Portable Liquid Vaporizer

Abstract

A portable liquid vaporizer (1) comprises a reservoir (10) for holding a liquid to be vaporized; a heater (12) for vaporizing the liquid; a mouthpiece (3) for withdrawing the vapor; and an air path (30) extending through the vaporizer (1), comprising a heating section (31) and a cooling section (32), wherein the heating section (31) extends along the heater (12) and the cooling section (32) extends directly downstream from the heater (12) to the mouthpiece (3).

Claims

1. A Portable liquid vaporizer comprising: a reservoir for holding a liquid to be vaporized; a heater for vaporizing the liquid; a mouthpiece for withdrawal of the vapor; and an air path extending through the vaporizer, comprising a heating section and a cooling section, wherein the heating section extends along the heater and the cooling section extends directly downstream from the heater to the mouthpiece, wherein the cooling section has an effective length that is sufficient for allowing the vapor to cool down and leave the mouthpiece at 40° C. or less above environmental temperature upon withdrawal of the vapor.

2. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the cooling section has an effective length (L) that is at least 50 of the length (L) of the vaporizer and/or an effective length (L) that is at least 50 mm.

3. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 1, wherein, when the mouthpiece defines the top, the heater is located in the lower half of the vaporizer.

4. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 1, wherein a power source is arranged between the heater and the mouthpiece.

5. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal extension of the cooling section is offset from the longitudinal axis of the vaporizer.

6. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the air path extends from the bottom of the vaporizer to the mouthpiece.

7. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the air path extends through the reservoir upstream from the heating section.

8. A Portable liquid vaporizer comprising: a reservoir for holding a liquid to be vaporized; a heater for vaporizing the liquid; a mouthpiece for withdrawal of the vapor; and an air path extending through the vaporizer, comprising a heating section and a cooling section, wherein the heating section extends along the heater and the cooling section extends directly downstream from the heater to the mouthpiece, wherein the cooling section comprises an insert for absorbing heat, filtering the vapor, catching droplets and/or flavoring the vapor.

9. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 8, wherein the insert is configured to guide the vapor helically through the cooling section, and/or wherein the insert comprises a flavored body, preferably a flavored mesh-like or sponge-like body.

10. A portable liquid vaporizer comprising: a reservoir for holding a liquid to be vaporized; a heater for vaporizing the liquid; a mouthpiece for withdrawal of the vapor; an air path extending through the vaporizer, comprising a heating section and a cooling section, wherein the heating section extends along the heater and the cooling section extends directly downstream from the heater to the mouthpiece; a control unit for controlling the heater; and one or more temperature sensors configured to sense the temperature of the vaporized liquid in the cooling section, wherein, when the one or more temperature sensors senses a temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control unit is configured to reduce or stop the heating power of the heater.

11. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are located in the cooling section adjacent to the heater and/or adjacent to the mouthpiece.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to estimate a dosage of one or more active agents withdrawn from the vaporizer based on a mathematical model, wherein the mathematical model relates heating time, temperature of the heater, the flow rate and amount of the one or more active agents contained in the liquid to the dosage of the one or more active agents withdrawn from the vaporizer.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the vaporizer is configured to prevent unauthorized manipulation thereof.

20. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the reservoir is embedded in a tamper proof pod section so that the reservoir cannot be accessed without damage or permanent deformation to the pod section.

21. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein a power source is embedded in a tamper proof battery section so that the power source cannot be accessed without damage or permanent deformation to the battery section.

22. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the vaporizer comprises a replaceable pod section and is configured to authenticate a certified pod section.

23. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 22, wherein the authentication is based on verifying a data key stored on the pod section.

24. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the vaporizer comprises a control unit for controlling the vaporizer, in particular the heater depending on data stored on the pod section.

25. (canceled)

26. The portable liquid vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the vaporizer is a pod-based or cartridge-based vaporizer.

27. (canceled)

Description

[0063] In the following drawings:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a portable liquid vaporizer according to embodiments of the first, second and third aspects of the present invention.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows different inserts for use with a vaporizer according to embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the vaporizer according to embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present invention in a sectional view.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows air path routes of vaporizers according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a portable liquid vaporizer according to an embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a portable liquid vaporizer 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. The vaporizer 1 (also referred to herein as the device 1) is for use with cannabis in liquid (including oily or waxy) form. As can be seen in FIG. 1A, a reservoir 10 is filled with a liquid to be vaporized. A heater 12 heats the liquid, transferring it into the vapor phase. An air path 30 extends through the vaporizer 1. In the shown embodiment, the liquid enters the air path 30 through a slit-shaped inlet 15. Inlet 15 provides an entry for the liquid into the heating section 31, where the liquid is vaporized. The vapor can be withdrawn from the vaporizer through a mouthpiece 3. During normal operation, a user will place its lips on the mouthpiece 3 and inhale through the device 1. Upon inhalation, the device 1 may detect the moving air (via a flow detector, not shown) and heats the liquid to vaporize it into vapor. The vapor is generated within a pod section, flows through a battery section and into the mouthpiece 3, then into the user's mouth. The pod section comprises the heater 12 and the reservoir 10 with the liquid. The battery section contains the power source 50, a section of the air path 30 that connects the pod section with the mouthpiece 3, and the mouthpiece 3 itself.

[0070] The vaporizer 1 comprises a housing 2, a mouthpiece 3 and a bottom cap 4 opposite of the mouthpiece 3, which encase the reservoir 10, the heater 12, the power source 50 and the air path 30. The mouthpiece 3 has a shape that conforms to the lips so that users purse their lips against the mouthpiece 3, rather than placing any part of the device 1 into their mouths. This reduces the amount of saliva that is left on the mouthpiece 3 and thus transferred when in a group-sharing setting.

[0071] The air path 30 comprises a heating section 31. The heating section 31 is defined as the section of the air path 30 that extends along the heater 12. In the present embodiment, the heating section 31 is encircled by the heater 31. The air path 30 further comprises a cooling section 32. The cooling section 32 is the part of the air path 30, which extends directly downstream from the heater 12 until the mouthpiece 3. This means, the cooling section 32 follows directly downstream from the heating section 31.

[0072] In the shown embodiment, an air inlet 71 is formed in the bottom cap 4. However, the air inlet can also be comprised in the housing 2, or between the housing 2 and the bottom cap 4 (as shown in FIG. 4). An air outlet 72 is contained in the mouthpiece 3. The air path 30 extends through the vaporizer 1, from the air inlet 71 until the air outlet 72 at its top (mouthpiece 3). By moving the heater 12 and the reservoir 10 towards the bottom of the vaporizer 1, and moving power source 50 (battery) towards the top, a long cooling section 32 is formed. It is seen that the heater 12 and a substantial part of the air path 30, including the heating section 31, may be routed around the power source 50, offset from the longitudinal axis of the vaporizer.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 1B, a group of LEDs 5 may be arranged in an ordered pattern on the housing 2 visibly to the users. The LEDs 5 allow to display information and are also referred to as display LEDs 5. Buttons (not visible) are placed on the housing 2 in order to switch the vaporizer 1 on and off, enter and navigate through a menu (if present). In the menu (if present), users may select different modes and input data. In the shown example, 20 LEDs are arranged in a pattern of 4×5 LEDs. However, there can be more or less LEDs in varying patterns. For instance, there can be a (one) row of 4 LEDs (not shown).

[0074] A portable liquid vaporizer 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The vaporizer 1 of the second aspect has many features in common with the vaporizer 1 of the first aspect, and each of the features and embodiments described in regard of the first aspect shall be understood to define corresponding features and embodiments of the second aspect. FIG. 1A schematically depict that an insert 60 may be included in the cooling section 32 of the device 1, at a location close to the mouthpiece 3 (in particular, where the arrow of reference sign 60 points to in FIG. 1A). FIG. 2 shows exemplary embodiments of such inserts 60. FIG. 2A shows a ceramic corkscrew insert 60a to absorb heat, a metal corkscrew insert 60b to absorb heat, a metal screen filter to catch stray droplets of oil (insert 60c), a glass filter to catch stray droplets of oil (insert 60d), a glass tube with pinched ends filled with glass beads to filter and cool vapor (insert 60e), a glass tube with cone structures to cool vapor (insert 60f), a larger glass tube with cone structure to cool vapor (insert 60g), a hollow glass tube with cotton insert for filtration (insert 60h), and a hollow ceramic tube with cotton insert for filtration (insert 60i).

[0075] Another insert for flavoring the vapor is depicted in FIG. 2B. The insert 60k is a sponge-like body that is placed on the mouthpiece 3 and allows users to modify their flavor experience by adding e.g. volatile terpenes to the air path outside of the pod. Users may benefit by purchasing flavorless oil pods or lower quality, cheaper oil pods and then augmenting the generated vapor with flavorful terpenes. On the higher price end, users could accentuate the flavor profiles of their favorite oils. Instead on the mouthpiece 3, the insert 60k can be located within the air path 30, close to the mouthpiece 3 (at a location where inserts 60a-60i can be located). For instance, an insert similar to the insert 60h, where a flavored piece of cotton is included in a hollow tube, may be inserted into the air path 30. To facilitate easy removal and cleaning of the insert, the hollow tube may be flanged at the top. Moreover, the hollow tube may be composed of an inner tube and an outer casing. The inner tube can be made from metal and may be perforated to allow flavors to evaporate. The outer casing may be made of metal and may seal the air path and hold the piece of cotton in place.

[0076] In FIG. 2, 60a-60f are components available on the market for different purposes, used as representative examples only. 60g to 60i are components from applicant's prototypes.

[0077] To allow an insert to be added to the air path 30, the mouthpiece 3 can be configured to be pivoted around a pivot axis away from the housing 2. Thereby, the flow path 30 can be accessed.

[0078] With further reference to FIG. 1, a portable liquid vaporizer 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention is described next. The vaporizer 1 of the third aspect has many features in common with the vaporizer 1 of the first and the second aspect, and each of the features and embodiments described in regard of the first and second aspects shall be understood to define corresponding features and embodiments of the third aspect. As can be seen in FIG. 1A, there can be one or two temperature sensors 36a, 36b arranged in the air path 30. One temperature sensor 36a may be located close to the mouthpiece 3. The other temperature sensor 36b may be located close to the heater 12. In combination with a control unit (not shown) for controlling the heater, the vapor temperature can be controlled through a feedback loop between one or both temperature sensors 36a, 36b, the heater 12, and the control unit. Should the vapor temperature rise beyond either a preset value or a user-set value, the heater power may be reduced in order to regulate the vapor temperature. As temperature is preferably monitored continuously, this loop will occur whenever users inhale through the device and will continue through each inhalation.

[0079] Placing temperature sensor 36a close to the mouthpiece 3 enables a control of the temperature at that point—prior to the vapor entering the user's mouth. This guarantees that the user will always experience a controlled vapor temperature. However, as this sensor location is relatively far from the heater 12 and the vapor will naturally cool down as it travels upwards, the actual effectiveness of this sensor location may be questionable.

[0080] Placing temperature sensor 36b close to the heater 12 enables the control of the temperature at that point—immediately upon exiting the pod where the vapor is close to its hottest. This guarantees that the device 1 will not produce vapor at dangerous temperatures where outgassing can occur with the plastics and metals within the air path. Additionally, controlling at this sensor location may guarantee a more consistent temperature at the outlet of the device 1. However, as this sensor location is quite close to the heater 12, users may cause a shutdown through overheating the sensor 36b by rapidly inhaling.

[0081] Placing temperature sensors 36a, 36b at both sensor locations allows for benefits from both locations, but comes at a higher cost and complexity.

[0082] Referring now to FIG. 3, a portable liquid vaporizer 1 according to two different embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present invention is described next. The vaporizer 1 of the fourth aspect has many features in common with the vaporizer 1 of the first to third aspects, and each of the features and embodiments described in regard of the first to third aspects shall be understood to define corresponding features and embodiments of the fourth aspect. FIG. 3 shows a detail of the vaporizer 1 in a sectional view. The main difference between the embodiments is that the embodiment on the left comprises an insulation 14, which spaces the bottom of the heater 12 (more specifically, a central heating wire) apart from the surrounding plastic material 16 (so that the wire is isolated from direct contact with any plastic), whereas in the embodiment on the right, the heater 12 is surrounded by a thermally stable plastic such as PEEK or PCTG. Both embodiments withstand the temperatures needed for vaporizing cannabis concentrates. However, the insulation 14, being for example made from a ceramic, may provide an additional layer of protection for plastic parts in order to mitigate deformation and/or outgassing. The geometry and material of the insulation can vary. In addition to a ceramic, it can be made from a thermally stable plastic such as PEEK or PCTG.

[0083] Additional measures can be taken to further slow heat transfer such as constructing the air path tube from ceramic rather than metal, rerouting the air path 30 from the air inlet 71 through the reservoir 10 so that the oil contained therein is cooled. For instance, as shown in FIG. 4A, the air path 30 may enter the vaporizer 1 through an air inlet 71 contained in the housing 2, be routed through the reservoir 10, and then through the heater 12. However, as mentioned before, with the configuration disclosed herein, it is neither necessary to rely on such cooling effect nor necessary to use an insulation. Hence, the simplest design uses PEEK or PCTG as plastic material that comes into contact with the heater 12, and routes the air path 30 from an air inlet 71 that is present between the housing 2 and the bottom cap 4, or in the housing 2, directly towards the heater 12 without routing it through the reservoir 10, similar to the configurations shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C.

[0084] Next, a portable liquid vaporizer 1 according to an embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 5. The vaporizer 1 of the fifth aspect has many features in common with the vaporizer 1 of the first to fourth aspects, and each of the features and embodiments described in regard of the first to fourth aspects shall be understood to define corresponding features and embodiments of the fifth aspect. Tamper proofing refers to the prevention of unauthorized oil filling into the pods without noticeable, significant damage to any part of the device and to the prevention of unauthorized pod use by the end user. A variety of methods can be considered to discourage tampering, which may be generally separated into three areas:

[0085] (a) Pod—Physical and Electronic Proofing

[0086] The pod may contain several one-way plastic snap fittings that resist disassembly without damage or permanent deformation to the soft plastic. These snap fittings are shown in FIG. 5. These snap fittings may also be covered so that they cannot be undone. FIG. 5A shows one-way plastic snap fittings (pod lower snap fittings 40a and pod upper snap fittings 40b) that hold the pod together.

[0087] Other methods may also include press fitting metal securing pins into the plastic parts, ultrasonic welding to join the plastics at a microscopic level, tamper tape, or even laser-engraving unique pod serial numbers. Batch serial numbers may be molded into the plastic which gives counterfeiters an additional level of complexity. Extreme tolerances required on the heater can be reflected in the battery checking the resistance of the heater as an actual or counterfeit device. At the mating interface between the pod and the battery, complex structures can be used to ensure only a specific mating orientation is allowed, which is then protected.

[0088] Moreover, as the pod may contain a PCB, additional electronic measures can be taken. Unique pod serial numbers can be printed onto the PCB substrate. Proprietary pogo pins/targets can be used. An EEPROM on the PCB is used to store oil data, but can also store retailer, manufacturer, and oil filler data. This data specifically is only a data string that, when connected to the battery and an APP, prompts the device to check online databases for the complete information. That connectivity is another layer of tamper resistance. The EEPROM may be the DS2431 from Maxim Integrated Products. With a 4×256 bit memory, there is more than enough space to store a variety of data strings or security keys. A QR code sticker can also be attached to the exterior of the pod (although QR codes are not as secure).

[0089] (b) Battery—Physical and Electronic Proofing

[0090] The internal componentry may be encased with extruded aluminium. Like the pod, the battery may also utilize one-way plastic snap fittings. Parts must be damaged and unique tools used to access the componentry. This does not pose an issue to repair teams who have enough replacement parts but provides a barrier for unauthorized manipulation.

[0091] Other methods may also be used to increase its tamper difficulty such as press-fit connections instead of screwed connections. Critical components such as the battery or PCB can be placed near likely locations of physical attack such that during the attack these critical components are irreversibly damaged. The PCB itself can be shielded or coated in an epoxy to resist examination or access using exposed traces. These methods do make repair highly difficult, thus necessitating a full replacement provided that any user-specific data such as historical data, favourites, and so on are stored in an online server rather than on the device itself.

[0092] (c) Supply Chain Proofing

[0093] The supply chain refers to the hardware manufacturers, the oil fillers, and the retailers. First or third party inspections of the hardware manufacturers may be possible depending on the contracts signed, unless those sectors are already vertically integrated with the business. These manufacturers would have their parts tested by labs in different countries such as China, USA, and Germany verifying the material and safety requirements. Test results may be published or shared with oil fillers and retails to further complicate counterfeiting and tampering efforts. The oil fillers would receive internet-connected filling devices that can both read-verify the pods and write relevant information to the pod. Finally, the retailers can also undergo first or third party inspections to ensure the entire product meets specifications before it reaches users' hands.