RU2805052C2 - Cartridge for evaporation device (variants) and evaporation device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: systems simulating the process of smoking. The vaporizer cartridge comprises a reservoir body having a storage chamber configured to hold the first portion of the vaporized substance. The dosing chamber is configured to hold the second portion of the vaporized substance and includes a first heating element located therein to vaporize a part of the second portion of the vaporized substance. Evaporation of a part of the second portion of the evaporated substance generates one or more pressure pulses. The metering chamber is further configured to selectively meter at least another part of the second portion of the volatilized substance through at least one dispensing orifice in response to the formation of said one or more pressure pulses generated in the dispensing chamber. The evaporation chamber is in fluid communication with the dosing chamber and is configured to receive dosed vaporizable material from the dispensing chamber for evaporation.

EFFECT: cartridge and evaporator for simulating smoking process.

20 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Cross references to related applications

[0001] This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/755,886, filed November 5, 2018, entitled "Cartridges For Vaporizer Devices", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, to the extent permitted.

Field of technology to which the invention relates

[0002] The subject matter of the invention described herein relates to vaporizer devices including vaporizer cartridges.

State of the art

[0003] Evaporative devices, which may also be referred to as vaporizers, electronic vaporizers, or electroevaporative devices, can be used to deliver an aerosol (e.g., a vapor-phase and/or condensed-phase substance suspended in a stationary or moving mass of air or some other gaseous carrier ), containing one or more active ingredients, through inhalation of the aerosol by the user of the vaporization device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a class of vaporizer devices that are battery-powered and that can be used to simulate the sensation of smoking but without burning tobacco or other substances. Vaporizer devices are becoming increasingly popular for both prescriptive medical use, drug delivery, and the consumption of tobacco, nicotine, and other herbal substances. Evaporative devices may be portable, self-contained, and/or user-friendly.

Such evaporation devices are known, for example, from RU 2666666 C1, RU 2657215 C2, KZ 33120, WO 2015109476 A1, US 20200170301 A1, CN 107889450 B, US 20150090253 A.

[0004] When using a vaporizer device, the user inhales an aerosol, colloquially referred to as “vapor,” which may be generated by a heating element that vaporizes (e.g., causes a liquid or solid to at least partially enter a gaseous phase) the vaporized substance , which may be a liquid, solution, solid, paste, wax, and/or any other form compatible for use with the particular vaporizer device. The vaporizable substance used with the vaporizer device may be provided in a cartridge, for example, a detachable portion of the vaporizer device that contains the vaporizable substance, which includes an outlet (eg, a mouthpiece) for inhalation of the aerosol by the user.

[0005] To receive the inhalable aerosol generated by the vaporizer device, the user may, in some examples, activate the vaporizer device by taking a puff, pressing a button, and/or some other approach. A puff, as used herein, may refer to the user inhaling in a manner that forces a volume of air to be drawn into the vaporizer device such that an inhaled aerosol is formed by the combination of the vaporized vaporized substance with the volume of air.

[0006] The approach by which a vaporizer device generates a respirable aerosol from a vaporized substance involves heating the vaporized substance in a vaporization chamber (eg, a heater chamber) to cause the vaporized substance to convert into a gaseous (or vapor) phase. A vapor chamber may refer to an area or volume in a vaporizer device in which a heat source (e.g., a conductive, convective, and/or radiant heat source) causes the vaporizer to be heated to create a mixture of air and vaporizer to form vapor for inhalation of the vaporizer by a user evaporation device.

[0007] Vaporizer devices may be controlled by one or more controllers, electronic circuits (eg, sensors, heating elements), and/or the like. on the evaporation device. Evaporative devices can also communicate wirelessly with an external controller, such as a computing device such as a smartphone).

[0008] In some implementations, vaporizable material may be drawn from the reservoir and into the vaporization chamber through an absorbent element (eg, a wick). The drawing of vaporizable material into the flash chamber may be at least partially due to capillary action provided by the absorbent element, where the absorbent element pulls vaporizable substance along the absorbent element towards the flash chamber. However, when the evaporated substance is drawn from the reservoir, the pressure inside the reservoir is reduced, thereby creating a vacuum and acting against capillary action. This may reduce the effectiveness of the wicking element to draw vaporizer into the vapor chamber, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the vaporizer device to vaporize a desired volume of vaporizer, such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device. In addition, the vacuum created in the reservoir may ultimately result in an inability to draw all of the vaporized substance into the flash chamber, thereby wasting the vaporized substance. As such, improved vaporizer devices and/or vaporizer cartridges that improve or overcome these problems would be desirable.

The essence of the invention

[0009] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to vaporizer devices and cartridges for use in a vaporizer device.

[0010] In some variations, one or more of the following features may optionally be included in any possible combination.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment, a cartridge is provided and includes a reservoir body having a storage chamber and a dispensing chamber, and a flash chamber in communication with the dispensing chamber. The storage chamber is configured to hold the first share of the evaporated substance, and the dosing chamber is configured to hold the second share of the evaporated substance. The metering chamber is further configured to selectively meter at least a first portion of the second portion of vaporizable material through the at least one metering opening in response to generating one or more pressure pulses generated in the metering chamber. The vaporization chamber is configured to receive metered vaporized substance from the dosing chamber for vaporization via the first heating element to form vaporized substance.

[0012] The dosing chamber can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the dispensing chamber may include a second heating element. The second heating element may be configured to selectively vaporize at least a second portion of the second vaporizable lobe in response to activation of the second heating element, wherein vaporization of the second portion of the second vaporizable lobe creates one or more pressure pulses.

[0013] In some embodiments, the at least one metering port may be configured to prevent vaporizable material from passing through it when the internal pressure of the reservoir body is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body.

[0014] In some embodiments, the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber may be in fluid communication with each other, wherein a portion of the first portion of the vaporizable substance may be drawn into the dispensing chamber in response to displacing the dosed vaporizable substance from the dispensing chamber.

[0015] In some embodiments, the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber may be separated by a reservoir barrier. The reservoir barrier may have at least one opening extending therethrough. The at least one opening may be configured to allow a portion of the first lobe of vaporizable material to be drawn into the metering chamber in response to forcing the metered volatile substance out of the metering chamber.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first heating element may be configured to selectively briefly vaporize a metered vaporizable substance to produce vaporized substance in response to activation of the first heating element.

[0017] The vapor chamber can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the vapor chamber may define a path for air to flow through it. The air flow path may be configured to allow the vaporized material to combine with the incoming air stream to substantially form an aerosol.

[0018] In another exemplary embodiment, a cartridge is provided and includes a reservoir body having a storage chamber and a dispensing chamber, at least one heating element located in the dispensing chamber, and a vaporization chamber that is in communication with the dispensing chamber. The storage chamber is configured to hold the first share of the evaporated substance, and the dosing chamber is configured to hold the second share of the evaporated substance. The at least one heating element is configured to selectively vaporize at least a portion of the second portion of the vaporized substance to produce a vaporized substance. The evaporation chamber is configured to receive the evaporated substance from the dosing chamber. The evaporation chamber is further configured to allow the evaporated substance to be removed from it.

[0019] In some embodiments, the vaporized material may be dispensed from the dosing chamber and into the vaporization chamber through at least one dosing opening that extends between the dosing chamber and the vaporization chamber. The at least one metering opening may be configured to prevent vaporizable material from passing therethrough when the internal pressure of the reservoir body is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body.

[0020] In some embodiments, the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber may be in fluid communication with each other, wherein a portion of the first vaporizable portion may be drawn into the dispensing chamber in response to dispensing of the vaporizable material from the dispensing chamber.

[0021] In some embodiments, the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber may be separated by a reservoir barrier having at least one opening extending therethrough. The at least one opening may be configured to allow a portion of the first lobe of vaporized substance to be drawn into the dosing chamber in response to dispensing of vaporized substance from the dosing chamber.

[0022] In another exemplary embodiment, a vaporizer device is provided and includes a vaporizer body and a cartridge that is selectively attached to and removable from the vaporizer body. The cartridge includes a reservoir body having a storage chamber and a dosing chamber, and an evaporation chamber in communication with the dosing chamber. The storage chamber is configured to hold the first share of the evaporated substance, and the dosing chamber is configured to hold the second share of the evaporated substance. The metering chamber is further configured to selectively meter at least a first portion of the second portion of vaporizable material through the at least one metering opening in response to generating one or more pressure pulses generated in the metering chamber. The vaporization chamber is configured to receive metered vaporized substance from the dosing chamber for vaporization via the first heating element to form vaporized substance.

[0023] The evaporator body can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the main body of the evaporator may include a power source.

[0024] The dosing chamber can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the dispensing chamber may include a second heating element. The second heating element may be configured to selectively vaporize at least a second portion of the second vaporizable lobe in response to activation of the second heating element, wherein vaporization of the second portion of the second vaporizable lobe creates one or more pressure pulses.

[0025] In some embodiments, the at least one metering port may be configured to prevent vaporizable material from passing through it when the internal pressure of the reservoir body is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body.

[0026] In some embodiments, the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber may be in fluid communication with each other, wherein a portion of the first portion of vaporizable material may be drawn into the dispensing chamber in response to displacing the dosed vaporizable material from the dispensing chamber.

[0027] In some embodiments, the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber are separated by a reservoir barrier having at least one opening extending therethrough. The at least one opening may be configured to allow a portion of the first lobe of vaporizable material to be drawn into the metering chamber in response to forcing the metered volatile substance out of the metering chamber.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first heating element may be configured to selectively flash the metered vaporizable substance to produce vaporized substance in response to activation of the first heating element.

[0029] The vapor chamber can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the vapor chamber may define a path for air to flow through it. The air flow path may be configured to allow the vaporized material to combine with the incoming air stream to substantially form an aerosol.

[0030] Details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description that follows. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the description and drawings and from the claims. The claims that appear after this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter.

Brief description of drawings

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form a part of this specification, show specific aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help to explain certain principles associated with the disclosed implementations. On the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an evaporation device;

[0033] FIG. 1B is a top view of an embodiment of the vaporizer device showing the vaporizer cartridge separated from the main body of the vaporizer device;

[0034] FIG. 1C is a top view of the evaporation device of FIG. 1B showing a vaporizer cartridge attached to a main body of the vaporizer device;

[0035] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the evaporation device of FIG. 1C;

[0036] FIG. 1E is a perspective view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 1B;

[0037] FIG. 1F is another perspective view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 1E;

[0038] FIG. 2A illustrates a diagram of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge showing the vaporizer cartridge before a pressure pulse;

[0039] FIG. 2B illustrates the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 2A during pressure pulse;

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge; And

[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge.

[0042] Where appropriate, like reference numbers designate like structures, features, or elements.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0043] Implementations of the current subject matter include methods, devices, articles of manufacture, and systems related to vaporizing one or more substances for inhalation by a user. Exemplary implementations include evaporative devices and systems including evaporative devices. The term "vaporizer device," when used in the following description and claims, refers to any of a stand-alone device, a device that includes two or more separable parts (for example, a vaporizer body that includes a battery and other hardware, and a cartridge that includes a vaporizable substance), and/or the like. "Evaporation system" as used herein may include one or more components, such as an evaporation device. Examples of vaporizer devices consistent with implementations of the current subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and/or the like. In general, such vaporizer devices are pocket-sized devices that heat (eg, by convection, current, radiation, and/or some combination thereof) the vaporized substance to provide an inhalable dose of the substance.

[0044] The vaporizable substance used in conjunction with the vaporizer device may be provided in a cartridge (eg, the part of the vaporizer device that contains the vaporizable substance in a reservoir or other container), which may be refillable when empty, or disposable so that a new a cartridge containing additional vaporizer of the same or a different type may be used). The vaporizer device may be a cartridge-based vaporizer device, a cartridge-less vaporizer device, or a reusable vaporizer device adapted for use with or without a cartridge. For example, the vaporizer device may include a heating chamber (e.g., a heat chamber or other area in which a substance is heated by a heating element) configured to receive vaporizable substance directly within the heating chamber, and/or a reservoir or the like. to contain the evaporated substance.

[0045] In some implementations, the vaporizer device may be configured for use with a liquid vaporizer (e.g., a solution of a carrier in which the active and/or inactive ingredient(s) are suspended or held in solution, or a liquid form of the vaporizer itself) . The liquid vaporizable substance can be adjusted to completely vaporize. Alternatively, at least a portion of the liquid vaporized material may remain after all of the respirable material has been vaporized.

[0046] Referring to the block diagram in FIG. 1A, vaporizer device 100 may include a power source 112 (e.g., a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery), and a controller 104 (e.g., a processor, circuitry, etc. configured to perform logic) for controlling the delivery of heat to the atomizer 141 to cause the vaporized substance 102 to be converted from a condensed form (such as a liquid, solution, suspension, a portion of at least partially unprocessed plant matter, etc.) into a gaseous phase. The controller 104 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) consistent with some implementations of the current subject matter.

[0047] After vaporizer 102 is converted to the gaseous phase, at least some of the vaporizer 102 in the gaseous phase may condense into particulate form in at least partial local equilibrium with the gaseous phase as part of an aerosol, which may form some part or all of the inhalable dose delivered by the vaporizer device 100 during a user puff or draw on the vaporizer device 100. It should be understood that the interaction between the gaseous and condensed phases in the aerosol generated by the vaporizer device 100 can be complex and dynamic due to such factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemical composition, flow conditions in air flow paths (both within the evaporative device and in the respiratory tract of a person or other mammal), and/or mixing of the vaporized substance 102 in the gaseous phase or aerosol phase with other air flows that may influence one or more physical parameters of the aerosol. In some vaporizer devices, and in particular for vaporizer devices configured to deliver volatile vaporizers, the inhaled dose may exist predominantly in the gaseous phase (eg, condensed phase particle formation may be very limited).

[0048] The atomizer 141 in the vaporizer device 100 may be configured to vaporize the vaporizable substance 102. The vaporizable substance 102 may be liquid. Examples of vaporizable substance 102 include pure liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures and/or the like. The atomizer 141 may include an absorbent element (ie, a wick) configured to transfer a volume of vaporized substance 102 to a portion of the atomizer 141 that includes a heating element (not shown in FIG. 1A).

[0049] For example, the absorbent element may be configured to draw vaporizable substance 102 from a reservoir 140 configured to contain vaporizable substance 102, so that vaporizable substance 102 can be vaporized by heat supplied from the heating element. The wicking element may also optionally allow air to enter reservoir 140 and replace the volume of vaporizable substance 102 removed. In some implementations of the current subject matter, capillary action may draw vaporizable substance 102 into the wicking element for vaporization via the heating element, and air may be returned to reservoir 140 through an absorbent member to at least partially equalize the pressure in the reservoir 140. Other methods of allowing air to return back to the reservoir 140 to equalize the pressure are also within the scope of the current subject matter.

[0050] When used herein, the terms “wick” or “absorbent element” include any material adapted to cause movement of a fluid through capillary pressure.

[0051] The heating element may include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and/or a convection heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which may include a material (such as a metal or alloy, such as a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) configured to dissipate electrical power in the form of heat when electric current is passed through one or more resistive heating element segments. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the atomizer 141 may include a heating element that includes a resistive coil or other heating element wrapped around, positioned within, embedded in a 3D mold, pressed into thermal contact with, or otherwise configured to deliver heat to the absorbent member to cause the vaporizable substance 102 to be drawn from the reservoir 140 by the absorbent member to be vaporized for subsequent inhalation by the user in a gaseous and/or condensed (eg, aerosol particles or droplets) phase. Other absorbent elements, heating elements, and/or atomizer assembly configurations are also possible.

[0052] The heating element may be activated in association with a user's puff (i.e., drawing, inhaling, etc.) on the mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer device 100 to cause air to flow from the air inlet, along the air flow path, which passes through the atomizer 141 (ie, the absorbent element and the heating element). Optionally, air may flow from the air inlet through one or more condensation areas or chambers, to the air outlet in the mouthpiece 130. The incoming air moving along the air flow path moves over or through the atomizer 141, where the vaporized substance 102 is in gaseous form is carried into the air. The heating element may be activated through a controller 104, which may optionally be part of the vaporizer body 110 as discussed herein, causing current to flow from the power supply 112 through circuitry including a resistive heating element, which is optionally part of the vaporizer cartridge 120. as discussed in this document. As noted herein, entrained vaporizer 102 in gaseous form may condense as it passes through the remainder of the airflow path such that an inhaled dose of vaporizer 102 in aerosol form can be delivered from an air outlet (e.g., mouthpiece 130). for inhalation by the user.

[0053] Activation of the heating element may be caused by automatic puff detection based on one or more signals generated by one or more sensors 113. Sensor 113 and signals generated by sensor 113 may include one or more of the following: a pressure sensor or sensors, located to detect pressure along the air flow path relative to ambient pressure (or optionally to measure changes in absolute pressure), a motion sensor or sensors (e.g., an accelerometer) of the vaporizer device 100, a flow sensor or sensors of the vaporizer device 100, a capacitive lip sensor of the vaporizer device 100, detecting user interaction with vaporizer device 100 through one or more input devices 116 (e.g., buttons or other tactile control devices of vaporizer device 100), receiving signals from a computing device in communication with vaporizer device 100, and/or through other approaches to determine that tightening is happening or is about to happen.

[0054] As discussed herein, vaporizer device 100, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, may be configured to communicate (such as, for example, wirelessly or via a wired connection) with a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) in communication with the evaporative device 100. To do this, the controller 104 may include communication hardware 105. The controller 104 may also include a memory 108. The communications hardware 105 may include firmware and/or may be controlled by software to implement one or more cryptographic protocols for communications.

[0055] The computing device may be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes vaporizer device 100, and may include its own communications hardware that can establish a wireless communication channel with communication hardware 105 of vaporizer device 100. For example, the computing device the device used as part of the evaporative system may include a general purpose computing device (such as a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, some other wearable device such as a smart watch, or the like) that runs software to create user interface for allowing a user to interact with the vaporizer device 100. In other implementations of the current subject matter, such a device used as part of the vaporizer system may be a specialized piece of hardware, such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device having one or more physical or software (i.e., configured on a screen or other display device and selected through user interaction with a touch-sensitive screen or some other input device such as a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, or the like) interface controls. The evaporative device 100 may also include one or more output devices 117 or devices for providing information to the user. For example, output devices 117 may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide feedback to a user based on the status and/or operating mode of vaporizer device 100.

[0056] In an example in which a computing device provides signals related to activating a resistive heating element, or in other examples for connecting the computing device to vaporizer device 100 to implement various controls or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions, to provide the user interface and underlying data processing. In one example, the computing device's detection of user interaction with one or more user interface elements may cause the computing device to signal the vaporizer device 100 to activate the heating element to reach an operating temperature to create an inhalable dose of vapor/aerosol. Other functions of the vaporizer device 100 may be controlled through user interaction with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100.

[0057] The temperature of the resistive heating element of the electronic vaporizer device 100 may depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of electrical power delivered to the resistive heating element and/or the duty cycle at which electrical power is applied, conductive heat transfer to other parts of the electronic vaporizer device 100, and /or to the environment, latent heat losses due to evaporation of vaporized substance 102 from the absorbent element and/or atomizer 141 as a whole, and convection heat losses due to air flow (i.e., air moving through the heating element or atomizer 141 as a whole, when the user takes a puff on the vaporizer device 100). As noted herein, in order to reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to a desired temperature, vaporizer device 100 may, in some implementations of the current subject matter, use signals from sensor 113 (e.g., a pressure sensor) to determine when the user inhales. Sensor 113 may be placed in the airflow path and/or may be connected (for example, through a passage or other path) to the airflow path comprising an inlet for air to enter the vaporizer device 100 and an outlet through which the user inhales the resulting airflow. resulting in vapor and/or aerosol such that sensor 113 senses changes (eg, pressure changes) simultaneously with air passing through evaporator device 100 from the air inlet to the air outlet. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the heating element may be activated in association with a user's puff, for example, through automatic puff detection, or through sensor 113 detecting a change (such as a change in pressure) in the air flow path.

[0058] Sensor 113 may be located on or coupled to (i.e., electrically or electronically connected, either physically or via a wireless connection) to controller 104 (eg, a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board). To perform measurements accurately and maintain the durability of the evaporator device 100, it may be useful to provide a seal 127 that is resilient enough to separate the air flow path from other parts of the evaporator device 100. The seal 127, which may be a gasket, may be configured to at least , partially surround the sensor 113 so that the connections of the sensor 113 to the internal circuitry of the evaporator device 100 are separated from the portion of the sensor 113 exposed to the air flow path. In an example of a cartridge-based vaporizer device, seal 127 may also separate portions of one or more electrical connections between vaporizer housing 110 and vaporizer cartridge 120. Such seal arrangements 127 in evaporator device 100 may be useful in mitigating potentially damaging effects on evaporator components resulting from interactions with environmental factors such as vapor or liquid water, other fluids such as evaporator material 102, etc. .d., and/or reduce the loss of air from the designed air flow path in the evaporator device 100. Unwanted air, liquid or other fluid passing through and/or contacting the circuits of the evaporator device 100 may cause various undesirable effects, such as changed pressure readings, and/or may result in the formation of undesirable matter, such as moisture, excess vaporizer 102, etc., in parts of the vaporizer device 100, where they may result in a poor pressure signal, degradation of the sensor 113 or other components and/or shorter life of the vaporizer device 100. Leaks in the seal 127 may also result in the user inhaling air that has passed through parts of the vaporizer device 100 containing, or constructed from, materials that may be undesirable for inhalation.

[0059] In some implementations, the vaporizer body 110 includes a controller 104, a power source 112 (such as a battery), one or more sensors 113, charging contacts (such as contacts for charging the power supply 112), a seal 127, and a cartridge holder 118 , configured to receive the evaporator cartridge 120 for connection to the evaporator body 110 through one or more of a plurality of connection structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120 includes a reservoir 140 for containing the vaporizable substance 102 and the mouthpiece 130 has an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhaled dose to the user. The vaporizer cartridge 120 may include an atomizer 141 having a wicking element and a heating element. Alternatively, one or both of the absorbent element and the heating element may be part of the evaporator body 110. In an implementation in which any part of the atomizer 141 (i.e., heating element and/or wicking element) is part of the main vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may be configured to supply vaporizable substance 102 from a reservoir 140 in the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the part (wells) of the atomizer 141 included in the main body 110 of the evaporator.

[0060] In an embodiment of the vaporizer device 100 in which the power source 112 is part of the vaporizer body 110 and the heating element is housed in the vaporizer cartridge 120 and configured to be coupled to the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may include electrical components connections (eg, circuit termination means) to complete a circuit that includes a controller 104 (eg, a printed circuit board, microcontroller, or the like), a power supply 112, and a heating element (eg, a heating element in atomizer 141). These parts may include one or more contacts (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124a and 124b) on the bottom surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and at least two contacts (referred to herein as holder contacts 125a and 125b) located adjacent base of the cartridge holder 118 of the vaporizer device 100 such that the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the holder contacts 125a and 125b make electrical connections when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into and connected to the cartridge holder 118. The circuit completed by these electrical connections may provide the ability to supply electrical current to the heating element and may further be used for additional functions such as measuring the resistance of the heating element for use in determining and/or controlling the temperature of the heating element based on the thermal coefficient of resistivity of the heating element. element.

[0061] In some implementations of the current subject matter, cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and holder contacts 125a and 125b may be configured to be electrically connected in one or another of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more circuits required to operate the vaporizer device 100 may be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge holder 118 in a first rotational orientation (about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118 of the vaporizer body 110) , so that the cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the holder contact 125a, and the cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the holder contact 125b. In addition, one or more circuits required to operate the vaporizer device 100 may be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge holder 118 in a second rotation orientation such that cartridge contact 124a is electrically coupled to holder contact 125b and cartridge contact 124b is electrically coupled to contact 125a of the holder.

[0062] For example, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, may be symmetrical when rotating 180° about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118. In such a configuration, the circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 can maintain identical operation no matter what symmetrical orientation of the vaporizer cartridge 120 occurs.

[0063] In one example of an attachment structure for attaching a vaporizer cartridge 120 to a vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer body 110 includes one or more fasteners (e.g., pits, projections, etc.) projecting inwardly from an interior surface of the cartridge holder 118 , an additional material (such as metal, plastic, etc.) formed to include a portion projecting into the interior of the cartridge holder 118, and/or the like. One or more outer surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 120 may include corresponding recesses (not shown in FIG. 1A) that may fit and/or otherwise snap over such latches or projections when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118 of the main body 110 evaporator. When the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 are connected (e.g., by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the vaporizer holder 118 of the vaporizer body 110), the latches or protrusions of the vaporizer body 110 may be mounted within and/or otherwise held within the recesses of the vaporizer cartridge 120 to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place when assembled. Such an assembly may provide sufficient support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place to ensure good contact between the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the holder contacts 125a and 125b, while allowing the vaporizer cartridge 120 to be removed from the vaporizer body 110 when the user pulls with reasonable force on the vaporizer cartridge 120 to disengage the vaporizer cartridge 120 from the cartridge holder 118 .

[0064] In some implementations, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured for insertion into the cartridge holder 118, may have a non-circular cross-section transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118 . For example, the non-circular cross-section may be approximately rectangular, approximately elliptical (i.e., approximately oval in shape), non-rectangular but with two sets of parallel or approximately parallel opposite sides (i.e., having a parallelogram-like shape), or other shapes having rotational symmetry of at least second order. In this context, an approximate shape indicates that the basic similarity to the described shape is obvious, but that the sides of the shape in question need not be entirely linear and the vertices need not be entirely sharp. The rounding of both or one of the edges or vertices of a cross-sectional shape is contemplated in the description of any non-circular cross-section referred to herein.

[0065] The cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the holder contacts 125a and 125b may take various forms. For example, one or both sets of contacts may include conductive pins, printed contacts, contact posts, receiving holes for pins or contact posts, or the like. Some types of contacts may include springs or other components to provide better physical and electrical contact between contacts on the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 . The electrical contacts may optionally be gold plated and/or include other materials.

[0066] FIG. 1B-1D illustrate an embodiment of the vaporizer main body 110 having a cartridge holder 118 into which the vaporizer cartridge 120 can be removably inserted. Fig. 1B and 1C show top views of the vaporizer device 100, illustrating the vaporizer cartridge 120 positioned for insertion and inserted, respectively, into the vaporizer main body 110. Fig. 1D illustrates a reservoir 140 of a vaporizer cartridge 120 formed in whole or in part from a translucent material such that a level of vaporizer 102 is visible from a window 132 (eg, translucent material) on the vaporizer cartridge 120. The vaporizer cartridge 120 may be configured such that the window 132 remains visible when inserted into the vaporizer cartridge holder 118 of the vaporizer body 110. For example, in one exemplary configuration, window 132 may be located between the lower edge of the mouthpiece 130 and the upper edge of the vaporizer body 110 when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is coupled to the cartridge holder 118.

[0067] FIG. 1E illustrates an exemplary air flow path 134 created during a user's puff on vaporizer device 100. Air flow path 134 may direct air into a vaporization chamber 150 (see FIG. 1F) contained within the wick body, where the air combines with a respirable aerosol for delivery to the user via a mouthpiece 130, which may also be part of a vaporizer cartridge 120. For example, when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device 100 of the device 100, air may flow between the outer surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., window 132 shown in FIG. 1D) and the inner surface of the cartridge holder 118 on the vaporizer body 110. Air may then be drawn into the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, through the vapor chamber 150, which includes or contains a heating element and an absorbent element, and out through the outlet 136 of the mouthpiece 130 to deliver an inhalable aerosol to the user.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 1E, this configuration causes air to flow around the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge holder 118 and then flow back in the opposite direction after passing around the insertion end 122 (e.g., the end opposite the end including the mouthpiece 130) of the vaporizer cartridge 120 when it enters the main body of the cartridge toward the vaporization chamber 150. The air flow path 134 then moves through the interior of the vaporizer cartridge 120, for example, through one or more tubes or internal channels (such as cannula 128 shown in FIG. 1F) and through one or more outlet openings (such as outlet 136) formed in the mouthpiece 130. The mouthpiece 130 may be a separable component of the vaporizer cartridge 120 or may be integrally formed with other component(s) of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., formed as an integral structure with the reservoir 140 and/or etc.).

[0069] FIG. 1F shows additional features that may be included in the vaporizer cartridge 120 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. For example, vaporizer cartridge 120 may include a plurality of cartridge contacts (such as cartridge contacts 124a, 124b) disposed at the insertion end 122. Each of the cartridge contacts 124a, 124b may optionally be part of a single piece of metal that forms a conductive structure (such as conductive structure 126) connected to one of the two ends of the resistive heating element. The conductive structure may optionally form opposite sides of the heating chamber and may also act as thermal shields and/or heat sinks to reduce heat transfer to the outer walls of the evaporator cartridge 120. Fig. 1F also shows a cannula 128 in the vaporizer cartridge 120 that defines a portion of the air flow path 134 between the heating chamber formed between the conductive structure 126 and the mouthpiece 130.

[0070] As mentioned above, existing vaporizer cartridges may include a wicking element that is typically configured to draw vaporizable material from the reservoir body such that the vaporizable material can subsequently be vaporized (e.g., by subjecting the drawn vaporizable material to heat, provided by the heating element). When used herein, the term "tank body" is used synonymously with "reservoir".

[0071] The drawing of vaporizable material from the reservoir body may be due, at least in part, to capillary action provided by the absorbent element, which draws the vaporizable substance along the absorbent element towards the flash chamber. As a result, the evaporated substance is supplied to the absorbent element through capillary action. The supply rate, however, may be a function, at least in part, of the amount of vaporizable material contained in the reservoir body. Thus, as more and more vaporizer is drawn from the tank body during use, less vaporizer is present in the tank body. This may reduce the flow rate and ultimately the efficiency of the absorbent element in drawing vaporizable material into the vaporization chamber. Under such circumstances, the effectiveness of the vaporizer device in vaporizing the desired amount of vaporized substance, such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer cartridge, may be reduced.

[0072] Various features and devices are described below that improve or overcome the above problems. For example, various features are described herein that replace the absorbent member with a pumping mechanism that is configured to pump vaporizable material from the reservoir body into the vaporization chamber. The pumping mechanism can achieve a delivery rate that is substantially independent of the amount of vaporized substance contained in the reservoir body. Implementing a pumping mechanism, as opposed to using a wicking element, can provide advantages and improvements over existing approaches while also providing additional benefits as described herein.

[0073] The vaporizer cartridges described herein provide the ability to pump a desired amount of vaporizer from a reservoir body at a rate that is substantially independent of the amount of vaporizer in the reservoir body. Additionally, pumping of the vaporized substance can be accomplished substantially without the use of moving parts. Vaporizer cartridges typically include a reservoir body having a storage chamber configured to hold a first portion of vaporizer and a metering chamber configured to hold a second portion of vaporizer. As discussed in more detail below, the metering chamber is also configured to selectively dispense at least a first portion of a second portion of the metered substance (or alternatively, a portion of the vaporized substance) in response to the creation of one or more pressure pulses in the metering chamber. These one or more pressure pulses are each created by forming a corresponding cavity or bubble of vaporized substance in the dosing chamber. Each cavity or bubble of vaporized substance may force a first portion of a second portion of vaporized substance through at least one dosing opening of the dosing chamber. Alternatively, each cavity or bubble of vaporized substance may be forced through at least one metering opening of the metering chamber by the pressure generated during each respective pressure pulse.

[0074] FIG. 2A-2B illustrate an exemplary vaporizer cartridge 200 that can be selectively attached to and removed from a vaporizer body, such as the vaporizer body 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1D). Evaporator cartridge. More specifically, the vaporizer cartridge 200 includes a reservoir body 202 having a metering chamber 206 that is configured to dispense a portion of the vaporizable material from the reservoir body 202 into the vaporization chamber 208 by a pumping mechanism that is actuated in response to, for example, a puff. user on the mouthpiece 205 connected to the vaporizer cartridge 200. While the mouthpiece 205 is shown in FIG. 2A-2B, one skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the mouthpiece 205 may be omitted and the user may directly draw on the cartridge at the outlet (such as the outlet 209 of the vapor chamber 208). For the sake of simplicity, certain components of the vaporizer cartridge 200 are not illustrated.

[0075] As shown, the reservoir body 202 has an internal volume defined by at least a first pair of opposing reservoir walls 202a, 202b and a second pair of opposing reservoir walls 202c, 202d. The reservoir body 202 includes a storage chamber 204 that is configured to hold a first portion of vaporizer 210, and a metering chamber 206 that is configured to hold a second portion of vaporizer 212. The first portion of vaporize 210 and the second portion of vaporize 212 are collectively referred to as in this document "volatile substance". While the respective internal volumes of the storage chamber 204 and the dispensing chamber 206 may vary, the combined internal volumes of the storage chamber 204 and the dispensing chamber 206, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B are equal to the internal volume of the tank body 202. This configuration may be desirable to maximize the amount of vaporizable material that can be accommodated in the reservoir body 202.

[0076] While the shape and size of the storage chamber 204 and dispensing chamber 206 may vary, each chamber, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B is substantially rectangular in shape, with the storage chamber 204 being larger in size relative to the metering chamber 206. It may be desirable to have a larger internal volume in the storage chamber 204 relative to the metering chamber 206 in order to maximize the amount of material vaporized, which can be stored in the reservoir body 202 without substantially interfering with the pumping mechanism in the metering chamber 206, as discussed in more detail below. In other embodiments, the storage chamber 204 may have a different shape and/or be smaller in size compared to the dispensing chamber 206.

[0077] Meanwhile, the storage chamber 204 and the dispensing chamber 206 may be positioned relative to each other and within the reservoir body 202 at a variety of locations. Fig. 2A-2B depict one exemplary configuration in which the storage chamber 204 is positioned in the upper portion 203a of the tank body 202 and the dispensing chamber 206 is positioned in the bottom portion 203b of the tank body 202. It may be desirable to position the metering chamber 206 below the storage chamber 204 to enhance the flow of the first portion of vaporized material 210 into the metering chamber 206. Additionally, such a position may also be desirable because it may prevent the vacuum created in the storage chamber 204 from adversely affecting dispensing the vaporized substance (or vaporized substance) from the dosing chamber 206.

[0078] In general, as discussed above, the dispensing chamber 206 is configured to dispense a portion of the second portion of vaporizable material 212, such as the second portion 212a shown in FIG. 2B, into the evaporation chamber 208 using a pumping mechanism. While the pumping mechanism can have a variety of configurations, the pumping mechanism as shown in FIG. 2A-2B includes a first heating element 214 located in the metering chamber 206. This first heating element 214 is configured to at least partially vaporize a portion of the second vaporizable portion 212 that is in close proximity to, and/or in contact with the first heating element 214 during activation of the first heating element 214. After a portion of the second portion of vaporizable substance 212 is at least partially vaporized, the first heating element 214 may be deactivated, or alternatively, the temperature of the first heating element 214 may be lowered to prevent further evaporation until desired.

[0079] The first heating element 214 may be or include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and a convection heater. As discussed above, one type of heating element is a resistive heating element, such as a resistive coil, which may be constructed of or at least include a material (e.g., a metal or alloy, such as a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) , configured to dissipate electrical power in the form of heat when electric current passes through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. As shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the first heating element 214 exists in the form of a resistive coil.

[0080] In some embodiments, the vaporizer cartridge 200 includes two or more cartridge contacts, such as, for example, a first cartridge contact 215a and a second cartridge contact 215b. Two or more cartridge contacts may be configured to connect, for example, to receiving contacts 125a and 125b to form one or more electrical connections to the vaporizer body 110. The circuitry implemented by these electrical connections may provide the ability to deliver electrical current to the first heating element 214. The circuitry may also provide additional functions, such as, for example, measuring the resistance of the first heating element 214 for use in determining and/or controlling the temperature of the first heating element 214 based on the thermal resistivity coefficient of the first heating element 214.

[0081] The first heating element 214 may be located in a variety of locations within the dispensing chamber 206. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the first heating element 214 is located substantially centrally in the dispensing chamber 206. It may be desirable to align at least a portion of the first heating element 214 with a channel, such as a dispensing opening 218, that is configured to allow a portion of the second lobe of vaporizable substance 212 be selectively dispensed from the metering chamber 206. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be desirable to align at least a portion of the first heating element 214 with a channel, such as an opening 230, that is configured to allow a portion of the first dose of vaporizable substance 210 selectively flow into metering chamber 206.

[0082] As discussed above, the first heating element 214 can have a variety of configurations and can be activated/reactivated in a variety of ways. Once the first heating element 214 is activated, for example, simultaneously with and/or after the user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 205, heat is displaced therefrom. When the heat reaches a temperature that is substantially equal to the boiling point of the vaporizer housed in the reservoir body 202, the portion of the second portion of vaporizer 212 that is in close proximity to, and/or in contact with, the first heating element 214 is vaporized, as shown. in fig. 2B. As a result, a cavity or bubble of vaporized substance 216 is formed as shown in FIG. 2B, which generates a pressure pulse in the metering chamber 206. That is, the pressure pulse is generated by the first heating element 214, instantly vaporizing a portion of the second vaporizer portion 212. This pressure pulse causes the second portion 212a of the second vaporizer portion 212 to be forced out of the metering chamber 206 , as shown in Fig. 2B. Thus, this pressure pulse generally functions as a pumping mechanism that pumps vaporizable material out of reservoir body 202 and into flash chamber 208 in response to at least partial, temporary vaporization of a portion of the second portion of vaporizable material 212. Essentially, this pumping mechanism relies on a pressure pulse rather than the amount of vaporized material contained in the reservoir body 202. Additionally, this pumping mechanism is configured such that substantially no moving parts are required to effect the resulting pumping of the vaporized substance (or vaporized substance) from the metering chamber 206.

[0083] While the size of the cavity or bubble of vaporized substance 216 may vary, the first heating element 214 is configured to create a cavity or bubble having a size that prevents the cavity or bubble from coming into contact with, and thus being released, by at least through the dispensing opening 218. In some embodiments, the size of the cavity or vial also prevents the cavity or vial from contacting, and thus flowing through, opening 230. Thus, the first heating element 214 is configured to vaporize an amount of vaporizable substance which forms a cavity or bubble that remains, and collapses, in the dosing chamber 206.

[0084] Additionally, during use, the first heating element 214 may create two or more successive cavities or bubbles, thus two successive pressure pulses, during activation (eg, while the user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 205). Each of these cavities or bubbles may separately expel respective second portions 212a of the second vaporizer portion 212 from the metering chamber 206. Thus, the first heating element 214 may be configured to create one or more successive vaporizer cavities or bubbles during activation.

[0085] The metering chamber 206 may include a variety of metering configurations and features that enable the second portion 212a to displace a second portion of vaporizable material 212 in response to a pressure pulse. In some embodiments, the dispensing chamber 206 may include one or more dispensing ports that extend between the dispensing chamber 206 and the flash chamber 208. In the example shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the metering chamber 206 includes a single metering hole 218 that extends through the wall 206a of the metering chamber 206, and thus between the metering chamber 206 and the vaporization chamber 208. As illustrated, the wall 206a of the metering chamber 206 is part of one of side walls (such as side wall 208a) of the vaporization chamber 208. The metering hole 218 is configured to allow the second portion 212a of the second portion of the vaporized substance 212 to pass through it, and thus out of the metering chamber 206 and into the vaporization chamber 208, in response to a pressure pulse.

[0086] Dispensing port 218 can have a variety of configurations. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the metering hole 218 forms a channel that extends between the metering chamber 206 and the air flow path 220 defined by the flash chamber 208. Thus, in response to generating a pressure pulse, the second portion 212a of the second portion of vaporizable substance 212 can be pushed out from metering chamber 206 through this passage and into passage 220 for air to flow for subsequent evaporation by means of another heater, such as the second heating element 226 shown in FIG. 2A-2B. The metering opening 218 may also have a diameter that is sized to substantially prevent vaporizable substance (eg, a portion of the second portion of vaporizable substance 212) from passing through it when the internal pressure of the reservoir body 202 is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body 202. That is, the metering opening 218 may include a diameter that is sized such that a surface tension of the second lobe of vaporizable substance 212 is created to thereby substantially prevent any vaporizable substance from passing through it, and thus , from the metering chamber 206 when the pressure equalizes at the ends of the metering hole 218.

[0087] While the vapor chamber 208 can have a variety of configurations, the vapor chamber 208 as shown in FIG. 2A-2B is defined by at least two opposing side walls 208a, 208b, one of which is a side wall 202a of the tank body 202, and a bottom wall 208c extending between them. As such, in this illustrated embodiment, the side walls 208a, 208b of the flash chamber 208 extend substantially parallel to the side walls 202a, 202b of the tank body 202. As shown, flash chamber 208 defines a passage 220 for air to flow through it. The air flow path 220 is configured to direct air, illustrated by the broken line arrow 222, through the vaporization chamber 208, so that the air 222 will mix with the vaporized substance to form an aerosol, illustrated by the broken line arrow 223. The air flow path 220 further directs the aerosol 223 through the outlet 209 of the vaporization chamber 208, and thus the mouthpiece 205, for inhalation by the user.

[0088] In some embodiments, at least one wall of the vapor chamber 208, such as a side wall 208a, which is also a side wall 202a of the reservoir body 202, may be formed of or coated with a water-repellent material to prevent the accumulation of any or condensation in flash chamber 208. As such, any water that may be present in aerosol 223 and air 222 may be transferred through and out of flash chamber 208 when the user takes a puff on mouthpiece 205.

[0089] Air 222 enters the vapor chamber 208 through the bottom wall 208c when the user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 205. As such, the bottom wall 208c is configured to allow air 222 to easily pass through it and into the vapor chamber 208. While The bottom wall 208c can have a variety of configurations, the bottom wall 208c is perforated, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B. The perforated holes can be any suitable size that allows air to pass through the bottom wall 208c. In some embodiments, the size of the perforated holes may substantially prevent any vaporized substance exiting the dispensing chamber 206 or aerosol 223 from passing through the bottom wall 208c, and therefore prevent unwanted leakage into other parts of the device. The bottom wall 208c may include any suitable number of perforations, and therefore the number of perforations is not limited to the number that is illustrated in FIG. 2A-2B. Alternatively or in addition, the bottom wall 208c may be formed from a breathable material. Thus, the bottom wall 208c functions as an air inlet for the evaporation chamber 208.

[0090] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B, flash chamber 208 may include a valve 224 that is configured to allow air 222 to enter flash chamber 208 through bottom wall 208c. As such, valve 224 may function as a check valve. Valve 224 may be configured to prevent any vaporizable material that may be forced into flash chamber 208, but not vaporize, from leaking through the bottom wall 208c of flash chamber 208. Alternatively, or in addition, valve 224 may be configured to prevent the passage of air 222 and/or aerosol in the evaporation chamber 208 through the bottom wall 208c. Valve 224 may be mechanically and/or electronically controlled. Various configurations of valve 224 are discussed herein.

[0091] Alternatively, or in addition, bottom wall 208c may also be configured to prevent air 222 and/or aerosol in flash chamber 208 from passing therethrough. That is, the bottom wall 208c may be configured as a one-way valve and therefore allow air 222 to pass only through it and into the vapor chamber 208. In some embodiments, any of the remaining walls of the vapor chamber 208 may be perforated and/or formed of a breathable material to allow air to pass into (or out of) the vapor chamber 208 as desired.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 2A-2B, a second heating element 226 is located in the vapor chamber 208. The second heating element 226 is configured to selectively flash vaporize a vaporizable substance that is dispensed from the dosing chamber 206 in response to a pressure pulse. That is, when activated, for example, simultaneously with and/or after the user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 205, the second heating element 226 causes the second portion 212a of the second portion of vaporizable substance 212 to substantially flash off, which is forced into the vapor chamber 208 Thus, when activated, the second evaporative element 226 reaches a steady state temperature that is at least substantially equal to the evaporation temperature of the evaporable substance housed in the reservoir body 202. As a result, when the metered portion of the vaporizable substance (eg, the second portion 212a of the second portion of the vaporized substance 212) is brought into close proximity, or contacts, with the surface of the second heating element 226, the metered portion is instantly vaporized to obtain a vaporized substance. This vaporized substance may then combine with air 222 passing through the air flow passage 220 of the vapor chamber 208. As a result, the vaporized substance condenses into an aerosol 223, which is subsequently inhaled by the user through the vapor chamber outlet 209, and thus the mouthpiece 205.

[0093] The second heating element 226 may be or include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and a convection heater. As discussed above, one type of heating element is a resistive heating element, such as a resistive coil, which may be constructed of or at least include a material (e.g., a metal or alloy, such as a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) , configured to dissipate electrical power in the form of heat when electric current passes through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. As shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the second heating element 226 exists in the form of a resistive coil. The second heating element 226 can have a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, the second heating element 226 may be larger in size compared to the size of the first heating element 214.

[0094] In some embodiments, the vaporizer cartridge 200 includes two or more cartridge contacts, such as, for example, a first cartridge contact 227a and a second cartridge contact 227b. Two or more cartridge contacts may be configured to connect, for example, to holder contacts 125a and 125b to form one or more electrical connections to the vaporizer body 110. The circuitry implemented by these electrical connections may provide the ability to deliver electrical current to the second heating element 226. The circuitry may also provide additional functions, such as, for example, measuring the resistance of the second heating element 226 for use in determining and/or controlling the temperature of the second heating element 226 based on the thermal resistivity coefficient of the second heating element 226.

[0095] While the second heating element 226 may be located in the vapor chamber 208 in a variety of locations, the second heating element 226, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B is positioned close to the bottom wall 208c of the vaporization chamber 208. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B, a second heating element 226 is also positioned adjacent to the metering opening 218. This illustrated position may be desirable to help maximize the amount of vaporizable material that is brought into close proximity, or contact, with the second heating element 226, thereby improving efficiency its evaporation. A second heating element 226 positioned in close proximity to the metering port 218 may also allow a faster and more direct flow of metered vaporizable material toward the second heating element 226 for vaporization.

[0096] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the storage chamber 204 and the dispensing chamber 206 are separated by a reservoir barrier 228, which is configured to allow the storage chamber 204 to be in fluid communication with the dispensing chamber 206. While the reservoir barrier 228 can have a variety of configurations, the barrier 228 the reservoir may include one or more openings that extend through it. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A-2B, reservoir barrier 228 includes an opening 230 configured to allow a portion of the first lobe of vaporizable material 210 to flow into metering chamber 206 (e.g., when cavity or bubble 216 collapses due to condensation, thereby creating a vacuum in metering chamber 206) thereby creating a pressure equilibrium at the ends of the metering port 218. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the reservoir barrier 228 may be formed from a permeable material.

[0097] In this illustrated embodiment, metering orifice 218 and orifice 230 are each configured such that there is low resistance flow through metering orifice 218 relative to orifice 230. As shown, the size (D ₁ ) of orifice 230 is smaller than the size (D ₂ ) metering port 218. In other embodiments, a check valve may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the vaporizer cartridge 300 includes a metering chamber 306 that includes a check valve 313 that is configured to prevent a second portion of vaporizer 212 from flowing back through the opening 230 into the storage chamber 204 after each cavity or bubble formed is destroyed.

[0098] Referring again to FIG. 2A-2B, during use, after the second part 212a is released from the metering chamber 206, the cavity or bubble in the metering chamber 206 is destroyed. As a result, a vacuum is created in the metering chamber 206. This vacuum draws a portion of the first vaporizer portion 210 from the storage chamber 206 into the metering chamber 206 through the opening 230 to replenish the metered volume of the second vaporizer portion 212. As a result, the volume of the first vaporizer portion 210 decreases after every second portion 212a is dispensed from the dispensing chamber 206.

[0099] Additionally, during use, as the volume of the first vaporizer portion 210 decreases, for example, as portions of the first vaporizer portion 210 flow into the metering chamber 206 through the opening 230, a negative pressure may be generated in the storage chamber 204. This negative pressure may prevent additional portions of the first vaporizer 210 from flowing into the metering chamber 206, and thus distributing additional portions of the second vaporizer 212 from the metering chamber 206 and into the flash chamber 208. To eliminate or reduce this negative pressure, pressure in the storage chamber 204 can be increased when each of the portions of the second portion of vaporizable substance 212 is dosed. For example, in some embodiments, storage chamber 204 may include one or more vents, such as vent 211, that are configured to selectively allow air to pass into storage chamber 206 from the environment, thereby substantially maintain an internal pressure (eg, an internal pressure that is substantially equal to the ambient pressure) of the storage chamber 204. That is, the vent 211 allows ambient air to enter the storage chamber 204, thereby eliminating the creation of a counter vacuum that acts against the vacuum created in the dispensing chamber 206 when the cavity or bubble is destroyed. Thus, as each cavity or bubble is destroyed in the metering chamber 206, a portion of the first fraction of vaporizable material 210 can flow through the opening 230 and into the metering chamber 206.

[0100] While the above vaporizer cartridge embodiment has been discussed in the context of at least two heating elements, alternative vaporizer cartridge embodiments may utilize a single heating element or additional heating elements.

[0101] FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary vaporizer cartridge 400 that can be selectively attached to and removed from a vaporizer body, such as the vaporizer body 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1D). Apart from the differences described below, the vaporizer cartridge 400 may be similar to the vaporizer cartridge 200 (FIGS. 2A-2B), and therefore similar features are not described in detail herein.

[0102] In this illustrated example, the vaporizer cartridge 400 includes only a single heating element, i.e., heating element 432. As shown, the heating element 432 is located in the dispensing chamber 406. The heating element 432 is configured to selectively flash a portion of the vaporizer substance 412 to create a cavity or bubble having a sufficient volume of vaporized substance such that the cavity or bubble comes into contact with, and therefore can be forced directly through, the dispensing opening 418 of the dispensing chamber 406, and into the vaporization chamber 408. T. That is, when activated, heating element 432 allows for substantially instantaneous vaporization of a portion of the vaporizable substance that is in close proximity to, or in contact with, the surface of heating element 432. Thus, when activated, heating element 432 has a steady state temperature that greater than the evaporation temperature of the evaporated substance housed in the tank body 402. As a result, the formation of vaporized material occurs only in the metering chamber 406.

[0103] The vaporized material may then be forced into the flash chamber 408, where the vaporized material combines with air 422 passing through air flow passage 420. As a result, the vaporized substance condenses into an aerosol 423, which is then inhaled by the user through the outlet 409, and thus the mouthpiece 405.

[0104] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, the vaporizer cartridge 400 includes a check valve 434 that is configured to prevent the backflow of air 422 and aerosol 423 into the metering chamber 406 after the vaporized substance is displaced therefrom. As a result, after vaporized material is dosed into the flash chamber, the check valve closes, thereby allowing a vacuum to be created in the metering chamber 406. This vacuum draws a portion of the first portion of vaporized material 410 through the opening 430 and replenishes the dosing chamber 406. Essentially, in this illustrated embodiment, the dispensing chamber 406 is configured to hold one dose of vaporized substance for each puff on the mouthpiece 405.

[0105] Various other configurations of a vaporizer cartridge using a single heating element are also discussed herein.

Terminology

[0106] For purposes of describing and defining these teachings, it is noted that, unless otherwise noted, the term “substantially” is used herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be inherent in any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. The terms “substantially” are also used herein to represent the extent to which a quantitative presentation may vary from an established standard without resulting in a change in the essential function of the subject matter.

[0107] When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "in" another feature or element, it may be directly contained in the other feature or element, or intermediate features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly contained" in another feature or element, no intermediate features or elements are present. It should also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected" or "attached" to another feature or element, it may be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element, or intermediate features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another feature or element, no intermediate features or elements are present.

[0108] Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements described or shown in this manner may apply to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that references to a structure or feature that is located “next to” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

[0109] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and implementations only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0110] In the above descriptions and in the claims, phrases such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” may appear followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term "and/or" may also appear in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly inconsistent with the context in which it is used, such phrase is not intended to mean any of the enumerated elements or features alone or any of the enumerated elements or features in combination with any of the other enumerated elements or features. For example, the phrases "at least one of A and B"; "one or more of A and B"; and "A and/or B" are intended to mean "A only, B only, or A and B together." A similar interpretation also applies to lists containing three or more elements. For example, the phrases "at least one of A, B and C"; "one or more of A, B and C"; and "A, B and/or C" are intended to mean "A only, B only, C only, 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 is intended to mean "at least in part based on" so that an unstated feature or element is also acceptable.

[0111] Spatially relative terms such as “front”, “back”, “under”, “below”, “bottom”, “above”, “top”, etc. may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or relationship of a feature in relation to another element(s) or feature(s), as illustrated in the drawings. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to cover various orientations of the device being used or operated, in addition to the orientation illustrated in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, elements described as "under" or "below" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "under" can cover both above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly. Likewise, the terms “up”, “down”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, etc. are used herein for explanatory purposes only unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0112] Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited by these terms unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms can be used to distinguish one characteristic/element from another characteristic/element. Thus, the first feature/element explained below may be referred to as the second feature/element, and likewise, the second feature/element explained below may be referred to as the first feature/element, without departing from the ideas provided herein.

[0113] When used herein in the detailed description and claims, including when used in examples, and unless otherwise expressly indicated, all numbers may be read as if preceded by the word "about" or "approximately" even if the term is not shown explicitly. The phrase "about" or "approximately" may be used when describing an absolute value and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/-0.1% of a set value (or range of values), +/-1% of a set value (or range of values), +/-2% of a set value (or value range), +/-5% of the set value (or range of values), +/-10% of the set value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given herein should also be understood to include about or approximately that value unless the context otherwise indicates. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any range of numerical values set forth herein is intended to be inclusive of all subranges included therein. It should also be understood that when a value that is “less than or equal to” a value is disclosed, a “greater than or equal to a value” and possible ranges between the values are also disclosed, as those skilled in the art would appreciate. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, "less than or equal to X" is also disclosed, as is "greater than or equal to X" (eg, where X is a numeric value). It should also be understood that in this application, 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 data points. For example, if a particular data point "10" and a particular data point "15" are disclosed, it should 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 disclosed, as are between 10 and 15. It should also be understand that each unit between two specific units is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are revealed, then 11, 12, 13 and 14 are also revealed.

[0114] Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of a number of changes may be made to the various embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are performed may often vary in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various embodiments of the device and system may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Accordingly, the foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0115] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be implemented in a digital electronic circuit, integrated circuit, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), computer hardware, firmware , software and/or a combination of the above. These various aspects or features may include implementation in one or more computer programs that can be executed and/or interpreted for a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special purpose or general purpose, coupled with the ability to receive data and instructions from and transmit data and instructions to the data storage system, the at least one input device and the at least one output device. A programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. The client and server are typically remote from each other and typically communicate through a communications network. The relationship between the client and the server is carried out on the basis of computer programs running on the corresponding computers and having a client-server relationship with each other.

[0116] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as "programs", "software", "applications", "applications", "components" or "code", include machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in high-level procedural language, object-oriented programming language, functional programming language, logic programming language and/or assembly/machine language. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" means any computer program product, hardware and/or device, such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, memory and programmable logic devices (PLDs) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor including a computer-readable medium that receives the machine instructions as a computer-readable signal. The expression "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. A computer-readable medium may non-volatilely store such machine instructions, for example, similar to a non-volatile semiconductor memory or magnetic hard disk, or any equivalent storage medium. A computer-readable medium may alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a volatile manner, for example, similar to a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0117] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter of the invention may be practiced. As mentioned above, other embodiments may be used and learned from such that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein separately or collectively by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without the intention of intentionally limiting the scope of this application to any one invention or inventive concept if more than one is actually disclosed. Thus, while specific embodiments are illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve an identical purpose can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of the various embodiments. Combinations of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described herein should become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the foregoing description. The use of the term "based on" above and in the claims is intended to mean "at least in part based on" so that an unstated feature or element is also acceptable.

[0118] The subject matter described herein may be implemented in systems, equipment, methods and/or products depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the above description do not represent all implementations in accordance with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are simply some examples in accordance with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although several variations are detailed above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, additional features and/or variations may be provided in addition to the features and/or variations set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several additional features disclosed above. In addition, the logical sequences of operations illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown or sequential order in order to achieve the desired results. Other implementations may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (29)

1. A cartridge for an evaporation device, containing: a reservoir body having a storage chamber configured to hold a first portion of the vaporized substance, and a metering chamber configured to hold a second portion of the vaporized substance, the metering chamber including a first heating element disposed therein to vaporize a portion of the second portion of the vaporized substance, wherein evaporation of a portion of the second portion of the evaporated substance generates one or more pressure pulses, wherein the metering chamber is further configured to selectively dispense at least another portion of the second portion of the evaporated substance through at least one dosing opening in response to the formation of said one or more pressure pulses created in the dosing chamber; And a flash chamber in fluid communication with the metering chamber, the flash chamber configured to receive a metered vaporized substance from the dosing chamber for vaporization to form vaporized substance. 2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the vaporization chamber includes a second heating element that is configured to selectively vaporize a received portion of the second portion of the vaporizable substance in response to activation of the second heating element. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metering hole is configured to prevent the evaporated substance from passing through it when the internal pressure of the reservoir body is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body. 4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the storage chamber and the dosing chamber are in fluid communication with each other, wherein a portion of the first portion of the vaporized substance is drawn into the dosing chamber in response to displacing the dosed vaporized substance from the dosing chamber. 5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber and the dosing chamber are separated by a reservoir barrier having at least one hole passing through it, wherein said at least one hole is configured to allow part of the first portion of the evaporated substance to be drawn into the dosing chamber chamber in response to the displacement of the dosed evaporated substance from the dosing chamber. 6. The cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and/or second heating element is configured to selectively flash the corresponding part of the evaporated substance. 7. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the vaporization chamber defines a passage for air to flow through it, wherein the passage for air passage is configured to allow the vaporized substance to combine with the incoming air flow to form an aerosol. 8. A cartridge for an evaporation device, containing: a reservoir body having a storage chamber configured to hold a first portion of the evaporated substance, and a dosing chamber configured to hold a second portion of the evaporated substance; at least one heating element located in the dosing chamber, wherein said at least one heating element is configured to selectively vaporize at least a portion of the second portion of the vaporized substance to produce vaporized substance; And an evaporation chamber in communication with the metering chamber, wherein the evaporation chamber is configured to receive evaporated substance from the metering chamber and is configured to allow the evaporated substance to leave it. 9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the evaporated substance is dosed from the dosing chamber into the evaporation chamber through at least one dosing hole that passes between the dosing chamber and the evaporation chamber. 10. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said at least one metering hole is configured to prevent the vaporized substance from passing therethrough when the internal pressure of the reservoir body is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body. 11. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the storage chamber and the dosing chamber are in fluid communication with each other, wherein a portion of the first portion of the vaporized substance is drawn into the dosing chamber in response to dispensing of the vaporized substance from the dosing chamber. 12. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the storage chamber and the dosing chamber are separated by a reservoir barrier having at least one hole passing through it, wherein said at least one hole is configured to allow part of the first portion of the evaporated substance to be drawn into the dosing chamber chamber in response to dosing of evaporated substance from the dosing chamber. 13. Evaporation device containing: main part of the evaporator; And a cartridge configured to be selectively attached to and removable from the evaporator main body, the cartridge including: a reservoir body having a storage chamber configured to hold a first portion of the vaporized substance, and a metering chamber configured to hold a second portion of the vaporized substance, the metering chamber having a first heating element disposed therein to vaporize a portion of the second portion of the vaporized substance, wherein the vaporization portion of the second portion of the evaporated substance generates one or more pressure pulses, wherein the metering chamber is further configured to selectively dispense at least another portion of the second portion of the evaporated substance through at least one metering opening in response to the formation of said one or more pressure pulses generated in the dosing chamber, and a flash chamber in fluid communication with the metering chamber, wherein the flash chamber is configured to receive a metered vaporized substance from the dosing chamber for vaporization to form vaporized substance. 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the main part of the evaporator includes a power source. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vaporization chamber includes a second heating element that is configured to selectively vaporize a received portion of the second portion of the vaporizable substance in response to activation of the second heating element. 16. The device of claim 13, wherein said at least one metering hole is configured to prevent vaporized substance from passing therethrough when the internal pressure of the reservoir body is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the reservoir body. 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the storage chamber and the dosing chamber are in fluid communication with each other, wherein a portion of the first portion of vaporized substance is drawn into the dosing chamber in response to displacing the dosed vaporized substance from the dosing chamber. 18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the storage chamber and the dosing chamber are separated by a reservoir barrier having at least one opening passing through it, wherein said at least one opening is configured to allow part of the first portion of the evaporated substance to be drawn into the dosing chamber chamber in response to the displacement of the dosed evaporated substance from the dosing chamber. 19. The device according to claim 13 or 15, wherein the first and/or second heating element is configured to selectively flash a corresponding portion of the evaporated substance. 20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vapor chamber defines a passage for air to flow through it, wherein the passage for air is configured to allow the vaporized substance to combine with the incoming air flow to form an aerosol.

Images