfer by conduction, convection and / or radiation so that at least a portion of the vaporizable material vaporizes. Heat transfer can occur to the vaporizable material in the reservoir and / or to the vaporizable material located inside the capillary space. The air passing through the vaporizer cartridge 52 flows along the air path 118, stripping the vaporized vaporizable material from the heating element 120, as shown in Figure 2C. In such embodiments, the waste heat can be limited as long as heat is not conducted freely into the reservoir 55 and / or other portions of the vaporizer cartridge 52.
Figures 3A-9 illustrate an example of the vaporizer cartridge 52 (or portions thereof) into which one or more heating elements 120 may be incorporated according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The vaporizer cartridge 52 may be used and / or otherwise coupled to a vaporizer body 50 (not shown) having a battery and a control circuit, configured to together generate inhalable vapor by heating vaporizable material before and / or as that the vaporizable material enters the heating element 120, from which it can be vaporized.
The vaporizer cartridge 52 may include a reservoir (or container) 55 to contain a vaporizable material (such as an oil, a solution, or another fluid or liquid), a nozzle 21, an air inlet 106 , and an atomization chamber 110 positioned inside the reservoir or in contact with the fluid contained inside the reservoir 55. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the atomization chamber 110 may comprise an element housing heater 112, a cartridge contact 65 (such as a receptacle, terminal, etc.), an atomization chamber air inlet 116, and the heating element 120. The atomization chamber 110 can at least partially surround and / or support the heating element 120. The atomization chamber 110 can, according to certain aspects, be fixed inside the vaporizer cartridge 52 for example by ultrasonic welding, radio frequency welding (RL), by a snap connection, or by any other secure connection method. In certain embodiments, the atomization chamber 110 can be removed from the vaporization cartridge 52.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the cartridge 52 can comprise at least two cartridge contacts 65 which can have any shape and / or structure which receives and / or comes into contact with an electrical connector and / or a power supply in electrical power 8. In certain embodiments, the cartridge contact 65 comprises at least four cartridge contacts 65 for additional measurements or readings of temperature, electrical resistance and / or sensor.
The cartridge contacts 65 can be configured to receive or come into contact with corresponding receptacle contacts 62 of the vaporizer body 50 when the cartridge 52 is assembled to the vaporizer body 50. The cartridge contacts 65 can extend inwardly from a lower surface of the atomization chamber 110 toward an interior volume of the atomization chamber 110. In some embodiments, an upper end portion of the cartridge contacts 65 may come into contact and / or otherwise mate with at least a portion of the heating element 120, such as the contact portions 130, at the contact region 109 (see Figure 6). In certain embodiments, the cartridge contacts 65 are fixed to the contact portions 130 for example by spot welding, ultrasonic welding, radio frequency welding (RL), by a snap connection or by any other secure connection method. In some embodiments, the contact region 109 may overlap at least a portion of the heating region 108. In some embodiments, the cartridge contacts 65 may extend in the heating region 108 to come into contact with a portion of the heating element 120.
The cartridge contacts 65 can provide an electrical connection between the supply of electrical power 8, such as the battery, and the contact portions 130 of the heating element 120, for example, through the contacts of receptacle 62 of the vaporizer body 50. The electrical connection between the electrical power supply 8 and the contact portions 130 of the heating element 120 can allow heating at least of the vaporization portion 122, as will be described more in detail here.
FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of the heating element 120. According to certain embodiments, the heating element 120 can be formed in the form of a pair of plates or rigid portions connected and opposite . The heating element 120 comprises a first portion of plate 124 and a second portion of plate 126. The first portion of plate 124 and / or the second portion of plate 126 may comprise a respective contact portion 130 (which can be electrically connected or communicate in another way for example with a respective one of the cartridge contacts 65), a vaporization portion 122 consisting of opposite teeth 123A, 123B (for example metal teeth), an upper connector 132, supports for upper heating element 134, and lower heating element supports 136.
The first plate portion 124 and / or the second plate portion 126 may include the vaporization portion 122. The vaporization portion 122 may have an approximately sinusoidal shape (or shape in cross section). In some embodiments, the spray portion 122 may have an approximately rectangular, oval, or other shape (or cross-sectional shape). The vaporization portion 122 can be formed so as to present one or more interior spaces of the vaporization portion to allow ventilation of the vaporizable material from the capillary space towards the airway 118. For example, the spaces can be surrounded by edges of adjacent sections of the vaporization portion 122 to allow the vaporizable material to be ventilated from the capillary space towards the airway 118.
The first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 of the heating element 120 can be formed integrally. For example, the first plate portion 124 and the second plate portion 126 can be formed by a single plate which is folded along a central lateral axis of the plate. Figure 5B illustrates a perspective view of the atomizer component 120, with an example of the first plate portion 124 highlighted. In other embodiments, the first portion of plate 124 and the second portion of plate 126 may be formed separately and may be coupled at a connector 132. In still other embodiments, the first portion of plate 124 and the second portion of plate 126 can remain separate after their formation, but be electrically connected in another way.
FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view from above of the heating element 120 according to certain embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, the first portion of plate 124 may have an upper spraying portion 122A and the second portion of plate 126 may have a lower spraying portion 122B. A distance between the upper and lower spraying portions 122A and 122B can be adjusted as a function of the capillary forces desired for sucking up the vaporizable material and / or for retaining the vaporizable material within the distance 128 between the first and the second portion of plate 124, 126. In some embodiments, a size of the distance 128 (for example the capillary space) can be constant from a fluid region 107 (illustrated in Figure 6) over the entire distance through a region heater 108 (illustrated in Figure 6). Additionally and / or alternatively, the size of the distance 128 may be changed along the fluid path 117. For example, the size of the distance 128 may shrink as fluid is drawn from the fluid region proximal 107 to the distal heating region 108, thereby creating a greater capillary pressure difference along the fluid path 117.
Referring to Figure 5C, the upper spray portion 122A may have spaces 152A formed between teeth of the adjacent heating device 123A of the upper spray portion 122A. The lower spray portion 122B may have spaces 152B formed between teeth of the adjacent heater 123B of the lower spray portion 122B.
The upper and lower spray portions 122A, 122B can be sized and offset such that the upper and lower heater teeth 123A and 123B overlap at least in part in a direction from bottom to top. In this configuration, the upper spaces 152A may be generally opposed to respective lower heater teeth 123B. The lower spaces 152B can generally be opposed to respective upper heater teeth 123A, for example in a lateral direction. Such embodiments can advantageously allow the vaporizable material 194 to be retained within the distance 128 over at least one length of the heating element 120 (for example a substantial portion), as for example on any the cross section of the heating element 120, between the first and second plate portions 124 and 126. As illustrated in the example of heating element 120 of FIG. 5C, the cross section of the vaporizable material contained in the interior of the capillary space between these opposed and offset heater teeth 123A, 123B may have an approximately sinusoidal shape, at least in part due to the surface tension of the fluid from one tooth to another. This cross-sectional shape of capillarized vaporizable material may be desirable to limit the air spaces located within the capillary space and / or to maximize the amount of vaporizable material that may be contained within the capillary space. The offset spaces 152A and 152B allow the vaporizable material to be heated below (for example between the first and second plate portions 124, 126) and on the sides of each space 152A so as to be vaporized and to be efficiently driven inside the airway 118.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer cartridge 52 in which the heating element 120 is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the vaporizer cartridge 52 has a fluid region 107, a heating region 108, and a contact region 109. The fluid region 107 illustrates at least a portion of the vaporizer cartridge 52 in contact with the vaporizable material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heating element 120 is in fluid communication with the vaporizable material in at least one region of the vaporizer cartridge 52.
Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a side view in cross section of an embodiment of the vaporizer cartridge 52. Figure 7B illustrates the fluid region 107 highlighted. The fluid region 107 may comprise the reservoir 55, and at least one proximal portion 123 of the heating element 120 (in particular, in one embodiment, an exposed volume between the first and the second plate portion 124, 126 of the heating element 120), so that the fluid vaporizable material can enter the space between the first and second plate portions 124, 126 and be sucked by capillary penetration or otherwise be sucked towards the heating region 108, between the first and second plate portions 124, 126, by capillary action.
FIG. 7B illustrates the same side cross-section view of the example of a vaporizer cartridge 52, in which the heating region 108 is highlighted. In this case, the heating region 108 comprises at least one distal portion 193B of the heating element 120 (in particular, in one embodiment, an exposed volume between the first and second plate portions 124, 126 of the vaporization portion 122 of the heating element 120), so that the fluid vaporizable material can be vaporized from the space between the first and second plate portions 124, 126. The vaporization portion 122 may be at least partially surrounded by air (for example see Figures 2B, 2C, 5C), to facilitate vaporization of vaporizable material which has been aspirated by capillary penetration and / or otherwise aspirated from the fluid region 107 to the heating region 108. An example of the portion of the heating region 108 which is filled with at least air is highlighted in Figure 7B.
Referring to Figures 2B, 2C, 5C, and 6, an airway 118 is illustrated. Air can be drawn in from at least one side of the vaporizer cartridge 52, for example through the air inlet 106. The air inlet 106 can be aligned with the inlet 116 of the chamber atomization (see Figure 3A). The alignment between the inlets 106, 116 can allow the air to be sucked directly from the environment or the portion of the vaporizer body 50 in the atomization chamber 110. In alternative embodiments, the inlet d air 106 and inlet 116 of the atomization chamber can be offset. The offset of the inputs 106, 116 can be used to control the air flow rates, for example by increasing or decreasing the amount of air which can enter the atomization chamber and / or by increasing the length of the channel d air flow 118, thereby changing the speed with which the air enters the atomization chamber 110.
The air channel 118 may extend through the air inlet 106 and the inlet 116 of the atomization chamber, and be drawn along, next to, and / or around at least minus a portion of the heating element 122, such as the vaporization portion 122. In some embodiments, air can be drawn from a bottom or base of the vaporizer cartridge 52. The airway 118 through the vaporizer cartridge 52 can then pass along, next to and / or around the reservoir 55 in a passage 119. The passage 119 may extend between an outer side wall of the reservoir 55 and an inner side wall of the cartridge vaporizer 52, leading to the nozzle 21.
As illustrated in Figure 6, a proximal portion 193A of the heating element 120 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 55, effectively putting in fluid communication with the reservoir 55 a proximal portion 142 of the capillary space. An opposite distal end portion 144 of the capillary space is located in the heating region 108, exposed to air, which allows external surfaces of the first and / or second plate portions 124, 126 to be exposed to the airway 118 and which allows the vaporizable material drawn by capillary action from the reservoir 55 to be heated by the teeth 123A, 123B of the heating element 120 and to be vaporized in airway 118.
When a user takes a puff on the nozzle 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air flows into the inlets 106, 116 and along the airway 118. In association with the puff of the user, the heating element 120 can be activated, for example by an automatic detection of the puff by means of a pressure sensor, by the detection of the pressing of a button by the user , by signals generated from a motion sensor, a flow sensor, a capacitive lip sensor, or by another approach capable of detecting when a user is taking a puff or is about to take a puff or inhale in another way to cause air to enter the vaporizer 100 and to move at least along the airway 118. Power can be supplied by the device of vaporization to the heating element 120 at the contact portions 130, pa r through the cartridge contacts 65, for example, when the heating element 120 is activated.
When the heating element 120 is activated, a temperature increase results due to the passage of current through the heating element 120 to generate heat. The heat is transferred to a certain amount of the vaporizable material by thermal transfer by conduction, convection and / or radiation so that at least a portion of the vaporizable material vaporizes. Heat transfer can occur to the vaporizable material in the reservoir and / or to the vaporizable material drawn into the capillary space between the first and second plate portions 124, 126. Heat transfer between the heating element 120 and the vaporizable material residing inside the capillary space can occur at the vaporization portion 122. In some embodiments, the vaporizable material can vaporize along one or more edges surrounding the spaces 152A, 152B formed by the offset offset heater teeth 123A, 123B in the vaporizing portion 122 of the heating element 120. The air passing through the vaporizing device 100 flows along the path air 118 through the atomization chamber 110, tearing off the vaporizable material vaporized from the heating element 120. The vaporizable vaporizable material can be condensed under the effect cooling, pressure changes, etc., so that it emerges from the nozzle 21 in the form of an aerosol for inhalation by a user.
The heating element 120 can be made from various materials, such as nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistive heating device materials. Combinations of two or more of two materials may be included in the heating element 120, and such combinations may include both homogeneous distributions of the two or more of two materials throughout the heating element or others configurations in which relative quantities of the two or more of two materials are spatially heterogeneous. For example, the heater teeth 123A, 123B may have portions which are more resistive than other portions and may therefore be designed to become hotter than the other sections of the teeth, for example, other sections of the teeth. teeth immersed in the vaporizable material of the fluid region 107. This configuration helps to locate the heating of the heating element 120 inside the vaporization portion 122.
The heating element 120 can be manufactured using one or more electrically conductive layers on or in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the heating element 120. In some examples, the electric layer (s) conductive may include a pattern of conductive tracks. In some examples, the pattern of conductive tracks is cut from the heating element 120. A pattern of conductive tracks can be configured to achieve a desired and / or controlled electrical resistance, and can have a uniform thickness or not or extend or not along the surface of the heating element 120. The design of conductive tracks can advantageously allow the heating element 120 to be powered by a battery, such as a lithium battery. The design of conductive tracks can advantageously allow sufficient ventilation for the vaporized vaporizable material to be ventilated by convection. Such embodiments can help keep the local vapor pressure low and / or keep the vaporization at a high rate. Shapes, designs, thicknesses, etc. specific to the heating element 120 may be advantageous to allow the control of the heat distribution and to allow the liquid coming from the tank 55 to be sucked towards the heating element 120 (for example in and / or along distance 128).
The electrically conductive layer can be a plate or other continuous layer which covers or forms the entire surface or a portion of an external or internal surface of the heating element. Such a plate or other continuous layer may have characteristics such as holes, microperforations, etc. to allow the vaporizable material from the reservoir 55 to pass through the heating element 120. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the heating element 120 may comprise first and second plate portions 124, 126 which include perforations 199 to allow vaporizable material to pass therethrough when the heating element 120 is heated. The electrically conductive layer can be made of any electrically conductive material such as for example an alloy of nickel and chromium, stainless steel, nickel, platinum, gold, copper or aluminum. As mentioned below, in some embodiments, a plate having resistive material and conductive tracks can be used with another plate having perforations to allow ventilation. Other combinations can be implemented. Such implementations may have a smaller amount of heating area and may reduce the complexity.
Referring to Figures 5A and 8, the atomization chamber 110 can at least partially surround and / or support the heating element 120. The heating element 120 can be supported by the chamber atomizing 110 by at least the upper heating element supports 134 and / or the lower heating element supports 136 of the heating element 120. The upper heating element supports 134 can be spaced from the vaporization portion 122 by an upper spacer portion 133 and the lower heating element supports 136 can be spaced from the vaporization portion 122 by a lower spacer portion 135. The upper and lower spacer portions 133, 135 can reduce the amount of heat at the upper and lower heating element supports 134, 136, respectively. Such implementations can help limit the heat transferred from the heating element 120 to the atomization chamber 110 and / or can help limit the deformation of the atomization chamber 110.
In general, a certain amount of heat conduction in the liquid contained in the reservoir 55 can improve capillary penetration and allow an improvement in the vaporization performance. Conduction can be more effectively controlled by allocating thermal spaces between the vaporizing portion 122 and the reservoir 55. The upper spacer portion 133 can provide thermal space by increasing a distance between at least a portion of the heating region 108 (for example the vaporization portion 122 of the heating element 120) and the reservoir 55. In certain embodiments, the conductive tracks of the heating element 120 may include a constricted region to increase the distance between the region of heater 108 and the reservoir 55. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, each tooth 123A, 123B may have a portion of proximal spacer 133 having a length greater than a length of its portion of respective distal spacer 135. The upper length of the upper spacer portion 133 defines a thermal space between the reservoir 55 and the heating region 108. The shorter length e of the lower spacer portion 135 can reduce the size of the heating element 120 and / or can allow additional elements to be positioned inside the atomization chamber 110.
The heating element housing 112 of the atomization chamber 110 can surround at least a portion of the heating element 120. The heating element housing 112 can comprise any material among plastic, of ceramic, metal and / or other materials.
FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of a section of a cartridge in which at least a portion of the heating element 120 is incorporated according to embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the heating element housing 112 can support the heating element 120. For example, the heating element housing can comprise a plurality of projections and lower and upper recesses, designed to receive and supporting the upper and lower heating element supports 134, 136 of the heating element 120. For example, a lower projection IA can be positioned inside an upper recess 150B formed between adjacent upper projections 150C . Similarly, in some embodiments, an upper projection 150C can be positioned within a lower recess 150D formed between adjacent lower projections 150A. The plurality of protrusions and recesses 150 can support at least the upper and lower heating element supports 134, 136 of the heating element 120. As illustrated in at least Figure 8, the end portions of the supports d the upper and lower heating element 134, 136 are positioned between a corresponding upper recess and a lower projection or a lower recess and an upper projection.
Figures 10A-12B illustrate another embodiment of the heating element 120 comprising a second plate portion 706 and a first plate portion 708 having a plurality of upwardly extending members 702 defining capillary channels 704 therebetween. The capillary channels 704 may have the same characteristics or characteristics similar to those of the distance 128 (for example a capillary space) as described above.
As illustrated in FIG. 10B, the heating element 120 can comprise a proximal end portion 710 and a distal end portion 712. The proximal end portion 710 can be in fluid communication with the reservoir 55 of the vaporizer cartridge 52.
The second portion of plate 706 may include a heating device, such as a heating device 720A, positioned on a lower end portion of the second portion of plate 706 and / or along at least one portion of an outer surface of the second plate portion 706. In some embodiments, the second plate portion 706 can be heated in another way to define a heating region.
The first portion of plate 708 and the second portion of plate 706 can be formed integrally. The first plate portion 708 may have a plurality of upwardly extending members 702. The upwardly extending members 702 may be spaced apart to define the plurality of channels 704 which extend between adjacent members upwardly extending 702. Channels 704 may define a plurality of capillary spaces formed between adjacent upwardly extending members 702. The capillary spaces may allow fluid such as vaporizable material to be contained between and / or drawn into the space between adjacent upwardly extending members 702 in various orientations. The vaporizable material can be drawn from the reservoir 55 to a heating region of the heating element 120 by means of a capillary action, for example through the channels 704. Such configurations can make it possible to control the pressure inside the cartridge.
The upwardly extending members 702 can be parallel, forming channels 704 having approximately equal widths. In some configurations, the channels 704 may have variable widths, in the direction of the fluid flow. As explained above in relation to the distance 128 illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 9, the channels 704 can advantageously narrow to maintain strong capillary forces and / or sufficient to suck up and / or otherwise retain the fluid between upwardly extending members 702. For example, the size of channels 704 can control the rate at which fluid is replenished within channels 704. In some embodiments, channels 704 can advantageously be chosen and / or sized to limit or prevent the vaporizable material from being drained into or out of the channels 704 too quickly, and / or to retain the vaporizable material inside the channels 704. In certain embodiments, the size of the channels 704 can advantageously be chosen and / or dimensioned to allow the channels 704 to contain a sufficient quantity of vaporizable material so that the channels 704 n '' do not need to be replenished during a puff, and / or can be easily replenished during a puff and / or after it.
As illustrated in Figures 12A and 12B, the heating element 120 can be held in place by a gasket 173 or another sealing mechanism. The gasket 173 can be formed integrally and / or separately with the heating element 120. The gasket 173 can separate the heating region 709 from the fluid region 707. The gasket 173 can include various materials, such as silicone and / or plastic, among others. In some embodiments, the seal 173 has a thin thickness to allow air to return through the channels 704.
When a user takes a puff on the nozzle 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, air flows into the inlets 106, 116, and along the airway 118. In association with the puff of the user, the heating element 120 can be activated, for example by automatic detection of the puff by means of a pressure sensor, by detection of the pressing of a button by the user, by signals generated from a motion sensor, a flow sensor, a capacitive lip sensor, or by another approach capable of detecting when a user is taking a puff or is about to take a puff or inhale in another way to cause air to enter the vaporization device 100 and to move at least along the airway 118.
When the heating element 120 is activated, a temperature increase results due to the passage of current through the heating element 120 to generate heat. The heating device 120A and / or the heating element 120 can be supplied with current via conductors 714A. The conductors 714A can extend to the outside of the vaporizer cartridge 52. In some embodiments, the heater 120A and / or the heater 120 can be connected directly to the power supply electric so that the device can be wireless, or by other means. The heat is transferred to a certain amount of the vaporizable material by thermal transfer by conduction, convection and / or radiation so that at least a portion of the vaporizable material vaporizes. Heat transfer can occur to the vaporizable material in the reservoir and / or to the vaporizable material drawn into one or more of the capillary channels 704 formed between adjacent upwardly extending members 702. Heat transfer between the element heating 120 and the vaporizable material residing within the capillary spaces may occur at the heating region. In some embodiments, the vaporizable material can vaporize along one or more edges surrounding the channels 704 in the heating region of the heating element 120. The air passing through the vaporizing device 100 flows along the airway 118 through the atomization chamber 110, by tearing off the vaporizable material vaporized from the channels 704. The vaporizable vaporizable material can be condensed under the effect of cooling, changes in pressure, etc., so that it leaves the nozzle 21 in the form of an aerosol for inhalation by a user. The heater 120 may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to one or more of nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistive heater materials, plastic and / or ceramic and / or other porous materials.
FIG. 13A illustrates another embodiment of the heating element 120 comprising an interior plate portion 1224 and an exterior plate portion 1226 which can at least partially surround the interior plate portion 1224. The portions of inner and / or outer plate 1224, 1226 can comprise a plurality of perforations 1221 (see for example FIG. 13B) and / or resistive conductive tracks for heating the vaporizable material so as to cause the evaporation of the vaporizable material, thus produce an aerosol. In some embodiments, the inner and / or outer plate portions 1224, 1226 may include a heater 1220A positioned on a surface, such as an outer surface for heating the heating element 120 (see Figure 13C) .
The outer plate portion 1226 can surround the inner plate portion 1224. The inner and outer plate portions 1224, 1226 can have a variety of shapes, such as a cylindrical shape (as illustrated in FIG. 13), rectangular, square, or other shapes. The outer plate portion 1226 can be positioned parallel to the inner plate portion 1224 and can be spaced from the inner plate portion 1224 by a distance which defines the capillary space 1204 (which is the same or which is similar to the distance 128 described here). For example, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 23, the outer plate portion 1226 and the inner plate portion 1224 can form concentric tubes or cylinders.
When a user takes a puff on the nozzle 21 of the vaporizer cartridge 52, the air flows into one or more inlets 106, and along the airway 118. In association with the puff of the user, the heating element 120 can be activated, for example by automatic detection of the puff by means of a pressure sensor, by detection of the pressing of a button by the user, by signals generated from a motion sensor, a flow sensor, a capacitive lip sensor, or by another approach capable of detecting when a user is taking a puff or is about to take a puff or inhale in some other way to cause air to enter the vaporization device 100 and to move at least along the airway 118.
When the heating element 120 is activated, this results in a temperature increase due to the passage of current through the heating element 120, to generate heat. The heat is transferred to a certain amount of the vaporizable material by thermal transfer by conduction, convection and / or radiation so that at least a portion of the vaporizable material vaporizes. Heat transfer can occur to the vaporizable material in the reservoir 55 and / or to the vaporizable material drawn inside the capillary space 1204 formed between the inner and outer plate portions 1224, 1226. The thermal transfer between the The heating element 120 and the vaporizable material residing within the capillary spaces can occur at the heating region. In some embodiments, the vaporizable material can vaporize along one or more perforations 1221 in the inner and / or outer plate portions 1224, 1226. The air passing through the vaporization device 100 flows along from the air path 118 through the atomization chamber 110, by tearing off the vaporized vaporizable material from the heating element 120. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the air path can extend around the outside of the outer plate portion 1226 and / or through the inlet 106 and through a central channel 1202 defined by the inner plate portion 1224. The vaporizable vaporizable material can be condensed due to cooling, changes in pressure, etc., so that it leaves the nozzle 21 in the form of an aerosol for inhalation by a user. The heater 120 may be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, one or more of nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistive heater materials, plastic and / or a material ceramic and / or other porous materials.
In certain embodiments, the heating element 120 may comprise a ceramic material and / or other porous materials, such as materials resistant to high temperatures including, for example and without limitation, metals, glass , carbon, and / or plastics resistant to high temperatures such as for example and without limitation, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The porous material can be characterized in that it has a plurality of voids or spaces allowing the absorption of liquid from the reservoir. As described above, the heating element 120 may be formed from one, two or more than two plates. In some embodiments, the plates may have conductive heating tracks printed to heat the vaporizing portion 122 of the heating element 120. Such configurations may be desirable for improved manufacturing capacity and / or better thermal stability , among other advantages. In certain embodiments, at least one of the plates having printed conductive heating tracks can comprise at least one perforation to allow ventilation of the vapor. In some embodiments, the heating element 120 may include one or more plates having perforations and one or more plates having printed conductive heating tracks.
In certain embodiments of the heating element 120 having printed conductive heating tracks, the conductive tracks can be more easily positioned in parallel, for example along a surface of the heating element 120. Such embodiments of the heating element 120 may have greater resistivity. Such embodiments can more efficiently distribute the power on the heating element 120 and / or reduce the temperature difference on the heating element 120.
In certain embodiments of the heating element 120 having printed heating conductive tracks, the conductive heating tracks and / or the structure of the heating element 120 may not be identical. Such embodiments can support ventilation slots at both ends of the heating element and / or provide greater rigidity to the heating element. This can simplify the surrounding mechanical complexity of the atomization chamber 110 and / or of the vaporizer cartridge 52.
In certain embodiments of the heating element 120 having printed conductive heating tracks, the heating element 120 may have a low thermal conductivity which can, in certain cases, allow more efficient power consumption.
In some embodiments of the heating element 120 having printed conductive heating tracks, the heating element 120 may have a larger area along a surface of the heating element which does not is not used. Such embodiments can allow the heating element 120 to have smaller dimensions. Such embodiments can make it possible to position additional electronic components on the heating element 120.
An atomization chamber according to embodiments of the present invention has an improved liquid transport capacity while also being thermally stable and having sufficient structural integrity for its use in vaporization devices .
In addition, the use of electrically conductive materials for the heating element (for example in the form of a drawing of conductive tracks) makes it possible to control a temperature of the heating element by using a resistance coefficient thermal (CRT) based on a correlation. Different electrically conductive materials (eg nickel) can be chosen and used to obtain a more stable CRT, which results in precise temperature detection / control.
An atomizer component according to embodiments of the present invention may have an orientation other than those illustrated in the illustrations by way of example of Figures IA to 13C.
Although the examples described here with reference to Figures IA to 13C relate to a vaporizer which uses a removable cartridge, an atomization chamber according to embodiments of the present invention is not limited to such a device configuration . For example, an atomization chamber may be incorporated as part of a vaporizer body 50 which has a reservoir in which or with which the atomizer and the heating element are included or are in contact.
Referring to Figure 14, a process flow diagram 1300 illustrates features of a process which may optionally include some or all of the following functions. At block 1310, a heating element having two or more rigid portions separated by a distance defining a capillary space can be provided. In 1320, fluid communication between a first end portion of the capillary space and a reservoir of vaporizable material can be ensured. In 1330, the vaporizable material can be sucked into the capillary space formed between the two rigid portions of the heating element by capillary action. In 1340, heating means can be provided at a second end portion of the capillary space. For example, in 1350, at least a portion of the heating element can be heated, for example at the second end portion of the capillary space. Heating causes vaporization of the vaporizable material. In block 1360, the vaporizable vaporized material is entrained in a flow of air to a nozzle of the vaporization device in which the heating element is positioned.
Terminology When a function or an element is said here as being “on” another function or another element, it can be directly on the other function or the other element or intermediate functions and / or elements can also be present. On the other hand, when a function or an element is said to be "directly on" another function or another element, there are no intermediate functions or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a function or an element is said to be “connected”, “connected”, “fixed” or “coupled” to another function or another element, it can be directly connected, connected, fixed or coupled to the other function or the other element or intermediate functions or elements may be present. On the other hand, when a function or an element is said to be “directly connected”, “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another function or to another element, no function or any intermediate element is present.
Although described or illustrated with respect to one embodiment, the functions and elements thus described or illustrated can apply to other embodiments. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that references to a structure or function which is arranged "next to" another function may have overlapping parts or belong to the adjacent function.
The terminology used here is intended to describe only specific embodiments and specific implementations and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used here, the singular forms "one", "one", "the" and "the" aim to also understand the plural forms unless the context clearly states otherwise. In addition, it should be understood that the terms “includes” and / or “comprising”, when used in the present application, specify the presence of functions, steps, operations, elements and / or components mentioned but do not exclude not the presence or addition of one or more functions, steps, operations, and one or more elements, components and / or groups thereof. As used herein the term "and / or" includes any combination of one or more of the associated items listed and may be abbreviated as "/".
In the above descriptions and in the claims, expressions such as "at least one" or "one or more" may be followed by a cumulative list of elements or functions. The term "and / or" can also appear in a list of two or more elements or functions. Unless this is implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such an expression is intended to mean any of the elements or functions listed individually or any of the elements or functions mentioned in combination with n ' any of the other elements or functions mentioned. For example, the expressions "at least one of A and B"; "One or more of A and B"; and "A and / or B" each aim to mean "A alone, B alone or A and B together". A similar interpretation is also envisaged for lists comprising three or more elements. For example, the expressions "at least one element among A, B and C"; "One or more elements among A, B and C" and "A, B and / or C" each aim to mean "A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together or A and B and C together ”. The use of the term "based on" above and in the claims means "based at least in part on" so that a function or element not mentioned is also possible.
The terms of positioning in space, such as "forwards", "backwards", "under", "below", "lower", "above", "upper" and their equivalents can be used here to facilitate the description used to describe a relationship of an element or a function with one or more other elements or functions as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the terms of positioning in space are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or in operation in addition to the orientation described in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is reversed, the elements described as "under" or "below" other elements or functions will then be oriented "above" the other elements or functions. The example of the term "under" can therefore encompass both an orientation from above and from below. The device can be oriented in another way (rotated 90 degrees or in any other orientation) and the spatial orientation descriptors used here are interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms "up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal" and the like are used here for explanatory purposes only, unless otherwise noted.
[0156] Although the terms "first" and "second" can be used here to describe various functions / elements (including steps), these functions / elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise . These terms can be used to distinguish a function / element from another function / from another element. A first function / a first element exposed below could therefore be called second function / second element and similarly, a second function / a second element exposed below could be called first function / first element without departing from the lessons provided here.
As used in the present description and the claims, including how they are used in the examples, and unless otherwise stated, all numbers can be read as if they were preceded by the word "about" or "Approximately" even if the term does not appear expressly. The expression "approximately" or "approximately" can be used to describe a quantity and / or a position to indicate that the value and / or the position described are within a range of values and / or positions expected reasonable. For example, a numeric value can have a value that is +/- 0.1% of the indicated value (or the range of values), +/- 1% of the indicated value (or the range of values), +/- 2% of the indicated value (or the range of values), +/- 5% of the indicated value (or the range of values), +/- 10% of the indicated value (or the range values), etc. All numerical values given here must also be understood to understand approximately or approximately this value, unless the context indicates otherwise. For example, if the value "10" is exposed, the value "about 10" is also exposed. The entire range of numbers mentioned here is intended to include all of the aforementioned sub-ranges. It is also understood that when a value is exposed which is "less than or equal to" the value, "greater than or equal to the value", the possible ranges between the values are also exposed, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. . For example, if the value "X" is exposed, "less than or equal to X" as well as "greater than or equal to X" (for example where X is a numeric value) is also exposed. It will also be understood that throughout this application, the data is provided in a number of different formats and that this data represents end points and starting points and ranges for any combination of the data points. For example, if a particular data point "10" and a particular data point "15" are exposed, it will be understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to and equal to 10 and 15 are considered as exposed as well as the values between 10 and 15. It is also understood that each unit between two particular units is also exposed. For example, if 10 and 15 are exposed, then 11, 12, 13 and 14 are also exposed.
[0158] Although various indicative embodiments are described above, any number of changes can be applied to the various embodiments without departing from these teachings. For example, the order in which the various described process steps are carried out can often be changed in alternative embodiments and in other alternative embodiments, one or more process steps can be deleted entirely. The optional functions of various device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. This is why the above description is primarily intended for example purposes and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.
One or more aspects or one or more functions of the present invention can be realized in digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, specific application integrated circuits (ASIC) designed specifically for this purpose, door networks programmable by Γ user (LPGA), computer hardware, firmware, software and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or functions may include an implementation in one or more computer programs executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system comprising at least one programmable processor which may be specific or of general use, coupled to receive data and instructions from , and for transmitting data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device and at least one output device. The programmable system or the computer system may include clients and servers. A client and a server are generally distant from each other and typically interact over a communications network. The client and server relationship occurs due to computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.
These computer programs which can also be called programs, software, software applications, applications, components or code include machine instructions for a programmable processor and can be implemented in a high-level procedural language, a programming language. object oriented, a functional programming language, a logical programming language and / or in an assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term "machine readable medium" refers to any computer program product, apparatus and / or device, for example magnetic disks, optical disks, memory and programmable logic devices ( PLD) used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, comprising a machine readable medium which receives machine instructions in the form of a machine readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. The machine-readable medium can store such machine instructions in a non-temporary manner, for example in the manner of a non-temporary solid state memory or a magnetic hard disk or any storage medium. equivalent memory. The machine-readable medium can store, alternatively or in addition, such machine instructions temporarily, such as a processor cache or any other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.
The examples and illustrations included here illustrate, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, specific embodiments in which the invention can be put into practice. As mentioned, other embodiments can be used and derived therefrom, so that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of this application. Such embodiments according to the present invention can be designated here individually or collectively by the term "invention" simply for practical aspects and without aiming to voluntarily limit the scope of the present application to a single invention or inventive concept, if more than one invention or concept is in fact exposed. Therefore, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described here, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same objective can be substituted for the specific illustrated embodiments. The present application aims to cover all adaptations or variants of various embodiments. Combinations of the aforementioned embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described here will appear to a person skilled in the art on reading the aforementioned description.

权利要求:
Claims (1)
[1" id="c-fr-0001]
Claims [Claim 1] A cartridge for a spray device, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material; and a heating element configured to heat the vaporizable material, the heating element comprising:a capillary structure having a plurality of rigid portions, in which pairs of the plurality of rigid portions are spaced from each other to define a capillary space therebetween, the capillary space being configured to suck the vaporizable material from the reservoir to to a heating region of the heating element to be heated, and an aerosol being generated by heating the vaporizable material drawn into the heating region of the heating element. [Claim 2] Cartridge according to claim 1, in which the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises:an upper rigid portion; anda lower rigid portion formed integrally with the upper rigid portion and spaced from the upper rigid portion by a distance which defines the capillary space. [Claim 3] Cartridge according to claim 1, in which the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises:an upper end portion configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir;a lower end portion including a heatera lower rigid portion; andan upper rigid portion formed integrally with the lower rigid portion, the upper rigid portion comprising:a plurality of upwardly extending organs,wherein the capillary space is formed between adjacent upwardly extending members of the plurality of upwardly extending members. [Claim 4] Cartridge according to claim 1, in which the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises:an inner rigid portion defining a channel; andan outer rigid portion surrounding the inner rigid portion and spaced from the inner rigid portion by a distance which defines the capillary space. [Claim 5] A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heating element
is at least partly positioned inside the tank. [Claim 6] The cartridge of claim 1, wherein an upper rigid portion of the plurality of rigid portions comprises an upper spray portion having a plurality of upper spaces and a lower rigid portion of the plurality of rigid portions comprises a lower spray portion having a a plurality of lower spaces, and wherein the plurality of upper spaces being positioned laterally offset from the plurality of lower spaces. [Claim 7] The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an air inlet configured to direct an air flow through the heating region such that when the heating element is activated, the vaporizable material drawn into the capillary space at the heating region is evaporated in the air flow. [Claim 8] The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive layer. [Claim 9] The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises a pattern of conductive tracks. [Claim 10] The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises nichrome. [Claim 11] The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an atomization chamber housing which surrounds at least a portion of the heating element, the atomization chamber housing comprising a cutting region. [Claim 12] The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the cutting region is configured to receive a porous material configured to absorb the vaporizable material. [Claim 13] The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the heating element forms a single rigid portion which is folded to define the upper rigid portion and the lower rigid portion. [Claim 14] The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the upper rigid portion is positioned parallel to the lower rigid portion. [Claim 15] The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the heating element has a plurality of perforations to allow the vaporizable material to evaporate through them. [Claim 16] A spray device comprising: a spray device body; and the cartridge according to claim 1.
[Claim 17] Spray device comprising:a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material; and a heating element configured to heat the vaporizable material, the heating element comprising:a capillary structure having a plurality of rigid portions, wherein pairs of the plurality of rigid portions are spaced from each other to define a capillary space therebetween, the capillary space being configured to suck the vaporizable material from the reservoir to to a heating region of the heating element to be heated, and an aerosol being generated by heating the vaporizable material drawn into the heating region of the heating element. [Claim 18] The spray device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises: an upper rigid portion; and a lower rigid portion formed integrally with the upper rigid portion and spaced from the upper rigid portion by a distance which defines the capillary space. [Claim 19] The spray device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of rigid portions of the capillary structure comprises: an upper end portion configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir;a lower end portion including a heatera lower rigid portion; andan upper rigid portion formed integrally with the lower rigid portion, the upper rigid portion comprising:a plurality of upwardly extending members, wherein the capillary space being formed between adjacent upwardly extending members of the plurality of upwardly extending members. [Claim 20] Process comprising:the suction, through a capillary space formed between two rigid portions of a heating element, of a material vaporizable from a reservoir of a vaporization device to a heating region, the heating element being positioned partly inside at least a portion of the reservoir, and each of the two rigid portions having a spray portion;heating at least the vaporization portion of the two rigid portions so as to cause vaporization of the vaporizable material

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WO2021158758A1|2021-08-12|Aerosol dispensing device with disposable container

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US20220079237A1|2022-03-17|Infrared heated aerosol-generating element

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US20210307401A1|2021-10-07|Cartridges for Vaporizer Devices

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FR2914202A1|2008-10-03|Volatile compound i.e. terpene oxonium peroxides, charged gas producing apparatus for proving inhalation for person, has treating unit for treating fractioned charged flow to provide determined flow quality before being ejected to outlet

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CN113194761A|2021-07-30|Infrared heated aerosol generating element

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WO2021142196A1|2021-07-15|Vaporizer device including organic bifunctional wick-heater assembly

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CA3118713A1|2020-05-14|Cartridges for vaporizer devices

同族专利:

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公开号 | 公开日

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JP2022508658A|2022-01-19|

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AR116723A1|2021-06-09|

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KR20210072038A|2021-06-16|

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EP3863436A1|2021-08-18|

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US20200107585A1|2020-04-09|

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CA3115519A1|2020-04-16|

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WO2020076864A1|2020-04-16|

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CN212139299U|2020-12-15|

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CN111067144A|2020-04-28|

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US20060047368A1|2004-09-02|2006-03-02|Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated|Method and system for controlling a vapor generator|

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WO2013083638A1|2011-12-08|2013-06-13|Philip Morris Products S.A.|An aerosol generating device with air flow nozzles|

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US20170071253A1|2015-09-16|2017-03-16|Tony REVELL|Cartridge with a capacity sensor|

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US20180007966A1|2016-07-07|2018-01-11|Altria Client Servcies LLC|Non-combustible vaping element with tobacco insert|

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US20180242642A1|2017-02-24|2018-08-30|Patrick Charles SILVESSTRINI|Aerosol-generating system and a cartridge for an aerosol-generating system having a two-part liquid storage compartment|

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WO2020023535A1|2018-07-23|2020-01-30|Juul Labs, Inc.|Airflow management for vaporizer device|

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NL2024023B1|2018-10-15|2020-09-25|Juul Labs Inc|Heating element|

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US11253001B2|2019-02-28|2022-02-22|Juul Labs, Inc.|Vaporizer device with vaporizer cartridge|

法律状态:
2020-09-14| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |

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2020-10-16| PLSC| Publication of the preliminary search report|Effective date: 20201016 |

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2021-09-13| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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US201862742554P| true| 2018-10-08|2018-10-08|

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US62/742,554|2018-10-08|

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