OXYGEN PRODUCING CARTRIDGE FOR VAPING APPARATUS

Abstract

An e-vaping oxygen cartridge design is described herein for providing a safe alternative to smoking by inhaling oxygen rather than burned tobacco or air. The e-vaping oxygen cartridge is comprised of water and electrolytes. An electric current is passed through the water cartridge and produces oxygen. When the user inhales the e-vaping device while using the e-vaping oxygen cartridge, the user inhales oxygen.

Claims

1. An e-vaping apparatus comprising: a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall, wherein the first end comprises an outlet of the e-vapor apparatus; a sensor configured to detect an inhalation event at the outlet of the e-vaping apparatus; a heater component; and a cartridge containing a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel is configured to produce an oxygen-containing vapor when an electric current is applied to the hydrogel, and wherein the oxygen-containing vapor is released from the outlet of the e-vaping apparatus in response to a detected inhalation event at the outlet.

2. The e-vaping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydrogel comprises water and at least one electrolyte.

3. The e-vaping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the water comprises at least one flavoring.

4. The e-vaping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one electrolyte is a liquid alkaline solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide, or some combination thereof.

5. An e-vaping apparatus comprising: a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall, wherein the first end comprises an outlet of the e-vapor apparatus; a sensor configured to detect an inhalation event at the outlet of the e-vaping apparatus; a heater component; and a cartridge containing water and at least one electrolyte, wherein the water is configured to release an oxygen-containing vapor upon having an electrical current applied to the water, and wherein the oxygen-containing vapor is released from the outlet of the e-vaping apparatus in response to a detected inhalation event at the outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a component view of the e-vaping apparatus.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a cartridge of the e-vaping apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of another embodiment of the cartridge of the e-vaping apparatus.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the e-vaping apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0023] As seen in FIG. 1 the present invention may include a e-vaping apparatus 1. The e-vaping apparatus 1 may include an electronic cigarette or similar device that includes a heater component 3 configured to heat an oxygen-producing component 4 and release a vapor to a user.

[0024] The e-vaping apparatus 1 may include a cartridge 2. The cartridge 2 may include consumable material that may be heated to generate a vapor for inhalation by the user. In an example scenario, the cartridge 2 may include an oxygen-generating component 4. For example, the oxygen-generating component 4 may include one or more chemicals that may produce a vapor. Upon an application of heat by the heater component 3, the oxygen-producing component 4 may release the vapor. The vapor may include oxygen. As such, a user may inhale the vapor that includes higher concentrations of oxygen (compared to air) when utilizing the e-vaping apparatus 1.

[0025] In an example scenario, the heater component 3 may be configured to turn on in response to an inhalation event such as a suction action by a user. The heater component 3 may be configured to turn off in response to a decrease in the force of the inhalation and/or a stop action associated with the inhalation.

[0026] Alternatively, the heater component 3 may automatically turn on or off in response to the detection of an event such as an application of or a removal of touch-based pressure or a temperature increase/decrease. For example, a touch pressure sensor on the e-vaping apparatus 1 may activate/deactivate the heater component 3 in response to detecting an application of or removal of pressure by the lips of the user on the pressure sensor. In another example scenario, a heat sensor may activate/deactivate the heater component 3 in response to elevated ambient heat caused by proximity of the lips of the user or decreased ambient heat caused by loss of contact with the lips of the user.

[0027] In another example scenario, the heater component 3 may be activated manually by the user. The user may be provided with a control component on the e-vaping apparatus to activate/deactivate the heater component 3. The user may also be provided with a remote control component to activate/deactivate the heater component 3 remotely.

[0028] The heater component 3 may span a length of the cartridge 2 to uniformly heat the oxygen-producing component 4. Alternatively, the heater component 3 may encompass a section of the oxygen-producing component 4. The heater component 3 may adjust temperatures based on melting, vaporization, and/or chemical reaction demands associated with the oxygen-producing component 4.

[0029] The heater component 3 may be powered by a battery component or a similar power source. The battery component may be rechargeable. The battery component may also be resistant to any heat produced by the heater component 3 and may operate optimally regardless of the heat emitted by the heater component 3.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the cartridge 2 of the e-vaping apparatus 1. The cartridge 2 may encapsulate the oxygen-generating component 4 within a channel. The channel may include a hollow section within the cartridge 2.

[0031] In an example scenario, the heater component 3 may heat the oxygen-generating component 4 (in response to an activation event such as an inhalation by the user). The oxygen-generating component 4 may be melted, vaporized, and/or subjected to a chemical reaction to generate the vapor 6. The vapor 6 may include oxygen 7.

[0032] The oxygen-producing component 4 may be a solid. The oxygen-producing component 4 may be a liquid. In another example scenario, the oxygen-producing component 4 may be partly solid and partly liquid.

[0033] The oxygen-producing component 4 may also be a hydrogel. Furthermore, the oxygen-producing component may be porous. The oxygen-producing component may also include barium peroxide, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, and/or sodium chlorate, among other chemicals.

[0034] In response to an application of heat by the heater component 2, the oxygen-producing component 4 may melt, vaporize, and/or be subjected to a chemical reaction to produce the vapor 6. The vapor 6 may include the oxygen 7. The vapor 6 may be routed through the porous components of the oxygen-producing component 4. Upon exiting the e-vaping apparatus 1, the vapor 6 with the oxygen 7 may be delivered to the user for inhalation.

[0035] In an example scenario, the oxygen 7 may comprise at least 50% of the vapor 6 by weight. Preferably, the oxygen 7 may comprise 50% of the vapor 6 by weight.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of an alternative embodiment of the cartridge 2 of the e-vaping apparatus 1. The cartridge 2 may encapsulate a pre-vapor composition 5 and the oxygen-producing component 4 within a channel. The channel may include a hollow section within the cartridge 2. The channel may encapsulate the pre-vapor composition 5 and the oxygen-generating component 4. The pre-vapor composition 5 may be placed at a first end of the cartridge 2 in proximity to an air inlet of the e-vaping apparatus 1. The oxygen-generating component 4 may be placed at a second end of the cartridge 2 in proximity to a vapor outlet of the e-vaping apparatus 1.

[0037] In an example scenario, the heater component 3 may heat the pre-vapor composition 5 (in response to an activation event such as an inhalation by the user). The pre-vapor composition 5 may be melted, vaporized, and/or subjected to a chemical reaction to produce the vapor 6. The vapor 6 may include chemicals such as nicotine, one or more flavor(s), and/or steam. The flavor(s) may be dependent on a selection of the cartridge 2. The number of cartridges that may be available and/or used within the e-vaping apparatus 1 may offer various mixes of flavor(s) and/or nicotine concentration(s) based on a selection by the user.

[0038] The pre-vapor composition 5 may be porous. The vapor 6 may transfer through the porous sections of the pre-vapor composition 5 into the oxygen-producing component 4. The oxygen-producing component 4 may also be porous. In response to an application of heat by the heater component 2, the oxygen-producing component 4 may also melt, vaporize, and/or be subjected to a chemical reaction to produce oxygen 7. The oxygen 7 may be released and mixed into the vapor 6 that is routed through the porous components of the oxygen-producing component 4. Upon exiting the e-vaping apparatus 1, the vapor 6 with the oxygen 7 may be delivered to the user for inhalation.

[0039] Alternatively, a temperature of the vapor 6 may passively heat, melt/vaporize, and/or subject the oxygen-producing component 4 to a chemical reaction. The temperature of the vapor 6 may cause the oxygen-producing component 4 to generate oxygen without a direct application of heat by the heater 3. The generated oxygen 7 may be released into the vapor 6. Upon exiting the e-vaping apparatus 1, the vapor 6 with the oxygen 7 may be delivered to the user for inhalation.

[0040] The oxygen 7 may be released into the vapor 6 as the vapor 6 is routed through the cartridge 2. The vapor 6 with the oxygen 7 may be delivered to the user for an inhalation. The oxygen 7 may comprise at least 50% of the vapor 6 by weight. Preferably, the oxygen 7 may comprise 50% of the vapor 6 by weight.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, there is an e-vaping device 100 that includes a potential or battery 102 and a cartridge 104 which houses a hydrogel 106, solids or liquids, including water, which, when an electrical current is passed through it, produces oxygen. This second embodiment may be operated in substantially the same fashion as the other embodiment as described herein. The user simply places the cartridge 104, which includes water 108, in an e-vaping device 100 and inhales, thereby causing oxygen to be released from the cartridge 104 once an electrical current passes through the water.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, cartridge 104 includes an inner tube 112 extending in a longitudinal direction, the inner tube 112 defining a channel 114 with a first end 116 and a second end 118. In one embodiment, the inner tube 112 is comprised of a polymer electrolyte membrane instead of water. In yet another embodiment, the inner tube 112 is comprised of a solid ceramic material. Further, is a potential or battery 102 traversing a portion of the first end 116 of the channel 114, the anode of the potential/battery 102 being connected to a liquid water carrier 122 which is near the second end 118 of the channel 114, the water will release oxygen 110 as an electrical current is passed through it.

[0043] In one embodiment, the liquid water includes flavoring, electrolytes, or some combination thereof. The electrolytes in the water may include a liquid alkaline solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide, or some combination thereof.

[0044] This, in turn, allows a user to inhale oxygen rather than smoke, air, or flavored air when using an e-vaping device 100 as described herein. The result is that the user may actually receive a benefit from the inhaled oxygen, such as reduced stress, increased energy, and alertness as opposed to breathing ambient air or air derived from a traditional e-vaping device.

[0045] Further, the present invention and its embodiments provide a method of providing oxygen in a vapor produced by an e-vaping apparatus is also described. The method may include detecting an inhalation action by a user. Turning on a heater component to heat a channel within a cartridge. The channel may include a pre-vapor composition and an oxygen-producing component. A vapor may be produced in response to an application of heat by the heater on the pre-vapor composition. Next, oxygen may be released into the vapor in response to the application of heat by the heater on the oxygen-producing component. The vapor with oxygen may be routed to the user in response to the inhalation action.

[0046] In addition to the foregoing, other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better comprehended through a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.