VAPORIZATION DEVICE

Abstract

A vaporization device is provided having a plurality of pens each having a battery, a mouthpiece, and a ventilated end. A vaporization device is also provided which is disposable having a plurality of pens, each having a vaporization chamber containing a coil, a battery, a PCB, a sensor, and a tank containing e-liquid for vaporization in the pen vaporization chamber through the coil of the pen to create a vaporization product which is mixed in a vapor port of the device through which a plurality of vaporization products are delivered to a user through the mouthpiece of the device in a single vaporization event.

Claims

1. A vaporization device comprising: a body housing a plurality of pens, each pen having a battery, a sensor and a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the battery is operatively connected to the PCB and a coil, having a first end adjacent and contiguous with a mouthpiece, and a second end adjacent and contiguous with a ventilated end; wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an aperture at a first end and which extends into a vapor port which is operatively connected to a plurality of vaporization chambers at the end opposing the aperture; wherein the ventilated end is provided with a plurality of airflow apertures configured to direct air flow through the device.

2. The device as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tanks each with a reservoir containing an e-liquid and a vaporization chamber having a coil for vaporizing e-liquid, wherein the vaporization chamber is configured to be received by a pen and is operatively connected to the battery and the PCB of the pen.

3. The device as in claim 1 wherein the pen further comprises a vaporization chamber having a coil for vaporizing e-liquid, and a tank of a plurality of tanks with a reservoir containing an e-liquid for vaporization, wherein the tank is configured to be received by the pen such that the e-liquid in the reservoir of the tank is delivered to the pen vaporization chamber for vaporization.

4. A vaporization device comprising: a body housing a plurality of pens each having a battery, the plurality of pens operatively connected to a PCB and a sensor, a mouthpiece adjacent and contiguous with a first end of the body, and a ventilated end adjacent to and contiguous with a second end of the body opposing the first end, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an aperture at a first end and which extends into a vapor port which is operatively connected to a plurality of vaporization chambers at the end opposing the aperture; a sensor; a PCB; a plurality of vaporization chambers each housing a coil for vaporization operatively connected to the PCB and a battery for controlling the temperature of the coils to heat at a uniform temperature across the plurality of coils; and a plurality of reservoirs containing e-liquid.

5. The device as in claim 4 wherein the vaporization chambers further comprise a plurality of wicks, and wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs is contiguous with a single vaporization chamber, wherein one of the plurality of wicks is in contact with and is configured to absorb the e-liquid in a reservoir so that e-liquid from each of the reservoirs is delivered by absorption by a wick of the plurality of wicks to the coil, mixed with other e-liquids from other reservoirs from the plurality of reservoirs, in the single vaporization chamber, and vaporized.

6. The device as in claim 4 wherein each reservoir is contiguous with a single vaporization chamber and coil, independent from other reservoirs, so that e-liquid in the reservoir is delivered to and vaporized from a single vaporization chamber apart from the other e-liquids in the other reservoirs, at the same temperature as e-liquid in the other reservoirs in other chambers, producing a vaporization product delivered to the vapor port for delivery to the user through the mouthpiece.

7. A vaporization device comprising: a body housing a plurality of pens each comprising a PCB for controlling and maintaining the temperature of a coil in each pen, a sensor, and a battery operatively connected to a vaporization chamber containing a coil, a vaporization chamber and a coil, and a reservoir filled with an e-liquid in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber and coil for vaporization of the same, and with a first end opposing a second end; a mouthpiece adjacent the first end of the body and operatively connected to the body through a vapor port through which vaporization product is delivered through an aperture in the mouthpiece to a user's mouth; and a ventilated end adjacent the second end of the body, opposing the mouthpiece at the first end of the body, and having a plurality of airflow apertures configured to facilitate air flow through the body to the mouthpiece.

8. The device as in claim 2 wherein the mouthpiece and tanks are removable, and the batteries are rechargeable.

9. The device as in claim 3 wherein the mouthpiece and tanks are removable and the batteries are rechargeable.

10. The device as in claim 4 wherein the mouthpiece is removable and the tanks are removable.

11. The device as in claim 7 wherein the ventilated end has a vortex tip.

12. The device as in claim 2 wherein the plurality of pens further comprise remote technology for programming temperature and time of vaporization along with allowing remote storage of information.

13. The device as in claim 3 wherein the plurality of pens further comprise remote control technology for programming temperature and time of vaporization along with allowing remote storage of information.

14. The device as in claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of pens further comprise a microprocessor.

15. The device as in claim 33 wherein each of the plurality of pens further comprise a microprocessor.

16. The device as in claim 1 wherein the number of airflow apertures is the same as the number of pens in the body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art electronic pen or cigarette;

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the internal components of the body and the ventilated end of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the ventilated end of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the wick, coil and battery of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the ventilated end showing a vortex tip of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a plurality reservoir tank being assembled onto a batter of a pen of the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The following detailed embodiments presented herein are for illustrative purposes. That is, these detailed embodiments are intended to be exemplary of the present invention for the purposes of providing and aiding a person skilled in the pertinent art to readily understand how to make and use of the present invention.

[0039] Accordingly, the detailed discussion herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the metes and bounds of the patent protection afforded the present invention, in which the scope of patent protection is intended to be defined by the claims and equivalents thereof. Therefore, embodiments not specifically addressed herein, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, should be and are considered to be implicitly disclosed by the illustrative embodiments and claims described herein and therefore fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0040] Further, it should be understood that, although steps of various claimed methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such method are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. That is, the claimed method steps are considered capable of being carried out in any sequential combination or permutation order while still falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which a person skilled in the relevant art would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein, as understood by the person skilled in the relevant art based on the contextual use of such term, differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the person skilled in the relevant art should prevail.

[0042] Furthermore, a person skilled in the art of reading claimed inventions should understand that “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. And that the term “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list.

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic cigarette (“e-cigarette”) or electronic pen which is commonly understood and known in the art. Depicted is a front end where the mouthpiece is, adjacent and operatively connected to the tank which contains e-liquid. The tank has a reservoir for e-liquid which is delivered to the coil, which when heated vaporizes the e-liquid. The vaporization process is supported by a sensor recognizing a change in pressure, communicating the same to some sort of printed circuit board or microprocessor which can connect the battery to heat the coil. As is illustrated, e-pens or e-cigarettes deliver vaporized e-liquid to a user through the mouthpiece. The vaporized e-liquid travels through a vapor port up to the mouthpiece and into the user's mouth and lungs.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the vaporization device 10 with a first end having a mouthpiece 12 adjacent to a body 14 at a first end of the body, and at a second end of the body 14, the body 14 is adjacent to a ventilated end 16 on a second end of the vaporization device 10 opposing the first end. The ventilated end 16 is provided with a plurality of airflow apertures 45 which can direct air flow through the vaporization device 10. Inside the body 14 of the device 10 is, unlike the pen or e-cigarette shown in FIG. 1, is housed a plurality of pens 18 which each have a battery and either threading compatible with retaining a tank 24 which has a vaporization chamber 26 and a coil 34 therein, or each pen can have a battery 22 plus a vaporization chamber 26 and a coil 34 wherein the vaporization chamber 26 can threadingly receive a tank 24 which has a reservoir containing e-liquid for vaporization (see e.g. FIG. 5). Once the tanks 24 having a vaporization chamber plus coil are appended to the pen battery 22, or tanks 24 appended to a battery 22 having also on the battery a vaporization chamber 26 plus coil 34, the vaporization product produced from a vaporization event travels along a vapor port (not shown) through an aperture 42 (see e.g. FIG. 3) in the mouthpiece 12 to be drawn into a user's mouth and/or lungs. The aperture 42 can be any size that is effective for drawing vapor into the mouth of a user, and the mouthpiece 12 can be any shape and size that is ergonomically suitable for accommodating a plurality of pens 18 and a vapor port through which vaporization products are delivered from the plurality of vaporization chambers 26 in the mouthpiece to the aperture 42.

[0045] Preferably, the number of airflow apertures 45 is the same as the number of pens 18 (see e.g. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating two pens and two airflow apertures 42) housed in the body 14. This allows for air to flow to each pen through the inside of the device, and also in an embodiment wherein each pen 18 is also provided with its own sensor 20, to direct air flow to each sensor 20 on each pen 18.

[0046] FIG. 3 provides another perspective view of the device 10 showing the mouthpiece 12, the body 14, and the ventilated end 16.

[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates some of the internal components of the vaporization device 10. In this embodiment is shown that the vaporization device 10 is provided with a plurality of pens 18, and in this particular embodiment there are two pens 18. Each pen 18 has its own printed circuit board (“PCB”), a sensor 20 for instance, but not limited to, a pressure sensor or an air-flow sensor 20, and a battery 22, which together control the vaporization of e-liquid components in the tank of the pens 18. The PCB may include, for example, but is not limited to, a processing unit, a memory unit, a plurality of timers, and other suitable electrical components. Electronic components of the pen 18 are fixed to the PCB, which mechanically supports and electrically connects components of the assembly using tracks, pads, and other features etched from conductive sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. In some embodiments, the electronics of the PCB is composed of a synthetic material that is thin and flexible. A thin and flexible PCB allows the same to conform to the shape of the electronic cigarette. A PCB is composed of materials such as, but not limited to, polyimide, polyethylene naphthalate, poletherimide, fluoropolymers, transparent conductive polyester, and other suitable materials for flexible electronics.

[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates the mouthpiece end of the vaporization device 10. In this particular embodiment, illustrated are two tanks 24 in which e-liquid is received in the reservoirs 28 (see e.g. FIG. 9) of each of the tanks 24. In this embodiment, each tank 24 is attached to a vaporization chamber 26 of each single pen 18. In this way, for each pen 18, a chamber 26 may vaporize a different e-liquid composition, be it an essential oil and/or nicotine and/or different strains of cannabis and/or different consistencies and percentages of PG, VG, and water, and can vaporize at a unique temperature apart from another pen of the plurality. This is accomplished by each pen 18 of the plurality of pens being provided with a PCB, battery 22, and sensor 20 to specifically control the temperature and timing of vaporization of the e-liquid in the tank 24 of each pen 18 so as to most closely achieve an ideal vaporization temperature for the molecules in the e-liquid. The vaporization product from each of the vaporization chambers 26 can be mixed in a vapor port for inhalation through the aperture 42 in the mouthpiece 12 of the device 10.

[0049] The battery 22 of the device 10 can be rechargeable, can be recharged/charged via induction charging, and/or can be charged by a wall electrical outlet, and/or by accommodating a USB to a computer to recharge/charge. In some embodiments, the battery 22 is a lithium battery, a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium (“NiCd”) battery, a nickel-metal hydride (“NiMH”) battery, or another suitable battery type. The battery 22 of each of the pens 18 will be of suitable shape and length to essentially provide the look and feel of an electronic cigarette. In the case of a rechargeable embodiment of the device 10, it is possible for a rechargeable device 10 to be provided with LED lights such that a pattern for charging is detected on the body 14 or the end 16. For example, but not limited to, a pattern whereby lights flash in a pattern when the vaporization device 10 is being charged, and a different pattern when finished.

[0050] When the battery is operationally afixed to the tank 24, and the user inhales, each of the pen sensors 20 communicates with the PCB and battery in order that the e-liquid in each of the tanks 24 is vaporized in the chamber 26 producing a vaporization product specific to the e-liquid which has been vaporized at the specific temperature dictated by the PCB of the particular pen 18. Thereafter, the vaporization product from each of the plurality of pens 18 and thus e-liquids is mixed in the vapor port and inhaled through a single mouthpiece 12. In this way, the pleasure of a plurality of different e-liquid vaporization products can be attained in a single vaporization event and at a more effective temperature for each of the plurality of electronic cigarettes 18. This prevents over-heating, creating toxins and bad tastes, and allows for the most accurate and beneficial vaporization of targeted chemicals in each e-liquid, and the e-liquid itself considering PG, VG, and mixes thereof, require different vaporization temperatures. In fact, by providing different vaporization temperatures across each of a plurality of pens 18, a VG heavy e-liquid needing to be vaporized at a higher temperature can be filled in a tank 24 which does not have a cotton wick, and paired with a tank carrying an e-liquid requiring a lower temperature and using a cotton wick, which is not recommended for vaporizing e-liquid which has high VG content. In this way, VG based e-liquid can be vaporized at a high temperature, without evaporating water while burning a cotton wick creating toxins, while at the same time vaporizing a different e-liquid requiring a lower temperature for producing a beneficial vaporization product.

[0051] In a disposable embodiment of the device 10, upon the final vaporization of the e-liquid in the reservoir the mouthpiece 12 can be immovably affixed to the body 14. In such an embodiment, the battery 22 need not be rechargeable, and the device in an embodiment may be provided with a window to visualize the e-liquid to know whether the e-liquid is finished.

[0052] In another embodiment, the device 10 is reusable, rechargeable, and the tanks replaceable. In such an embodiment, the mouthpiece 12 of the vaporization device 10 is removable, whereby the mouthpiece 12 is entirely removable, or preferably, moveably retained on the body 14 by for instance, but not limited to, a hinge, or a hook and loop, or a tie, whereby the mouthpiece 12 can be removed so as to reveal the replaceable tanks 24. When entirely removed, the mouthpiece 12 can be removably affixed to the body, for instance, but not limited to, a snap fit via a hook and groove accommodation. The mouthpiece 12 can also be configured to act as a circuit breaker such that when the mouthpiece 12 is not secured to the body 14, the battery circuit for vaporization is open and inoperable thus providing a safety feature for the device 10, for example for travel or when not in use. When the tanks 24 are operationally secured to the battery 22 and the pen 18, the mouthpiece 12 can be closed thus allowing the device 10 to be activated through a detected pressure change effecting the sensor and the PCB thus controlling vaporization.

[0053] In a reusable embodiment, the tanks 24 can be exchangeable/replaceable whereby a tank 24 can be disconnected from the pen 18 and another affixed thereto as desired. In this way, the user can have the pleasure of combining different vaporization products produced by different e-liquids in different tanks 24. In some embodiments, the disposable tank 24 is provided with a leak proof cap, which can be removably affixed thereto in order that after removal from the pen 18 there is no leakage from the tank 24. In this way, if a tank 24 still has e-liquid in the reservoir 28, the tank can be removed and reused, or another user can access the chamber 26 with a different tank 24, without disposing of the tank 24.

[0054] Different types of pen configurations can be used in the device 10. In one embodiment of the pen 18 of the device 10, the vaporization chamber 26 is affixed to the battery 22, and therefore, a tank 24 is received by the vaporization chamber plus coil 34 which is already affixed to the battery 22. In another embodiment of the pen 18 of the device 10, the tank includes both the reservoir 28 and the vaporization chamber 26 plus coil 28, and therefore, in such an embodiment the battery 22 threadingly receives the tank 24. In such an embodiment, once the e-liquid is depleted in the tank 24, the reservoir 28 plus vaporization chamber 26 including the coil 34 can be thrown away or at least removed, preferably capped, and set aside for later reuse without any leakage into the battery and other components of the pen 18.

[0055] In an embodiment wherein the tank 24 is disposable or can be interchanged or exchanged with another tank 24, remote technology, such as for instance blue tooth technology, on each pen 18 could be provided for programming temperature and time of vaporization for different tanks 24 based on the e-liquid composition, by and through the PCB, which may include memory, and would enable the remote storage of information regarding each tank containing e-liquid preferred vaporization temperature and vaporization time. The feature in this embodiment allows more particular control and/or personalization of a vaping experience whereby a user can retrieve or store information about each e-liquid and therefore mixtures of vaporization products including ideal temperatures of vaporization. It is also contemplated that this information and control be relayed and stored via a universal serial bus (“USB”) or micro-USB connection to a computer. Furthermore, a microprocessor could be used to control, maintain, and change temperatures according to different e-liquid profiles in tanks 24.

[0056] Moreover, for a non-disposable embodiment whereby the battery can be recharged and the tanks 24 replaced/exchanged, it could be beneficial to monitor the temperature of the coil 32 in order to reach and maintain the temperature of the coil 32 and thus vaporize the desired components of the e-liquid. Therefore, a temperature sensor for reading and recording the temperature of the coil, temperature in the vaporization chamber, the temperature of the vaporization product, and/or the temperature of the e-liquid in the tank 24 could be included in the device 10. Temperature changes and recordings could also be presented in an LED screen located in the body 14 of the device 10.

[0057] In addition, a PCB of the pen 18 of the device could be configured to store temperature information and/or to relay the same to a remote storage through blue tooth or remote technology. In this way, the temperature of the coil 32 of the device could be more closely monitored and adjusted for more accurate vaporization.

[0058] Whether the device 10 itself is disposable or rechargeable/reuseable, by providing a device 10 whereby tanks 24 containing different e-liquid components in the reservoirs that can be vaporized at the same time but at different temperatures, a customizable vaporization experience is obtainable by the vaporization device 10 according to a user's subjective tastes and experiences, or in the case of medical use, prescribed combinations.

[0059] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6, the ventilated end 16 has a single PCB and sensor 20 whereby the plurality of pens 18 housed in the body 14 are controlled by the single PCB and sensor 20, and preferably a microprocessor which can control the temperature of each of the different pens 18 so that an appropriate vaporization temperature can be accommodated by each coil 34 for each tank 24 containing in its reservoir 28 a unique e-liquid. In an embodiment whereby a plurality of pens 18 is controlled by a single PCB and sensor, different tanks 24 which contain an e-liquids of different viscosity than another tank's 24 e-liquid, and which are not combinable in a single tank 24, can still be vaporized at the same time.

[0060] In yet another embodiment, as in FIG. 9 is illustrated a tank 24 being assembled onto a pen 18, whereby the tank 24 has a plurality of reservoirs 28 each for housing a different e-liquid. Although different e-liquids are provided in the tank 24, they are operationally connected to a single vaporization chamber 26. Though the advantage of mixing during vaporization is present in this embodiment, components of the e-liquid combination in the vaporization chamber 26 are vaporized all together at the same temperature. This embodiment also accommodates e-liquid which is not easily mixed due to the varying percentages of PG, VG, water and components, effecting viscosity. This embodiment also shows a dual wick 32 which allows for the delivery of e-liquid from each of the reservoirs 28 of the tank 24 to be delivered to the vaporization chamber 26 for vaporization at the same time and temperature. The battery 22 is also shown as pertaining to a single pen 18.

[0061] FIG. 7 illustrates a coil 34 of the device 10. In this embodiment, the dual wick 32 and coil 34 in the chamber 26 are visible. Also illustrated is a lip or O-ring 36 forming a lip to securely capture a corresponding groove on the plurality reservoir tank 30. In this way, the e-liquid in the tank 24 is less likely to be spilled because the tank 24 is secured on the wick body 38, and any jarring of the device 10 can reduce the chance of e-liquid leaking from the tank 24. In another configuration, the lip 36 can be on the tank 24 while the groove can be formed on the wick body 38. As described above, the coil 34 and vaporization chamber 26 can be contained within a disposable tank 24 whereby the tank 24 is threadingly received by the battery 22, or the coil 34 and the vaporization chamber 26 can be affixed to the battery 22 which is configured to threadingly receive a disposable tank 24 containing the e-liquid.

[0062] FIG. 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of the device 10 whereby in the ventilated end 16 there is a vortex tip 40 for better air mixing through the air passage extending from the end 16 through the mouthpiece 12. In this particular embodiment, the body 14 is adjacent to and contiguous with the end 16 and is created as a single piece design. The body 14, and in this embodiment, the end 16, can be made of any material with heat dissipating properties including, for instance, but not limited to, aluminum and stainless steel, and also heat isolating materials that can reduce battery usage, provide heat dissipation properties, while at the same time isolate from the heat inside, such as for instance, but not limited to, plastics, or a combination of materials with heat dissipating and heat isolation properties. Moreover, for embodiments that have rechargeable batteries and disposable tanks, it is also contemplated that for the convenience of the user, a plurality of windows be provided in the body 14 in order to visualize the amount of e-liquid remaining in the plurality of tanks 24.

[0063] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0064] While embodiments of the device have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0065] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” or the term “includes” or variations, thereof, or the term “having” or variations thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers. In this regard, in construing the claim scope, an embodiment where one or more features is added to any of the claims is to be regarded as within the scope of the invention given that the essential features of the invention as claimed are included in such an embodiment.

[0066] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

[0067] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.