Versatile Vaporizer Containing an Amount of Product for Multiple Use

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a vaporizer capable of storing an amount of product sufficient for multiple uses of said product. The product may be stored in a casing or cartridge of the invention. The invention may comprise a heating chamber and heating mechanism for which to heat the product to create vapor that may be inhaled by a user. The invention may comprise a mouthpiece. The invention may comprise means for moving product from the casing or cartridge into the heating chamber. In some embodiments, said means may be a piston movable my use of a knob and screw, motor and screw, plunger, or linear actuator. Various embodiments of the invention comprise different features and/or forms of the same feature so that the invention may be used to vaporize multiple types of product.

Claims

1. A vaporizer comprising: a casing, said casing further comprising a mouthpiece; a heating chamber disposed distal to the mouthpiece, said heating chamber further comprising a heating element; a piston configured within the casing distal to the heating chamber, the piston being configured to accept an amount of product, said piston being interfaced with a moving mechanism disposed distal to the piston, in which the moving mechanism is configured to translate the piston proximally or distally relative to the mouthpiece, said translation of the piston being configured to move the product proximally, causing at least a portion of said product to enter the heating chamber; a battery configured to provide an electrical current to the heating element, in which the heating element may heat the product within the heating chamber in a manner producing vapor, in which vapor may subsequently be emitted through the mouthpiece.

2. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising: a screw; wherein the moving mechanism is a rotational mechanism; wherein the screw is rotatably mated to a proximal end of the rotational mechanism, and wherein the screw is further rotatably mated to a distal end of the piston; wherein the rotational mechanism is configured to rotate in a first direction to cause the piston to translate proximally; and wherein the rotational mechanism is configured to rotate in a second direction to cause the piston to translate distally.

3. The vaporizer of claim 2, wherein: the rotational mechanism is a knob; and wherein the knob is rotated manually by a user.

4. The vaporizer of claim 2, wherein: the rotational mechanism is a motor; wherein the motor is powered by the battery.

5. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is a linear mechanism, said linear mechanism mated to the distal end of the piston such that moving the linear mechanism proximally correspondingly moves the piston proximally, and such that moving the linear mechanism distally correspondingly moves the piston distally.

6. The vaporizer of claim 5, wherein the linear mechanism is a plunger, and wherein the plunger is configured to be moved manually by a user.

7. The vaporizer of claim 5, wherein the linear mechanism is a linear actuator, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to be moved by electric current supplied by the battery.

8. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising: a plate, said plate further comprising a hole, said plate being disposed distally to the heating chamber and proximally to the piston; wherein the proximal translation of the piston passes the portion of the product through the hole of the plate to enter the heating chamber.

9. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising: a mesh disposed distally to the heating chamber and proximally to the piston; wherein the proximal translation of the piston passes the portion of the product through the mesh to enter the heating chamber.

10. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the product is a dry herb, concentrated oil, or semi-dry, semi-solid extract.

11. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of cups, said cups being removably disposed within the cases proximal to the piston; each of said cups being configured to contain an amount of the product; wherein the plurality of cups are disposed linearly within the casing, each cup being so disposed removably, the linear disposition of cups forming a stack; wherein the stack is moved by the proximal translation of the piston to the heating chamber, said heating chamber being configured to accept one of said cups comprising the stack at a time, said heating chamber being further configured to vaporize product disposed within said cup.

12. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising: a cartridge configured to accept the product; wherein the casing is further configured to removably integrate the cartridge distal to the heating chamber; and wherein the cartridge is configured to allow the translation of the piston to move the product proximally such that the product may enter the heating chamber.

13. The vaporizer and cartridge of claim 12, wherein the battery is disposed within the cartridge rather than the casing, and where the casing is further configured to accept electrical current from the battery within the cartridge.

14. A method for vaporizing a product, the method comprising: providing an amount of product; encasing the amount of product within a casing; causing a piston to translate proximally or distally within the casing, said translation causing movement of a portion of the amount of product into a heating chamber; supplying electrical current from a battery to a heating element integrated with the heating chamber, such that the portion of the amount of product is vaporized; and emitting vapor created by the vaporization.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the translation of the piston is achieved by use of a moving mechanism.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the moving mechanism is a rotational mechanism.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the moving mechanism is a linear mechanism.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the amount of product is contained within a plurality of cups, said cups being removably stacked linearly within the casing to create a stack; said stack being moved by translation of the piston to move one cup at a time into the heating chamber for vaporization as claimed.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the product is a dry herb, concentrated oil, or semi-dry, semi-solid extract.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the heating mechanism is configured to heat the product by induction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention used with concentrated oil.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention used with semi-dry, semi-solid extracts.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention used with dry herb.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention that uses a plurality of cups, wherein each cup may contain a different type of product.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention with a battery attached to the vaporizer by a distal electrical coupler.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention that uses multiple types of concentrated oil.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a front cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention that uses an induction heating system and motor.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention as disclosed herein with an external moving mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention relates to the following US Provisional patent applications, which are all hereby incorporated by reference: 63/186,083; 63/189,100; 63/189,102; 63/190,717; 63/214,228; 63/220,559; 63/233,233; and 63/310,603.

[0029] The description provided herein describes example embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to any particular embodiment, feature, or use. The figures provided herein are for use of example and are not intended to limit the invention to any particular embodiment, feature, size, shape, color, design, or overall aesthetic. The invention may be used to vaporize various forms of cannabis or tobacco. Said forms of cannabis or tobacco have been described previously herein, and may be referred to herein as “product.” While preferred embodiments of the invention are used to vaporize cannabis and/or tobacco products, the term “product” as used herein is not intended to limit the vaporizable substances used with the invention to comprising portions or active ingredients of a cannabis or tobacco plant; indeed, as the present invention is a device for consuming the product in a legal recreational or medicinal way, the present invention does not claim the product itself and refers to the product only insofar as it is an object upon which the present invention operates.

[0030] The directional terms “distal” and “proximal” are used throughout this description. The term “proximal” is used herein to describe a direction “towards” a user of the invention while the invention is being used to inhale vapor, in which the mouthpiece is in preferred embodiments most proximal to the user. The term “distal” is used herein to describe a direction “away from” a user of the invention while the invention is being used by the user to inhale vapor. These terms may also be used to describe locations of the components of the invention relative to one another. For example, an exemplary Component A may be proximal to a Component B, meaning that Component A is closer to the user of the invention while the invention is being used by the user to inhale vapor.

[0031] FIGS. 1 through 7 herein are described as cross-sections of a vaporizer 10 as described herein. The outmost lines of the figures describing a casing 12 of the vaporizer 10 in such events are understood to be cross-sectional lines of the casing 12 as though cut through along a plane running proximal to distal.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the vaporizer 10 uses a moving mechanism 20 to move a piston 16 distally 102 and proximally 100 within the casing 12. The moving mechanism 20 displayed in the embodiment in FIG. 1 is configured to rotate by manual action of a user; other embodiments may comprise a knob 23 or a rotational mechanism 22 in place of the moving mechanism 20. The moving mechanism 20 is permanently connected to a screw 25 such that when the moving mechanism 20 rotates, the screw 25 also rotates. The screw 25 is threaded into the piston 16 such that when the moving mechanism 20 is rotated in a first direction, the piston 16 moves distally 102; when the moving mechanism 20 is rotated in a second direction, the piston 16 moves proximally 100. The screw 25 may have external threads that mate with internal threads of the piston 16. Alternatively, the screw may have internal threads that mate with external threads of the piston 16. An amount of product 40 is configured proximal 100 to the piston 16. The product 40 shown in FIG. 1 is concentrated oil 42; the product 40 may comprise other types of product 40 at the option of the user. As the piston 16 moves proximally 100 through the casing 12, the concentrated oil 42 is forced through a hole 35 in a plate 34, the plate 34 being configured proximal 100 to the piston 16. A heating chamber 30, comprising in part a heating mechanism 32, is configured proximal 100 to the plate 34 such that when the concentrated oil 42 is forced through the hole 35, the concentrated oil 42 enters the heating chamber 30. The heating chamber 30 via the heating mechanism 32 applies heat to the heating chamber 30 in an amount and intensity such that the product concentrated oil 42 is vaporized rather than burned. The vapor from the heated concentrated oil 42 is then able to escape through a mouthpiece 18 configured proximal to the heating chamber 30 to accept vapor from the heating chamber 30 so that a user may inhale vapor created by the vaporizing of the concentrated oil 42. The mouthpiece 18 is configured such that a user may rest their mouth on said mouthpiece 18 in order to inhale the vapor produced by vaporizing the product 40. The mouthpiece 18 and casing 12 may be configured as one piece or two separate, removably attachable pieces.

[0033] It is preferred that the hole 35 be small enough to allow the piston 16 to force only a preferred portion of the product 40 through the hole 35 at any given time. In alternate embodiments, the hole 35 and heating chamber 30 may be configured to allow the piston 16 to force the entire amount of product 40 through the hole 35; this is not preferred for a vaporizer 10 configured for use by a single user, but an alternate embodiment may be so configured to release large quantities of vapor into the open air.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of the vaporizer 10 with the casing 12, piston 16, moving mechanism 20, heating chamber 30, and mouthpiece 18 is used with the amount of product 40, said amount of product 40 being in this FIG. 2 a semi-dry, semi-solid extract 44 that is configured proximal 100 to the piston 16. A mesh 38 is configured proximal 100 to the piston 16 such that when the piston moves proximally 100, the semi-dry, semi-solid extract 44 is forced through the mesh 38 and into the heating chamber 30, which is configured proximal 100 to the mesh 38. The heating chamber 30 via the heating mechanism 32 may heat the semi-dry, semi-solid extract 44 within the heating chamber 30 such that the semi-dry, semi-solid extract 44 produces a vapor that may be inhaled by a user via the mouthpiece 18 configured to accept vapor from the heating chamber 30.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the vaporizer 10 with the casing 12, piston 16, moving mechanism 20, heating chamber 30, and mouthpiece 18 is used with an amount of product 40, said amount of 11 product 40 being a dry herb 46 that is configured proximal 100 to the piston 16 such that when the piston moves proximally 100, the dry herb 46 is moved into the heating chamber 30, which is configured proximal 100 to the piston 16. The heating chamber 30 via the heating mechanism 32 may heat the dry herb 46 within the heating chamber 30 to product vapor that may be inhaled by a user via the mouthpiece 18 configured to accept vapor from the heating chamber 30. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the vaporizer 10 does not comprise a plate 34 or mesh 38 separating the heating chamber 30 from the piston 16; the dry herb 46 enters the heating chamber 30 enters the heating chamber 30 by the described action of the piston 16. Alternate embodiments may comprise a plate 34 or mesh 38 configured to accept the dry herb 46.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the vaporizer 10 with the casing 12, piston 16, moving mechanism 20, heating chamber 30, and mouthpiece 18 is used with multiple amounts of product 40. The multiple amounts of product 40 shown in FIG. 4 are two amounts of dry herb 46, one amount of concentrated oil 42, and one amount of semi-dry, semi-solid extract 44. Each of the multiple amounts of product 40 are configured within one of a plurality of cups 50. The cups are configured in a distal-proximal line to form a stack 52. A user may select any combination of the products 40 as desired.

[0037] Each cup 50 is configured to be accepted by and interface with the embodiment of vaporizer 10; varying embodiments of each cup 50 may be internally configured to better accommodate each type of product 40. A cup 50 configured optimally for use with a semi-dry, semi-solid extract 44 may further comprise a mesh 38. A cup 50 configured optimally for use with a concentrated oil 42 may further comprise a plate 34 with a hole 35.

[0038] As further shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of cups 50 forming the stack 52 are configured along the line from most proximal to most distal. The stack 52 is configured proximal 100 to the piston 16 such that when the piston 16 moves proximally 100, cup 50 enters the heating chamber 30, wherein the heating chamber 30 via the heating mechanism 32 may be used to heat the product 40, in this FIG. 4 being most proximally 100 the dry herb 46, within cup 50 to create vapor that may be inhaled by the user via the mouthpiece 18 configured to accept vapor from the heating chamber 30. The vaporizer 10 shown in FIG. 4 uses a moving mechanism 20 that is a linear mechanism 27. More specifically, the moving mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 4 is a plunger 28. The plunger 28 is permanently attached to the piston 16 and may be manually moved in either the proximal 100 or distal 102 directions by the user. When the plunger 28 is moved proximally 100, the piston 16 is also moved proximally 100. When the plunger 28 is moved distally 102, the piston is also moved distally 102. The casing 12 is configured to permit cups 50 to be added or removed by the user.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the vaporizer 10 with the casing 12, piston 16, mouthpiece 18, moving mechanism 20, and heating chamber 30 as well as product 40 further comprises a battery 14 attached to the distal 102 end of the vaporizer 10 through a distal electrical coupler 70. The distal electrical coupler 70 extends distally 102 from the moving mechanism 20. The distal electrical coupler 70 may connect to the battery 14 through threads located on both the distal electrical coupler 70 and the battery 14. The threads of the distal electrical coupler 70 may be internal threads, and the threads of the battery 14 may be corresponding external threads. Alternatively, the threads of the distal electrical coupler 70 may be external threads, and the threads of the battery may be corresponding internal threads. 10 In preferred embodiments, the thread specifications of the distal electrical coupler 70 are those of a standard male thread connection used in the art of vaporizers. The distal electrical coupler 70 may contain one or more conductive pins that make contact with the terminals of the battery 14. The contact between the one or more conductive pins and the terminals of the battery 14 may form a circuit between the battery 14 and the various 15 other electrical components of the vaporizer such as the heating mechanism 32. The one or more buttons of the vaporizer may act as switches to said circuit. The battery 14 may be removably attached to the vaporizer 10 by threading the battery 14 onto the distal electrical coupler 70. When removably attached to the vaporizer 10, the battery 14 may form the distal 102 end of the vaporizer 10. The removable connection between the battery 20 14 and the vaporizer 10 allows the battery 14 to be easily replaced when a new battery is needed.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the vaporizer 10 with a cartridge 12 and with the piston 16, mouthpiece 18, moving mechanism 20, and heating chamber 30 contains amounts of product 40, in this FIG. 6 two different types of the concentrated oils 42. The amounts of concentrated oils 42 are layered on top of 13 one another to create an alternating load of concentrated oils 42. Though types of concentrated oil 42 are shown in FIG. 6, this alternating load can comprise any type of product 40 compatible with the embodiment of the vaporizer 10, including semi-dry, semi-solid extracts 44 or dry herb 46. In some embodiments, a plurality of spacers may be implemented between amounts of product 40 and 40′ to separate said amounts of product 40 to prevent the products 40 intermingling and undesirably altering the flavor or consistency of each product 40. In other embodiments, the amounts of products 40 are not separated by spacers; different types of products 40 may consequently intermingle within the alternating load to desirably alter the flavor or consistency of each product 40. In further embodiments, the various types of products 40 may comprise waxes or hashes which do not tend to intermingle freely and which may consequently be layered without spacers and still comprise separate layers of the alternating load.

[0041] The vaporizer 10 shown in FIG. 6 in which the products 40 are a plurality of two varieties of concentrated oils 42 further comprises an embodiment of the plate 34 distal 102 to the heating chamber 30 further comprising the heating mechanism 32. The concentrated oils 42 enter the heating chamber 30 through the hole 35 in the plate 34 when one of the plurality of concentrated oils 42 is moved proximally 100 through the casing 12 by the piston 16. The heating chamber 30 via the heating mechanism 32 applies heat to the heating chamber 30 in an amount and intensity such that the product concentrated oil 42 is vaporized rather than burned. The vapor from the heated concentrated oil 42 is then able to escape through a mouthpiece 18 configured proximal to the heating chamber 30 to accept vapor from the heating chamber 30 so that a user may inhale vapor created by the vaporizing of the concentrated oil.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment of the vaporizer 10 with the casing 12, piston 16, mouthpiece 18, moving mechanism 20, and heating chamber 30 contains amounts of product 40. The moving mechanism 20 is a stepper motor 94 in this embodiment. Other embodiments may comprise a different type of a rotational mechanism 22 or other type of motor 24. A first bevel gear 96 is fixed to one end of the stepper motor 94. The first bevel gear 96 mates with a second bevel gear 98, which is fixed to a distal 102 end of the screw 25. The screw 25 mates with the piston 16 via a threaded connection so that when the stepper motor 94 rotates the first bevel gear 96, the connection between the first bevel gear 96 and second bevel gear 98 causes the screw 25 to rotate, which causes the piston 16 to move distally 102 or proximally 100 depending on the direction of rotation of the screw 25. The stepper motor 94 is powered by one or more instances of the battery 14, which is preferably housed within the casing 12 as shown. The battery 14 further powers the heating mechanism 32. The heating mechanism 32 is in this instance embodied as one or more of a coil 36 configured surrounding the heating chamber 30 or within the heating chamber 30.

[0043] The coils 36 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7 are induction coils 80 that are part of an induction circuit. The induction circuit further comprises an induction module 82 and a transistor 84. The transistor 84 may be a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, commonly known as a “MOSFET.”

[0044] As the battery 14 supplies voltage to the induction circuit, current is fed to the transistor 84, which regulates the amount of current transmitted to the induction module 82. The induction module 82 establishes an oscillating current that is then sent through the induction coils 80. As the oscillating current is sent through the induction coils 80, a magnetic field is induced within the induction coils 80. The induction coils 80 are located within or around the heating chamber 30 such that the magnetic field generated by the induction coils 82 induces electric eddy currents within the heating chamber 30. These electrical eddy currents cause the product 40 to gain heat, and thus the product 40 within the heating chamber 30 is heated by means of induction. The product 40 within the heating chamber 30 may be heated to a temperature lower than the combustion temperature of the product 40 so that the product 40 is vaporized and not burned. In some embodiments, the induction module 82 further comprises two inductive chokes that “choke” the current as it flows into the induction coils 80 in order to ensure that the circuit does not draw too much current upon starting up. Upon starting up, current may flow through a first transistor in embodiments of the invention that comprise more than one transistor. This will cause all of the gate current to flow through the first transistor 84 and draw the draw the drain of the first transistor 84 to the ground, which allows current to flow through the induction coils 80 to the ground. The induction module 82 may further comprise a capacitor that creates an oscillating resonant tank circuit. Because of the resonant action of this resonant tank circuit, the drain of the second transistor 84 will alternate and eventually reaching 0 volts. Once this happens, the first transistor 84 will discharge into the second transistor 84. The second transistor 84 will then gain all of the current, and the cycle will repeat to create an oscillating current within the induction coils 80. The stepper motor 94 shown in FIG. 7 may be part of a motorized lift system that may further comprise a step vibration motor 90 and a stepper motor controller 92. The motorized lift system may be controlled by one or more buttons located on the outside of the casing 12 of the vaporizer 10.

[0045] FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the vaporizer 10 as shown in FIG. 1 without a cross-sectional cut, the embodiment comprising the casing 12, piston 16, moving mechanism 20, heating chamber 30, and mouthpiece 18 for use with a product 40. This embodiment presents a version in which the casing 18 partially comprises a transparent portion by which the user may observe the product 40 within the vaporizer 10.

[0046] In some embodiments, an “up button” and a “down button” are present. Pressing the up button once may activate the stepper motor controller 92, which controls the stepper motor 94 and allows the stepper motor 94 to rotate so that the first bevel gear 96 rotates the second bevel gear 98 which rotates the screw 25 which causes the piston 16 to move a certain distance proximally 100. Pressing the down button (not shown) once may activate the stepper motor controller 92 which allows the stepper motor 94 to rotate so that the first bevel gear 96 rotates the second bevel gear 98 which rotates the screw 25 which causes the piston 16 to move a certain distance distally 102. Holding the up or down buttons may cause the stepper motor 92 to rotate so that the piston 16 is moved proximally 100 or distally 102, respectively, at a constant rate. Pressing either button once or holding either button may activate the step vibration motor 90, which may vibrate the buttons in order to provide the user with tactile feedback that the motorized lift system is functioning as intended.

[0047] In some embodiments, the stepper motor controller 92 may be a transistor 84.

[0048] In further embodiments, this transistor 84 may be a MOSFET.

[0049] In some embodiments, the stepper motor controller 92 may be the same transistor 84 as the transistor 84 in the induction heating system.

[0050] In other embodiments, the induction heating system and motorized step lift system may each comprise their own transistors 84.

[0051] In some embodiments, all components are made of one or more disposable bioplastics. The term “bioplastics” used herein refers to any type of plastic derived from renewable biological substances rather than petroleum. Said biological substances may be but are not limited to corn, wheat, sugarcane, wood, soybeans, canola, and/or hemp.

[0052] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece 18 or casing 12, or portions thereof, may be made of heat-resistant glass or another transparent, heat-resistant material. This allows users to view the heating chamber or other components of the invention. This is a desirable feature for the user as it allows the user to determine how much product is entering the heating chamber.

[0053] In embodiments comprising the disclosed cups 50, the casing 12 may be configured with an opening and closing feature for insertion or removal of one or more cups 50 at a time. In other embodiments comprising the cups 50, the vaporizer 10 may be configured with a removable piston 16 allowing the stack 52 to be inserted or removed.

[0054] Further embodiments of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure and are incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.