Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DISPENSING E-LIQUID
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 61/976,225,
entitled "Apparatus Comprising A Check Valve for Dispensing E-Liquids," filed
on April 7,
2014.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosure is directed to an apparatus comprising a check valve.
The apparatus may
be utilized to transfer E-liquid into the chamber of an electronic
vaporization device, such
that unintended leakage and/or spillage of the E-liquid may not occur. The
apparatus may
be used to transfer E-liquid into a top-filled chamber or a bottom-filled
chamber. The
disclosure is further directed to an assembly of an apparatus comprising a
check valve and
an E-liquid storage container. The assembly allows the E-liquid to be stored
without
accidental dispensing and/or spilling of the E-liquid.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Vaporization provides an alternative to combustion for the delivery and
consumption of
various substances. Typically the substance to be vaporized is present in a
liquid, which is
commonly referred to as an "E-liquid." Examples of substances to be vaporized
that are
present in an E-liquid are selected from the group of: glycerin, propylene
glycol, flavorings,
nicotine, medicaments and combinations thereof Vaporization may be
accomplished using
electronic vaporization devices, including, but not limited to, electronic
cigarettes,
electronic cigars, electronic pipes and electronic vaporizers.
[0004] Oftentimes, the E-liquid to be vaporized is placed into a chamber,
which either contains,
or interfaces with, a heat source in the electronic vaporization device. The
chamber which
contains the E-liquid may take a variety of forms, depending upon the
configuration of the
electronic vaporization device. Some chambers are referred to in the art as
"cartomizers."
Cartomizers that are see-through, i.e. made of plastic or glass for example,
are oftentimes
referred to as "clearomizers." Typically, cartomizers and clearomizers contain
a heating
source, such as an atomizer. The cartomizer or clearomizer may further
comprise
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absorbent material with or without an associated wick that act(s) to transport
E-liquid to the
heating source that vaporizes E-liquid. The cartomizer or clearomizer may
further
comprise a vapor chimney through which the resulting E-liquid vapor passes to
be
delivered to the consumer, such as via a mouthpiece.
[0005] Once an E-liquid is consumed, the chamber may be discarded and replaced
with a new,
full chamber. However, some chambers are re-fillable. A consumer may refill a
chamber
with E-liquid by opening the chamber and using for example, a dropper or
syringe, to
dispense the E-liquid into the chamber. This process may be characterized by
several
disadvantages. First, if during the filling process, E-liquid is errantly
dispensed into the
vapor chimney, the heating source may be compromised and/or leakage from the
chamber
may occur. For example, if the heating source is an atomizer, the atomizer may
become
clogged by the E-liquid, resulting in the malfunction of the electronic
vaporization device.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, transferring the E-liquid from its
storage bottle to
the cartomizer may result in spillage of the E-liquid. In addition to being
messy, spillage of
the E-liquid may be particularly disadvantageous if the E-liquid contains a
substance,
nicotine for example, which ideally should not be in direct contact with the
skin of a human
or animal.
[0006] For these and other reasons, there remains a need for an apparatus for
dispensing E-
liquids into the chamber of an electronic vaporization device that minimizes,
if not
eliminates, the spillage and/or leaking of an E-liquid when it is being
transferred into the
chamber. Additionally, there remains a need for such an apparatus that will
prevent E-
liquid from errantly being dispensed into the vapor chimney of the chamber.
Moreover,
there remains a need for an apparatus that will minimize, if not eliminate, a
human's (e.g., a
consumer's, or a child's) or an animal's (e.g. a pet's) contact with the E-
liquid during E-
liquid storage and/or dispensing. Moreover, it would be advantageous if such
an apparatus
could be used to dispense E-liquid into either a top-filled or bottom-filled
chamber.
SUMMARY
[0007] The unique solution that addresses the aforementioned need is a new
apparatus
comprising a check valve. The apparatus minimizes, if not eliminates, the
leakage and/or
spillage of an E-liquid when it is being dispensed into the chamber of an
electronic
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vaporization device, regardless of whether the chamber is configured to be
filled through
its top or bottom. The apparatus according to the present disclosure may
accomplish this,
at least in part, by precisely aligning the opening of an E-liquid storage
bottle, with the
opening in the cartomizer into which the E-liquid is to be dispensed.
Additionally or
alternatively, the apparatus may physically block the vapor chimney in the
chamber. By
blocking the vapor chimney, the apparatus may prevent misdirection of the E-
liquid and in
turn, prevent subsequent leakage of the E-liquid from the chamber, and
consequent
exposure of the consumer, to the E-liquid. Additionally, or alternatively, the
apparatus may
be engaged with an E-liquid storage container to foini an assembly such that E-
liquid is
prevented from accidentally spilling from the container; in some embodiments,
the
assembly may be sold as a unit. Such an assembly may also prevent leakage
and/or
contamination of the outside of the E-liquid storage container, and consequent
exposure of
anyone, e.g. a human or pet, which comes into contact with the E-liquid
storage container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical Electronic Vaporization
Device.
[0009] Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are schematic diagrams of a top-filled chamber,
or a top-filled
chamber and mouthpiece, of use in the Electronic Vaporization Device shown in
Fig. 1.
[0010] Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c are schematic diagrams of a bottom-fed chamber, or
a bottom-fed
chamber and mouthpiece, of use in the Electronic Vaporization Device shown in
Fig. 1.
[0011] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of an
embodiment of an
apparatus according to the disclosure.
[0012] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a top plan view of the
apparatus of Fig. 4.
[0013] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of an
assembly of
the apparatus of Fig. 4 and an E-liquid bottle.
[0014] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of Fig. 6 attached to a
chamber into which
E-liquid may be dispensed.
[0015] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of
an apparatus according to the disclosure.
[0016] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of
an apparatus according to the disclosure.
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[0017] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of an
assembly of the
apparatus of Fig. 9 and an E-liquid bottle.
[0018] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of Fig. 10 attached to a
chamber into
which E-liquid may be dispensed.
[0019] Figs. 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams showing cross-section views of
adapters that may
be used in conjunction with the apparatuses according to the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The term "E-liquid" as used herein means a liquid including a
substance to be
vaporized. Examples of substances to be vaporized that are present in an E-
liquid are
selected from the group of: glycerin, propylene glycol, flavorings, nicotine,
medicaments
and combinations thereof.
[0021] The terms "chamber" is intended to denote any "chamber", "revervoir",
"liquid
chamber," "tank," "liquidmizer," "cartomizer" and "clearomizer" that contains
an E-liquid
to be vaporized by an electronic vaporization device. A chamber may or may not
contain
the heat source, e.g. an atomizer, which is utilized to vaporize the E-liquid.
A chamber
may be filled with E-liquid through its open top, i.e., be a "top-filled
chamber," or it may
be filled with E-liquid through its open bottom, i.e., a "bottom-filled
chamber."
[0022] "Check valve" as used herein means a valve that allows E-liquid to flow
through it in
only one direction.
[0023] "Electronic vaporization device," hereinafter "EVD," as used herein
means any electronic
device which vaporizes liquid for consumption including, but not limited to,
via inhalation,
by a consumer. EVDs include, but are not limited to: electronic cigarettes;
electronic
cigars; and electronic vaporizers.
[0024] "E-liquid storage container," "E-liquid container," "storage
container," "E-liquid bottle,"
"storage bottle," and "container" are used interchangeably herein to mean a
vessel that
contains E-liquid.
[0025] The elements or features of the various embodiments are described in
detail hereinafter.
Any reference to a singular characteristic or limitation of the present
disclosure shall
include the corresponding plural characteristics or limitations, and vice
versa, unless
4
otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which
the reference is
made.
[0026] The apparatuses and methods described herein may comprise, consist of
or consist essentially
of the elements and features of the disclosure described herein, as well as
any additional or
optional components, or features described herein or otherwise useful in
relation to the
aforementioned apparatuses and methods.
[0027]
[0028] In one aspect, an apparatus for dispensing E-liquid into a chamber of
an electronic
vaporization device comprises a housing having a top and a base and enclosing
a void that
is configured to contain the E-liquid and a check valve that regulates flow of
the E-liquid
through a first fluid passageway into the chamber or through a second
passageway into the
apparatus. The top of the apparatus comprises a first fluid passageway in
fluid
communication with the void and through which the E-liquid is dispensed into
the chamber
and a first engagement means configured to attach the apparatus to the chamber
so that the
first fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the chamber. The base of
the
apparatus comprises a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the
void and
through which E-liquid from an E-liquid container is dispensed into the
apparatus and a
second engagement means configured to attach the base to an E-liquid container
so that the
second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the E-liquid container.
The check
valve comprises a closing member and a biasing member that biases the closing
member
into a scaling relationship with the first fluid passageway.
[0029] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and wherein the chamber of the electronic vaporization device
contains a vapor
chimney and the closing member is configured to seal the vapor chimney when
the
apparatus is attached to the chamber, while allowing E-liquid to be dispensed
into the
chamber through the first fluid passageway.
[0030] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and wherein the first fluid passageway comprises an opening in the
top of the
apparatus, and the biasing member biases the closing member into a sealing
relationship
with the opening.
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[0031] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and wherein the closing member has a shape selected from the group
of:
spherical, hemispherical, rectangular, conical, cubical, pyramidal, prismatic,
and
frusticonical.
[0032] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and wherein the biasing member is selected from the group of;
springs; sealed
air chambers; and combinations thereof.
[0033] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and which further comprises an E-liquid container attached to the
base of the
apparatus.
[0034] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and wherein the first engagement means is selected from the group
of: slots;
silicone seals; and combinations thereof.
[0035] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the first fluid
passageway and wherein the second fluid passageway comprises a structure
selected from
the group of; a hole; o-ring; port; metal ring; rubber ring; silicone ring;
and combinations
thereof.
[0036] In one aspect, the E-liquid contains a substance to be vaporized,
wherein the substance is
selected from the group of: glycerin; propylene glycol; flavorings; nicotine;
medicaments;
and combinations thereof
[0037] In one aspect, the apparatus further comprises an adapter that is
configured to couple the
apparatus with the chamber.
[0038] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the second
passageway into the apparatus and wherein at least a portion of the top is
configured to
insert into an opening in the chamber when the apparatus is attached to the
chamber.
[0039] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the second
passageway into the apparatus and wherein chamber comprises a vapor chimney,
and the at
least a portion of the top is configured to seal the vapor chimney when the
apparatus is
attached to the chamber while allowing E-liquid to be dispensed into the
chamber through
the first fluid passageway.
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[0040] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the second
passageway into the apparatus and wherein the second fluid passageway
comprises an
opening in the base of the apparatus, and the biasing member biases the
closing member
into a sealing relationship with the opening.
[0041] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the second
passageway into the apparatus and which further comprises an E-liquid storage
container
attached to the bottom of the apparatus.
[0042] In one aspect, the check valve regulates flow of the E-liquid through
the second
passageway into the apparatus and wherein the biasing member is selected from
the group
of: springs; sealed air chambers; and combinations thereof
[0043] In one aspect, a method of dispensing an E-liquid into the chamber of
an electronic
vaporization device, the method comprising the step of providing an apparatus
having a top
and a base, and enclosing a void that is configured to contain the E-liquid.
The top of the
apparatus comprises a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with the
void and
through which the E-liquid is dispensed into the chamber, and a first
engagement means
configured to attach the apparatus to the chamber so that the first fluid
passageway is in
fluid communication with the chamber. The base of the apparatus comprises a
second fluid
passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which E-liquid
from an E-
liquid container is dispensed into the apparatus, and a second engagement
means
configured to attach the base to an E-liquid container so that the second
fluid passageway is
in fluid communication with the E-liquid container. The flow of the E-liquid
through the
apparatus is regulated by a check valve comprising a closing member and a
biasing
member. The method further comprises the steps of attaching the apparatus to
the chamber
via the first engagement means to form a first assembly, and dispensing the E-
liquid
through the first fluid passageway into the chamber.
[0044] In one aspect, the chamber contains a vapor chimney, and the method
further comprises
the step of sealing the vapor chimney with the closing member.
[0045] In one aspect, the method further comprises the step of attaching an E-
liquid container to
the base of the apparatus via the second engagement means to form a second
assembly.
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[0046] In one aspect, the method further comprises inverting the second
assembly and
dispensing E-liquid from the E-liquid container into the first fluid
passageway, through the
void, through the second passageway and into the chamber.
[0047] In one aspect, the void is pre-filled with E-liquid prior to attaching
the apparatus to the
chamber to form the first assembly.
[0048] Fig. 1 shows a typical EVD 500. The EVD 500 comprises a battery
compartment 510
that is removeably attached to a chamber 200. The chamber 200 is in turn
removeably
attached to a mouthpiece 530.
[0049] Referencing Fig. 2a, the chamber 200 and mouthpiece 530 are shown after
they have
been detached from the battery compartment 510 (not shown) and each other. In
this
embodiment, the chamber 200 has an open top 511. E-liquid is dispensed into
the chamber
200 through the open top 511, typically using an eye dropper or syringe; thus
the chamber
is a top-filled chamber. The mouthpiece 530 is then reattached to the open top
511 of the
chamber 200 so that the chamber 200 is sealed. The filling process may occur
with or
without detaching the chamber 200 from the battery compartment 510 of the EVD.
[0050] Fig. 2b shows the chamber 200 of Fig. 2a in a disassembled state.
Beginning at the left
of Fig. 2b, an atomizer assembly 230 is shown. Extending from the atomizer
assembly 230
is a vapor chimney 231, which is surrounded in part by a silicone or rubber
ring 232.
When the chamber 200 is assembled, the atomizer assembly 230 and vapor chimney
231 fit
into the chamber 200. The chamber 200 is capped at its open top 511 by a
hollow metal
ring 234 that is threaded on the inside and which serves as the attachment
point of the
mouthpiece (not shown) to the chamber 200.
[0051] Fig. 2c is a top plan view of the chamber 200 shown in Fig. 2b after it
has been
reassembled, i.e., the atomizer assembly 230 and vapor chimney 231 have been
re-inserted
into the chamber 200, such that the chamber contains them. Starting at the
edges of the
chamber 200 and moving inward, Fig. 2c shows the hollow metal ring 234. Moving
further
inward, the silicone or rubber ring 232 and top of the vapor chimney 231 are
shown. As
can be seen in Fig. 2c, there is a narrow gap 240 between the silicone or
rubber ring 232
and the hollow metal ring 234; it is through the narrow gap 240 that E-liquid
is dispensed
to fill the chamber 200. Since the gap 240 is narrow, it can be very difficult
to fill the
chamber 200 without spilling the E-liquid down the outside of the chamber 200
and
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contaminating the outside of the chamber 200, and/or the other portions of the
EVD.
Moreover, if the narrow gap 240 is missed or filled too quickly, E-liquid may
undesirably
be dispensed into the top 233 of the vapor chimney 231, which may in turn
result in
malfunction of the EVD.
[0052] Fig. 3a shows an alternative embodiment of a chamber 200 that is found
in EVDs that are
currently on the market. Rather than detach the mouthpiece 530 from the top
511 of the
chamber 200 to fill the chamber with E-liquid, the atomizer assembly 230 is
removed from
the bottom 512 of the chamber 200, as shown in Fig. 3b.
[0053] Fig, 3b shows the chamber 200 of Fig. 3a, after the atomizer assembly
230 has been
removed. Fig. 3c shows a bottom plan view of the chamber 200 of Fig. 3b.
Starting at the
edges of the chamber 200 and moving inward, Fig. 2c shows a hollow metal ring
234 that
is threaded on the inside and which serves as the attachment point of the
atomizer assembly
230. Moving further inward, the bottom 232 of the vapor chimney 231 is shown.
As can
be seen in Fig. 3c, there is a narrow gap 240 between the bottom 232 of the
vapor chimney
231 and the hollow metal ring 234. It is through the narrow gap 240 that E-
liquid is
dispensed to fill the chamber 200. Thus the chamber 200 depicted in Fig. 3b is
a bottom-
filled chamber. Since the gap 240 is narrow, it can be very difficult to fill
the chamber 200
without spilling the E-liquid down the outside of the chamber 200 and
contaminating the
outside of the chamber 200, and/or the other portions of the EVD (e.g., the
mouthpiece).
Moreover, if the narrow gap 240 is missed or filled too quickly, E-liquid may
undesirably
be dispensed into the bottom 232 of the vapor chimney 231. This can be
problematic,
because E-liquid may then flow from the vapor chimney 231 into the atomizer
assembly
230 after the chamber 200 has been reassembled, thereby contaminating the
atomizer
assembly and possibly causing it to malfunction.
[0054] In spite of the presence of narrow gaps and/or small openings through
which E-liquid is
dispensed, the apparatus according to the present disclosure may eliminate the
aforementioned problems regardless of whether the chamber is top-filled or
bottom-filled.
[0055] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 100 according to the present
disclosure.
The apparatus 100 comprises a housing 4. The housing 4 comprises a base 1 and
a top 8,
and encloses a void 50 that is configured to contain E-liquid. Each of these
features is
discussed in turn below.
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[0056] In general, the base of the apparatus comprises at least one liquid
passageway and/or hole
through which E-liquid may travel into the apparatus from an E-liquid storage
container
that is attached thereto as described below. The liquid passageway and/or
holes may be
formed in any suitable way using structural means so long as adequate flow of
E-liquid
from the E-liquid storage container into the apparatus is achieved. Useful
structural means
may be selected from the group of o-rings; ports; metal rings; rubber rings;
silicone rings;
and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the liquid passageway and/or
holes
provide only for one-way flow, meaning that E-liquid may flow from the E-
liquid storage
container through the liquid passageway and/or holes into the apparatus, but E-
liquid may
not flow out of the apparatus through the liquid passageway and/or holes. This
one-way
feature prevents leakage of the E-liquid from the apparatus, which is a
particularly
desirable feature after the apparatus has been detached from the E-liquid
storage container,
and is stored until its next use. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, two
liquid passageways
7 end as holes 7a in the base 1 of the housing 4.
[0057] In further reference to Fig. 4, the base 1 of the apparatus 100 is
connected at its first end
to a first lateral wall 41 and at its second end to a second lateral wall 42.
The first lateral
wall 41 and second lateral wall 42 each join to an opposite side of the top 8
of the housing.
As shown in Fig. 4, the first lateral wall 41 and the second lateral wall 42
are linear,
identical in thickness and parallel to each other, such that the apparatus has
a substantially
tubular shape. However, any suitable lateral wall configuration may be
utilized. For
example, in some embodiments, the lateral walls may be curvilinear, such as to
form an
apparatus that is substantially spherical or hemispherical. In some
embodiments, the lateral
walls may join to additional walls to form an apparatus having a substantially
cubical,
cuboidal pyramidal or prismatic shape. In some embodiments, the lateral walls
may be
angled in relation to each other, such as to form an apparatus comprising a
substantially
conical or frustoconical shape. In any of the embodiments, the lateral walls
may comprise
identical or variable thicknesses.
[0058] As can be seen in Fig. 4, the housing 4 of the apparatus 100 encloses a
void 50, which
may store E-liquid, and/or through which E-liquid may pass. In some
embodiments, the
void is defined by the interior of: the base 1; the first lateral wall 41; the
second lateral
wall 42; and the top 8 of the housing. In embodiments like those shown in Fig.
4, the void
is defined by the interior walls of: the base 1, the first lateral wall 41,
the second lateral
wall 42; and the internal walls 51. The volume of the void 50 may be adjusted
by re-
configuring the thickness of the base 1, lateral walls 41, 42, interior walls
51 and/or top 8 of
the housing. In addition, or in the alternative, the volume of the void 50 may
be modified by
adding additional interior walls. In general, the volume of the void may be
adjusted in order
to store a predetermined amount of the E-liquid in the chamber, and/or to
deliver a
predetermined amount of E-liquid into the chamber to be filled.
[0059] The top of the apparatus housing may comprise an engagement means for
being connected
to either the top or the bottom of a chamber into which E-liquid is to be
dispensed. Any
suitable engagement means may be used to removeably connect the top of the
housing to the
chamber to be filled so long as the engagement means provides for a seal
between the top of
the housing and the chamber. Useful engagement means are selected from the
group of:
slots; silicone seals; and combinations thereof In the embodiment shown in
Fig. 4, the
engagement means comprises a threaded slot 5. The threaded slot 5 is shown
from a
different perspective in Fig. 5, which is a top plan view of the top 8 of the
apparatus housing
4. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the slot 5 comprises a circular channel that is
located near the
periphery of the top 8 of the housing 4. In this embodiment, the slot 5 is
shaped to accept the
threaded hollow metal ring 234 at the top of the clearomizer chamber 200 that
is shown in
Fig. 2c, or to accept the threaded hollow metal ring at the bottom of the
clearomizer chamber
that is shown in Fig. 3c. The slot 5 may serve as a guide to align the check
valve of the
apparatus with the chamber as described in detail below. Other means of
alignment may be
used instead of or in combination with the slot. Useful means may be selected
from the
group of: slots; metal pins; gasket seals; and combinations thereof In one
embodiment, the
alignment means comprises a pin protruding from the closing member of the
apparatus,
wherein the pin inserts into the vapor chimney.
[0060] Fig. 5 also
shows that in the depicted embodiment, the top 8 of the housing 4
further comprises an opening 60 through which E-liquid is dispensed from the
apparatus
100 into a chamber (not shown). The opening 60 may be sealed by a check valve
6 that
regulates the flow of E-liquid from the apparatus 100. The check valve may
comprise a
closing member 16 having any suitable shape as long as the closing member 16
seals the
opening 60 when the valve is in the closed position such that E-liquid may not
leak from
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the apparatus 100 when it is not in use. Suitable shapes of the closing member
may be
selected from the group of:
spherical, hemispherical, rectangular, conical, cubical,
pyramidal, prismatic, and frusticonical. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4,
the closing
member 16 is frusticonical. The closing member may be made from any suitable
material
as long as it is sufficiently rigid to block and seal the vapor chimney. In
some
embodiments, the closing member comprises: plastic; metal; silicone; and
combinations
thereof.
[0061] The check valve shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is in the closed position. In
the closed position,
the closing member 16 may be seated against the opening 60 by a biasing
member. In the
depicted embodiment, the biasing member is a spring 2, which is connected at a
first end
21 to the closing member 16 and at a second end 22 to the base 1 of the
housing 4. In some
embodiments, the biasing member may be selected from: a spring; a compressible
hydraulic element, such as a sealed air chamber; and combinations thereof The
movement
of the check valve 6 may be restricted such that it will maintain the
positioning of the
biasing member 2 and the movement of the closing member 16. In the embodiment
shown
in Fig. 4, a base support 3 is configured to maintain the spring 2 position.
[0062]
Generally, when in use, the base of the apparatus may be engaged with an E-
liquid storage container using attachment means that prevent leakage of the E-
liquid from
the attachment point. Useful attachment means may be selected from the group
of: welds,
e.g., ultrasonic welds; threads; magnetic connectors; flanges and combinations
thereof.
Fig. 6 shows how an embodiment of the apparatus 100 as depicted in Fig. 4 may
be
sealably attached to an E-liquid container. Specifically, the base 1 of the
apparatus 100 is
inserted into the mouth 401 of an E-liquid bottle 400. In this embodiment,
flanges 11 on
the base 1 of the apparatus 100 holds the E-liquid bottle 400 and apparatus
100 together in
a sealed position. The E-liquid bottle 400 and apparatus 100 may be sold in
this assembled
configuration, i.e., sold as an assembly, and/or stored in this assembled
configuration, i.e.,
stored as an assembly, until the consumer is ready to dispense E-liquid into a
chamber.
[0063] In
use, the top of the apparatus may be engaged with a chamber into which E-
liquid is to be dispensed as follows. The top of the apparatus is aligned and
sealably
connected with the open top of a top-filled chamber, or the open bottom of a
bottom-filled
chamber; this may be accomplished using any suitable means, including, but not
limited to
12
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by being: screwed together via threaded connections; magnetically coupled;
pressure fitted
together; and combinations thereof.
[0064] Fig. 7 shows an example of an apparatus 100 that has been engaged with
the top-filled
chamber 200 shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c. As can be seen in Fig. 7, the top of
the
apparatus 100 and the hollow metal ring 234 that otherwise serves as the
attachment point
between the chamber 200 the mouthpiece 530 (shown in Fig. 2a), are aligned
together via
the slots 5 in the top 8 of the housing 4. Once the top 8 of the apparatus 100
and the
chamber 200 are aligned, they are sealably engaged by screwing them together
(screw
threads not shown). When the apparatus 100 and chamber 200 are engaged, the
vapor
chimney 231 presses against the closing member 6. When the biasing force of
the spring 2
against the closing member 6 is overcome by the force exerted by the vapor
chimney 231
against the closing member 6, the closing member 6 is unseated and the opening
60 is
unsealed. E-Liquid 300 is then free to pass from the apparatus 100 into the
chamber 200.
By virtue of the vapor chimney 231 pressing against the closing member 6, the
vapor
chimney 231 is temporarily sealed so that no E-liquid 300 may pass into the
vapor chimney
231 and potentially contaminate the heat source, in this embodiment, an
atomizer.
[0065] The same apparatus 100 may likewise be used to dispense E-liquid into a
bottom-filled
chamber. Referencing Figs. 3a-c, the top of the apparatus would be attached to
the open
bottom 512 of a chamber at the hollow metal ring 234 that otherwise serves as
the
attachment point for the atomizer assembly 230.
[0066] E-liquid may be dispensed into the clearomizer several ways. First, an
apparatus 100 that
has been attached at its base to an E-liquid container 400 (for example, as
shown in Fig. 6)
may then be joined at its top to the chamber 200 to be filled (for example, as
shown in Fig.
7), and the resulting assembly may be inverted so that E-liquid may flow from
the storage
bottle, through the apparatus and into the chamber. Second, the apparatus 100
and chamber
200 to be filled may first be attached together at the top of the apparatus
100 and then the
bottom of the apparatus may be attached to the storage bottle 400 (for
example, as shown in
Fig. 7) to form an assembly. The resulting assembly may then be inverted so
that E-liquid
may flow from the storage bottle, through the apparatus and into the chamber.
Third, the
apparatus 100 may be attached to the storage bottle 400 (for example, as shown
in Fig. 6)
and filled with E-liquid, detached from the storage bottle 400 and then
attached to the
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chamber 200 to be filled so that E-liquid may flow from the apparatus into the
chamber.
Regardless of which method is used, the apparatus provides for means of
dispensing E-
liquid from (1) a storage bottle into the (2) apparatus and from the apparatus
into a (3)
chamber to be filled without leakage or spillage of the E-liquid from any of
the three and/or
at the points at which they are attached. As a result, there is no accidental
exposure of
humans or animals to the E-liquid.
[0067] Referring to Fig. 7, once the desired amount of E-liquid is
dispensed into the
chamber 200 from the apparatus 100, the apparatus 100 may be disengaged from
the
chamber 200. The disengagement results in the removal of the force exerted by
the vapor
chimney 231 against the closing member 6 such that the biasing force of the
spring 2 forces
the closing member 6 back into the opening 60 (as shown in Fig. 6). Once the
closing
member 6 is re-seated in the opening 60, the apparatus 100 is re-sealed, and
advantageously no E-liquid 300 remaining therein may undesirably leak
therefrom.
[0068] Still referencing Fig. 6, once the apparatus 100 and the chamber 200
are disengaged, the
chamber 200 may be re-sealed such as by screwing a mouthpiece back into place
(as shown
in Fig. 2a). In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may remain engaged with
the E-
liquid storage bottle 400 until such time as the storage bottle is emptied of
its E-liquid
contents. In the alternative, the apparatus 100 may be removed from the
storage bottle 400
and stored for future use.
[0069] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of another embodiment of an
apparatus 100
according to the present disclosure; this embodiment comprises an apparatus
100 that is
pre-loaded with E-liquid 1000. i.e., a "pre-loaded apparatus." By utilizing a
pre-loaded
apparatus, there is no need to transfer E-liquid from a storage bottle into
the apparatus,
which eliminates the associated potential for leakage or spillage. The pre-
loaded apparatus
may be disposable, and may be sold alone or together in a pack. If sold
together in a pack,
the E-liquid contained in pre-loaded apparatuses may be the same or different.
[0070] As can be seen in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the pre-loaded
apparatus 100 has
features in common with the embodiment shown and described above in relation
to Figs. 3
and 4, with the following exceptions: the base 8 of the apparatus 100 does not
comprise
liquid passageways and/or holes.
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[0071] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of another embodiment of an
apparatus 100
according to the present disclosure. The embodiment of the apparatus 100 shown
in Fig. 9
has features in common with the embodiment shown and described above in
relation to
Figs. 3 and 4, with the following exceptions: the positions of the check valve
6 and liquid
passageways and/or holes 7, 7a are reversed, and the mode of connecting the
apparatus to
the chamber to be filled with E-liquid container is also different. These and
other features
of the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 are described below.
[0072] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the housing 4 of the apparatus 100
comprises a base
1 with a flange 11. The base has an opening 60 through which E-liquid may
travel. The
base 1 is connected at its first end to a first lateral wall 41 and at its
second end to a second
lateral wall 42. The first lateral wall 41 and second lateral wall 42 join to
the top 8 of the
housing 4 at opposite sides thereof. The top 8 of the housing 4 may be shaped
in any
suitable way to be engaged with the open portion of a chamber to be filled
with E-liquid
(not shown). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the top 8 of the housing 4 has
a
frustoconical shape so that it may be inserted into the mouth of an E-liquid
storage bottle
(not shown).
[0073] The opening 60 in the base of the apparatus in Fig. 9 is reversibly
sealed by a
check valve 6. Check valves of use may comprise a closing member having any
suitable
shape, including, but not limited to: spherical, hemispherical, rectangular,
conical, or
frusticonical. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the check valve 6 comprises
a closing
member 16 that is spherical. The check valve 6 shown in Fig. 9 is in the
closed position.
In the closed position, the closing member 16 is seated against the opening 60
by a biasing
member. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the biasing member is a spring 2,
which is
connected at a first end 21 to the closing member 16 and at a second end 22 to
the base 1 of
an interior wall 53 of the housing 4. The movement of the check valve 6 may be
restricted
such that it will maintain the position of the biasing member 2, and the
movement of the
closing member 16, In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, a base support 3 is
configured to
maintain the spring 2 position.
[0074] In embodiments like the one shown in Fig. 9, the housing 4 encloses a
void 50, which
may contain E-liquid, and/or through which E-liquid may pass. Like the
embodiment
shown and described in relating to Figs. 4 and 5, the volume of the void 50 in
the present
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embodiment may be adjusted by re-configuring the thickness of the lateral
walls 42 and
interior walls 51, 53 and/or adding additional internal wall(s). In general,
the volume of the
void 50 may be adjusted in order to store and/or deliver a predetermined
amount of E-
liquid into the chamber 200.
[0075] In embodiments like the one shown in Fig. 9, the top 8 of the housing
comprises at least
one passageway in communication with the void 50, and through which liquid may
travel.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, two liquid passageways 7 extend through an
interior
wall 51a of the housing 4 adjacent to the top 8 of the housing 4, and end at
holes 7a in the
top 8 of the housing 4. In general, the liquid passageway and/or holes may be
discrete
structures or integral structures. Like the embodiment shown and described in
relating to
Figs. 4 and 5, the liquid passageway and/or holes in the presently described
embodiment
may be formed in any suitable way using structural means. Non-limiting
examples of
useful structural means may be selected from: o-rings; ports; metal rings;
rubber rings;
silicone rings; and combinations thereof.
[0076] As shown in Fig. 10, the base 1 of the apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 9,
may be inserted
into the opening 401 of an E-liquid storage container 400, which in the
depicted
embodiment is a storage bottle containing the E-liquid 300 to be dispensed
into the
chamber 200. The flange 11 on the base 1 of the apparatus 100 may hold the
storage bottle
400 and apparatus 100 together, such as by engaging an inside thread in the
mouth of the
bottle. In some embodiments, the flange may flare so that the apparatus may no
longer be
disengaged from the storage bottle without irreversibly damaging the inside
thread(s) in the
mouth of the storage bottle The storage bottle 400 and apparatus 100 may then
be
inverted, and the top 8 of the apparatus 100 aligned with the open top 301 of
the chamber
200 to be filled with E-liquid 300. Alignment of the top 8 of the apparatus
100 and open
top 301 of the chamber 200 may be accomplished using any suitable means,
including by
shaping the top 8 of the housing 4 of the apparatus 100 to fit snugly inside
the open top 301
of the chamber 200 as shown in Fig. 10, or alternatively, by shaping the top 8
of the
housing 4 to fit snugly on the outside of the open top of the chamber (not
shown) to be
filled with E-Liquid 300.
[0077] As can be seen in Fig. 11, the top 8 of the apparatus 100 and the metal
ring 234 on the top
of the chamber 200 are aligned together and engaged such that the interior
wall 51a of the
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housing 4 adjacent to the top 8 of the housing 4, presses against the vapor
chimney 231,
and seals it against entry of E-liquid 300, and potential contamination of the
vapor chimney
231.
[0078] E-liquid may then be dispensed into the cartomizer 520 as follows. When
the biasing
force of the spring 2 against the closing member 6 is overcome by a force
exerted by a
consumer squeezing the storage bottle 400 containing the E-liquid, the closing
member 6 is
unseated and the opening 60 is unsealed. E-Liquid 300 is then free to pass
into the
chamber 200, after which it is gravity fed and/or pushed by squeezing the
bottle through
the apparatus and into the chamber to be filled. By virtue of the vapor
chimney 231
pressing against the closing member 6, the vapor chimney 231 is sealed off so
that no E-
liquid 300 may pass into the vapor chimney 231 and potentially contaminate the
heat
source, in this embodiment, an atomizer (not shown).
[0079] The same apparatus 100 may likewise be used to dispense E-liquid into a
bottom-filled
chamber. Referencing Figs. 3a-c, the top of the apparatus would be attached to
the open
bottom 512 of a chamber at the hollow metal ring 234 that otherwise serves as
the
attachment point for the atomizer assembly 230.
[0080] Once the desired amount of E-liquid 300 is dispensed into the chamber
200, the force
exerted by squeezing the storage bottle 400 is removed, such as by the
consumer relaxing
his or her grip on the storage bottle 400. Removal of this force allows the
biasing force of
the spring 2 to force the closing member 6 back into the opening 60. Once the
closing
member 6 is re-seated in the opening 60, the apparatus 100 is re-sealed, and
no E-liquid
300 remaining therein may escape. Generally, E-liquid is prevented from
escaping from
the fluid passageways 7 in the top 8 of the apparatus 100 by capillary action
acting on the
viscous E-liquid and by the exertion of negative pressure on the E-liquid in
the fluid
passageways 7 resulting from the consumer relaxing his or her grip on the
storage bottle
400. Moreover, no E-liquid 300 may flow from the storage bottle 400 into the
apparatus
100. Likewise, no E-liquid 300 may accidentally leak or spill from the storage
bottle 400.
[0081] Once the apparatus 100 and the chamber 200 are disengaged, the
chamber 200
may be re-sealed such as by screwing the mouthpiece (not shown) of the chamber
200 back
into place. The apparatus 100 may be retained in an engaged position with the
E-liquid
storage bottle 400 until such time as the storage bottle 400 is emptied of its
E-liquid 300
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contents. Should the bottle 400 accidentally be squeezed while the apparatus
100 and
storage bottle 400 are engaged, no leakage of the E-liquid 300 outside of the
storage bottle
400 may occur, thus preventing any unwanted contact with the E-liquid 300.
[0082] EVDs 500 that are currently on the market vary in shape and size. In
order for the
apparatus 100 to be used with a wide variety of EVDs 500, the apparatus may
further
comprise one or more adapters 600. The adapter 600 may be integral to the
apparatus 100
or may be attached thereto as needed. For example, a relatively short adapter
600 may be
useful for connecting the apparatus 100 to a chamber 200 having a relatively
tall vapor
chimney 231 so that the vapor chimney 231 is effectively sealed off by the
closing member
16 during E-liquid dispensing as discussed above. Likewise, a relatively
longer adapter
600 may be useful for connecting the apparatus 100 to a chamber 200 having a
relatively
short vapor chimney 231. In a further example, the apparatus 100 may have a
smaller or
larger width or diameter than the top of the chamber 200, and as such, an
adapter would
enable the apparatus 100 to be inserted into or around a chamber 200 that it
would not
otherwise fit. By utilizing an adapter 600 that is universal or a set of
adapters 600 having
different sizes, in conjunction with the apparatus 100, a variety of chambers
200, such as
chambers 200 made by different manufacturers, may be filled using a single
apparatus 100.
[0083] For instance, Fig. 12 shows an adaptor 600 for use with a top-filled
EVD 500.
Adaptor 600 comprises a top 602, a bottom 608, and a wall 610 extending
between the top
602 and the bottom 608. Adaptor 600 further comprises a tube 630 extending
centrally
through the adaptor 600. The top 602 includes an opening 604 configured to
receive the
top 8 of the apparatus 100. When the apparatus 100 is coupled with the adapter
600, the
closing member 16 of the apparatus is aligned with the tube 630 of the adapter
600. The
bottom 608 of the adapter 600 is then coupled with the chamber 200 of the EVD
500 such
that the chimney 231 is aligned with the tube 630 of the adapter 600. With
chimney 231
aligned with tube 630 and closing member 16, chimney 231 is sealed off so that
no E-liquid
300 may pass into the chimney 231 and potentially contaminate the heat source,
in this
embodiment, an atomizer (not shown). The height of tube 630 thereby allows
adapter 600
to account for chimneys 231 of varying heights.
[0084] As also shown in Fig. 12, the diameter of the EVD 500 is larger than
the diameter of the
apparatus 100. Accordingly, the diameter of the bottom 608 of the adapter 600
is sized to
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correspond to the diameter of the EVD 500, while the diameter of the opening
604 of the
top 602 is sized to correspond to the diameter of the apparatus 100. In other
embodiments,
the diameter of the EVD 500 is smaller than the diameter of the apparatus 100.
The opening
604 and the bottom 608 of the adapter 600 can be adjusted to accommodate this.
Adapter
600 thereby allows an apparatus 100 to be used with EVDs 500 of varying sizes
relative to
the apparatus 100.
[0085] Fig. 13 shows another adapter 600 that is similar to the adapter 600
described above,
except that the adapter 600 of Fig. 13 is for use with a bottom-filled EVD
500. Referencing
Figs. 3a-c, the bottom of the adapter 608 would be attached to the open bottom
512 of a
chamber at the hollow metal ring 234 that otherwise serves as the attachment
point for the
atomizer assembly 230.
[0086] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is therefore
intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications
that are within
the scope of this invention.
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