Abstract
A vaporizer assembly comprising a vaporizer and a matrix suitable for retaining a vaporizable liquid, wherein the vaporizer includes first and second surfaces forming a common edge, the first surface having a greater surface area than the second surface, wherein the vaporizer is in contact with the matrix via the second surface.
Claims
1. A vaporizer assembly comprising a vaporizer and a matrix suitable for retaining a vaporizable liquid, wherein the vaporizer comprises: first and second surfaces forming a common edge, the first surface having a greater surface area than the second surface, the second surface presenting along a longitudinal dimension of the vaporizer and the first surface presenting along a transverse dimension of the vaporizer; wherein the vaporizer is in contact with the matrix via the second surface, wherein the vaporizer is formed from a material comprising a capillary structure, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the vaporizer is substantially parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the vaporizer assembly, the capillary structure being exposed along the first and second surfaces of the vaporizer.
2. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizer is substantially planar.
3. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizer has a substantially uniform thickness.
4. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of vaporizers.
5. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of vaporizers are in a stacked configuration.
6. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of vaporizers are oriented in substantially the same plane.
7. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizer is supported by one or more matrixes.
8. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the capillary structure is exposed on all surfaces of the vaporizer.
9. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the capillary structure is not exposed on at least one surface of the vaporizer.
10. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the matrix does not contact the first surface.
11. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the matrix is made of a resilient material.
12. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the matrix contacts the vaporizer via all surfaces forming a common vertex with the first surface.
13. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the matrix contains a vaporizable liquid comprising at least one of nicotine, water, or glycerol.
14. A device comprising the vaporizer assembly of claim 1.
15. The device according to claim 14, further comprising: a housing; a power source arranged within the housing and configured to supply power to the vaporizer; one or more sensors arranged within the housing and configured to activate the vaporizer when the device is in use; and optionally one or more LEDs.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the housing is comprised of a first part and a second part and the vaporizer assembly is contained in the first part.
17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device further comprises: a first housing comprising a mouthpiece; and a connector for establishing mechanical and electrical connection between the first housing and a second housing comprising a power source, the power source configured to supply power to the vaporizer.
18. The vaporizer assembly as claimed in claim 1, the vaporizer being formed from a porous material.
19. A vaporizer assembly comprising a vaporizer and a matrix suitable for retaining a vaporizable liquid, wherein the vaporizer comprises: first and second surfaces forming a common edge, the first surface having a greater surface area than the second surface; wherein the vaporizer is in contact with the matrix via the second surface, wherein the vaporizer is formed from a material comprising a capillary structure, wherein a longitudinal dimension of the vaporizer is substantially parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the vaporizer assembly, and wherein the vaporizer has a third surface forming an independent common edge with the first surface, the third surface also being in contact with the matrix.
20. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 19, wherein the third surface is positioned opposite the second surface.
21. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 19, wherein the third surface is positioned perpendicularly relative to the second surface.
22. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 21, wherein the third surface and the second surface form a common edge.
23. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 19, wherein the assembly comprises more than one matrix.
24. The vaporizer assembly according to claim 23, wherein the second surface of the vaporizer is in contact with a first matrix and the third surface of the vaporizer is in contact with a second matrix.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The various aspects of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the following embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to each specific embodiment, and indeed, the features of each embodiment may be applied to other embodiments as appropriate.
(2) FIG. 1Ashows a perspective view of a portion 100 of a vaporizer according to the present disclosure.
(3) FIG. 1Bshows a perspective view of a portion 100 of a vaporizer according to the present disclosure.
(4) FIG. 2shows a perspective view of a vaporizer 100 according to the present disclosure.
(5) FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3Cshow plan and end views of a vaporizer 100 according to the present disclosure.
(6) FIG. 4shows an exemplary region of contact between a vaporizer 100 and a matrix 150.
(7) FIG. 5shows further exemplary regions of contact between a vaporizer 100 and a matrix 150.
(8) FIG. 6shows a vaporizer 200 according to the present disclosure.
(9) FIG. 7shows a graphical representation of the temperature gradient formed in the vaporizer 100.
(10) FIG. 8shows the distribution of the electric power released across vaporizers according to the present disclosure containing no slots (left), 7 slots (middle) and 4 slots (right).
(11) FIG. 9shows the relative temperature distribution and gradients of the vaporizers shown in FIG. 8.
(12) FIG. 10shows a plan view of a device 7 incorporating a vaporizer assembly according to the present disclosure.
(13) FIG. 11shows a cross section view of the device 7 of FIG. 10.
(14) FIG. 12shows a longitudinal cross section of a further vaporizer assembly according to the present disclosure.
(15) FIG. 13shows a schematic view of a further vaporizer assembly according to the present disclosure.
(16) FIG. 14shows a stacked configuration of vaporizer according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(17) FIG. 1A shows a portion of a first vaporizer 100 according to the present disclosure. The vaporizer 100 has a first surface 101 and a second surface 102. The first and second surfaces form a common edge 110. FIG. 1A also shows a further surface 103 which forms an independent common edge 111 with the first surface 101 and also forms a common edge 112 with the second surface 102. As will be appreciated from FIG. 1A, the surface area of the first surface 101 is greater than that of the second surface 102.
(18) Referring to FIG. 1B, the vaporizer 100 itself may be formed from a material 106 having a capillary structure 107. In this regard, and as a result of being in contact with the matrix containing a vaporizable liquid, the capillary structure 107 serves to distribute the liquid to be vaporized through the vaporizer 100. According, the capillary structure 107 may extend through the entire vaporizer 100. Alternatively, it is possible that capillary structure 107 may be localized to specific areas of the vaporizer 100.
(19) FIG. 2 shows vaporizer 100 and in this instance vaporizer 100 has a rectangular profile. It will be appreciated that the vaporizer 100 shown in FIG. 2 has four surfaces which each form independent common edges with the first surface 101. In this regard, second surface 102 and fourth and fifth surfaces 104, 105 are depicted in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C.
(20) The interaction between the vaporizer 100 and the matrix 150 is shown in FIG. 4. In particular, the matrix 150 is in contact with the vaporizer via second surface 102. More precisely, second surface 102 of vaporizer 100 contacts surface 151 of matrix 150.
(21) As described above, in some instances the matrix 150 may be in contact with more than one surface of the vaporizer 100. Such an arrangement is depicted in FIG. 5, where matrix 150 has a surface 151 in contact with the vaporizer 100 via second surface 102 as well as surface 153 in contact with the vaporizer 100 via third surface 103.
(22) FIG. 6 shows a further vaporizer 200 which has a first surface 201, and multiple further surfaces 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 each of which independently form a common edge 210, 211, 213, 214, 215 with the first surface 201. It will be understood that any of the multiple further surfaces shown in FIG. 6 can be considered to be the second surface. Consequently, one or more matrixes may be in contact with the vaporizer via any one of the surfaces 202, 203, 204, 205, 206. As described above, a single matrix may be in contact with more than one of said surfaces and/or more than one matrix may be present and each may be in contact with one or more of said surfaces. Although not depicted in FIG. 6, the surfaces opposite to and parallel with surface 203 may also be in contact with a matrix.
(23) It should also be noted that the matrix need not contact the entire second surface of the vaporizer assembly. However, this may be advantageous in order to establish a great degree of contact (and potentially flow of liquid) between the matrix and the vaporizer.
(24) It will be appreciated from the above that the one or more matrixes contacts the vaporizer(s) along a side face, i.e. one or more of the surfaces forming a common edge with the first surface. This contact face is referred to as a side face owing to the configuration that results from the first surface having a surface area greater than that of the second surface. Such a configuration may be particularly advantageous as when the vaporizer is operational the liquid drawn from the matrix can be distributed substantially along the entire length of the vaporizer without compromising the evaporating efficiency of the vaporizer. Furthermore, by ensuring that contact between the vaporizer and the matrix occurs via the second surface as mentioned herein, the first surface can be left free of contact so that any liquid vaporized by the vaporizer can exit the vaporizer freely. This is typically advantageous where the vaporizer 100, 200 assembly is incorporated into devices, such as e-cigarettes, where the flow of air through the device will pass over the first surface 101,201 of the vaporizer 100,200 and thus the vapor produced by the vaporizer 100, 201 is able to form an aerosol more effectively.
(25) The specific orientation of the vaporizer and the matrix of the present assembly is also advantageous in that it provides for a graduated vaporization profile across the vaporizer. Due to liquid being delivered to the vaporizer via the side face of the vaporizer, a vaporization or temperature gradient is established across the width of the vaporizer 100,200. Without being bound by theory, this gradient is formed at least in part because of the greater proximity of the second (side) surface of the vaporizer to the matrix compared to the centre of the vaporizer. The relative flow of liquid through this portion of the vaporizer is therefore greater than towards the centre of the vaporizer and therefore the temperature of the vaporizer in these areas is depressed to a greater extent. Furthermore the unheated and usually more voluminous matrix forms a heat sink for the heated vaporizer. This vaporization gradient is particularly advantageous if the liquid to be vaporized contains multiple substances having different boiling points. The natural action of the capillary structure formed in the vaporizer 100, 200 will draw the liquid inwards from the matrix 150 via the side face (second surface as defined herein) and as a result of the vaporization gradient the vaporizer simultaneously evaporates multiple substances having different boiling points. For example, where the liquid to be vaporized contains nicotine, water and glycerol, each of which has a different boiling point, each substance can be vaporized substantially simultaneously leading to an aerosol with a more balanced profile. An example of the gradient established across the vaporizer 101 is shown in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that this gradient is generally established when the vaporizer is configured to be fed with a vaporizable liquid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vaporizer.
(26) As described above, the vaporizer of the present disclosure may include one or more slots extending from the second surface of the vaporizer into the first surface. Vaporizers having such slots are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, alongside a vaporizer having no such slots. As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, the electrical power (power distribution) is influenced by the presence of the slots. When no slots are present, the electrical power generated and energy released across the device/vaporizer surface 101 is substantially constant Such a uniform generation of power/release of energy does not, however, lead to a constant temperature profile across the vaporizer as a result of the orientation of the vaporizer and matrixes, as explained above and shown in FIG. 7. The temperature gradient induced in the vaporizer is shown again in FIG. 9.
(27) However, when one or more slots are included in the vaporizer, as for example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the generation of electrical power/release of energy is not constant across the vaporizer and instead peaks around the tips of the slots. These peaks in the generation of electrical power release of energy arise due to the disruption of the electrical current flowing longitudinally through the vaporizer and they lead to areas of increased temperature. This can be seen in FIG. 9, where in addition to the temperature gradient induced by the arrangement of the vaporizer and the matrixes, a further re-enforcing temperature gradient is induced. The provision of slots helps keeping the generation of power/release of energy away from the second surface, where the energy would otherwise (no slots) be immediately absorbed by the matrix whichas explained abovecan be considered as a heat sink. As a result the slots are increasing the evaporation efficiency.
(28) As described above, the vaporizer assembly may contain more than one matrix. In particular, FIG. 10 depicts a device 7, such as an e-cigarette, comprising a vaporizer assembly comprising first and second vaporizers 2A, 2B, each vaporizer being in contact with a respective matrix 3a, 3b, 3c via multiple surfaces of the vaporizer, each surface forming an independent edge with the respective first surface of each vaporizer. More precisely, matrix 2A is in contact with vaporizer 3a via a second surface of the vaporizer 2A, the second surface forming a common edge with the first surface of the vaporizer 2A. Further, matrix 3b is also in contact with vaporizer 2A via a further surface, the further surface forming an independent common edge with the first surface of the vaporizer 2A. Additionally, matrix 3b is in contact with vaporizer 2B via a second surface of the vaporizer 2B, the second surface forming a common edge with the first surface of the vaporizer 2B. Further, vaporizer 2B is also in contact with matrix 3c via a further surface, the further surface forming an independent common edge with the first surface of the vaporizer 2B. In this way, multiple vaporizers can cooperate with multiple matrixes in the vaporizer assembly so as to provide mutual support and efficient supply of liquid to the vaporizers.
(29) As described above, the vaporizers 100, 2A, 2B, 200 may include portions at the distal and proximal ends which are adapted to provide electrical contacts. These portions of the vaporizers are depicted in FIG. 10 as U+ and U. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a bridge 6 is present which provides electrical communication between multiple vaporizers so as to simply any electrical connections that may be required.
(30) FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional profile of device 7 (transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the device). As explained above, device 7 includes vaporizers 2A and 2B, matrixes 3a, 3b, 3c, and channels 4, 4 formed above and below vaporizer 2A and channels 5, 5 formed above and below vaporizer 2B. Said channels are formed by the upper and lower major surfaces of the vaporizers, the side surfaces of the matrixes 3a, 3b, and 3c, as well as the inner walls of housing 1.
(31) As described above, such an arrangement allows the vaporizers to cooperate with multiple matrixes in the vaporizer assembly so as to provide mutual support, efficient supply of liquid to the vaporizers and also the ability to form vaporization gradients across each vaporizer whilst at the same time ensuring that the first surfaces (upper surfaces as depicted in FIG. 11) remain substantially or completely contact free. This ensures efficient provision of vapor to any air channel formed above the vaporizers. Of course, the same applies to the surfaces (lower surfaces as depicted in FIG. 11).
(32) The device 7 encloses the vaporizers and matrixes by a device wall 1. The device wall 1, also referred to as a housing, may encompasses/defines other features/components typically found in e-cigarettes: a mouthpiece; an air inlet and air outlet interconnected by channels 4, 4, 5, 5; a battery; a PCB, various sensors and microprocessors used to operate the device in response to use of the device (e.g. inhalation though the mouthpiece); and one or more LEDs. The device 7 depicted in FIG. 11 is not intended to be limiting and any combination of vaporizers and matrixes as described herein can be incorporated into a suitable device.
(33) Device 7 is generally operated as follows. A user places the mouthpiece of the device to his/her mouth and inhales, thereby causing air to flow through the device. Said air flow (or reduced pressure) is detected by the sensor in the device, which then relays information to the microprocessor that the device is in use. Power is then delivered to the vaporizer and, owing to the electrical resistance of the vaporizer, the temperature of the vaporizer increases. Due to the capillary effect induced by the capillary structures of the vaporizer and matrix and due to the contact between the vaporizer and the matrix (which contains a liquid to be vaporized) liquid is drawn by capillary force from the matrix to the vaporizer. Accordingly, as the temperature of the vaporizer increases various substances contained within the vaporizable liquid are vaporized. As described above with regard to FIG. 7, owing to the contact of the vaporizer with the matrix via the second surface, a temperature gradient is set-up across the vaporizer. In particular, the temperature of the vaporizer generally increases away from a surface in contact with the matrix. Therefore, with regard to device 7, each vaporizer 2A and 2B will display a greater temperature at its center compared to the temperature at the surface in contact with the respective matrixes 3a, 3b and 3c. During operation of the device, vapor is expelled from the vaporizers 2A and 2B into the channels 4, 4, 5 and 5. Air flowing through the device 7 also travels through channels 4, 4, 5 and 5 and as a result mixes with the expelled vapor. The vapor cools and condenses to form an aerosol which travels through the device 7 to the mouthpiece and is inhaled by the user. As vapor is expelled from the vaporizers 2A and 2B, further liquid is drawn from the matrixes 3a, 3b and 3c and the volume of liquid present inside the vaporizer is replenished. Once the users ceases inhalation, the sensor within the device detects the relative change in flow (or pressure) and communicates this to the microprocessor, following which the power to the vaporizer is terminated, the temperature of the vaporizer drops and liquid ceases to be vaporized (at least to the same extent as during operation). Alternatively, the power to the vaporizer may be terminated after a certain period of time (e.g. 2 seconds after start of inhalation) has elapsed. Following the signal from the sensor that the device 7 is in use the microprocessor may also cause other functions to be activated, such as operation of one or more LEDs etc.
(34) A further embodiment of a vaporizer assembly according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 12. The vaporizer assembly depicted in FIG. 12 comprises a matrix 250 which is tubular and a matrix 100 which is dimensioned as shown in FIG. 2. In particular, vaporizer 100 has a first surface 101 and second surfaces 102 and 104. Second surfaces 102 and 104 are in contact with surfaces 251 and 252 of matrix 250. The orientation of vaporizer 100 within tubular matrix 250 is such that air channels 300 are formed above and below the vaporizer 100. Matrix 250 may be made of a resilient material. Further, the inner diameter of matrix 250 may be slightly smaller than the width of vaporizer 100 so that vaporizer 100 is supported by matrix 250 (via, for example, friction fit/the resilient nature of matrix 250).
(35) FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of a further device 1300 including a vaporizer assembly 1302 according to the present disclosure. The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 includes a power source 1306, one or more sensors 1310; and optionally one or more LEDs 1308, a first part and second part of a housing (1312 and 1314, respectively), a mouthpiece 1316, and a connector 1318 for establishing mechanical and electrical connection according to the present disclosure.
(36) The housing 1304 may be separable into two or more parts. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, where the housing 1304 is separable into two parts 1312 and 1314, the vaporizer assembly 1302 and mouthpiece 1316 may be contained in the first part 1312 while the power source 1306, LED 1308, and one or more sensors 1310 may be contained in the second part 1314. Each of the parts (1312, 1314) of the housing 1304 may contain a suitable aperture (not shown) to allow air flow through the device 1300 and out of the mouthpiece 1316. Alternatively, the device 1300 may be configured such that only one of the parts of the housing, e.g. the first part 1312, has suitable apertures. In an alternative embodiment, the housing may be separable into three parts and in this case, the vaporizer assembly may be contained in two different parts of the housing that can be brought together to form the vaporizer assembly.
(37) In embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the vaporizer assembly 1302 is part of a first housing part 1312 and said housing part 1312 includes a mouthpiece 1316 and a connector 1318 for establishing mechanical and electrical connection with a further housing part 1314. For example, in this embodiment the first housing may form a cartomizer comprising the vaporizer assembly according to the present disclosure.
(38) As shown in FIG. 14, where the assembly comprises multiple vaporizers 1400A, 1400B, and 1400C, they may be in a stacked configuration (above and below each other/in different planes), or in alternative embodiments they could be oriented in substantially the same plane. Where there are multiple vaporizers 1400A, 1400B, and 1400C, each vaporizer may be separated by one or more matrixes (e.g. vertically or horizontally sandwiched), in embodiments.
(39) The interaction between the vaporizers 1400A-1400C and the matrix 1450 is also shown in FIG. 14, and is substantially similar to the arrangement described above with respect to FIG. 4. In particular, the matrix 1450 is in contact with the vaporizers (1400A-1400C) via second surfaces thereof, such as second surface 1402 corresponding to vaporizer 1401A. The second surfaces of the vaporizer 1400A-1400C each contact the surface 1451 of matrix 1450.
(40) All publications mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described vaporizer assembly and device incorporating the same will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in the art or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
