Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Vaporizer Device with Vaporizer Cartridge
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[1] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
62/913,135, entitled
"HEATING ELEMENT" and filed on October 9, 2019, U.S. Provisional Application
No.
62/812,148, entitled "RESERVOIR OVERFLOW CONTROL WITH CONSTRICTION
POINTS and filed on February 28, 2019, U.S. Provisional Application No.
62/812,161,
entitled "CARTRIDGE FOR A VAPORIZER DEVICE" and filed on February 28, 2019,
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/915,005, entitled "CARTRIDGE FOR A
VAPORIZER DEVICE" and filed on October 14, 2019, U.S. Provisional Application
No.
62/930,508, entitled "VAPORIZER DEVICE" and filed on November 4, 2019, U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/947,496, entitled "VAPORIZER DEVICE" and filed
on
December 12, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/981,498, entitled
"VAPORIZER DEVICE WITH VAPORIZER CARTRIDGE" and filed on February 25,
2020. The disclosures of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by
reference
in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[2] The subject matter described herein relates generally to vaporizer devices
and more
specifically to a vaporizer device configured to couple with a vaporizer
cartridge.
BACKGROUND
[3] Vaporizer devices, which can also be referred to as vaporizers, electronic
vaporizer devices
or e-vaporizer devices, can be used for delivery of an aerosol (or "vapor")
containing one
or more active ingredients by inhalation of the aerosol by a user of the
vaporizing device.
For example, electronic cigarettes, which may also be referred to as e-
cigarettes, are a class
of vaporizer devices that are typically battery powered and that may be used
to simulate
the experience of cigarette smoking, but without burning of tobacco or other
substances.
[4] In use of a vaporizer device, the user inhales an aerosol, commonly called
vapor, which
may be generated by a heating element that vaporizes (which generally refers
to causing a
liquid or solid to at least partially transition to the gas phase) a
vaporizable material, which
may be liquid, a solution, a solid, a wax, or any other form as may be
compatible with use
of a specific vaporizer device. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer
can be
provided within a cartridge (e.g., a part of the vaporizer that contains the
vaporizable
material in a reservoir) that includes a mouthpiece (e.g., for inhalation by a
user).
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[5] To receive the inhalable aerosol generated by a vaporizer device, a user
may, in certain
examples, activate the vaporizer device by taking a puff, by pressing a
button, or by some
other approach. A puff, as the term is generally used (and also used herein),
refers to
inhalation by the user in a manner that causes a volume of air to be drawn
into the vaporizer
device such that the inhalable aerosol is generated by a combination of
vaporized
vaporizable material with the air.
[6] A typical approach by which a vaporizer device generates an inhalable
aerosol from a
vaporizable material involves heating the vaporizable material in a
vaporization chamber
(or a heater chamber) to cause the vaporizable material to be converted to the
gas (or vapor)
phase. A vaporization chamber generally refers to an area or volume in the
vaporizer device
within which a heat source (e.g., conductive, convective, and/or radiative)
causes heating
of a vaporizable material to produce a mixture of air and vaporized
vaporizable material to
form a vapor for inhalation by a user of the vaporization device.
[7] In some vaporizer device embodiments, the vaporizable material can be
drawn out of a
reservoir and into the vaporization chamber via a wicking element (a wick).
Such drawing
of the vaporizable material into the vaporization chamber can be due, at least
in part, to
capillary action provided by the wick, which pulls the vaporizable material
along the wick
in the direction of the vaporization chamber. However, as vaporizable material
is drawn
out of the reservoir, the pressure inside the reservoir is reduced, thereby
creating a vacuum
and acting against the capillary action. This can reduce the effectiveness of
the wick to
draw the vaporizable material into the vaporization chamber, thereby reducing
the
effectiveness of the vaporization device to vaporize a desired amount of
vaporizable
material, such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device.
Furthermore, the
vacuum created in the reservoir can ultimately result in the inability to draw
all of the
vaporizable material into the vaporization chamber, thereby wasting
vaporizable material.
As such, improved vaporization devices and/or vaporization cartridges that
improve upon
or overcome these issues is desired.
[8] The term vaporizer device, as used herein consistent with the current
subject matter,
generally refers to portable, self-contained, devices that are convenient for
personal use.
Typically, such devices are controlled by one or more switches, buttons, touch
sensitive
devices, or other user input functionality or the like (which can be referred
to generally as
controls) on the vaporizer, although a number of devices that may wirelessly
communicate
with an external controller (e.g., a smartphone, a smart watch, other wearable
electronic
devices, etc.) have recently become available. Control, in this context,
refers generally to
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an ability to influence one or more of a variety of operating parameters,
which may include
without limitation any of causing the heater to be turned on and/or off,
adjusting a minimum
and/or maximum temperature to which the heater is heated during operation,
various games
or other interactive features that a user might access on a device, and/or
other operations.
[9] Various vaporizable materials having a variety of contents and proportions
of such contents
can be contained in the cartridge. Some vaporizable materials, for example,
may have a
smaller percentage of active ingredients per total volume of vaporizable
material, such as
due to regulations requiring certain active ingredient percentages. As such, a
user may
need to vaporize a large amount of vaporizable material (e.g., compared to the
overall
volume of vaporizable material that can be stored in a cartridge) to achieve a
desired effect.
SUMMARY
[10] In certain aspects of the current subject matter, challenges associated
with the presence
of liquid vaporizable materials in or near certain susceptible components of
an electronic
vaporizer device may be addressed by inclusion of one or more of the features
described
herein or comparable/equivalent approaches as would be understood by one of
ordinary
skill in the art. In one aspect, there is provided a cartridge for a vaporizer
device. The
cartridge may include: a cartridge housing, the cartridge housing configured
to extend
below an open top of a receptacle in the vaporizer device when the cartridge
is coupled
with the vaporizer device; a reservoir disposed within the cartridge housing,
the reservoir
configured to contain a vaporizable material; a wick housing disposed within
the cartridge
housing; a heating element, the heating element including a heating portion
disposed at
least partially inside the wick housing and a contact portion disposed at
least partially
outside the wick housing, the contact portion including one or more cartridge
contacts
configured to form an electric coupling with one or more receptacle contacts
in the
receptacle of the vaporizer device; and a wicking element disposed within the
wick housing
and proximate to the heating portion of the heating element, the wicking
element
configured to draw the vaporizable material from the reservoir to the wick
housing for
vaporization by the heating element.
1111 In some variations, one or more features disclosed herein including the
following
features may optionally be included in any feasible combination. The contact
portion may
be further configured to form a mechanical coupling with the receptacle of the
vaporizer
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device. The mechanical coupling may secure the cartridge in the receptacle of
the vaporizer
device.
[12] In some variations, the receptacle may be a first portion of a body of
the vaporizer
device having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than a second portion of the
body of the
vaporizer device. A recessed area may be formed between the cartridge housing
and the
second portion of the body of the vaporizer device when the cartridge is
coupled with the
vaporizer device.
[13] In some variations, the receptacle may include one or more air inlets
that form a fluid
coupling with one or more slots in a bottom of the wick housing when the
cartridge is
coupled with the vaporizer device. The one or more slots may be configured to
allow air
entering the one or more air inlets to further enter the wick housing. The one
or more air
inlets may be disposed in the recessed area. The one or more air inlets may
have a diameter
of between approximately 0.6 millimeters and 1.0 millimeters.
[14] In some variations, an interior of each of the one or more slots may
include at least one
step formed by an inner dimension of the one or more slots being less than a
dimension of
the one or more slots at the bottom of the wick housing. The at least one step
may provide
a constriction point at which a meniscus forms to prevent the vaporizable
material in the
wick housing from flowing out of the one or more slots. The dimension of the
one or more
slots at the bottom of the wick housing may be approximately 1.2 millimeters
long by 0.5
millimeters wide. The inner dimension of the one or more slots may be
approximately 1
millimeters long by 0.3 millimeters wide.
[15] In some variations, the heating portion of the heating element and the
contact portion
of the heating element may be formed by folding a substrate material. The
substrate
material may be cut to include one or more tines for forming the heating
portion of the
heating element. The substrate material may be further cut to include one or
more legs for
forming the contact portion of the heating element.
[16] In some variations, the contact portion of the heating element may be
formed by folding
each of the one or more legs to form at least a first joint, a second joint,
and a third joint.
The first joint may be disposed between the second joint and the third joint.
The second
joint may be disposed between a tip of each of the one or more legs and the
first joint.
[17] In some variations, the one or more cartridge contacts may be disposed at
the second
joint. The heating element may be secured to the wicking housing by a first
mechanical
coupling between an exterior of the wick housing and a portion of each of the
one or more
legs between the first joint and the third joint. The cartridge may be secured
to the
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receptacle of the vaporizer device by a second mechanical coupling between the
second
joint and the receptacle of the vaporizer device.
[18] In some variations, the one or more cartridge contacts may be disposed at
the first joint.
The heating element may be secured to the wick housing by a first mechanical
coupling
between an exterior of the wick housing and a portion of each of the one or
more legs
between the tip and the second joint. The cartridge may be secured to the
receptacle of the
vaporizer device by a second mechanical coupling between the first joint and
the receptacle
of the vaporizer device.
[19] In some variations, the reservoir may include a storage chamber and a
collector. The
collector may include an overflow channel configured to retain a volume of the
vaporizable
material in fluid contact with the storage chamber. One or more microfluidic
features may
be disposed along a length of the overflow channel. Each of the one or more
microfluidic
features may be configured to provide a constriction point at which a meniscus
forms to
prevent air entering the reservoir from passing the vaporizable material in
the overflow
channel.
[20] In some variations, the cartridge housing may include an airflow
passageway leading
to an outlet for an aerosol that is formed by the heating element vaporizing
the vaporizable
material. The collector may include a central tunnel in fluid communication
with the
airflow passageway. A bottom surface of the collector may include a flow
controller
configured to mix the aerosol generated by the heating element vaporizing the
vaporizable
material.
[21] In some variations, an interior surface of the airflow passageway may
include one or
more channels that extend from the outlet to the wicking element. The one or
more
channels may be configured to collect a condensate formed by the aerosol and
direct at
least a portion the collected condensate towards the wicking element.
[22] In some variations, the flow controller may include a first channel and a
second channel.
The first channel may be offset from the second channel. A first interior
surface of the first
channel may be sloped in a different direction from a second interior surface
of the second
channel to direct a first column of the aerosol entering the central tunnel
through the first
channel in a different direction than a second column of the aerosol entering
the central
tunnel through the second channel.
[23] In some variations, the bottom surface of the controller may further
include one or more
wick interfaces. The one or more wick interfaces may be in fluid communication
with one
or more wick feeds in the collector. The one or more wick feeds may be
configured to
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deliver, to the wicking element disposed in the wick housing, at least a
portion of the
vaporizable material contained in the storage chamber.
[24] In some variations, the wick housing may be disposed at least partially
inside the
receptacle of the vaporizer device when the cartridge is coupled with the
vaporizer device.
A flange is disposed at least partially around an upper perimeter of the wick
housing. The
flange may extend over at least a portion of a rim of the cartridge
receptacle.
[25] In another aspect, there is provided a vaporizer device. The vaporizer
cartridge may
include: a receptacle comprising a first portion of a body of the vaporizer
device, the
receptacle including one or more receptacle contacts, the receptacle
configured to receive
a wick housing of a cartridge containing a vaporizable material when the
cartridge is
coupled with the vaporizer device, a housing of the cartridge extending below
an open top
of the receptacle when the cartridge is coupled with the vaporizer device, the
one or more
receptacle contacts configured to form an electric coupling with one or more
cartridge
contacts comprising a contact portion of a heating element in the cartridge,
the contact
portion disposed at least partially outside the wick housing; a power source
disposed at
least partially within a second portion of the body of the vaporizer device;
and a controller
configured to control a discharge of an electric current from the power source
to the heating
element included in the cartridge when the cartridge is coupled with the
vaporizer device,
the electric current being discharged to the heating element to vaporize at
least a portion of
the vaporizable material saturating a wicking element disposed within the wick
housing
and proximate to a heating portion of the heating element.
[26] In some variations, one or more features disclosed herein including the
following
features may optionally be included in any feasible combination. The
receptacle may be
further configured to form a mechanical coupling with the contact portion of
the heating
element, and wherein the mechanical coupling secures the cartridge in the
receptacle of the
vaporizer device.
[27] In some variations, the first portion of the body of the vaporizer device
may have a
smaller cross-sectional dimension than the second portion of the body of the
vaporizer
device. A recessed area may be formed between the second portion of the body
of the
vaporizer device and the cartridge housing when the cartridge is coupled with
the vaporizer
device.
[28] In some variations, the receptacle may include one or more air inlets
that form a fluid
coupling with one or more slots in a bottom of the wick housing when the
cartridge is
coupled with the vaporizer device. The one or more slots may be configured to
allow air
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entering the one or more air inlets to further enter the wick housing. The one
or more air
inlets may be disposed in the recessed area. The one or more air inlets may
have a diameter
between approximately 0.6 millimeters and 1.0 millimeters.
[29] In some variations, the receptacle may be disposed within the first
portion of the body
of the vaporizer device such that a top rim of the receptacle is substantially
flush with a top
rim of the first portion of the body of the vaporizer device.
[30] In some variations, the receptacle may be configured receive a portion of
the wick
housing such that a flange disposed at least partially around an upper
perimeter of the wick
housing extends over at least a portion of the top rim of the cartridge
receptacle and/or the
top rim of the first portion of the body of the vaporizer device. The
receptacle may be
approximately 4.5 millimeters deep.
[31] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described
herein are set forth
in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and
advantages
of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description
and drawings,
and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[32] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a
part of this
specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein
and, together with the
description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed
implementations.
In the drawings:
[33] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram illustrating an example of a vaporizer
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[34] FIG. 2A depicts a planar cross-sectional view of an example of a
cartridge having a
storage chamber and an overflow volume consistent with implementations of the
current
subj ect matter;
[35] FIG. 2B depicts a planar cross-sectional view of an example of a
cartridge having a
storage chamber and an overflow volume consistent with implementations of the
current
subj ect matter;
[36] FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of a cartridge having one example of a
connector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[37] FIG. 3B depicts a perspective view of a cartridge having another example
of a connector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
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[38] FIG. 3C depicts a planar cross-sectional view of a cartridge having one
example of a
connector consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[39] FIG. 3D depicts a planar cross-sectional view of a cartridge having
another example
of a connector of consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter;
[40] FIG. 3E depicts a perspective cross-sectional view of a cartridge having
an example of
a connector consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[41] FIG. 3F depicts a planar top view of a cartridge having an example of a
connector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[42] FIG. 4A depicts a closed perspective view of an example of a cartridge
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[43] FIG. 4B depicts an exploded perspective view of an example of a cartridge
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[44] FIG. 4C depicts another closed perspective view of an example of a
cartridge consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[45] FIG. 4D depicts a closed side view of an example of a cartridge
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[46] FIG. 5A depicts a side planar view of an example of a collector
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[47] FIG. 5B depicts a side planar view of a cartridge including an example of
a collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[48] FIG. 5C depicts a perspective view and a side planar view of an example
of a collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[49] FIG. 5D depicts a perspective view and a side planar view of an example
of a collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[50] FIG. 5E depicts a perspective view and a side planar view of an example
of a collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[51] FIG. 5F depicts a side view of an example of a collector consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[52] FIG. 5G depicts a front view of an example of a collector consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[53] FIG. 5H depicts a perspective view of a portion of an example of a
collector consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[54] FIG. 51 depicts a top perspective view of an example of a collector
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
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[55] FIG. 5J depicts a side perspective view of a portion of an example of a
collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[56] FIG. 5K depicts a top perspective view of a portion of an example of a
collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter
[57] FIG. 5L depicts an example of a fluid flow management mechanism in a
collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[58] FIG. 5M depicts an example of a fluid flow management mechanism in a
collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[59] FIG. 5N depicts an example of a fluid flow management mechanism in a
collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[60] FIG. 6A depicts a side view of an example of a collector consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[61] FIG. 6B depicts a side view of another example of a collector consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[62] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view, a frontal view, a side view, and an
exploded view of
an example of a cartridge consistent with implementations of the current
subject matter;
[63] FIG. 8A depicts a perspective view, a frontal view, a side view, a bottom
view, and a
top view of an example a collector consistent with implementations of the
current subject
matter;
[64] FIG. 8B depicts a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an
example a collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[65] FIG. 8C depicts a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an
example a collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[66] FIG. 8D depicts a top planar view of an example of a wick feed mechanism
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[67] FIG. 8E depicts a top planar view of an example of a wick feed mechanism
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[68] FIG. 8F depicts a top planar view of an example of a wick feed mechanism
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[69] FIG. 9A depicts a perspective view of an example of a cartridge
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[70] FIG. 9B depicts a frontal view of an example of a cartridge consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter;
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[71] FIG. 9C depicts a side view of an example of a cartridge consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[72] FIG. 10A depicts a frontal view of a cartridge having an example of a
condensate
recycling system consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter;
[73] FIG. 10B depicts atop view of a cartridge having an example of a
condensate recycling
system consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[74] FIG. 10C depicts a bottom view of a cartridge having an example of a
condensate
recycling system consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter;
[75] FIG. 10D depicts another frontal view a cartridge having an example of a
condensate
recycling system consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter;
[76] FIG. 10E depicts another top view of a cartridge having an example of a
condensate
recycling system consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter;
[77] FIG. 11A depicts a frontal view of a cartridge having an example of an
external airflow
path consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[78] FIG. 11B depicts a frontal view of a cartridge having an example of an
external airflow
path consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[79] FIG. 12A depicts a perspective view, a top view, a bottom view, and
various side views
of an example of a wick housing consistent with implementations of the current
subject matter;
[80] FIG. 12B depicts perspective views of an example of a collector and wick
housing
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[81] FIG. 13A depicts a perspective exploded view of an example of a cartridge
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[82] FIG. 13B depicts a top perspective view of an example of a cartridge
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[83] FIG. 13C depicts a bottom perspective view of an example of a cartridge
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[84] FIG. 14 depicts a schematic view of a heating element for use in a
vaporizer device
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[85] FIG. 15 depicts a schematic view of a heating element for use in a
vaporizer device
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[86] FIG. 16 depicts a schematic view of a heating element for use in a
vaporizer device
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
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[87] FIG. 17 depicts a schematic view of a heating element positioned in a
vaporizer
cartridge for use in a vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the
current subject
matter;
[88] FIG. 18A depicts a perspective view of a heating element consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[89] FIG. 18B depicts a side view of a heating element consistent with
implementations of
the current subject matter;
[90] FIG. 18C depicts a frontal view of a heating element consistent with
implementations
of the current subject matter;
[91] FIG. 18D depicts a perspective view of a heating element and a wicking
element
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[92] FIG. 18E depicts a bottom perspective view of a wick housing including a
heating
element consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[93] FIG. 19 depicts a perspective view of a heating element in a bent
position consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[94] FIG. 20 depicts a side view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[95] FIG. 21 depicts a top view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[96] FIG. 22 depicts a front view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[97] FIG. 23 depicts a perspective view of a heating element in an unbent
position consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[98] FIG. 24 depicts a top view of a heating element in an unbent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[99] FIG. 25A depicts a perspective view of a heating element in a bent
position consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[100] FIG. 25B depicts a perspective view of a heating element in a bent
position consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[101] FIG. 26 depicts a side view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[102] FIG. 27 depicts a top view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
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[103] FIG. 28 depicts a front view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[104] FIG. 29A depicts a perspective view of a heating element in an unbent
position
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[105] FIG. 29B depicts a perspective view of a heating element in an unbent
position
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[106] FIG. 30A depicts a top view of a heating element in an unbent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[107] FIG. 30B depicts a top view of a heating element in an unbent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[108] FIG. 31 shows a top perspective view of an atomizer assembly consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[109] FIG. 32 shows a bottom perspective view of an atomizer assembly
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[110] FIG. 33 depicts an exploded perspective view of an atomizer assembly
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
11111 FIG. 34A depicts a side cross-sectional view of an atomizer assembly
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[112] FIG. 34B depicts another side cross-sectional view of an atomizer
assembly consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[113] FIG. 35 depicts a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a heating
element
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[114] FIG. 36 depicts a perspective view of a heating element in a bent
position consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[115] FIG. 37 depicts a side view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[116] FIG. 38 depicts a perspective view of a heating element in a bent
position consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[117] FIG. 39 depicts a side view of a heating element in a bent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[118] FIG. 40 depicts a top view of a substrate material with a heating
element consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[119] FIG. 41 depicts a top view of a heating element in an unbent position
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
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[120] FIG. 42A depicts a top perspective view of an atomizer assembly
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[121] FIG. 42B depicts a close-up view of a portion of a wick housing of an
atomizer
assembly consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[122] FIG. 43 depicts a bottom perspective view of an atomizer assembly
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[123] FIG. 44 depicts an exploded perspective view of an atomizer assembly
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[124] FIG. 45A depicts a side cross-sectional view of an example of a
condensate recycler
system consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[125] FIG. 45B depicts a first perspective view of an example of a condensate
recycler system
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[126] FIG. 45C depicts a second perspective view of an example of a condensate
recycler
system consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[127] FIG. 46 depicts an exploded view of a vaporizer device consistent with
implementations
of the current subject matter;
[128] FIG. 47A depicts an example of receptacle contacts consistent with
implementations of
the current subject matter
[129] FIG. 47B depicts another example of receptacle contacts consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[130] FIG. 47C depicts another example of receptacle contacts consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[131] FIG. 47D depicts a perspective view of an example of a cartridge
receptacle consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[132] FIG. 47E depicts a top perspective view of a vaporizer body including an
example of a
cartridge receptacle consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter;
[133] FIG. 48A depicts a side cut out view of a cartridge disposed within a
cartridge
receptacle consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[134] FIG. 48B depicts another side cut out view of a cartridge disposed
within a cartridge
receptacle consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[135] FIG. 48C depicts a partial view of a side of a vaporizer cartridge
coupled with a
vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[136] FIG. 48D depicts another partial view of a side of a vaporizer cartridge
coupled with a
vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
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[137] FIG. 48E depicts another partial view of a side of a vaporizer cartridge
coupled with a
vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[138] FIG. 48F depicts heat maps illustrating the distribution of air pressure
and airflow
velocity around air inlets consistent with implementations of the current
subject matter;
[139] FIG. 49A depicts a top perspective view of an example of a vaporizer
body shell
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[140] FIG. 49B depicts a cross-sectional view of an example of an assembled
vaporizer body
shell consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[141] FIG. 50A depicts a cross-sectional view of a wick housing consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[142] FIG. 50B depicts another cross-sectional view of a wick housing
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[143] FIGS. MA depicts a perspective view of another example of a heating
element
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[144] FIG. MB depicts a side view of another example of a heating element
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[145] FIG. MC depicts a frontal view of another example of a heating element
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[146] FIG. MD depicts a top view of another example of a heating element
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[147] FIG. 52A depicts a bottom view of an example of a collector consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[148] FIG. 52B depicts a front cross-sectional view of an example of a
collector consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[149] FIG. 52C depicts another front cross-sectional view of an example of a
collector
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;
[150] FIG. 52D depicts a side cross-sectional view of an example of a
collector consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter;
[151] FIG. 52E depicts a perspective view of an example of a collector
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter;
[152] FIG. 52F depicts an example of laminar flow and an example of turbulent
flow
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter; and
[153] FIG. 53 depicts a resistance measurement for an example of a heating
element
consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.
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[154] When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures,
features, or
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[155] Implementations of the current subject matter include devices relating
to vaporizing of
one or more materials for inhalation by a user. The term "vaporizer" is used
generically in
the following description to refer to a vaporizer device. Examples of
vaporizers consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter include electronic
vaporizers, electronic
cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or the like. Such vaporizers are generally portable,
hand-held
devices that heat a vaporizable material to provide an inhalable dose of the
material.
[156] The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer may optionally be
provided within a
cartridge (e.g., a part of the vaporizer that contains the vaporizable
material in a reservoir
or other container and that can be refillable when empty or disposable in
favor of a new
cartridge containing additional vaporizable material of a same or different
type). A
vaporizer may be a cartridge-using vaporizer, a cartridge-less vaporizer, or a
multi-use
vaporizer capable of use with or without a cartridge. For example, a multi-use
vaporizer
may include a heating chamber (e.g., an oven) configured to receive a
vaporizable material
directly in the heating chamber and also to receive a cartridge or other
replaceable device
having a reservoir, a volume, or the like for at least partially containing a
usable amount of
vaporizable material.
[157] In various implementations, a vaporizer may be configured for use with
liquid
vaporizable material (e.g., a carrier solution in which an active and/or
inactive ingredient(s)
are suspended or held in solution or a neat liquid form of the vaporizable
material itself) or
a solid vaporizable material. A solid vaporizable material may include a plant
material that
emits some part of the plant material as the vaporizable material (e.g., such
that some part
of the plant material remains as waste after the vaporizable material is
emitted for inhalation
by a user) or optionally can be a solid form of the vaporizable material
itself (e.g., a "wax")
such that all of the solid material can eventually be vaporized for
inhalation. A liquid
vaporizable material can likewise be capable of being completely vaporized or
can include
some part of the liquid material that remains after all of the material
suitable for inhalation
has been consumed.
[158] In some aspects, leakage of liquid vaporizable material out of the
vaporizer cartridge
and/or other part of a vaporizer may occur. Additionally, consistency of
manufacturing
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quality of a heating element of the vaporizer may be especially important
during scaled
and/or automated manufacturing processes. Further, vaporizer use may operate
with
particular power requirements that may result in shorter battery run time, can
result in
shorter run time at lower temperatures, can result in faster battery aging,
and may affect
battery performance.
[159] Implementations of the current subject matter may also provide
advantages and benefits
in regard to these issues. For example, various features are described herein
for controlling
airflow as well as flow of the vaporizable material, which may provide
advantages and
improvements relative to existing approaches, while also introducing
additional benefits as
described herein. The vaporizer devices and/or cartridges described herein
include one or more
features that control and improve airflow in the vaporization device and/or
cartridge, thereby
improving the efficiency and effectiveness of vaporizing the liquid
vaporizable material by the
vaporizer device without introducing additional features that might lead to
leaks of liquid
vaporizable material or accumulation of condensate collecting along one or
more internal
channels and outlets.
[160] For example, a heating element may be stamped from a sheet of material
and may be
bent to conform to a shape of at least a portion of a wicking element.
Configurations of the
heating element may allow for more consistent and enhanced quality
manufacturing of the
heating element and may help to reduce tolerance issues that may arise during
manufacturing
processes when assembling a heating element having multiple components. The
heating
element may also improve the accuracy of measurements taken from the heating
element (e.g.,
a resistance, a current, a temperature, etc.) due at least in part to the
improved consistency in
manufacturability of the heating element having reduced tolerance issues. A
stamped and
shaped heating element may desirably help to minimize heat losses and helps to
ensure that the
heating element may behave predictably to be heated to the appropriate
temperature.
[161] To further illustrate, FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram illustrating an
example of a
vaporizer 100 . As shown in FIG. 1, the vaporizer 100 may include a power
source 112
(e.g., a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, a
fuel cell,
and/or the like) and a controller 104 (e.g., a processor, circuitry, etc.
capable of executing
logic). The controller 104 may be configured to control the delivery of heat
to an atomizer
141 to cause a vaporizable material to be converted from a condensed form
(e.g., a solid, a
liquid, a solution, a suspension, a part of an at least partially unprocessed
plant material,
etc.) to a gas phase. For example, the controller 104 may control the delivery
of heat to the
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atomizer 141 by at least controlling a discharge of current from the power
source 112 to
the atomizer 141. The controller 104 may be part of one or more printed
circuit boards
(PCBs) consistent with certain implementations of the current subject matter.
[162] After conversion of the vaporizable material to the gas phase, and
depending on the
type of vaporizer, the physical and chemical properties of the vaporizable
material, and/or
other factors, at least some of the gas-phase vaporizable material may
condense to form
particulate matter in at least a partial local equilibrium with the gas phase
as part of an
aerosol. The vaporizable material in the condensed phase (e.g., the
particulate matter) in
at least partial local equilibrium with the vaporizable material in the gas
phase may form
some or all of an inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer 100 for a given
puff or draw on
the vaporizer 100. It will be understood that the interplay between the
vaporizable material
in the gas phase and in the condensed phase in an aerosol generated by the
vaporizer 100
can be complex and dynamic, as factors such as ambient temperature, relative
humidity,
chemistry, flow conditions in airflow paths (both inside the vaporizer and in
the airways of
a human or other animal), mixing of the gas-phase or aerosol-phase vaporizable
material
with other air streams, etc. may affect one or more physical parameters of an
aerosol. In
some vaporizers, and particularly for vaporizers for delivery of more volatile
vaporizable
materials, the inhalable dose may exist predominantly in the gas phase (i.e.,
formation of
condensed phase particles may be very limited).
[163] To enable the vaporizer 100 to be used with liquid vaporizable materials
(e.g., neat
liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures, etc.), the atomizer 141 may include
a wicking
element (also referred to herein as a wick) formed from one or more materials
capable of
causing fluid motion by capillary pressure. The wicking element may convey a
quantity of
the liquid vaporizable material to a part of the atomizer 141 that includes a
heating element
(also not shown in FIG. 1). The wicking element is generally configured to
draw liquid
vaporizable material from a reservoir configured to contain (and that may in
use contain)
the liquid vaporizable material such that the liquid vaporizable material may
be vaporized
by heat generated by the heating element. The wicking element may also
optionally allow
air to enter the reservoir to replace the volume of liquid removed. In other
words, capillary
action may pull liquid vaporizable material into the wicking element for
vaporization by
the heating element (described below), and air may, in some implementations of
the current
subject matter, return to the reservoir through the wick to at least partially
equalize pressure
in the reservoir. Other approaches to allowing air back into the reservoir to
equalize
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pressure are also within the scope of the current subject matter as discussed
in greater detail
below.
[164] The heating element can be or include one or more of a conductive
heater, a radiative
heater, and a convective heater. One type of heating element is a resistive
heating element,
which can be constructed of or at least include a material (e.g., a metal or
alloy, for example
a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) configured to dissipate
electrical power
in the form of heat when electrical current is passed through one or more
resistive segments
of the heating element. In some implementations of the current subject matter,
an atomizer
can include a heating element that includes resistive coil or other heating
element wrapped
around, positioned within, integrated into a bulk shape of, pressed into
thermal contact with,
or otherwise arranged to deliver heat to a wicking element to cause a liquid
vaporizable
material drawn by the wicking element from a reservoir to be vaporized for
subsequent
inhalation by a user in a gas and/or a condensed (e.g., aerosol particles or
droplets) phase.
Other wicking element, heating element, and/or atomizer assembly
configurations are also
possible, as discussed further below.
[165] Alternatively and/or additionally, the vaporizer 100 may be configured
to create an
inhalable dose of gas-phase and/or aerosol-phase vaporizable material via
heating of a non-
liquid vaporizable material, such as for example a solid-phase vaporizable
material (e.g., a
wax or the like) or plant material (e.g., tobacco leaves and/or parts of
tobacco leaves)
containing the vaporizable material. Accordingly, the heating element (or
elements) may
be part of or otherwise incorporated into or in thermal contact with the walls
of an oven or
other heating chamber into which the non-liquid vaporizable material is
placed.
Alternatively, the heating element (or elements) may be used to heat air
passing through or
past the non-liquid vaporizable material to cause convective heating of the
non-liquid
vaporizable material. In still other examples, a resistive heating element or
elements may
be disposed in intimate contact with plant material such that direct
conductive heating of
the plant material occurs from within a mass of the plant material (e.g., as
opposed to by
conduction inward from the walls of an oven).
[166] The heating element may be activated (e.g., a controller, which is
optionally part of a
vaporizer body as discussed below, may cause current to pass from the power
source
through a circuit including the resistive heating element, which is optionally
part of a
vaporizer cartridge as discussed below), in association with a user puffing
(e.g., drawing,
inhaling, etc.) on a mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer to cause air to flow from
an air inlet,
along an airflow path that passes an atomizer (e.g., wicking element and
heating element),
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optionally through one or more condensation areas or chambers, to an air
outlet in the
mouthpiece. Incoming air passing along the airflow path passes over, through,
etc. the
atomizer, where gas phase vaporizable material is entrained into the air. As
noted above,
the entrained gas-phase vaporizable material may condense as it passes through
the
remainder of the airflow path such that an inhalable dose of the vaporizable
material in an
aerosol form can be delivered from the air outlet (e.g., in a mouthpiece 130
for inhalation
by a user).
[167] The heating element may be activated in response to detecting a puff
and/or determining
that a puff is imminent. For example, puff detection may be performed based on
one or
more of signals generated by one or more sensors 113 included in the vaporizer
100 such
as, for example, one or more pressure sensors (e.g., configured to measure
pressure along
the airflow path relative to ambient pressure, changes in absolute pressure,
and/or the like),
motion sensors, flow sensors, capacitive sensors (e.g., configured to detect
contact between
a lip of the user and the vaporizer 100). Alternatively and/or additionally, a
puff (or an
imminent puff) may be detected in response to detecting a user interacting
with one or more
input devices 116 included in the vaporizer 100 (e.g., buttons or other
tactile control devices
of the vaporizer 100), receipt of signals from a computing device in
communication with
the vaporizer 100, and/or the like. It should be appreciated that puff
detection including
the determination of an imminent occurrence of a puff may be performed using a
variety
of techniques.
[168] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the vaporizer 100
may be
configured to connect (e.g., wirelessly or via a wired connection) to a
computing device (or
optionally two or more devices) in communication with the vaporizer. To this
end, the
controller 104 may include communication hardware 105. The controller 104 may
also
include a memory 108. A computing device can be a component of a vaporizer
system that
also includes the vaporizer 100, and can include its own communication
hardware, which
can establish a wireless communication channel with the communication hardware
105 of
the vaporizer 100. For example, a computing device used as part of a vaporizer
system
may include a general purpose computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet,
a personal
computer, some other portable device such as a smartwatch, or the like) that
executes
software to produce a user interface for enabling a user of the device to
interact with a
vaporizer. In other implementations of the current subject matter, such a
device used as
part of a vaporizer system can be a dedicated piece of hardware such as a
remote control or
other wireless or wired device having one or more physical or soft (e.g.,
configurable on a
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screen or other display device and selectable via user interaction with a
touch-sensitive
screen or some other input device like a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor
buttons, or the
like) interface controls. The vaporizer can also include one or more output
117 features or
devices for providing information to the user.
[169] A computing device that is part of a vaporizer system as defined above
can be used for
any of one or more functions, such as controlling dosing (e.g., dose
monitoring, dose
setting, dose limiting, user tracking, etc.), controlling sessioning (e.g.,
session monitoring,
session setting, session limiting, user tracking, etc.), controlling nicotine
delivery (e.g.,
switching between nicotine and non-nicotine vaporizable material, adjusting an
amount of
nicotine delivered, etc.), obtaining locational information (e.g., location of
other users,
retailer/commercial venue locations, vaping locations, relative or absolute
location of the
vaporizer itself, etc.), vaporizer personalization (e.g., naming the
vaporizer,
locking/password protecting the vaporizer, adjusting one or more parental
controls,
associating the vaporizer with a user group, registering the vaporizer with a
manufacturer
or warranty maintenance organization, etc.), engaging in social activities
(e.g., games,
social media communications, interacting with one or more groups, etc.) with
other users,
or the like. The terms "sessioning", "session", "vaporizer session," or "vapor
session," are
used generically to refer to a period devoted to the use of the vaporizer. The
period can
include a time period, a number of doses, an amount of vaporizable material,
and/or the
like.
[170] In the example in which a computing device provides signals related to
activation of
the heating element, or in other examples of coupling of a computing device
with the
vaporizer 100 for implementation of various control or other functions, the
computing
device may execute one or more computer instructions sets to provide a user
interface and
underlying data handling. In one example, detection by the computing device of
user
interaction with one or more user interface elements can cause the computing
device to
signal the vaporizer 100 to activate the heating element, either to a full
operating
temperature for creation of an inhalable dose of vapor/aerosol. Other
functions of the
vaporizer may be controlled by interaction of a user with a user interface on
a computing
device in communication with the vaporizer 100.
[171] The temperature of a heating element of a vaporizer may depend on a
number of factors,
including an amount of electrical power delivered to the heating element
and/or a duty cycle
at which the electrical power is delivered, conductive heat transfer to other
parts of the
electronic vaporizer and/or to the environment, latent heat losses due to
vaporization of a
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vaporizable material from the wicking element and/or the atomizer as a whole,
and
convective heat losses due to airflow (e.g., air moving across the heating
element or the
atomizer as a whole when a user inhales on the electronic vaporizer). As noted
above, to
reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to a desired
temperature,
the vaporizer 100 may, in some implementations of the current subject matter,
make use of
signals from a pressure sensor to determine when a user is inhaling. The
pressure sensor
can be positioned in the airflow path and/or can be connected (e.g., by a
passageway or
other path) to an airflow path connecting an inlet for air to enter the device
and an outlet
via which the user inhales the resulting vapor and/or aerosol such that the
pressure sensor
experiences pressure changes concurrently with air passing through the
vaporizer device
from the air inlet to the air outlet. In some implementations of the current
subject matter,
the heating element may be activated in association with a user's puff, for
example by
automatic detection of the puff, for example by the pressure sensor detecting
a pressure
change in the airflow path.
[172] Typically, the pressure sensor (as well as any other sensors 113) can be
positioned on
or coupled (e.g., electrically or electronically connected, either physically
or via a wireless
connection) to the controller 104 (e.g., a printed circuit board assembly or
other type of
circuit board). To take measurements accurately and maintain durability of the
vaporizer
100, a resilient seal 150 may optionally separate an airflow path from other
parts of the
vaporizer 100. The seal 150, which can be a gasket, may be configured to at
least partially
surround the pressure sensor such that connections of the pressure sensor to
internal
circuitry of the vaporizer are separated from a part of the pressure sensor
exposed to the
airflow path. In an example of a cartridge-based vaporizer, the seal 150 may
also separate
parts of one or more electrical connections between a vaporizer body 110 and a
vaporizer
cartridge 1320 (not shown in FIG. 1) from one or more other parts of the
vaporizer body
110. Such arrangements of the seal 150 in the vaporizer 100 can be helpful in
mitigating
against potentially disruptive impacts on vaporizer components resulting from
interactions
with environmental factors such as water in the vapor or liquid phases, other
fluids such as
the vaporizable material, etc. and/or to reduce escape of air from the
designed airflow path
in the vaporizer. Unwanted air, liquid or other fluid passing and/or
contacting circuitry of
the vaporizer can cause various unwanted effects, such as alter pressure
readings, and/or
can result in the buildup of unwanted material, such as moisture, the
vaporizable material,
etc. in parts of the vaporizer where they may result in poor pressure signal,
degradation of
the pressure sensor or other components, and/or a shorter life of the
vaporizer. Leaks in
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the seal 150 can also result in a user inhaling air that has passed over parts
of the vaporizer
device containing or constructed of materials that may not be desirable to be
inhaled.
[173] The vaporizer 100 may be, as noted, a cartridge-based vaporizer.
Accordingly, in
addition to the controller 104, the power source 112 (e.g., battery), the one
more sensors
113, one or more charging contacts 124, and the seal 150, FIG. 1 show the
vaporizer body
110 of the vaporizer 100 as including a cartridge receptacle 118 configured to
receive at
least part of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 for coupling with the vaporizer
body 110 through
one or more of a variety of attachment structures. In some examples, the
vaporizer cartridge
1320 may include a reservoir 140 for containing a liquid vaporizable material
and a
mouthpiece 130 for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The atomizer 141
including, for
example, the wicking element and the heating element, may be disposed at least
partially
within the vaporizer cartridge 1320. Optionally, the heating element and/or
the wicking
element can be disposed within the vaporizer cartridge 1320 such that walls
enclosing the
cartridge receptacle 118 surround all or at least part of the heating element
and/or the
wicking element when the vaporizer cartridge 1320 is fully connected to the
vaporizer body
110. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the portion of the
vaporizer
cartridge 1320 that inserts into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer
body 110 may
be positioned internal to another part of the vaporizer cartridge 1320. For
example, the
insertable part of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 may be at least partially
surrounded by some
other part, such as for example an outer shell, of the vaporizer cartridge
1320.
[174] Alternatively, at least a portion of the atomizer 141 (e.g., one or both
of the wicking
element and the heating element) may be disposed in the vaporizer body 110 of
the
vaporizer 100. In implementations in which a portion of the atomizer 141
(e.g., heating
element and/or wicking element) is part of the vaporizer body 110, the
vaporizer 100 can
be configured to deliver liquid vaporizer material from the reservoir 140 in
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 to the atomizer part(s) included in the vaporizer body 110.
[175] As mentioned above, removal of the vaporizable material 102 from the
reservoir 140
(e.g., via capillary draw by the wicking element) can create at least a
partial vacuum (e.g., a
reduced pressure created in a part of the reservoir that has been emptied by
consumption of
liquid vaporizable material) relative to ambient air pressure in the reservoir
140, and such
vacuum may interfere with the capillary action provided by the wicking
element. This reduced
pressure may, in some examples, be sufficiently large in magnitude to reduce
the effectiveness
of the wicking element for drawing liquid vaporizable material 102, thereby
reducing the
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effectiveness of the vaporizer 100 to vaporize a desired amount of vaporizable
material 102,
such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer 100. In extreme cases, a
vacuum created in
the reservoir 140 could result in the inability to draw all of the vaporizable
material 102 from
the reservoir 140, thereby leading to incomplete usage of the vaporizable
material 102. One or
more venting features may be included in association with a vaporizer
reservoir 140 (regardless
of positioning of the reservoir 140 in the vaporizer cartridge 1320 or
elsewhere in a vaporizer)
to enable at least partial equalizing (optionally completely equalizing) of
pressure in the
reservoir 140 with ambient pressure (e.g., pressure in ambient air outside of
the reservoir 140)
to alleviate this issue.
[176] In some cases, while allowing pressure equalization within the reservoir
140 improves
efficiency of delivery of the liquid vaporizable material to the atomizer 141,
it may do so by
causing the otherwise empty void volume (e.g., space emptied by use of the
liquid vaporizable
material 1302) within the reservoir 140 to be filled with air. As discussed in
further detail
below, this air-filled void volume may subsequently experience pressure
changes relative to
ambient air, which may result, under certain conditions, in leakage of liquid
vaporizable
material 1302 out of the reservoir 140 and ultimately outside of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320
and/or other part of a vaporizer that contains the reservoir 140. For example,
a negative
pressure event in which the pressure inside the vaporizer cartridge 1320 is
sufficiently high to
displace at least a portion of the vaporizable material 1302 in the reservoir
140 may be triggered
by various environmental factors such as, for example, a change in ambient
temperature,
altitude, and/or volume of the cartridge 1320. Implementations of the current
subject matter
may also eliminate or at least minimize the leakage of the vaporizable
material 1302.
[177] FIGS. 2A-B depict a planar cross-sectional view of an example of the
vaporizer
cartridge 1320 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.
As shown in
FIGS. 2A-B, the cartridge 1320 may include a mouthpiece or mouthpiece area
1330, a reservoir
1340 containing the vaporizable material 1302, and an atomizer (not shown
individually). The
atomizer may include a heating element 1350 and a wicking element 1362,
together or
separately, depending on implementation, such that the wicking element 1362 is
thermally or
thermodynamically coupled to the heating element 1350 for the purpose of
vaporizing a
vaporizable material 1302 drawn from or stored in the wicking element 1362.
[178] Contacts 1326 may be included, in one embodiment, to provide for an
electrical
connection between the heating element 1350 and a power source (e.g., the
power source 112
shown in FIG. 1). An airflow passageway 1338, defined through or on a side of
the reservoir
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1340, may connect an area in the cartridge 1320 that houses the wicking
element 1362 (e.g., a
wick housing not shown separately) to an opening that leads to the mouthpiece
or mouthpiece
area 1330 to provide a route for the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 to
travel from the
heating element 1350 area to the mouthpiece area 1330.
[179] As provided above, the wicking element 1362 may be coupled to an
atomizer or to the
heating element 1350 (e.g., a resistive heating element or coil) that is
connected to one or more
electrical contacts (e.g., the plates 1326). The heating element 1350 (and/or
other heating
elements described herein in accordance with one or more implementations) may
have various
shapes and/or configurations and may include one or more heating elements
1350, 1350, or
features thereof, as provided in more detail below.
[180] In accordance with one or more example implementations, the heating
element 1350 of
the cartridge 1320 may be made (e.g., stamped) from a sheet of material and
either crimped
around at least a portion of a wicking element 1362 or bent to provide a
preformed element
configured to receive the wicking element 1362. For example, the wicking
element 1362 may
be pushed into the heating element 1350. Alternatively and/or additionally,
the heating element
1350 may be held in tension and pulled over the wicking element 1362.
[181] The heating element 1350 may be bent such that the heating element 1350
secures the
wicking element 1362 between at least two or three portions of the heating
element 1350.
Moreover, the heating element 1350 may be bent to conform to a shape of at
least a portion of
the wicking element 1362. Configurations of the heating element 1350 may allow
for more
consistent and enhanced quality manufacturing of the heating element 1350.
Consistency of
manufacturing quality of the heating element 1350 may be especially important
during scaled
and/or automated manufacturing processes. For example, the heating element
1350 in
accordance with one or more implementations may help to reduce tolerance
issues that may
arise during manufacturing processes when assembling a heating element 1350
having multiple
components.
[182] Additionally, discussed further below in regards to an included
embodiment relating to
a heating element formed of crimped metal, the heating element 1350 may be
entirely
and/or selectively plated with one or more materials to enhance heating
performance of the
heating element 1350. Plating all or a portion of the heating element 1350 may
help to
minimize heat losses. Plating may also help in concentrating heat to a portion
of the heating
element 1350, thereby providing a heating element 1350 that is more
efficiently heated and
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further reducing heat losses. Selective plating may help to direct the current
provided to
the heating element 1350 to the proper location. Selective plating may also
help to reduce
the amount of plating material and/or costs associated with manufacturing the
heating
element 1350.
[183]
[184] As noted above, the heating element 1350, in one embodiment, may be
configured to
receive at least a portion of the wicking element 1362 such that the wicking
element 1362 is
disposed at least partially inside the heating element 1350 (e.g., a heating
portion of the heating
element 1350). For example, the wicking element 1362 may extend near or next
to plates 1326
and through resistive heating elements in contact with plates 1326. A wick
housing may
surround at least a portion of a heating element 1350 and connect a heating
element 1350
directly or indirectly to an airflow passageway 1338. The vaporizable material
1302 may be
drawn by the wicking element 1362 through one or more passageways connected to
a reservoir
1340. In one embodiment, one or both of the primary passageway 1382 or an
overflow channel
1104 (see FIG. 5A) may be utilized to help route or deliver vaporizable
material 1302 to one
or both ends of a wicking element 1362 or radially along a length of a wicking
element 1362.
[185] As provided in further detail below, particularly with reference to
FIGS. 2A-B,
exchange of air and liquid vaporizable material 1302 into and out of the
reservoir 1340 of the
vaporizer cartridge 1320 may be advantageously controlled by incorporated a
structure referred
to as a collector 1313. The inclusion of the collector 1313 may also improve a
volumetric
efficiency of the cartridge 1320, defined as a volume of liquid vaporizable
material that is
eventually converted to an inhalable aerosol relative to a total volume of the
liquid vaporizable
material included in the cartridge 1320 (which may correspond to a capacity of
the cartridge
1320 itself).
[186] In accordance with some implementations, the cartridge 1320 may include
the reservoir
1340 that is at least partially defined by at least one wall (which can
optionally be a wall that
is shared with an outer shell of the cartridge) configured to contain a liquid
vaporizable material
1302. The reservoir 1340 may include a storage chamber 1342 and an overflow
volume 1344,
which may include or otherwise contain the collector 1313. The storage chamber
1342 may
contain the vaporizable material 1302 and the overflow volume 1344 may be
configured to
collect and/or retain at least a portion of the vaporizable material 1302,
when one or more
factors cause the vaporizable material 1302 in the reservoir storage chamber
1342 to travel into
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the overflow volume 1344. In some implementations of the current subject
matter, the
cartridge 1320 may be initially filled with the vaporizable material 1302 such
that void space
within the collector 1313 is pre-filled with the vaporizable material 1302.
[187] In some example embodiments, the volumetric size of the overflow volume
1344 may
be configured to be equal to, approximately equal to, or greater than the
amount of increase in
the volume of the content (e.g., vaporizable material 1302 and air) contained
in the storage
chamber 1342, when the volume of the content in the storage chamber 1342
expands due to a
maximum expected change in pressure that the reservoir 1340 may undergo
relative to an
ambient pressure.
[188] Depending on changes in ambient pressure, temperature, and/or other
factors, the
cartridge 1320 may experience a change from a first pressure state to a second
pressure state
(e.g., a first relative pressure differential between the interior of the
reservoir and ambient
pressure and a second relative pressure differential between the interior of
the reservoir and
ambient pressure). For example, in the first pressure state, the pressure
inside the cartridge
1320 may be less than an ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320.
Contrastingly, in the
second pressure state, the pressure inside the cartridge 1320 may exceed the
ambient pressure.
When the cartridge 1320 is in an equilibrium state, the pressure inside the
cartridge 1320 may
be substantially equal to the ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320.
[189] In some aspects, the overflow volume 1344 may have an opening to the
exterior of
cartridge 1320 and may be in communication with the reservoir storage chamber
1342 so that
the overflow volume 1344 may act as a venting channel to provide for the
equalization of
pressure in the cartridge 1320, collect and at least temporarily retain the
vaporizable material
1302 entering the overflow volume 1344 (e.g., from the storage chamber 1342 in
response to
variations in a pressure differential between the storage chamber 1342 and
ambient pressure),
and/or optionally reversibly return at least a portion of the vaporizable
material 1302 collected
in the overflow volume 1344.
[190] As used herein, a "pressure differential" may refer to a difference
between a pressure
within an internal part of the cartridge 1320 and an ambient pressure external
to the cartridge
1320. Drawing the vaporizable material 1302 from the storage chamber 1342 to
the atomizer
for conversion to vapor or aerosol phases may reduce the volume of the
vaporizable material
1302 remaining in the storage chamber 1342. Absent a mechanism for returning
air into the
storage chamber 1342 (e.g., to increase the pressure inside the cartridge 1320
to achieve a
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substantial equilibrium with ambient pressure), low pressure or even a vacuum
may develop
within the cartridge 1320. The low pressure or vacuum may interfere with the
capillary action
of the wicking element 1362 to draw additional quantities of the vaporizable
material 1302 to
the heating element 1350.
[191] Alternatively, the pressure inside of the cartridge 1320 can also
increase and exceed the
ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320 due to various environmental
factors such as,
for example, a change in ambient temperature, altitude, and/or volume of the
cartridge 1320.
This increase in internal pressure may occur, for example, after air is
returned into the storage
chamber 1342 to achieve an equilibrium between the pressure inside the
cartridge 1320 and the
ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320. However, it should be
appreciated that a
sufficient change in one or more environmental factors may cause the pressure
in the cartridge
1320 to increase from below ambient pressure to above ambient pressure (e.g.,
transition from
the first pressure state to the second pressure state) without any additional
air entering the
cartridge 1320 to first achieve an equilibrium between the pressure inside the
cartridge 1320
and ambient pressure. The resulting negative pressure event in which the
pressure inside the
cartridge 1320 undergoes a sufficient increase may displace at least a portion
of the vaporizable
material 1302 in the storage chamber 1342. Absent a mechanism for collecting
and/or retaining
the displaced vaporizable material 1302 within the cartridge 1320, the
displaced vaporizable
material 1302 may leak from the cartridge 1320.
[192] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the reservoir 1340 may be
implemented to
include a first area and a second area that is separable from the first area,
such that the volume
of the reservoir 1340 is divided into the storage chamber 1342 and the
overflow volume 1344.
The storage chamber 1342 may be configured to store the vaporizable material
1302 and may
be further coupled to the wicking element 1362 via one or more primary
passageways 1382.
In some examples, a primary passageway 1382 may be very short in length (e.g.,
a pass-through
hole from a space containing the wicking element 1362 or other parts of an
atomizer). In other
examples, the primary passageway 1382 may be part of a longer fluid path
between the storage
chamber 1342 and the wicking element 1362. The overflow volume 1344 may be
configured
to collect and at least temporarily retain one or more portions of the
vaporizable material 1302
that may enter the overflow volume 1344 from the storage chamber 1342 in the
second pressure
state in which the pressure in the storage chamber 1342 is greater than
ambient pressure, as
provided in further detail below.
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[193] In the first pressure state, the vaporizable material 1302 may be stored
in the storage
chamber 1342 of the reservoir 1340. As noted, the first pressure state may
exist, for example,
when the ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320 is approximately the
same as or more
than the pressure inside the cartridge 1320. In this first pressure state, the
structural and
functional properties of the primary passageway 1382 and the overflow channel
1104 are such
that the vaporizable material 1302 may flow from the storage chamber 1342
toward the wicking
element 1362 by way of the primary passageway 1382. For example, capillary
action of the
wicking element 1362 may draw the vaporizable material 1302 into proximity
with the heating
element 1350. Heat generated by the heating element 1350 may act on the
vaporizable material
1302 to convert the vaporizable material 1302 to a gas phase.
[194] In one embodiment, in the first pressure state, none or a limited
quantity of the
vaporizable material 1302 may flow into the collector 1313, for example, into
the overflow
channel 1104 of the collector 1313. Contrastingly, when the cartridge 1320
transitions from
the first pressure state to the second pressure state, the vaporizable
material 1302 may flow
from the storage chamber 1342 into the overflow volume 1344 of the reservoir
1340. By
collecting and at least temporarily retaining the vaporizable material 1302
entering the collector
1313, the collector 1313 may prevent or limit an undesirable (e.g., excessive)
flow of the
vaporizable material 1302 out of the reservoir 1340. As noted, the second
pressure state may
exist when the ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320 is less than
the pressure inside
the cartridge 1320. This pressure differential may cause an expanding air
bubble inside the
storage chamber 1342, which may displace a portion of the vaporizable material
1302 inside
the storage chamber 1342. The displaced portion of the vaporizable material
1302 may be
collected and at least temporarily retained by the collector 1313 instead of
exiting the cartridge
1320 to cause undesirable leakage.
[195] Advantageously, flow of the vaporizable material 1302 may be controlled
by way of
routing the vaporizable material 1302 driven from the storage chamber 1342 to
the overflow
volume 1344 in the second pressure state. For example, the collector 1313
within the overflow
volume 1344 may include one or more capillary structures configured to collect
and at least
temporarily retain that contain at least some (and advantageously all) of the
excess liquid
vaporizable material 1302 pushed out of the storage chamber 1342 without
allowing the liquid
vaporizable material 1302 to reach an outlet of the collector 1313 where the
liquid vaporizable
material 1302 may exit the collector 1313 to cause undesirable leakage. The
collector 1313
may also advantageously include capillary structures that enable the liquid
vaporizable material
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pushed into the collector 1313 (e.g., by excess pressure in the storage
chamber 1342 relative to
ambient pressure) to be reversibly drawn back into the storage chamber 1342
when the pressure
inside the storage chamber 1342 reduces and/or equalizes relative to ambient
pressure. In other
words, the overflow channel 1104 of the collector 1313 may have microfluidic
features or
properties that prevent air and liquid from bypassing each other during
filling and emptying of
the collector 1313. That is, microfluidic features may be used to manage the
flow of the
vaporizable material 1302 both into and out of the collector 1313 (i.e.,
provide flow reversal
features). In doing so, these microfluidic features may prevent or reduce
leakage of the
vaporizable material 1302 as well as the entrapment of air bubbles in the
storage chamber 1342
and/or the overflow volume 1344.
[196] Depending on the implementation, the microfluidic features or properties
noted above
may be related to the size, shape, surface coating, structural features,
and/or capillary properties
of the wicking element 1362, the primary passageway 1382, and/or the overflow
channel 1104.
For example, the overflow channel 1104 in the collector 1313 may optionally
have different
capillary properties than the primary passageway 1382 leading to the wicking
element 1362
such that a certain volume of the vaporizable material 1302 may be allowed to
pass from the
storage chamber 1342 into the overflow volume 1344, during the second pressure
state in which
at least a portion of the vaporizable material 1302 inside the storage chamber
1342 is displaced
from the storage chamber 1342.
[197] In one example implementation, the overall resistance of the collector
1313 to allowing
liquid to flow out of the collector 1313 may be larger than an overall
resistance of the wicking
element 1362, for example, to allow the vaporizable material 1302 to primarily
flow through
the primary passageway 1382 toward the wicking element 1362 during the first
pressure state.
[198] The primary passageway 1382 may provide a capillary pathway through or
into the
wicking element 1362 for the vaporizable material 1302 stored in reservoir
1340. The capillary
pathway (e.g., the primary passageway 1382) may be large enough to permit a
wicking action
or capillary action to replace the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 in the
wicking element
1362 but small enough to prevent leakage of the vaporizable material 1302 out
of the cartridge
1320 when excess pressure inside the cartridge 1320 displaces at least a
portion of the
vaporizable material 1302 from the storage chamber 1342. The wick housing or
the wicking
element 1362 may be treated to prevent leakage. For example, the cartridge
1320 may be
coated after filling to prevent leakage or evaporation through the wicking
element 1362. Any
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appropriate coating may be used, including, for example, a heat-vaporizable
coating (e.g., a
wax or other material) and/or the like.
[199] When a user inhales from the mouthpiece area 1330 of the cartridge 1320,
air may flow
into the cartridge 1320 through an inlet or opening in operational
relationship with the wicking
element 1362. The heating element 1350 may be activated in response to a
signal generated
by the one or more sensors 113 (shown in FIG. 1). As noted, the one or more
sensors 113 may
include at least one of pressure sensor, motion sensor, flow sensor, or other
mechanism capable
of detecting a puff and/or an imminent puff including, for example, by
detecting changes in the
airflow passageway 1338. When the heating element 1350 is activated, the
heating element
1350 may undergo a temperature increase as a result of a current flowing
through the plates
1326 or through another electrically resistive part of the heating element
1350 that acts to
convert electrical energy to heat energy. It should be appreciated that
activating the heating
element 1350 may include the controller 104 (e.g., shown in FIG. 1)
controlling the power
source 112 to discharge an electric current from the power source 112 to the
heating element
1350.
[200] In one embodiment, the generated heat may be transferred to at least a
portion of the
vaporizable material 1302 in the wicking element 1362 through conductive,
convective, and/or
radiative heat transfer such that at least a portion of the vaporizable
material 1302 drawn into
the wicking element 1362 is vaporized. Depending on implementation, air
entering the
cartridge 1320 may flow over (or around, near, etc.) the wicking element 1362
and the heated
elements in the heating element 1350 and may strip away the vaporized
vaporizable material
1302 into the airflow passageway 1338, where the vapor may optionally be
condensed and
delivered in aerosol form, for example, through an opening in the mouthpiece
area 1330.
[201] Referring to FIG. 2B, the storage chamber 1342 may be connected to the
airflow
passageway 1338 (i.e., via the overflow channel 1104 of overflow volume 1344)
for the
purpose of allowing the portions of the liquid vaporizable material 1302
driven from the storage
chamber 1342 by increased pressure in the storage chamber 1342 relative to
ambient to be
retained in the overflow volume 1344 without escaping from the vaporizer
cartridge 1320.
While the implementations described herein relate to the vaporizer cartridge
1320 including
the reservoir 1340, it will be understood that the approaches described are
also compatible with
and contemplated for use in a vaporizer without a separable cartridge.
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[202] Returning to the example, air, which may be admitted to the storage
chamber 1342
when the pressure inside the vaporizer cartridge 1320 is lower than ambient
pressure, may
increase the pressure inside the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and may cause the
vaporizer cartridge
1320 to transition to the second pressure state in which the pressure inside
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 exceed the ambient pressure external to the vaporizer cartridge
1320.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the vaporizer cartridge 1320 may transition
to the second
pressure state in response to a change in ambient temperature, a change in
ambient pressure
(e.g., due to a change in external conditions such as altitude, weather,
and/or the like), and/or
a change in the volume of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 (e.g., when the
vaporizer cartridge 1320
is compacted by an external force such as squeezing). The increase in the
pressure inside the
storage chamber 1342, for example, in the case of a negative pressure event,
may at least
expand the air occupying the void space of the storage chamber 1342, thereby
displacing at
least a portion of the liquid vaporizable material 1302 in the storage chamber
1342. The
displaced portion of the vaporizable material 1302 may travel through at least
some part of the
overflow channel 1104 in the collector 1313. Microfluidic features of the
overflow channel
1104 can cause the liquid vaporizable material 1302 to move along a length of
the overflow
channel 1104 in the collector 1313 only with a meniscus fully covering the
cross-sectional area
of the overflow channel 1104 transverse to the direction of flow along the
length.
[203] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the microfluidic
features can
include a cross-sectional area sufficiently small that for the material from
which walls of the
overflow channel 1104 are formed and the composition of the liquid vaporizable
material 1302,
the liquid vaporizable material 1302 preferentially wets the overflow channel
1104 around an
entire perimeter of the overflow channel 1104. For an example in which the
liquid vaporizable
material 1302 includes one or more of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin,
wetting
properties of such a liquid are advantageously considered in combination with
the geometry of
the second passageway 1384 and materials form which the walls of the overflow
channel 1104
are formed. In this manner, as the sign (e.g., positive, negative, or equal)
and magnitude of the
pressure differential between the storage chamber 1340 and ambient pressure
varies, a
meniscus is maintained between the liquid vaporizable material 1302 present in
the overflow
channel 1104 and air entering from the ambient atmosphere to prevent the
vaporizable material
1302 and the air from moving past one another. As pressure in the storage
chamber 1342 drops
sufficiently relative to ambient pressure and if there is sufficient void
volume in the storage
chamber 1342 to allow it, the vaporizable material 1302 present in the
overflow channel 1104
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of the collector 1313 may be withdrawn into the storage chamber 1342
sufficiently to cause
the leading liquid-air meniscus to reach a gate or port between the overflow
channel 1104 of
the collector 1313 and the storage chamber 1342. At such time, if the pressure
differential in
the storage chamber 1342 relative to ambient pressure is sufficiently negative
to overcome
surface tension maintaining the meniscus at the gate or port, the meniscus may
be freed from
the gate or port walls to form one or more air bubbles, which are then
released into the storage
chamber 1342 with sufficient volume to equalize the pressure inside the
storage chamber 1342
relative to ambient pressure.
[204] When air admitted into the storage chamber 1340 as discussed above (or
otherwise
becomes present therein) experiences an elevated pressure condition relative
to ambient (e.g.,
due to a drop in ambient pressure such as might occur in an airplane cabin or
other high altitude
locations, when a window of a moving vehicle is opened, when a train or
vehicle leaves a
tunnel, etc. or an elevation in internal pressure in the storage chamber 1340
such as might occur
due to local heating, mechanical pressure that distorts a shape and thereby
reduces a volume of
the storage chamber 1340, etc., or the like), the above-described process may
be reversed.
Liquid passes through the gate or port into the overflow channel 1104 of the
collector 1313 and
a meniscus forms at the leading edge of a column of the vaporizable material
1302 passing into
the overflow channel 1104 to prevent air from bypassing and flowing counter to
the progression
of the vaporizable material 1302.
[205] By maintaining this meniscus due to the presence of the aforementioned
microfluidic
properties, when the elevated pressure in the storage chamber 1340 is later
reduced, the column
of vaporizable material 1302 may be withdrawn back into the storage chamber
1340, and
optionally until the meniscus reaches the gate or port. If the pressure
differential sufficiently
favors ambient pressure relative to the pressure inside the storage chamber
1342, the above-
described bubble formation process may occur until the two pressures equalize.
In this manner,
the collector 1313 may act as a reversible overflow volume that accepts the
vaporizable
material 1302 that is pushed out of the storage chamber 1342 under transient
conditions of
greater storage chamber pressure relative to ambient pressure while allowing
at least some (and
desirably all or most) of this overflow volume of vaporizable material 1302 to
be returned to
the storage chamber 1340 for later delivery, for example, to the heating
element 1350 for
conversion to an inhalable aerosol.
[206] Depending on implementation, the storage chamber 1342 may or may not be
connected
to the wicking element 1362 via the overflow channel 1104. In embodiments in
which the
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overflow channel 1104 includes a first end coupled with the storage chamber
1342 and a second
end overflow channel 1104 leading to the wicking element 1362, any of the
vaporizable
material 1302 that may exit the overflow channel 1104 at the second end may
further saturate
the wicking element 1362.
[207] The storage chamber 1342 may optionally be positioned closer to an end
of the reservoir
1340 that is near the mouthpiece area 1330. The overflow volume 1344 may be
positioned
near an end of the reservoir 1340 closer to the heating element 1350, for
example, between the
storage chamber 1342 and the heating element 1350. The example embodiments
shown in the
figures are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject
matter as to the
position of the various components disclosed herein. For example, the overflow
volume 1344
may be positioned at a top portion, a middle portion, or a bottom portion of
the cartridge 1320.
The location and positioning of the storage chamber 1342 may be adjusted
relative to the
position of the overflow volume 1344, such that the storage chamber 1342 may
be positioned
at the top portion, middle portion, or bottom portion of the cartridge 1320
according to one or
more variations.
[208] In one implementation, when the vaporizer cartridge 1320 is filled to
capacity, the
volume of liquid vaporizable material 1302 may be equal to the internal volume
of the storage
chamber 1342 plus the overflow volume 1344. The internal volume of the
overflow volume
may, in some example implementations, correspond to a volume of the overflow
channel 1104
between a gate or port connecting the overflow channel 1104 to the storage
chamber 1340 and
an outlet of the overflow channel 1104. In other words, the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 may be
initially filled with liquid vaporizable material 1302 such that all or at
least some of the internal
volume of the collector 1313 is occupied with the liquid vaporizable material
1302. In such an
example, liquid vaporizable material 1302 may be delivered to an atomizer
(e.g., including the
wicking element 1362 and the heating element 1350) as needed for delivery to a
user. For
example, to deliver a portion of the vaporizable material 1302, the portion of
the vaporizable
material 1302 may be drawn from the storage chamber 1340, thereby causing any
vaporizable
material 1302 present in the overflow channel 1104 of the collector 1313 to be
drawn back into
the storage chamber 1340 because air cannot enter through the overflow channel
1104 due to
the meniscus maintained by the microfluidic properties of the overflow channel
1104 (which
prevents air from flowing past the vaporizable material 1302 present in the
overflow channel
1104). After a sufficient quantity of the vaporizable material 1302 has been
delivered to the
atomizer from the storage chamber 1340 (e.g., for vaporization and user
inhalation) to cause
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the original volume of the collector 1313 to be drawn into the storage chamber
1340, the above-
discussed action occurs. For instance, one or more air bubbles may be released
from a gate or
port between the secondary passage 1384 and the storage chamber 1340 to
equalize pressure
inside the storage chamber 1340 (e.g., relative to ambient pressure) as a
portion of the
vaporizable material 1302 is removed from the storage chamber 1340. When the
pressure
inside the storage chamber 1340 increases above ambient pressure (e.g., due to
the admission
of air in the first pressure state, a change in temperature, a change in
ambient pressure, a change
in a volume of the vaporizer cartridge 1320, and/or the like), a portion of
the liquid vaporizable
material 1302 inside the storage chamber 1340 may become displaced and thus
move out of
the storage chamber 1340 past the gate or port into the overflow channel 1104
until the elevated
pressure condition in the storage compartment subsides, at which point the
liquid vaporizable
material 1302 in the overflow channel 1104 may be drawn back into the storage
chamber 1340.
[209] In certain embodiments, the overflow volume 1344 may be sufficiently
large to contain
a percentage of the vaporizable material 1302 stored in the storage chamber
1342, including
up to approximately 100% of the capacity of the storage chamber 1342. In one
embodiment,
the collector 1313 may be configured to contain at least 6% to 25% of the
volume of the
vaporizable material 1302 storable in the storage chamber 1342. Other ranges
are also within
the scope of the current subject matter.
[210] The structure of the collector 1313 may be configured, constructed,
molded, fabricated
or positioned in the overflow volume 1344, in different shapes and having
different properties,
to allow for overflowing portions of the vaporizable material 1302 to be at
least temporarily
received, contained or stored in the overflow volume 1314 in a controlled
manner (e.g., by way
of capillary pressure), thereby preventing the vaporizable material 1302 from
leaking out of
the cartridge 1320 or excessively saturating the wicking element 1362. It will
be understood
that the above description referring to the overflow channel 1104 is not
intended to be limiting
to a single such overflow channel 1104. One, or optionally more than one, the
overflow
channel 1104 may be connected to the storage chamber 1340 via one or more than
one gate or
port. In some implementations of the current subject matter, a single gate or
port may connect
to more than one overflow channel 1104, or a single overflow channel 1104 may
split into more
than one overflow channel 1104 to provide additional overflow volume or other
advantages.
[211] In some implementations of the current subject matter, an air vent 1318
may connect
the overflow volume 1344 to the airflow passageway 1338 that ultimately leads
to ambient air
environment outside of the cartridge 1320. This air vent 1318 may allow for a
path for air or
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bubbles that may have been formed or trapped in the collector 1313 to escape
through the air
vent 1318, for example during the second pressure state in which the overflow
channel 1104
fills with a portion of the vaporizable material 1302 displaced from the
storage chamber 1342.
[212] In accordance with some aspects, the air vent 1318 may act as a reverse
vent and
provide for the equalization of pressure within the cartridge 1320 during a
reverting back to an
equilibrium state, from the second pressure state, as the overflow of the
vaporizable material
1302 returns back to the storage chamber 1342 from the overflow volume 1344.
In this
implementation, as ambient pressure exceeds the internal pressure in the
cartridge 1320,
ambient air may flow through the air vent 1318 into the overflow channel 1104
and effectively
help push the vaporizable material 1302 temporarily stored in the overflow
volume 1344 in a
reverse direction back into the storage chamber 1342.
[213] In one or more embodiments, in the first pressure state, the overflow
channel 1104 may
be at least partially occupied with air. In the second pressure state, the
vaporizable material
1302 may enter the overflow channel 1104, for example through an opening
(i.e., vent) at a
point of interface between the storage chamber 1342 and the overflow volume
1344. As a
result, air in the overflow channel 1104 may become displaced (e.g., by the
incoming
vaporizable material 1302) and may exit through the air vent 1318. In some
embodiments, the
air vent 1318 may act as or include a control valve (e.g., a selective osmosis
membrane, a
microfluidic gate, etc.) that allows for air to exit the overflow volume 1344,
but blocks the
vaporizable material 1302 from exiting from the overflow channel 1104 into the
airflow
passageway 1338. As noted earlier, the air vent 1318 may act as an air
exchange port to allow
air to enter and exit the collector 1313 as, for example, the collector 1313
fills with the
vaporizable material 1302 displaced by excess pressure in the storage chamber
1342 and
empties when the pressure inside the storage chamber 1342 substantially
equalizes with
ambient pressure. That is, the air vent 1318 may allow air to enter and exit
the collector 1313
when during a transition between the first pressure state when the pressure
inside the cartridge
1320 is less than the ambient pressure, the second pressure state when the
pressure inside the
cartridge 1320 exceeds the ambient pressure, and an equilibrium state when the
pressure inside
the cartridge 1320 and the ambient pressure are substantially the same.
[214] Accordingly, the vaporizable material 1302 may be stored in the
collector 1313 until
pressure inside the cartridge 1320 is stabilized (e.g., when the pressure
inside the cartridge
1320 is substantially equal to ambient pressure or meets a designated
equilibrium) or until the
vaporizable material 1302 is removed from the overflow volume 1344 (e.g., by
being drawn
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into an atomizer for vaporization). Thus, the level of the vaporizable
material 1302 in the
overflow volume 1344 may be controlled by managing the flow of vaporizable
material 1302
into and out of the collector 1313 as ambient pressure changes. In one or more
embodiments,
overflow of the vaporizable material 1302 from the storage chamber 1342 into
the overflow
volume 1344 may be reversed or may be reversible depending on detected changes
in
environment (e.g., when a pressure event that caused the vaporizable material
1302 overflow
subsides or is concluded).
[215] As noted above, in some implementations of the current subject matter,
in a state when
pressure inside of the cartridge 1320 becomes lower than the ambient pressure
(e.g., when
transitioning from the second pressure state back to the first pressure
state), flow of the
vaporizable material 1302 may be reversed in a direction that causes the
vaporizable material
1302 to flow from the overflow volume 1344 back into the storage chamber 1342
of the
reservoir 1340. Thus, depending on implementation, the overflow volume 1344
may be
configured for temporary retention of the overflow portions of the vaporizable
material 1302
during the second pressure state when high pressure inside the cartridge 1320
displaces at least
a portion of the vaporizable material 1302 from the storage chamber 1342.
Depending on an
implementation, during or after a reversal back to the first pressure state
when the pressure
inside the cartridge 1320 is substantially equal to or below ambient pressure,
at least some of
the overflow of the vaporizable material 1302 retained in the collector 1313
may be returned
back to the storage chamber 1342.
[216] To control the vaporizable material 1302 flow in the cartridge 1320, in
other
implementations of the current subject matter, the collector 1313 may
optionally include an
absorbent or semi-absorbent material (e.g., material having sponge-like
properties) for
permanently or semi-permanently collecting or retaining the overflow of the
vaporizable
material 1302 travelling through the overflow channel 1104. In one example
embodiment in
which absorbent material is included in the collector 1313, the reverse flow
of the vaporizable
material 1302 from the overflow volume 1344 back into the storage chamber 1342
may not be
as practical or possible as compared to embodiments that are implemented
without (or without
as much) absorbent material in the collector 1313. That is, the presence of
the absorbent or
semi-absorbent material may at least partially inhibit the vaporizable
material 1302 collected
in the overflow volume 1344 from returning back to the storage chamber 1342.
Accordingly,
the reversibility and/or the reversibility rate of the vaporizable material
1302 to the storage
chamber 1342 may be controlled by including more or less densities or volumes
of absorbent
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material in the collector 1313 or by controlling texture of the absorbent
material, where such
characteristics result in a higher or lower rate of absorption, either
immediately or over longer
time periods.
[217] FIGS. 3A-D depict various design alternatives for connectors for forming
a coupling
between the cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110 of the vaporizer 100.
FIGS. 3A-B each
depict perspective views of various examples of the connectors while FIGS. 3C-
D each depict
planar cross-sectional side views of various examples of the connectors. The
examples of the
connectors shown in FIGS. 3A-D may include complementary male connectors
(e.g.,
protrusions) and female connectors (e.g., receptacles). As shown in FIGS. 1,
2A-B, and 3A-
D, one end of the cartridge 1320 may include one or more connectors to enable
a coupling
between the cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110 of the vaporizer 100.
For example, one
end of the cartridge 1320 may include one or more mechanical connectors,
electrical
connectors, and fluid connectors configured to provide an electrical coupling,
a mechanical
coupling, and/or a fluid coupling between the cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer
body 110. It
should be appreciated that these connectors may be implemented with various
configurations.
[218] In one implementation of the current subject matter shown in FIG. 1, 3A,
and 3C, one
end of the cartridge 1320 may include a male connector 710 (e.g., a
protrusion) that is
configured to couple with a female connector (e.g., the cartridge receptacle
118) in the
vaporizer body 110. In this example, when the cartridge 1320 is coupled with
the vaporizer
body 110, the contacts 1326 disposed on the male connector 710 may form an
electric coupling
with the corresponding receptacle contacts 125 in the cartridge receptacle
118. Moreover, the
contacts 1326 on the male connector 710 may mechanically engage the receptacle
contacts 125
in the cartridge receptacle, for example, in a snap-lock fashion, to secure
the cartridge 1320 in
the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110. Alternatively, FIGS.
3B and 3D depicts
another example in which one end of the cartridge 1320 includes a female
connector 712. The
female connector 712 may be a receptacle that is configured to receive a
corresponding male
connector (e.g., a protrusion) on the vaporizer body 110. In this example
implementation, the
contacts 1326 may be disposed inside the female connector 712 and may be
configured to form
an electric coupling as well as a mechanical coupling with corresponding
contacts on the male
connector on the vaporizer body 110.
[219] FIGS. 3E-F depict additional view of the cartridge 1320 having the male
connector 710
shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C. Referring to FIG. 3E, which depicts a perspective
cross-sectional
views of an example of the cartridge 1320, the cartridge 1320 may include a
wick housing area
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910 configured to accommodate at least the heating element 1350 and the
wicking element
1362 of the cartridge 1320. As shown in FIG. 3E, the wick housing area 910 may
be disposed,
at least partially, within the male connector 710 at one end of the cartridge
1320. As such,
when the male connector 710 is inserted in the cartridge receptacle 118 of the
vaporizer body
110, the wick housing area 910 including the heating element 1350 and the
wicking element
1362 is at least partially disposed inside the cartridge receptacle 118 such
that the cartridge
receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110 may provide additional insulation for
the heating
element 1350. Meanwhile, FIG. 3F depicts a top planar view of the cartridge
1320. In
particular, FIG. 9B shows that the male connector 710 may include one or more
vent holes 920
disposed at or proximate to the wick housing area 910. The one or more vent
holes 920 may
be configured to provide pinpoint vapor evacuation and/or airflow to the
wicking element 1362,
for example, to help control condensation within the cartridge 1320, to
improve capillary
action, and/or the like.
[220] FIGS. 4A-D depict an example of the cartridge 1320 consistent with
implementations
of the current subject matter. As shown in FIGS. 4A-D, the cartridge 1320 may
include the
collector 1313, the heating element 1350, the wicking element 1362, the
contacts 1326, and the
airflow passageway 1338. The collector 1313, as noted, may be configured to
control the
exchange of air and the vaporizable material 1302 into and out of the
reservoir 1340 of
vaporizer cartridge 1320. The collector 1313 may be disposed within a housing
of the cartridge
1320. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the collector
1313 may be
configured, designed, manufactured, fabricated, or constructed fully or
partially independent
from a housing of the cartridge 1320. Furthermore, the collector 1313 may be
formed fully or
partially independently of the other components of the cartridge 1320
including, for example,
the storage chamber 1342, the airflow passageway 1338, the storage chamber
1342, the heating
element 1350, the wicking element 1362, and/or the like.
[221] For example, in one implementation of the current subject matter, the
cartridge 1320
may have a cartridge housing formed of a monolithic hollow structure having a
first end and a
second end. The first end (i.e., a first end, also referred to as a receiving
end of the cartridge
housing) may be configured for insertably receiving at least the collector
1313. In one
embodiment, the second end of the cartridge housing may act as a mouthpiece
with an orifice
or opening. The orifice or opening may be situated opposite of the receiving
end of the
cartridge housing where the collector 1313 may be insertably received. In some
embodiments,
the opening may be connected to the receiving end by way of the airflow
passageway 1338 that
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may extend through the body of the cartridge 1320 and the collector 1313, for
example. As in
other cartridge embodiments consistent with the current disclosure, an
atomizer, for example
one including the wicking element 1362 and the heating element 1350 as
discussed elsewhere
herein, may be positioned adjacent to or at least partially in the airflow
passageway 1338 such
that an inhalable form, or optionally a precursor of the inhalable form, of
the liquid vaporizable
material 1302 may be released from the atomizer into air passing through the
airflow
passageway 1338 toward the orifice or opening.
[222] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the collector
1313 may have one
or more gates and one or more channels configured to control the flow of air
and the
vaporizable material 1320 into and out of the reservoir 1340. To further
illustrate, FIG. 5A
depicts a side planar view of an example of the collector 1313 consistent with
implementations
of the current subject matter. A side planar view of the cartridge 1320
including an example
of the collector 1313 is shown in FIG. 5B. The example of the collector 1313
shown in FIGS.
5A-B may include a single gate 1102 and a single overflow channel 1104
although alternate
implementations of the collector 1313 may include additional gates and/or
channels. In the
example of the collector 1313 shown in FIGS. 5A-B, the gate 1102 may be
provided at an
opening toward a first portion (e.g., upper portion) of the collector 1313
where the collector
1313 is in contact or in fluid communication with the reservoir's storage
chamber 1342. The
gate 1102 may provide a fluid coupling between the storage chamber 1342 and
the overflow
volume 1344 formed by a second portion (e.g., a middle portion) of the
collector 1313.
[223] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the second
portion of the
collector 1313 may have a ribbed or multi-fin-shaped structure that forms the
overflow channel
1104. The overflow channel 1104 may spiral, taper, and/or slope in a direction
away from the
gate 1102 and towards an air exchange port 1106. As shown in FIGS. 5A-B, the
overflow
channel 1104 may be configured to lead or cause at least a portion of the
vaporizable material
1302 collected in the overflow volume 1344 to move toward the air exchange
port 1106. The
vaporizable material 1302 from the storage chamber 1342 may enter the overflow
volume 1344
through the gate 1102. The air exchange port 1106 may be connected to ambient
air by way
of an air path or airflow passageway that is connected to the mouthpiece. This
air path or
airflow passageway is not explicitly shown in FIGS. 5A-B.
[224] As shown in FIG. 6A, in some implementations of the current subject
matter, the
collector 1313 may be configured to include a flat rib 2102 that extends out
at the lower
perimeter of the collector 1313 to create a suitable surface to weld the
collector 1313 to the
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inner walls of the storage chamber 1342, after the collector 1313 has been
inserted into a
receiving cavity or receptacle in the storage chamber 1342. A full perimeter
weld or tack
weld option may be employed to firmly fix the collector 1313 within a
receiving cavity or
receptacle in the storage chamber 1342. Alternatively, a friction-tight and
leak-proof
coupling may be established without employing a welding technique and/or an
adhesive
material may be utilized instead of or in addition to the coupling techniques
noted above.
[225] Referring now to FIG. 6B, a seal bead profile 2104 may be fashioned at
the perimeter
of collector 1313 spiral ribs that define an overflow channel 1104, such that
the seal bead
profile 2104 may support a quick turn injection molding process. Seal bead
profile 2104
geometry may be devised in a variety of manners such that the collector 1313
may be
inserted into a receiving cavity or receptacle in the storage chamber 1342 in
a friction-tight
manner, where vaporizable material 1302 may flow through the overflow channel
1104
without any leakage along the seal bead profile 2104.
[226] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the collector
1313 may include
a central tunnel 1100 (e.g., shown in FIG. 5D), which may be configured to
serve as an airflow
channel leading to the mouthpiece. The airflow channel may be connected to the
air exchange
port 1106, such that the volume inside the overflow channel 1104 of the
collector 1313 is
connected to ambient air via the air exchange port 1106 and also connected to
the volume in
the storage chamber 1342 via the gate 1102. As such, in accordance with some
implementations of the current subject matter, the gate 1102 may be utilized
as a control fluidic
valve to mainly control liquid and air flow between the overflow volume 1344
and the storage
chamber 1342. The air exchange port 1106 may be utilized to control the flow
of air and the
vaporizable material 1302 between the overflow volume 1344 and an air path
leading to the
mouthpiece, for example. It should be appreciated that the overflow channel
1104 may be
diagonal, vertical, or horizontal in relationship to the elongated body of the
cartridge 1320.
[227] The vaporizable material 1302, at the time the cartridge 1320 is filled,
may have at least
an initial interface with the collector 1313 by way of the gate 1102. This is
because an initial
interface between vaporizable material 1302 and the gate 1102 may, for
example, prevent air
trapped in the overflow channel 1104 from entering the storage chamber 1342.
Furthermore,
such an interface may initiate a capillary interaction between vaporizable
material 1302 and
the walls of the overflow channel 1104 such that a limited quantity of
vaporizable material
1302 may enter the overflow channel 1104 without disrupting an equilibrium
state in which
the flow of vaporizable material 1302 into and out of the overflow volume 1344
is negligible.
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The capillary action (or interaction) between the walls of the overflow
channel 1104 and the
vaporizable material 1302 may maintain the aforementioned equilibrium state
while the
cartridge 1320 is in the first pressure state, when the pressure inside the
storage chamber 1342
is approximately equal to the ambient pressure.
[228] An equilibrium state and further capillary interaction between
vaporizable material
1302 and the walls of the overflow channel 1104 may be established or
configured by way of
adapting or adjusting the volumetric size of the overflow channel 1104 along
the length of the
channel. As provided in further detail herein, the diameter (which is used
herein to refer
generically to a measure of the magnitude of the cross-sectional area of the
overflow channel
1104, including implementations of the current subject matter in which the
overflow channel
1104 does not have a circular cross-section) of the overflow channel 1104 may
be constricted
at predetermined interval or points or throughout the length of the entire
channel to allow for a
sufficiently strong capillary interaction that provides for direct and reverse
flows of vaporizable
material 1302 into and out of the collector 1313, depending on changes in
pressure and further
to allow large overall volume of the overflow channel while still maintaining
gate points for
meniscus formation to prevent air from flowing past liquid in the overflow
channel 1104.
[229] The diameter (or cross-sectional area) of the overflow channel 1104 may
be sufficiently
small or narrow such that the combination of surface tension, caused by
cohesion within the
vaporizable material 1302, and wetting forces between the vaporizable material
1302 and the
walls of the overflow channel 1104 may act to cause the formation of a
meniscus that separates
the liquid vaporizable material 1302 from air in a dimension traverse to the
axis of flow in the
overflow channel 1104. This meniscus may prevent the air and the liquid
vaporizable material
1302 from passing one another other. It will be understood that menisci have
an inherent
curvature, so reference to a dimension transverse to the direction of flow is
not intended to
imply that the air-liquid interface is planar in this or any other dimension.
[230] As shown in FIGS. 2B and 5B, the wicking element 1362 may be in a
thermal or
thermodynamic connection with the heating element 1350 such that at least a
portion of the
vaporizable material 1302 drawn into the wicking element 1362 may be vaporized
by the heat
generated by the heating element 1350. Meanwhile, the air exchange port 1106
may be
constructed to enable the flow of air (and/or other gases) out of the overflow
channel 1104
while preventing the flow of the vaporizable material 1302 out of the overflow
channel 1104.
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[231] Referring again to FIGS. 5A-B, direct or reverse flows of the
vaporizable material 1302
in the collector 1313 may be controlled (e.g., enhanced or diminished) by way
of implementing
suitable structures (e.g., microchannel configurations) to introduce and/or
exploit the capillary
properties that may exist between the vaporizable material 1302 and the
retaining walls of the
overflow channel 1104. For example, factors associated with length, diameter,
inner surface
texture (e.g., rough vs. smooth), constriction points, directional tapering of
the channel
structures, constrictions or material used for constructing or coating the
surface of the gate
1102, the overflow channel 1104 or the air exchange port 1106 may positively
or negatively
affect the rate at which a liquid is drawn into or moves through the overflow
channel 1104 by
way of capillary action or other influential forces acting on cartridge 1320.
[232] One or more factors noted above, depending on implementation, may be
used to control
displacement of the vaporizable material 1302 in the overflow channel 1104 to
introduce a
desirable degree of reversibility, as the vaporizable material 1302 is
collected in the channel
structures of the collector 1313. As such, in some embodiments, the flow of
the vaporizable
material 1302 into the collector 1313 may be fully reversible or semi-
reversible by way of
selectively controlling the various factors noted above and depending on
changes in pressure
state inside or outside of the cartridge 1320.
[233] As shown in FIGS. 5A-B and 11A-B, in one or more embodiments, the
collector 1313
may be formed, constructed, or configured to have a single-channel single-vent
structure. In
such embodiments, the overflow channel 1104 may be a continuous passageway,
tube, channel,
or other structure for connecting the gate 1102 to the air exchange port 1106,
which may be
optionally positioned near the wicking element 1362. Accordingly, in such
embodiments, the
vaporizable material 1302 may enter or exit the collector 1313 from the gate
1102 and through
a singularly constructed channel, where the vaporizable material 1302 flows in
a first direction
as the overflow volume 1344 is being filled and in a second direction when the
overflow
volume 1344 is being drained.
[234] To help maintain an equilibrium state and/or to control the flow of the
vaporizable
material 1302 into the overflow channel 1104, the shape and structural
configuration of the
overflow channel 1104, the gate 1102, and/or the air exchange port 1106 may be
adapted or
modified to balance the rate of flow of the vaporizable material 1302 in the
overflow channel
1104 at different pressure states. In implementations of the current subject
matter, for example,
the overflow channel 1104 may be tapered such that a cross-sectional
dimensions (e.g.,
diameter, area, and/or the like) of the overflow channel 1104 decreases
towards the gate 1102
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while the cross-sectional dimensions (e.g., diameter, area, and/or the like)
of the overflow
channel 1104 increases towards the air exchange port 1106. That is, the cross-
sectional
dimensions of the overflow channel 1104 may be at a minimum at the gate 1102
where the
overflow channel 1104 is coupled with the storage chamber 1342 while the cross-
sectional
dimensions of the overflow channel 1104 may be at a maximum at the air
exchange port 1106
where the overflow channel 1104 is coupled to the ambient environment outside
of the
cartridge 1320. It should be appreciated that the tapering of the overflow
channel 1104 may
be continuous or discrete. Alternatively and/or additionally, one or more
constriction points
may be disposed along a length of the overflow channel 1104.
[235] The untapered end of the overflow channel 1104 where the cross-sectional
dimensions
of the overflow channel 1104 is at a minimum may couple to an airflow path
from which
vaporized vaporizable material 1302 is delivered to the mouthpiece (e.g., the
air vent 1318
shown in FIG. 2A, which is connected to the airflow passageway 1338).
Moreover, the
untapered end of the overflow channel 1104 may also lead to an area near a
wick housing 1315
(see, e.g., FIG. 7), such that at least a portion of the vaporizable material
1302 exiting the
overflow channel 1104 may saturate the wicking element 1362.
[236] The tapered structure of the overflow channel 1104 may, as needed,
reduce or increase
restriction on the flow of the vaporizable material 1302 into the collector
1313. For example,
in an embodiment where the overflow channel 1104 is tapered toward the gate
1102, a
favorable capillary pressure towards a reverse flow is induced in the overflow
channel 1104 by
the tapering, such that direction of the vaporizable material 1302 flow is out
of the collector
1313 and into the storage chamber 1342 when pressure state changes (e.g., when
a negative
pressure event is eliminated or subsided). Particularly, implementing the
overflow channel
1104 with a smaller opening may prevent free flow of the vaporizable material
1302 into the
collector 1313. That is, the tapering of the overflow channel 1104 towards the
gate 1102 may
encourage the vaporizable material 1302 in the overflow channel 1104 to flow
out of the gate
1102 (e.g., back into the storage chamber 1342) and discourage the flow of the
vaporizable
material 1302 through the gate 1102 and into the overflow channel 1104 (e.g.,
from the storage
chamber 1342). Meanwhile, an untapered configuration for the overflow channel
1104 in a
direction leading towards the air exchange port 1106 provides for efficient
storage of the
vaporizable material 1302 in the collector 1313 during the second pressure
state when increased
pressure inside the cartridge 1320 causes at least a portion of the
vaporizable material 1302
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from the storage chamber 1342 to flow into the collector 1313 from narrower
sections of the
overflow channel 1104 into larger volumetric sections of the overflow channel
1104.
[237] As such, the dimension (e.g., diameter) and shape of the collector 1313
may be
implemented so that the flow of the vaporizable material 1302 through the gate
1102 and into
the overflow channel 1104 is controlled at a desirable rate. For example,
during the second
pressure state, the dimension and shape of the collector 1313 may be
configured to prevent the
vaporizable material 1302 from flowing too freely (e.g., beyond a certain flow
rate or threshold)
into the collector 1313 (e.g., due to excess pressure inside the cartridge
1320 displacing at least
a portion of the vaporizable material 1302 from the storage chamber 1342)
while favoring a
reverse flow back into the storage chamber 1342 (e.g., when the pressure
inside the cartridge
1320 and the ambient pressure external to the cartridge 1320 achieves a
substantial
equilibrium). It is noteworthy that the combination of the interactions
between the vent 1318,
the overflow channel 1104 in the collector 1313 that make up the overflow
volume 1344, and
the air exchange port 1106, in one embodiment, may provide for the proper
venting of air
bubbles that may be introduced into the cartridge due to various environmental
factors as well
as the controlled flow of the vaporizable material 1302 into and out of the
overflow channel
1104.
[238] Referring again to FIG. 5B, a portion of the cartridge 1320 that
includes the storage
chamber 1342 may also be configured to include a mouthpiece that may be
utilized by a user
to inhale vaporized vaporizable material 1302. The airflow passageway 1338 may
extend
through the storage chamber 1342, thereby connecting a vaporization chamber.
Depending on
implementation, the airflow passageway 1338 may be a straw-shaped structure or
hollow
cylinder, for example, which forms a channel inside the storage chamber 1342
to allow for
passage of vaporized vaporizable material 1302. While the airflow passage may
have a circular
or at least approximately circular cross-sectional shape, it will be
understood that other cross-
sectional shapes for the airflow passage are also within the scope of the
current disclosure.
[239] A first end of the airflow passageway 1338 may be connected to an
opening at a first
mouthpiece end of the storage chamber 1342 from which a user may inhale
vaporized
vaporizable material 1302. A second end of the airflow passageway 1338
(opposite the first
end) may be received in an opening at a first end of the collector 1313, as
provided in further
detail herein. Depending on implementation, the second end of the airflow
passageway 1338
may fully or partially extend through a receiving cavity that runs through the
collector 1313
and connects to a wick housing, where the wicking element 1362 may be housed.
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[240] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the airflow
passageway 1338
may be an integral part of a monolithic molded mouthpiece that includes the
storage chamber
1342 where the airflow passageway 1338 extends through the storage chamber
1342. In other
configurations, the airflow passageway 1338 may be an independent structure
that may be
separately inserted into the storage chamber 1342. In some configurations, the
airflow
passageway 1338 may be a structural extension of the collector 1313 or the
body of the
cartridge 1320 as internally extending from the opening in the mouthpiece
portion, for example.
[241] Without limitation, a variety of different structural configurations may
be possible for
connecting the mouthpiece (and airflow passageway 1338 internal to the
mouthpiece) to the
air exchange port 1106 in collector 1313. As provided herein, the collector
1313 may be
inserted into the body of the cartridge 1320, which may also include and/or
act as the storage
chamber 1342. In some embodiments, the airflow passageway 1338 may be
constructed as an
internal sleeve that is an integral part of a monolithic cartridge body, such
that an opening in a
first end of the collector 1313 may receive a first end of the sleeve
structure forming the airflow
passageway 1338. It should be appreciated that the mouthpiece may be a single
barrel
mouthpiece as shown in FIG. 5B or a multi-barrel mouthpiece, for example, a
double barrel
mouthpiece, in which multiple airflow passageways are provided to deliver a
higher dose of
the vaporized vaporizable material 1302.
[242] As noted, the collector 1313 may include various mechanisms to control
the forward
flow and reverse flow of the vaporizable material 1302 into and out of the
collector 1313 (e.g.,
the overflow volume 1344). Some of these factors may include configuring the
capillary drive
of a fluidic vent, referred to herein as the gate 1102. The capillary drive of
the gate 1102 may
be, for example, smaller than that of the wicking element 1362 whereas the
flow resistance of
the collector 1313 may be larger than that of the wicking element 1362. The
overflow channel
1104 may have smooth and/or rippled inner surfaces to control the flow rate of
the vaporizable
material 1302 through the overflow channel 1104. As noted, the overflow
channel 1104 may
sloped and/or tapered in order to provide the proper capillary interaction and
forces to limit the
rate of flow through the gate 1102 and into the overflow volume 1344 during a
first pressure
state to promote a reverse rate of flow through the gate 1102 and out of the
overflow volume
1344 during a second pressure state.
[243] Additional modifications to the shape and structure of collector 1313
components may
be possible to help further regulate or fine-tune flow of the vaporizable
material 1302 into or
out of the collector 1313. For example, a smoothly curved spiral channel
configuration (i.e.,
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as opposed to a channel with sharp turns or edges) as shown in FIGS. 5A-H may
allow for
additional features, such as one or more vents, channels, apertures, and/or
constricting
structures to be included in the collector 1313 at predetermined intervals
along the overflow
channel 1104. As provided in further detail herein, such additional features,
structures, and/or
configurations may help provide a higher level of flow control for vaporizable
material 1302
along the overflow channel 1104 or through the gate 1102, for example.
[244] For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A-E, a fully or partially sloping spiral
surface may
be implemented along the interior of the overflow channel 1104 to define one
or more sides of
the internal volume of the overflow channel 1104 of the collector 1313, such
that vaporizable
material 1302 may flow freely due to capillary pressure (or the force of
gravity) through the
overflow channel 1104 as vaporizable material 1302 enters the overflow channel
1104. The
central tunnel 1100 may traverse a length of the collector 1313. At a first
end, the central tunnel
1100 through the collector 1313 may interact with or connect to the wick
housing 1315 (see,
e.g., FIG. 7) in which the wicking element 1362 and the heating element 1350
are disposed.
At the second end, the central tunnel 1100 may interact with, connect to, or
receive one end of
a duct or a tube that forms an airflow passageway 1338 in the mouthpiece
portion of the
cartridge 1320. A first end of the airflow passageway 1338 may connect (e.g.,
by way of
insertion) to the second end of the central tunnel 1100. A second end of the
airflow passageway
1338 may include an opening or orifice formed in the mouthpiece area.
[245] In accordance with one or more embodiments, vaporized vaporizable
material 1302
generated by the heating element 1350 heating the vaporizable material 1302
may enter through
the first end of the central tunnel 1100 in the collector 1313, pass through
the central tunnel
1100 and further out of the second end of the central tunnel 1100 into the
first end of the airflow
passageway 1338. Vaporized vaporizable material 1302 may then travel through
the airflow
passageway 1338 and exit through the mouthpiece opening formed at the second
end of the
airflow passageway 1338.
[246] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the gate 1102 may
control the
flow of vaporizable material 1302 into and out of the overflow channel 1104 in
the collector
1313. The air exchange port 1106 may, via a connection path to ambient air,
control the flow
of air into and out of the overflow channel 1104 to regulate air pressure in
the collector 1313,
and in turn in the storage chamber 1342 of the cartridge 1320 as provided in
further detail
herein. In certain embodiments, the air exchange port 1106 may be configured
to prevent the
vaporizable material 1302 present in the overflow channel 1104 of the
collector 1313 (e.g., due
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to being displaced by excess pressure inside the cartridge 1320) from exiting
the overflow
channel 1104 and leaking into an airflow passageway (e.g., the central tunnel
1100).
[247] The air exchange port 1106 may be configured to cause the vaporizable
material 1302
to exit toward a route that leads to the area in which the wicking element
1362 is housed. This
implementation may help avoid leakage of the vaporizable material 1302 into an
airflow
passageway (e.g., the central tunnel 1100) that leads to the mouthpiece when
the vaporizable
material 1302 is displaced from the storage chamber 1342. In some
implementations, the air
exchange port 1106 may have a membrane that allows the ingress and egress of
gaseous
material (e.g., air bubbles) but prevents vaporizable material 1302 from
entering or exiting the
collector 1313 through the air exchange port 1106.
[248] Referring now to FIGS. 5C-H, the rate of flow of vaporizable material
1302 into and
out of the collector 1313 through the gate 1102 may be directly associated
with the volumetric
pressure inside the overflow channel 1104. Thus, the rate of flow into and out
of the collector
1313, through the gate 1102, may be controlled by way of manipulating the
hydraulic diameter
(or cross-sectional area) of the overflow channel 1104 such that reducing the
overall volume
of the overflow channel 1104 (e.g., either uniformly or by way of introducing
multiple
constrictions points) may lead to increased pressure in the overflow channel
1104 and adjusting
the rate of flow into the collector 1313. Accordingly, in at least one
implementation, the
hydraulic diameter (or cross-sectional area) of the overflow channel 1104 may
be decreased
(e.g., narrowed, pinched, constricted or restricted), either uniformly or by
way of introducing
one or more constriction points 1111a, along the length of the spiral path of
the overflow
channel 1104. For example, in the example of the collector 1313 shown in FIGS.
5C-E, the
overflow channel 1104 may include multiple downward sloping spirals with
various
constriction points 1111a and 1111b disposed along the length of the overflow
channel 1104
between the gate 1102 and the air exchange port 1106. The quantity of spirals
in the overflow
channel 1104 as well as the quantity of constriction points along the length
of the overflow
channel 1104 may determine the volumetric pressure in the collector 1313.
Moreover, the
volumetric pressure inside the collector 1313 may be determined by the
configuration of the
constriction points disposed along the length of the overflow channel 1104.
[249] For example, as shown in FIG. 5C, the constriction point 1111a may be
formed by way
of bumps, raised edges, protrusions, or constriction points extending from the
interior surfaces
of the overflow channel 1104 (i.e., the blades of the collector 1313). The
shape of the
constriction point 1111a may be defined as a bump, finger, prong, fin, edge,
or any other shape
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that constricts a cross-sectional area transverse to a flow direction in the
overflow channel. In
the example shown in FIG. 5C, the constriction point 1111a may be in the shape
of a shark fin,
for example, in which the distal end of the constriction point 1111a tapers to
an edge. Further
as shown in FIG. 5C, the pointed or cantilevered edge of the shark fin shape
may be rounded
although the cantilevered edge may also be tapered to a sharp end. The shape,
size, relative
location, and total quantity of constriction points disposed along the length
of the overflow
channel 1104 may be adjusted to further control the ingress and egress of the
liquid vaporizable
material 1302 into and out of the overflow channel 1104, for example, by fine-
tuning the
tendency of a meniscus (e.g., separating the liquid vaporizable material 1302
and air) to form
within the overflow channel 1104.
[250] For example, if it is desirable to instead maintain an incoming flow in
the overflow
channel 1104 at a higher rate than the outgoing flow, then the constriction
points maybe shaped
to have a flat surface facing the outgoing flow and a rounded surface facing
the incoming flow
to facilitate formation and retention of a meniscus resisting outward flow of
liquid (e.g., away
from the storage chamber 1340) while making it easier for the meniscus to
break free of the
side of the constriction point facing back toward the storage compartment
1340. In this manner,
a series of such constriction points may function as a sort of "hydraulic
ratchet" system in
which return flow of liquid into the storage compartment is microfluidically
encouraged
relative to outward flow from the storage compartment. This effect may be
achieved, at least
in part, by the relative tendency of a meniscus to break from the storage
chamber side of the
constriction points than from the opposite side.
[251] Referring again to FIG. 5C, in one example implementation, in addition
to (or instead
of) the constriction points extending from the floor or ceilings of the
overflow channel 1104,
some constriction points may extend from the inner walls of the overflow
channel 1104. As
shown more clearly in FIG. 5F, a constriction point may extend from an inner
wall of the
overflow channel 1104 at the same constriction point 1111a, where two
additional constriction
points extend from the floor and the ceiling of the overflow channel 1104 to
form a C-shaped
constriction point 1111a. The example implementation illustrated in FIGS. 5D
and 5F may
more effectively tune the microfluidic properties of the overflow channel 1104
to encourage
liquid flow to retract toward the storage chamber 1340 relative to the
implementation in FIG.
5C, because the hydraulic diameter of the overflow channel 1104 is more
constricted (i.e.,
narrowed) at the constriction point 1111a shown in FIGS. 5D and 5F.
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[252] The constriction points formed along the overflow channel 1104 need not
be uniform
in shapes, size, frequency, or symmetry. That is, depending on implementation,
different
constriction points 1111a or 1111b may be implemented in different sizes,
designs, shapes,
locations or frequency along the overflow channel 1104. In one example, the
shape of a
constriction point 1111a or 1111b may be similar to the shape of the letter C
with a round
internal diameter. In some embodiments, instead of a forming the internal
diameter as a
rounded C shape, the internal wall of the constriction point may have corners
(e.g., sharp
corners) such as those shown in FIGS. 5F and 5G.
[253] In some examples, the overflow channel 1104, at a first level, may have
constriction
points extending from the ceiling of the overflow channel 1104, whereas at a
second level, the
constriction points may extend from the floor of the overflow channel 1104. At
a third level,
the constriction points may extend from the inner walls, for example.
Alternatives of the above
implementations may be possible by adjusting or changing the number of
constriction points
and shapes of constriction points or the positioning of the constriction
points in different
sequences or levels to help control the microfluidic effect on flow in the two
directions within
the overflow channel 1104. In one example, constriction points 1111a may be
implemented
on one or more (or all) levels, sides, or widths of the collector 1313, for
example.
[254] Referring now to FIGS. 5E-G, in addition to defining constriction points
1111a along
longer length of the overflow channel 1104, or a wider side of the collector
1313, one or more
extra constriction points 1111b may be defined along the narrower side of the
collector 1313.
As such, the example implementation illustrated in FIGS. 5E-5G may improve the
adjusting of
resistance to or encouragement of meniscus detachment in a desired direction
in the overflow
channel 1104 as compared to the implementation in FIG. 5D, because the overall
hydraulic
diameter (or flow volume) of the overflow channel 1104 is more constricted due
to the addition
of extra constriction points 1111b.
[255] Referring now to FIG. 5H, in some implementations of the current subject
matter, the
gate 1102 may be constructed to include an aperture or opening configuration
that, similar to a
constriction point 1111a or 1111b, has a tapered edge, rim, or flange that is
more flat in one
direction. For example, the rim of the gate 1102 aperture may be shaped to be
flat on one side
(e.g., the side facing towards the storage chamber 1342) and rounded on
another side (e.g., the
side facing away from the storage chamber 1342). In such a configuration, the
microfluidic
forces encouraging flow back toward the storage chamber 1340 overflow away
from the
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storage chamber 1340 may be enhanced due to easier meniscus detachment on the
less-rounded
side relative to the more-rounded side.
[256] Accordingly, depending on implementation and variations in the structure
or
construction of the constriction points and the gate 1102, the resistance to
flow of vaporizable
material 1302 out of the collector 1313 may be higher than the resistance to
flow of vaporizable
material 1302 into the collector 1313 and toward the storage chamber 1340. In
certain
implementations, the gate 1102 is constructed to maintain a liquid seal such
that a layer of
vaporizable material 1302 is present at the medium where the storage chamber
1342
communicates with the overflow channel 1104 in the overflow volume 1344. The
presence of
a liquid seal may help maintain a pressure equilibrium between the storage
chamber 1342 and
the overflow volume 1344 to promote a sufficient level of vacuum (e.g.,
partial vacuum) in the
storage chamber 1342 to prevent vaporizable material 1302 from completely
draining into the
overflow volume 1344, as well as avoiding the wicking element 1362 being
deprived of
adequate saturation.
[257] In one or more example implementations, a single passageway or channel
in the
collector 1313 may be connected to the storage chamber 1342 by way of two
vents, such
that the two vents maintain a liquid seal regardless of the positioning of the
cartridge 1320.
The formation of a liquid seal at the gate 1102 may also help prevent the air
in the collector
1313 from entering the storage chamber 1342 even when the cartridge 1320 is
held
diagonally with respect to the horizon or when the cartridge 1320 is
positioned with the
mouthpiece facing downward. This is because if air bubbles from the collector
1313 enter
the reservoir, the pressure inside the storage chamber 1342 will be equalized
with that of
ambient pressure. That is, the partial vacuum inside the storage chamber 1342
(e.g., created
as a result of vaporizable material 1302 being drained through the wick feeds
1368) would
be offset, if ambient air flows into the storage chamber 1342.
[258] In some scenarios, headspace vacuum may not be maintained when the empty
space
(i.e., the headspace above the vaporizable material 1302) in the storage
chamber 1342 contacts
the gate 1102. As a result, as noted earlier, the liquid seal established at
the gate 1102 may be
broken. This effect may be due to the gate 1102 being unable to maintain a
fluidic film as the
collector 1313 is drained and headspace comes into contact with the gate 1102,
leading to a
loss of partial headspace vacuum.
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[259] In certain embodiments, the headspace in the storage chamber 1342 may
have ambient
pressure and if there exists a hydrostatic offset between the gate 1102 and
the atomizer in the
cartridge 1320, the contents of the storage chamber 1342 may drain into the
atomizer resulting
in wick-box flooding and leaking. To avoid leakage, one or more embodiments
may be
implemented to remove the hydrostatic offset between the gate 1102 and the
atomizer and
maintain gate 1102 functionality when the storage chamber 1342 is nearly
drained.
[260] FIGS. 51 -K depict maze-shaped structures 1190, which may be constructed
around the
gate 1102 to establish a high-drive connection between the gate 1102 and the
overflow channel
1104 in the collector 1313 to maintain the liquid seal at the gate 1102. In
the example shown
in FIG. 5J, a moat-shaped structure 1190 may be included as a means to further
improve the
maintenance of the liquid seal at the gate 1102 in accordance with one or more
implementations.
[261] FIGS. 5L-N depicts various views of the gate 1102 consistent with
implementations of
the current subject matter. As shown, the overflow channel 1104 in the
collector 1313 may
be connected to the storage chamber 1342 by way of a V-shaped or horn-shaped
controlled
fluidic gate 1102, for example, such that the V-shaped gate 1102 includes at
least two (and
desirably three) openings that are connected to the storage chamber 1342. As
provided in
further detail herein, a liquid seal may be maintained at the gate 1102
regardless of the
vertical or horizontal orientation of the cartridge 1320.
[262] As shown in FIG. 5L, on a first side of the vent, a vent pathway may be
maintained
between the overflow channel 1104 and the gate 1102 through which air bubbles
can escape
from the overflow channel 1104 in the collector into the reservoir. On a
second side, one
or more high-drive channels connected to the reservoir may be implemented to
encourage
pinch-off at a pinch-off point 1122 to maintain a liquid seal that prevent the
premature
venting of air bubbles out of the overflow channel 1104 and into the
reservoir, as well as
the undesirable entry of air or vaporizable material 1302 into the overflow
channel 1104
from the reservoir.
[263] Depending on implementation, the high-drive channels, shown by way of
example on
the right side of FIG. 5L, are preferably maintained sealed due to the
capillary pressure
exerted by the liquid vaporizable material 1302 in the cartridge reservoir.
The low-drive
channels formed on the opposite side (i.e., shown on left side in FIG. 5L) may
be configured
to have a relatively lower capillary drive in comparison to the high-drive
channels but still
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have a sufficient capillary drive such that in, a first pressure state, a
liquid seal is maintained
in both the high-drive channels and the low-drive channels.
[264] Accordingly, in the first pressure state (e.g., when the pressure inside
the reservoir is
approximately equal to or more than the ambient air pressure), then a liquid
seal is
maintained in both the low-drive and high-drive channels, preventing any air
bubbles from
flowing into the reservoir. Conversely, in a second pressure state (e.g., when
the pressure
inside the reservoir is less than the ambient air pressure), air bubbles
formed in the overflow
channel 1104 (e.g., by way of entry through the air exchange port 1106), or
more generally
a leading meniscus edge of a liquid vaporizable material-air interface may
travel up and
toward the controlled fluidic gate 1102. As the meniscus reaches the pinch-off
point 1122
positioned between the low-drive and high-drive channels of the vent 1104, the
air is
preferentially routed through the low-drive channel or channels, due to a
higher capillary
resistance being present in the high-drive channel(s).
[265] Once the air bubbles have passed through the low-drive channel portion
of the gate
1102, the air bubbles enter the reservoir and equalize the pressure inside the
reservoir with
that of ambient air. As such, the air exchange port 1106 in combination with
the controlled
fluidic gate 1102 allows for the ambient air entering through the overflow
channel 1104 to
pass through into the reservoir, until an equilibrium pressure state is
established between
the reservoir and the ambient air. As noted earlier, this process may be
referred to as the
reservoir venting. Once an equilibrium pressure state is established (e.g., a
transition from
a second pressure state back to a first pressure state) then a liquid seal is
again established
at the pinch-off point 1122, due to the presence of liquid in both the high-
drive channels
and the low-drive channels that are fed by the liquid vaporizable material
1302 stored in
the reservoir.
[266] In some implementations, tapered channels may be designed to increase
drive towards
the controlled vent. Considering the pinch-off of the two advancing menisci,
the reservoir's
tank wall and channel bottom may be configured to continue to provide drive,
while the
sidewalls provide a pinch-off location for the menisci. In one configuration,
the net drive of
the advancing menisci does not exceed that of the receding menisci, thus
maintaining the
system statically stable.
[267] Referring back to FIGS. 4C-D and 5B, in certain variations, the
collector 1313 may be
configured to be insertably received by a receiving end of the storage chamber
1342. The end
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of the collector 1313 that is opposite to the end that is received by the
storage chamber 1342
may be configured to receive the wicking element 1362. For example, fork-
shaped constriction
points may be formed to securely receive the wicking element 1362. The wick
housing 1315
may be used to further secure the wicking element 1362 in a fixed position
between the
constriction points. This configuration may also help prevent the wicking
element 1362 from
substantial swelling and becoming weak due to over saturation.
[268] Referring to FIGS. 5C-E, depending on implementation, one or more
additional ducts,
channels, tubes or cavities that travel through the collector 1313 and may be
constructed or
configured as paths that feed the wicking element 1362 with vaporizable
material 1302 stored
in the storage chamber 1342. In certain configurations, such as those
discussed in further detail
herein, the wick feeding ducts, tubes or cavities (i.e., wick feeds 1368) may
run approximately
parallel to the central tunnel 1100. In at least one configuration, one or
more wick feeds may
be present that run diagonally along the length of the collector 1313, for
example, either
independently or in connection with a wick exchange, optionally including one
or more other
wick feeds.
[269] In certain embodiments, a plurality of wick feeds may be interactively
connected in a
multi-linked configuration such that an interchange of feeding paths, possibly
crossing one
another, may lead to the wick housing area. This configuration may help
prevent complete
blockage of the wick feeding mechanism if, for example, one or more feeding
paths in the wick
feed interchange are obstructed by way of the formation of gas bubbles or
other types of
clogging. Advantageously, instrumentation of multiple feeding paths may allow
for
vaporizable material 1302 to safely travel through one or more paths (or
crossover to a different
but open path) toward the wick housing area, even if some of the paths or
certain routes in the
wick feed interchange are fully or partially clogged or blocked.
[270] Depending on implementation, a wick feed path may be shaped to be
tubular with, for
example, a circular or multifaceted cross-diameter shape. For example, the
hollow cross-
section of the wick feed may be triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or in any
other suitable
geometrical shape. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional perimeter
of the wick feed
may be in shape of a hollow cross, for example, such that the arms of the
cross have a narrower
width in relationship to the diameter of the central crossover portion of the
cross from which
the arms extend. More generally, a wick feed channel (also referred to herein
as a first channel)
may have a cross-sectional shape with at least one irregularity (e.g., a
protrusion, a side channel,
etc.) that provides an alternative path for liquid vaporizable material to
flow through in the
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event that an air bubble blocks the remainder of the cross-sectional area of
the wick feed. The
cross-shaped cross-section of the current example is an example of such a
structure, but a
skilled artisan will understand that other shapes are also contemplated and
feasible consistent
with the current disclosure.
[271] A cross-shaped duct or tube implementation that is formed through a wick
feed path
may overcome clogging problems because a cross-shaped tube may be essentially
considered
as including five separate pathways (e.g., a central pathway formed at the
hollow center of the
cross and four additional pathways formed in the hollow arms of the cross). In
such
implementation, a blockage in the feeding tube by way of a gas bubble, for
example, will likely
be formed at the central portion of the cross-shaped tube, leaving sub-
pathways (i.e., pathways
that go through the arms of the cross-shaped tube) open to flow.
[272] In accordance with one or more aspects, wick-feeding pathways may be
sufficiently
wide to allow the vaporizable material 1302 to travel freely through the
feeding pathways and
toward the wick. In some embodiments, the flow through the wick feed may be
enhanced or
accommodated by way of devising the relative diameter of certain portions of
the wick feed to
enforce capillary pull or pressure on the vaporizable material 1302 travelling
through a wick
feed path. In other words, depending on the shape and other structural or
material factors, some
wick feeding pathways may rely on gravitational or capillary forces to induce
movement of
vaporizable material 1302 toward the wick-housing portion.
[273] In the cross-shaped tube implementation, for example, the feeding paths
that go through
the arms of the cross-shaped tube may be configured to feed the wick by way of
capillary
pressure instead of reliance on gravitational force. In such implementation,
the central portion
of the cross-shaped tube may feed the wick due to gravitational force, for
example, while the
flow of vaporizable material 1302 in the arms of the cross-shaped tube may be
supported by
capillary pressure. It is noted that the cross-shaped tube disclosed herein is
for the purpose of
providing an example embodiment.
[274] It will
be understood that a cross-shaped cross section of a wick feed path is only of
multiple potential
configurations consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.
In other words,
the concepts and functionality implemented in this example embodiment may be
extended to
wick feed paths with different cross-sectional shapes (e.g., tubes with hollow
star-shaped cross-
sections having two or more arms extending from a central tunnel running along
a wick feed
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path). A general feature consistent with this aspect of the current subject
matter is a cross-
sectional shape that, for a wetting angle of the material forming the wick
feed path and the
liquid vaporizable material to be used, preferentially results in an air
bubble being unable to
fully block the entirety of the cross section, for example, because one or
more protruding shapes
in the cross-section are sized such that a meniscus forms across the
protruding shape to
maintain a continuous liquid flow path (e.g., in the portion of the wick feed
path that forms the
protruding part of the cross section) around any such bubble.
[275] Referring again to FIG. 5C, an example collector 1313 construction is
shown in which
two wick feeds 1368 are positioned on two opposite sides of the central tunnel
1100 such that
vaporizable material 1302 may enter the feeds and flow directly towards the
cavity area at the
other end of the collector 1313, where the housing for the wick is formed.
[276] Wick feed mechanisms may be formed through the collector 1313 such that
at least one
wick feed path in the collector 1313 may be shaped as a multifaceted cross-
diameter hollow
tube. For example, the hollow cross-section of the wick feed may be in shape
of a plus sign
(e.g., a hollow cross-shaped wick feed if viewed from a top cross-sectional
view), such that the
arms of the cross have a narrower width in relationship to the diameter of the
central crossover
portion of the cross from which the arms extend.
[277] Such central positioning of the gas bubble would ultimately leave sub-
pathways (i.e.,
pathways that go through the arms of the cross-shaped tube) that remain open
to flow of
vaporizable material 1302, even when the central path is blocked by the gas
bubble. Other
implementations for a wick feed passageway structure are possible that can
accomplish the
same or similar objective as that disclosed above with respect to trapping gas
bubbles or
avoiding trapped gas bubbles from fully clogging the wick feed passageway.
[278] The addition of more vents in the structure of the collector 1313 may
allow for faster
flow rates, depending on implementation, as a relatively larger collective
volume of the
vaporizable material 1302 may be displaced when additional vents are
available. As such, even
though not explicitly shown, embodiments with more than two vents (e.g.,
triple-vent
implementations, quadruple-vent implementations, etc.) are also within the
scope of the
disclosed subject matter.
[279] FIG. 8A depicts a perspective view, a frontal view, a side view, a
bottom view, and a
top view of an example the collector 1313 consistent with implementations of
the current
subject matter. In the example of the collector 1313 shown in FIG. 8A, the
gate 1102 may be
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V-shaped. The collector 1313 may be fitted inside a hollow cavity in the
cartridge 1320 along
with the additional components (e.g., wicking element 1362, heating element
1350, and wick
housing 1315). The wicking element 1362 may be positioned between a second end
of the
collector 1313 with the heating element 1350 wrapped around the wicking
element 1362.
During assembly, the collector 1313, wicking element 1362 and heating element
1350 may be
fit together and covered by the wick housing 1315 before being inserted into
the cavity inside
the cartridge 1320.
[280] The wick housing 1315 may be inserted along with the other noted
components into an
end of the cartridge 1320 that is opposite to the mouthpiece to hold the
components inside in a
pressure-sealed or pressure-fit manner. The seal or fit of the wick housing
1315 and collector
1313 inside the inner walls of the receiving sleeve of the cartridge 1320 is
desirably sufficiently
tight to prevent leakage of vaporizable material 1302 held in the reservoir of
the cartridge 1320.
In some embodiments, the pressure seal between the wick housing 1315 and the
collector 1313
and the inner walls of the receiving sleeve of the cartridge 1320 is also
sufficiently tight to
prevent the manual disassembly of the components with a user's bare hands.
[281] Referring now to FIGS. 8B-C, in some implementations of the current
subject matter,
the wicking element 1362 may be constrained or compressed in certain locations
along its
length (e.g., toward the longitudinal distal ends of the wicking element 1362
positioned directly
under wick feeds 1368) by way of compression ribs 1110 to help prevent leakage
by, for
example, maintaining a larger saturation area of the vaporizable material 1302
toward the ends
of the wicking element 1362, so that the central part of the wicking element
1362 remains more
dry and less leak prone. Further, use of compression ribs 1110 may further
press the wicking
element 1362 into the atomizer housing to prevent leakage into the atomizer.
[282] FIGS. 8D-F depict top planar view of examples of wick feed mechanisms,
which may
be formed by or structured through the collector 1313. In the example shown in
FIG. 8D, at
least one wick feed 1368 path in the collector 1313 may be shaped as a
multifaceted cross-
diameter hollow tube. For example, the hollow cross-section of the wick feed
1368 path may
be in shape of a plus sign (e.g., a hollow cross-shaped wick feed if viewed
from a top cross-
sectional view), such that the arms of the cross have a narrower width in
relationship to the
diameter of the central crossover portion of the cross from which the arms
extend. Meanwhile,
in the example shown in FIG. 8E, a duct or tube with a cross-shaped diameter
formed through
a wick feed 1368 path may overcome clogging problems because a tube with a
cross-shaped
diameter may be considered as including five separate pathways (e.g., a
central pathway
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formed at the hollow center of the cross and four additional pathways formed
in the hollow
arms of the cross). In such implementations, a blockage in the feeding tube by
way of a gas
bubble (e.g., air bubble) will likely be formed at the central portion of the
cross-shaped tube as
shown in FIG. 8E. A central positioning of the gas bubble would ultimately
leave sub-
pathways (i.e., pathways that go through the arms of the cross-shaped tube)
that remain open
to flow of vaporizable material 1302, even when the central path is blocked by
the gas bubble.
[283] Referring to now to FIG. 8F, the wick feedback mechanism may also be a
wick feed
1368 path structure capable of trapping gas bubbles or avoiding trapped gas
bubbles from fully
clogging the wick feed 1368 path. As shown in the example illustration of FIG.
8F, one or
more droplet-shaped constriction points 1368a and/or 1368b (e.g., similar in
shape to one or
more separated nipples with a wick feed 1368 path therebetween) may be formed
at an end of
the wick feed 1368 path through which vaporizable material 1302 flows from the
storage
chamber 1342 into the collector 1313 to help lead the vaporizable material
1302 through the
wick feed 1368 path, if a gas bubble is trapped in the central region of the
wick feed 1368 path.
In this manner, a reasonably controllable and consistent flow of vaporizable
material 1302 may
be streamed towards the wick, preventing a scenario in which the wick is
inadequately saturated
with the vaporizable material 1302.
[284] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view, a frontal view, a side view, and an
exploded view of
an example of the cartridge 1320 consistent with implementations of the
current subject matter.
As shown, the cartridge 1320 may include a mouthpiece-reservoir combination
shaped in the
form of a sleeve with an airflow passageway 1338 defined through the sleeve.
An area in the
cartridge 1320 houses the collector 1313, the wicking element 1362, the
heating element 1350,
and the wick housing 1315. An opening at a first end of the collector 1313
leads to the airflow
passageway 1338 in the mouthpiece and provides a route for the vaporized
vaporizable material
1302 to travel from the heating element 1350 area to the mouthpiece from which
a user inhales.
[285] FIGS. 9A-C depict a perspective view, a frontal view, and a side view of
an example
of the cartridge 1320 consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter. Referring
to FIGS. 9A-C, the cartridge 1320 as shown may be assembled from multiple
components
including the collector 1313, the heating element 1350, and the wick housing
1315 for holding
the cartridge components in place as the components are inserted into a body
of a cartridge. In
one embodiment, a laser weld may be implemented at a circumferential juncture
positioned at
approximately the point at which one end of the collector 1313 meets the wick
housing 1313.
A laser weld between the collector 1313 and the heating chamber 1315 may
prevent the liquid
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vaporizable material 1302 in the collector 1313 from flowing into the heating
chamber 1315
where the atomizer is placed.
[286] Vaporizing vaporizable material into an aerosol may result in condensate
collecting
along one or more internal channels and outlets (e.g., along a mouthpiece) of
some vaporizers.
For example, such condensate may include vaporizable material that was drawn
from a
reservoir, formed into an aerosol, and condensed into the condensate prior to
exiting the
vaporizer. Additionally, vaporizable material that has circumvented the
vaporization process
may also accumulate along the one or more internal channels and/or air
outlets. This can result
in the condensate and/or unvaporized vaporizable material exiting the
mouthpiece outlet and
depositing into the mouth of a user thereby creating both an unpleasant user
experience as well
as decreasing the amount of inhalable aerosol otherwise available.
Furthermore, the buildup
and loss of condensate can ultimately result in the inability to draw all of
the vaporizable
material from the reservoir into the vaporization chamber, thereby wasting
vaporizable
material. For example, as vaporizable material particulates accumulate in the
internal channels
of an air tube downstream of a vaporization chamber, the effective cross-
sectional area of the
airflow passageway narrows, thus increasing the flow rate of the air and
thereby applying drag
forces onto the accumulated fluid consequently amplifying the potential to
entrain fluid from
the internal channels and through the mouthpiece outlet. As such, in some
implementations of
the current subject matter, the vaporizer cartridge 1320 may include a
condensate recycling
system including, for example, a condensate collector 3201 and condensate
recycling channels
3204 (e.g., micro-fluidic channels) that extend from the opening of the
mouthpiece to the
wicking element 1362. To further illustrate, FIGS. 10A-E depict various views
of the cartridge
1320 including an example of a condensate recycling system consistent with
implementations
of the current subject matter.
[287] Referring to FIGS. 10A-E, the condensate collector 3201 may act on
vaporized
vaporizable material 1302 that are cooled and turned into droplets in the
mouthpiece to collect
and route the condensed droplets to the condensate recycler channels 3204. The
condensate
recycler channels 3204 collect and return condensate and large vapor droplets
to the wick, and
prevent the liquid vaporizable material formed in the mouthpiece from being
deposited into the
user's mouth, during the user puffing or inhaling from the mouthpiece. The
condensate
recycler channels 3204 may be implemented as micro-fluidic channels to trap
any liquid droplet
condensates and thereby eliminate the direct inhalation of vaporizable
material, in liquid form,
and avoid an undesirable sensation or taste in the user's mouth.
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[288] Additional and/or alternative embodiments of the condensate recycler
channels, and/or
one or more other features for controlling, collecting, and/or recycling
condensate in a
vaporizer device are described and shown with respect to FIGS. 45A-C. For
example, FIGS.
45A-C depicts another example of a condensate recycler system 360 consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter. The condensate recycler system
360 may be
configured to collect vaporizable material condensate and direct the
condensate back to the
wick for reuse. As shown in FIGS. 45A-C, the condensate recycler system 360
may include
an internally grooved air tube 334 creating an airflow passageway 338 which
extends from the
mouthpiece toward the vaporization chamber 342 and may be configured to
collect any
vaporizable material condensate and direct it (via capillary action) back to
the wick for reuse.
[289] One function of the grooves may include that vaporizable material
condensate becomes
trapped or is otherwise positioned within the grooves. The condensate, once
positioned
within the grooves, drains down to the wick due to the capillary action
created by the
wicking element. The draining of the condensate within the grooves may at
least partially
be achieved via capillary action. If any condensation exists inside the air
tube, the
vaporizable material particulates may fill into the grooves rather than
forming or building
a wall of condensate inside the air tube if the grooves were not present. When
the grooves
are filled enough to establish fluid communication with the wick, the
condensate drains
through and from the grooves and can be reused as vaporizable material. In
some
embodiments, the grooves may be tapered such that the grooves are narrower
towards the
wick and wider towards the mouthpiece. Such tapering may encourage fluid to
move
toward the vaporization chamber as more condensate collects in the grooves via
higher
capillary action at the narrower point.
[290] FIG. 45A shows a cross-sectional view of air tube 334. The air tube 334
includes an
airflow passageway 338 and one or more internal grooves having a decreasing
hydraulic
diameter toward the vaporization chamber 342. The grooves are sized and shaped
such
that fluid (such as condensate) disposed within the grooves can be transported
from a first
location to a second location via capillary action. The internal grooves
include air tube
grooves 364 and chamber grooves 365. The air tube grooves 364 may be disposed
inside
of air tube 334 and may taper such that the cross-section of the air tube
grooves 364 at an
air tube first end 362 may be greater than the cross-section of the air tube
grooves 364 at
an air tube second end 363. The chamber grooves 365 may be disposed proximate
to the
air tube second end 363 and coupled with air tube grooves 364. The internal
grooves may
be in fluid communication with the wick and configured to allow the wick to
continually
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drain vaporizable material condensate from the internal grooves, thus
preventing the
buildup of a film of condensate in the airflow passageway 338. The condensate
may
preferentially enter the internal grooves due to the capillary drive of the
internal grooves.
The gradient of capillary drive in the internal grooves directs fluid
migration toward wick
housing 346, where the vaporizable material condensate is recycled by
resaturating the
wick.
[291] FIGS. 45B and 45C show an internal view of the condensate recycler
system 360 as
seen from the air tube first end 362, and the air tube second end 363,
respectively. The air
tube first end 362 may be disposed proximate to the mouthpiece and/or air
outlet. The air
tube second end 363 may be disposed proximate to the vaporization chamber 342
and/or
wick housing 346, and may be in fluid communication with the chamber grooves
365
and/or the wick. The air tube grooves 364 may have a first diameter 366 and a
second
diameter 368. The second diameter 368 may be narrower than the first diameter
366.
[292] As the effective cross-section of the air flow passageway narrows,
either by
accumulation of condensate in the airflow passageway or by design as discussed
herein,
the flow rate of the air moving through the air tube increases, applying drag
forces on the
accumulated fluid (e.g., condensate). Fluid exits the air outlet when the drag
forces pulling
the fluid out toward the user (e.g., responsive to inhalation on the
vaporizer) are higher than
the capillary forces pulling the fluid toward the wick.
[293] To overcome this issue and encourage the condensate away from the
mouthpiece outlet
and back toward the vaporization chamber 342 and/or the wick, a tapered
airflow
passageway is provided such that a cross-section of the air tube grooves 364
proximate to
the vaporization chamber 342 is narrower than a cross-section of the air tube
grooves 364
proximate to the mouthpiece. Further, each of the internal grooves narrows
such that the
width of the internal grooves proximate to the air tube first end 362 may be
wider than the
width of the internal grooves proximate to the air tube second end 363. As
such, the
narrowing passageway increases the capillary drive of the air tube grooves 364
and
encourages fluid movement of the condensate toward the chamber grooves 365.
Further
yet, the chamber grooves 365 proximate to the air tube second end 363 may be
wider than
the width of the chamber grooves 365 proximate to the wick. That is, each
groove channel
progressively narrows approaching the wick in addition to the airflow
passageway itself
narrowing toward the wick end.
[294] To maximize the effectiveness of the capillary action provided by the
condensate
recycler system design, the air tube cross-sectional size relative to the
groove size may be
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considered. While capillary drive may increase as groove width narrows,
smaller groove
sizes may result in the condensate overflowing the grooves and clogging the
air tube. As
such, groove width may range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.8
mm.
[295] In some embodiments, the geometry or number of grooves may vary. For
example, the
grooves may not necessarily have a decreasing hydraulic diameter toward the
wick. In some
embodiments, a decreasing hydraulic diameter toward the wick may improve
performance of
the capillary drive, but other embodiments may be considered. For example, the
internal
grooves and channels may have a substantially straight structure, a tapered
structure, a helical
structure, and/or other arrangements.
[296] FIGS. 11A-B depict a frontal view and a side view of the cartridge 1310
having an
example of an external airflow path consistent with implementations of the
current subject
matter. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11A-B, one or more gates, also referred
to as air inlet
holes, may be provided on the vaporizer body 110. The inlet holes may be
positioned inside
of an air inlet channel with a width, height, and depth that is sized to
prevent the user from
unintentionally blocking the individual air inlet holes, when the user is
holding the vaporizer
100 coupled with the cartridge 1320. In one aspect, the air inlet channel
construction may be
sufficiently long so as not to significantly block or restrict airflow through
the air inlet channel,
when for example a user's fingers block an area of the air inlet channel.
[297] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the geometric
construction of
the air inlet channel may provide for at least one of a minimum length, a
minimum depth, or a
maximum width, for example, to ensure a user can't completely cover or block
the air inlet
holes in the air inlet channel with a finger, a hand, and/or another body
part. For example, the
length of the air inlet channel may be longer than the width of an average
human finger and the
width and depth of the air inlet channel may be such that when a user's finger
is pressed on top
of the channel, the skin folds created does not interface with the air inlet
holes inside the air
inlet channel.
[298] The air inlet channel may be constructed or formed as having rounded
edges or shaped
to wrap around one or more corners or areas of the vaporizer body 110, so that
the air inlet
channel cannot be easily covered by a user's finger or body part. In some
implementations of
the current subject matter, an optional cover may be provisioned to protect
the air inlet channel
so that a user's finger cannot not block or completely limit airflow into the
air inlet channel.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the air inlet channel may be disposed at an
interface between
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the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110. For example, the air
inlet channel
may be disposed within a recessed area, for example, a seam, a cavity, a
groove, a gap, and/or
the like, that is formed between the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the
vaporizer body 110 when
the vaporizer cartridge 1320 is coupled with the vaporizer body 110. This
recessed area may
extend at least partially around the circumference of the vaporizer cartridge
1320 and the
vaporizer body 110 such that a user's finger (or other body part) is able to
cover only a portion
of the recessed area and air may still enter the air inlet channel through the
uncovered portion
of the recessed area.
[299] FIG. 12A depicts a perspective view, a top view, a bottom view, and
various side views
of an example of the wick housing 1315 consistent with implementations of the
current subject
matter. As shown, one or more perforations, holes, or slots 596 may be formed
in the lower
portion of the wick housing 1315 to enable air to flow into the wick housing
1315 and around
and/or past the wick element 1362 positioned in the wick housing 1315. A
sufficient number
of the slots 596 may promote adequate airflow through the wick housing 1315,
which may be
necessary to provide for a proper and timely vaporization of vaporizable
material 1302
absorbed into the wicking element 1362 in reaction to the heat generated by
the heating element
1350 positioned near or around the wicking element 1362.
[300] To prevent the vaporizable material 1302 that are present in the wick
housing 1315, for
example, the vaporizable material 1302 drawn into the wicking element 1362,
from flowing
out of the wick housing 1315, the interior dimensions (e.g., cross-sectional
area, diameter,
width, length, and/or the like) of the slots 596 may be stepped in order to
provide, for example,
one or more constriction points at which a meniscus may form to prevent the
further egress of
the vaporizable material 1302. To further illustrate, FIGS. 50A-B depict cross-
sectional views
of the wick housing 1315 consistent with implementations of the current
subject matter. As
shown in FIGS. 50A-B, the slots 596 may be stepped in that an inner dimension
of the slots
596 may be less than the dimensions of the slots 596 at a bottom of the wick
housing 1315 such
that the interior of the slots 596 exhibits at least one step.
[301] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the dimensions of
the slots 596
at the bottom of the wick housing 1315 may be between 1.0-1.4 millimeters long
by 0.3-0.7
millimeters wide. For example, the slots 596 may be 1.2 millimeters long by
0.5 millimeters
wide at the bottom of the wick housing 1315 but may exhibit a stepped interior
such that the
inner dimensions of the slots are approximately 1.0 millimeters long by 0.3
millimeters wide.
The step may provide a constriction point at which a meniscus may form to
prevent a further
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egress of the vaporizable material 1302 out of the slots 596. In particular,
maintaining an air-
liquid interface within the stepped interiors of the slots 596 may prevent the
liquid vaporizable
material 1302 from breaching the bottom of the wick housing 1315 and
contaminating an
external environment, including, for example, the vaporizer body 110 at
locations (e.g., the
cartridge receptacle 118) proximate to where the vaporizer cartridge 1320
couples with the
vaporizer body 110.
[302] FIG. 12B depicts perspective view of the collector 1313 and the wick
housing 1315,
which may be coupled, for example, to form at least a portion of the cartridge
1320. As shown,
the wick housing 1315 (which includes the wick-housing portion of the
cartridge) may be
implemented to include one or more protruding members or tabs 4390. The tab
4390 may be
configured to extend from the upper end of the wick housing 1315, which during
assembly
mates with a receiving end of the collector 1313. The tab 4390 may include one
or more facets
that correspond to or match one or more facets in a receiving notch or
receiving cavity 1390
in, for example, the bottom portion of the collector 1313. The receiving
cavity 1390 may be
configured to removably receive the tab 4390 for a snap-fit engagement, for
example. The
snap-fit arrangement may assist with holding the collector 1313 and the wick
housing 1315
together during or after assembly.
[303] In certain embodiments, the tab 4390 may be utilized to direct the
orientation of the
wick housing 1315 during assembly. For example, in one embodiment one or more
vibrating
mechanisms (e.g., vibrating bowls) may be utilized to temporarily store or
stage the various
components of the cartridge 1320. According to some implementations, the tab
4390 may be
helpful in orienting the upper portion of the wick housing 1315 for a
mechanical gripper for
the purpose of easy engagement and correct automated assembly.
[304] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the collector
1313 may include
one or more features configured to encourage a mixing of the vaporized
vaporizable material
1302 in the airflow passageway 1338. As noted, the central tunnel 1100 may
traverse the
collector 1313 to form a fluid connection between the airflow passageway 1338
and the wick
housing 1315 in which the heating element 1350 and the wicking element 1362
are disposed.
Accordingly, aerosol generated by the heating element 1350 heating the
vaporizable material
1302 drawn into the wicking element 1362 may travel from the wick housing 1315
into the
central tunnel 1100 in the collector 1313 before flowing into the airflow
passageway 1338 for
delivery to the user. To encourage mixing of the vaporized vaporizable
material 1302 as the
vaporized vaporizable material 1302 travels through the central tunnel 1100
and the airflow
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passageway 1338, the bottom surface of the collector 1313, which serves as an
interface
between the collector 1313 and the wick housing 1315, may include one or more
features
configured to direct the flow of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302.
[305] To further illustrate, FIGS. 52A-E depicts the collector 1313 with an
example of a flow
controller 5220 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.
Referring to
FIGS. 52A-E, the collector 1313 may include, on its bottom surface, the flow
controller 5220.
The bottom surface of the collector 1313 may further include one or more
coupling
mechanisms for securing the collector 1313 to the wick housing 1315 including,
for example,
a first coupling mechanism 5210a and a second coupling mechanism 5210b. The
first coupling
mechanism 5210a and the second coupling mechanism 5210b may be male connectors
(e.g.,
forks) that are configured to be inserted into and frictionally engage with
corresponding female
connectors (e.g., receptacles) in the wick housing 1315. In the example of the
collector 1313
shown in FIGS. 52A-E, the bottom surface of the collector 1313 may further
include one or
more wick interfaces including, for example, a first wick interface 5230a and
a second wick
interface 5230b. The first wick interface 5230a and the second wick interface
5230b may be
coupled with the wick feeds 1368. For instance, the first wick interface 5230a
may be disposed
between an end of a first wick feed 1368a and the wick housing 1315 while the
second wick
interface 5230b may be disposed between an end of a second wick feed 1368b and
the wick
housing 1315. The first wick interface 5230a and the second wick interface
5230b may each
be configured to serve as a conduit for delivering, to the wicking element
1360 disposed in the
wick housing 1315, at least a portion of the vaporizable material 1302 flowing
through the
wick feeds 1368.
[306] Referring again to FIGS. 52A-E, the flow controller 5220 may be
fluidically coupled
with the central tunnel 1100, which is in turn in fluid communication with the
airflow
passageway 1338. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the
flow controller
5220 may be configured to direct the flow of the vaporized vaporizable
material 1302 in a
manner that encourages the mixing of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302
in the central
tunnel 1100 and/or the airflow passageway 1338. Mixing of the vaporized
vaporizable material
1302 may be desirable for a variety of reasons including, for example, to
regulate a temperature
and/or a distribution of the vaporized particulates in the aerosol delivered
to the user.
[307] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the flow
controller 5220 may
include one or more channels including, for example, a first channel 5225a and
a second
channel 5225b. In the example of the collector 1313 shown in FIGS. 52A-E, the
relative
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positions of the first channel 5225a and the second channel 5225b may be
offset (or staggered)
such that a first opening of the first channel 5225a into the central tunnel
1100 is at least
partially offset from a second opening of the second channel 5226b into the
central tunnel 1100.
Moreover, the first channel 5225a and the second channel 5225b may be tapered,
for example,
to form separate funnel-like structures. The cross-sectional dimensions of the
first channel
5225a and the second channel 5225b may also taper towards the end where the
first channel
5225a and the second channel 5225b meet the central tunnel 1100. For example,
the first
channel 5225a and the second channel 5225b may each taper from 2.62
millimeters by 5.85
millimeters (at a bottom of the collector 1313) to 1.35 millimeters by 0.70
millimeters over a
height of approximately 2.25 millimeters. Moreover, the interior walls of the
first channel
5225a and the second channel 5225b may be sloped toward a center of the
central tunnel 1100.
Accordingly, the first channel 5225a and the second channel 5225b may each
form, from the
vaporized vaporizable material 1302 entering the flow controller 5220 from the
wick housing
1315, a separate column of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302.
[308] Moreover, each column of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 may
flow in a
direction that is offset by the sloped interior contours of the first channel
5225a and the second
channel 5225b. For example, instead of traveling straight up towards the
airflow passageway
1338, the columns of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 may be directed
towards the
walls of the central tunnel 1100 and the airflow passageway 1338. That is, the
flow controller
5220 may be configured to disrupt the laminar flow of the vaporized
vaporizable material 1302
in which layers of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302, each of which
traveling at its own
velocity and having its own temperature, travel independently without any
disruption or
comingling between the layers. Lateral mixing between the layers of the
vaporized vaporizable
material 1302 in a laminar flow may be minimal as well as slow (e.g., through
diffusion
mixing). As such, without the disruption introduced by the flow controller
5220, the vaporized
vaporizable material 1302 may fail to undergo sufficient mixing before
existing the airflow
passageway 1338 for delivery to the user.
[309] Contrastingly, because the first channel 5225a and the second channel
5225b are
configured to offset the flow of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302, the
flow controller
5220 may introduce turbulent flow into the vaporized vaporizable material 1302
passing
through the flow controller 5220. For example, offsetting the flow direction
of the vaporized
vaporizable material 1302 may force each column of the vaporized vaporizable
material 1302
to interact with the walls of the central tunnel 1100 and the airflow
passageway 1338 as well
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as with each other. These interactions may disrupt the layers of the vaporized
vaporizable
material 1302 traveling at different velocities and having different
temperatures to encourage
a mixing of the layers of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302.
[310] To further illustrate, FIG. 52F depicts an example of laminar flow and
an example of
turbulent flow through the central tunnel 1100 and the airflow passageway
1338. On the left
of FIG. 52F, the columns of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 remain
separate as the
columns of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 travels through the central
tunnel 1100
and the airflow passageway 1338. As such, the vaporized vaporizable material
1302 maintains
a substantially laminar flow in which minimal mixing occurs between the layers
of the
vaporized vaporizable material 1302. Contrastingly, on the right of FIG. 52F,
the flow
controller 5220 introduced turbulent flow into the vaporized vaporizable
material 1302
including by offsetting the flow direction of the columns of the vaporized
vaporizable material
1302 such that the columns of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 interact
with the walls
of the central tunnel 1100 and the airflow passageway 1338 as well as each
other. As noted,
turbulent flow of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 may encourage a
mixing of the
different layers of the vaporized vaporizable material 1302 such that the
resulting aerosol
delivered to the user may exhibit more homogeneity in temperature and/or
distribution of
vaporized particulates.
[311] As noted above, the vaporizer cartridge 1320 consistent with
implementations of the
current subject matter may include one or more heating elements such as, for
example, the
heating element 1350. According to some implementations of the current subject
matter,
the heating element 1350 may desirably be shaped to receive the wicking
element 1362
and/or crimped or pressed at least partially around the wicking element 1362.
The heating
element 1350 may be bent such that the heating element 1350 is configured to
secure the
wicking element 1362 between at least two or three portions of the heating
element 1350.
The heating element 1350 may be bent to conform to a shape of at least a
portion of the
wicking element 1362. The heating element 1350 may be manufactured more easily
than
typical heating elements. The heating element consistent with implementations
of the
current subject matter may also be made of an electrically conductive metal
suitable for
resistive heating and in some implementations, the heating element may include
selective
plating of another material to allow the heating element (and thus, the
vaporizable material)
to be more efficiently heated.
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[312] FIG. 13A illustrates an exploded view of an example of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320,
FIG. 13B depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320, and
FIG. 13C depicts a bottom perspective view of an example of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320. As
shown in FIGS. 44A-C, the vaporizer cartridge 1320 may include a housing 160
that is
configured to accommodate the collector 1313, the wick housing 1315, and the
heating element
1350 (disposed at least partially inside the wicking housing 1315). In some
implementations
of the current subject matter, the wick housing 1315, the heating element
1350, and the wicking
element 1362 may form the atomizer assembly 141 shown in FIG. 1.
[313] As explained in more detail below, at least a portion of the heating
element 1350 is
positioned between the housing 160 and the wick housing 1315 and is exposed to
be coupled
with a portion of the vaporizer body 110 (e.g., electrically coupled with the
receptacle contacts
125). The wick housing 1315 may include four sides. For example, the wick
housing 1315
may include two opposing short sides and two opposing long sides. The two
opposing long
sides may each include at least one (two or more) recess. The recesses may be
positioned along
the long side of the wick housing 1315 and adjacent to respective
intersections between the
long sides and the short sides of the wick housing 1315. The recesses may be
shaped to
releasably couple with a corresponding feature (e.g., a spring) on the
vaporizer body 110 to
secure the vaporizer cartridge 1320 to the vaporizer body 110 within the
cartridge receptacle
118. The recesses provide a mechanically stable securement means to couple the
vaporizer
cartridge 1320 to the vaporizer body 110.
[314] In some implementations, the wick housing 1315 also includes an
identification chip
174, which may be configured to communicate with a corresponding chip reader
located on
the vaporizer. The identification chip 174 may be glued and/or otherwise
adhered to the wick
housing 1315, such as on a short side of the wick housing 1315. The wick
housing 1315 may
additionally or alternatively include a chip recess that is configured to
receive the identification
chip 174. The chip recess may be surrounded by two, four, or more walls. The
chip recess
may be shaped to secure the identification chip 174 to the wick housing 1315.
[315] FIGS. 14-17 illustrate schematic views of a heating element 1350
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter. For example, FIG. 14
illustrates a schematic
view of a heating element 1350 in an unfolded position. As shown, in the
unfolded position,
the heating element 1350 forms a planar heating element. The heating element
1350 may be
initially formed of a substrate material. The substrate material is then cut
and/or stamped into
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the proper shape via various mechanical processes, including but not limited
to stamping, laser
cutting, photo-etching, chemical etching, and/or the like.
[316] The substrate material may be made of an electrically conductive metal
suitable for
resistive heating. In some implementations, the heating element 1350 includes
a nickel-
chromium alloy, a nickel alloy, stainless steel, and/or the like. As discussed
below, the heating
element 1350 may be plated with a coating in one or more locations on a
surface of the substrate
material to enhance, limit, or otherwise alter the resistivity of the heating
element in the one or
more locations of the substrate material (which can be all or a portion of the
heating element
1350).
[317] The heating element 1350 includes one or more tines 502 (e.g., heating
segments)
located in a heating portion 504, one or more connecting portions or legs 506
(e.g., one, two,
or more) located in a transition region 508, and a cartridge contact 124
located in an electrical
contact region 510 and formed at an end portion of each of the one or more
legs 506. The tines
502, the legs 506, and the cartridge contacts 124 may be integrally formed.
For example, the
tines 502, the legs 506, and the cartridge contacts 124 form portions of the
heating element
1350 that is stamped and/or cut from the substrate material. In some
implementations, the
heating element 1350 also includes a heat shield 518 that extends from one or
more of the legs
506 and also may be integrally formed with the tines 502, the legs 506, and
the cartridge
contacts 124.
[318] In some implementations, at least a portion of the heating portion 504
of the heating
element 1350 is configured to interface with the vaporizable material drawn
into the wicking
element from the reservoir 1340 of the vaporizer cartridge 1320. The heating
portion 504 of
the heating element 1350 may be shaped, sized, and/or otherwise treated to
create a desired
resistance. For example, the tines 502 located in the heating portion 504 may
be designed so
that the resistance of the tines 502 matches the appropriate amount of
resistance to influence
localized heating in the heating portion 504 to more efficiently and
effectively heat the
vaporizable material from the wicking element. The tines 502 form thin path
heating segments
or traces in series and/or in parallel to provide the desired amount of
resistance.
[319] The tines 502 (e.g., traces) may include various shapes, sizes, and
configurations. In
some configurations, one or more of the tines 502 may be spaced to allow the
vaporizable
material to be wicked out of the wicking element and from there, vaporized off
side edges of
each of the tines 502. The shape, length, width, composition, etc., among
other properties of
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the tines 502 may be optimized to maximize the efficiency of generating an
aerosol by
vaporizing vaporizable material from within the heating portion of the heating
element 1350
and to maximize electrical efficiency. The shape, length, width, composition,
etc., among other
properties of the tines 502 may additionally or alternatively be optimized to
uniformly
distribute heat across the length of the tines 502 (or a portion of the tines
502, such as at the
heating portion 504). For example, the width of the tines 502 may be uniform
or variable along
a length of the tines 502 to control the temperature profile across at least
the heating portion
504 of the heating element 1350. In some examples, the length of the tines 502
may be
controlled to achieve a desired resistance along at least a portion of the
heating element 1350,
such as at the heating portion 504. As shown in FIGS. 45-48, the tines 502
each have the same
size and shape. For example, the tines 502 include an outer edge 503 that is
approximately
aligned and have a generally rectangular shape, with flat or squared outer
edges 503 or rounded
outer edges 503. In some implementations, one or more of the tines 502 may
include outer
edges 503 that are not aligned and/or may be differently sized or shaped. In
some
implementations, the tines 502 may be evenly spaced or have variable spacing
between
adjacent tines 502. The particular geometry of the tines 502 may be desirably
selected to
produce a particular localized resistance for heating the heating portion 504,
and to maximize
performance of the heating element 1350 to heat the vaporizable material and
generate an
aerosol.
[320] The heating element 1350 may include portions of wider and/or thicker
geometry,
and/or differing composition relative to the tines 502. These portions may
form electrical
contact areas and/or more conductive parts, and/or may include features for
mounting the
heating element 1350 within the vaporizer cartridge. The legs 506 of the
heating element 1350
extend from an end of each outermost tine 502A. The legs 506 form a portion of
the heating
element 1350 that has a width and/or thickness that is typically wider than a
width of each of
the tines 502. Though, in some implementations, the legs 506 have a width
and/or thickness
that is the same as or narrower than the width of each of the tines 502. The
legs 506 couple the
heating element 1350 to the wick housing 1315 or another portion of the
vaporizer cartridge
1320, so that the heating element 1350 is at least partially or fully enclosed
by the housing 160.
The legs 506 provide rigidity to encourage the heating element 1350 to be
mechanically stable
during and after manufacturing. The legs 506 also connect the cartridge
contacts 124 with the
tines 502 located in the heating portion 504. The legs 506 are shaped and
sized to allow the
heating element 1350 to maintain the electrical requirements of the heating
portion 504. As
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shown in FIG. 18, the legs 506 space the heating portion 504 from an end of
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 when the heating element 1350 is assembled with the vaporizer
cartridge 1320.
The legs 506 may also include a capillary feature configured to limit and/or
prevent the
vaporizable material 1302 from flowing out of the heating portion 504 to other
portions of the
heating element 1350.
[321] In some implementations, one or more of the legs 506 includes one or
more locating
features 516. The locating features 516 may be used for relative locating of
the heating element
1350 or portions thereof during and/or after assembly by interfacing with
other (e.g., adjacent)
components of the vaporizer cartridge 1320. In some implementations, the
locating features
516 may be used during or after manufacturing to properly position the
substrate material for
cutting and/or stamping the substrate material to form the heating element
1350 or post-
processing of the heating element 1350. The locating features 516 may be
sheared off and/or
cut off before crimping or otherwise bending the heating element 1350.
[322] In some implementations, the heating element 1350 includes one or more
heat shields
518. The heat shields 518 form a portion of the heating element 1350 that
extends laterally
from the legs 506. When folded and/or crimped, the heat shields 518 are
positioned offset in
a first direction and/or a second direction opposite the first direction in
the same plane from the
tines 502. When the heating element 1350 is assembled in the vaporizer
cartridge 1320, the
heat shields 518 are configured to be positioned between the tines 502 (and
the heating portion
504) and the body (e.g., plastic body) of the vaporizer cartridge 1320. The
heat shields 518
can help to insulate the heating portion 504 from the body of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320. The
heat shields 518 help to minimize the effects of the heat emanating from the
heating portion
504 on the body of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 to protect the structural
integrity of the body
of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and to prevent melting or other deformation of
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320. The heat shields 518 may also help to maintain a consistent
temperature at the
heating portion 504 by retaining heat within the heating portion 504, thereby
preventing or
limiting heat losses while vaporization is occurring. In some implementations,
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 may also or alternatively include a heat shield 518A that is
separate from the
heating element 1350.
[323] As noted above, the heating element 1350 includes at least two cartridge
contacts 124
that form an end portion of each of the legs 506. For example, as shown in
FIGS. 14-17, the
cartridge contacts 124 may form the portion of the legs 506 that is folded
along a fold line 507.
The cartridge contacts 124 may be folded at an angle of approximately 90
degrees relative to
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the legs 506. In some implementations, the cartridge contacts 124 may be
folded at other
angles, such as at an angle of approximately 15 degrees, 25 degrees, 35
degrees, 45 degrees,
55 degrees, 65 degrees, 75 degrees or other ranges therebetween, relative to
the legs 506. The
cartridge contacts 124 may be folded towards or away from the heating portion
504, depending
on the implementation. The cartridge contacts 124 may also be formed on
another portion of
the heating element 1350, such as along a length of at least one of the legs
506. The cartridge
contacts 124 are configured to be exposed to the environment when assembled in
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320.
[324] The cartridge contacts 124 may form conductive pins, tabs, posts,
receiving holes, or
surfaces for pins or posts, or other contact configurations. Some types of
cartridge contacts
124 may include springs or other urging features to cause better physical and
electrical contact
between the cartridge contacts 124 on the vaporizer cartridge and receptacle
contacts 125 on
the vaporizer body 110. In some implementations, the cartridge contacts 124
include wiping
contacts that are configured to clean the connection between the cartridge
contacts 124 and
other contacts or power source. For example, the wiping contacts would include
two parallel,
but offset, bosses that frictionally engage and slide against one another in a
direction that is
parallel or perpendicular to the insertion direction.
[325] The cartridge contacts 124 are configured to interface with the
receptacle contacts 125
disposed near a base of the cartridge receptacle of the vaporizer 100 such
that the cartridge
contacts 124 and the receptacle contacts 125 make electrical connections when
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 is inserted into and coupled with the cartridge receptacle 118.
The cartridge
contacts 124 may electrically communicate with the power source 112 of the
vaporizer device
(such as via the receptacle contacts 125, etc.). The circuit completed by
these electrical
connections can allow delivery of electrical current to the resistive heating
element to heat at
least a portion of the heating element 1350 and may further be used for
additional functions,
such as for example for measuring a resistance of the resistive heating
element for use in
determining and/or controlling a temperature of the resistive heating element
based on a
thermal coefficient of resistivity of the resistive heating element, for
identifying a cartridge
based on one or more electrical characteristics of a resistive heating element
or the other
circuitry of the vaporizer cartridge, etc. The cartridge contacts 124 may be
treated, as explained
in more detail below, to provide improved electrical properties (e.g., contact
resistance) using,
for example, conductive plating, surface treatment, and/or deposited
materials.
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[326] In some implementations, the heating element 1350 may be processed
through a series
of crimping and/or bending operations to shape the heating element 1350 into a
desired three-
dimensional shape. For example, the heating element 1350 may be performed to
receive or
crimped about a wicking element 1362 to secure the wicking element between at
least two
portions (e.g., approximately parallel portions) of the heating element 1350
(such as between
opposing portions of the heating portion 504). To crimp the heating element
1350, the heating
element 1350 may be bent along fold lines 520 towards one another. Folding the
heating
element 1350 along fold lines 520 forms a platform tine portion 524 defined by
the region
between the fold lines 520 and side tine portions 526 defined by the region
between the fold
lines 520 and the outer edges 503 of the tines 502. The platform tine portion
524 is configured
to contact one end of the wicking element 1362. The side tine portions 526 are
configured to
contact opposite sides of the wicking element 1362. The platform tine portion
524 and the side
tine portions 526 form a pocket that is shaped to receive the wicking element
1362 and/or
conform to the shape of at least a portion of the wicking element 1362. The
pocket allows the
wicking element 1362 to be secured and retained by the heating element 1350
within the
pocket. The platform tine portion 524 and the side tine portions 526 contact
the wicking
element 1362 to provide a multi-dimensional contact between the heating
element 1350 and
the wicking element 1362. Multi-dimensional contact between the heating
element 1350 and
the wicking element 1362 provides for a more efficient and/or faster transfer
of the vaporizable
material from the reservoir 1340 of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 to the
heating portion 504 (via
the wicking element 1362) to be vaporized.
[327] In some implementations, portions of the legs 506 of the heating element
1350 may
also be bent along fold lines 522 away from one another. Folding the portions
of the legs 506
of the heating element 1350 along fold lines 522 away from one another locates
the legs 506
at a position spaced away from the heating portion 504 (and tines 502) of the
heating element
1350 in a first and/or second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., in
the same plane).
Thus, folding the portions of the legs 506 of the heating element 1350 along
fold lines 522
away from one another spaces the heating portion 504 from the body of the
vaporizer cartridge
1320. FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic of the heating element 1350 that has
been folded along
the fold lines 520 and fold lines 522 about the wicking element 1362. As shown
in FIG. 15,
the wicking element is positioned within the pocket formed by folding the
heating element
1350 along fold lines 520 and 522.
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[328] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the heating
element 1350 may
also be bent along fold lines 523. For example, the cartridge contacts 124 may
be bent towards
one another (into and out of the page shown in FIG. 16) along the fold lines
523. The contact
portion of the heating element 1350 including the cartridge contacts 124 may
be disposed at
least partially outside of the wick housing 1315 such that the cartridge
contacts 124 are exposed
to the external environment and able to engage the receptacle contacts 125.
Meanwhile, the
heating portion of the heating element 1350 may be disposed at least partially
within the wick
housing 1350.
[329] In use, when a user puffs on the mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 when
the heating element 1350 is assembled into the vaporizer cartridge 1320, air
flows into the
vaporizer cartridge and along an air path. In association with the user puff,
the heating element
1350 may be activated, e.g., by automatic detection of the puff via a pressure
sensor, by
detection of a pushing of a button by the user, by signals generated from a
motion sensor, a
flow sensor, a capacitive lip sensor, and/or another approach capable of
detecting that a user is
taking or about to be taking a puff or otherwise inhaling to cause air to
enter the vaporizer 100
and travel at least along the air path. Power can be supplied from the
vaporizer device to the
heating element 1350 at the cartridge contacts 124, when the heating element
1350 is activated.
[330] When the heating element 1350 is activated, a temperature increase
results due to
current flowing through the heating element 1350 to generate heat. The heat is
transferred to
some amount of the vaporizable material through conductive, convective, and/or
radiative heat
transfer such that at least a portion of the vaporizable material vaporizes.
The heat transfer can
occur to vaporizable material in the reservoir and/or to vaporizable material
drawn into the
wicking element 1362 retained by the heating element 1350. In some
implementations, the
vaporizable material can vaporize along one or more edges of the tines 502, as
mentioned
above. The air passing into the vaporizer device flows along the air path
across the heating
element 1350, stripping away the vaporized vaporizable material from the
heating element
1350. The vaporized vaporizable material can be condensed due to cooling,
pressure changes,
etc., such that it exits the mouthpiece 130 as an aerosol for inhalation by a
user.
[331] As noted above, the heating element 1350 may be made of various
materials, such as
nichrome, stainless steel, or other resistive heater materials. Combinations
of two or more
materials may be included in the heating element 1350, and such combinations
can include
both homogeneous distributions of the two or more materials throughout the
heating element
or other configurations in which relative amounts of the two or more materials
are spatially
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heterogeneous. For example, the tines 502 may have portions that are more
resistive and
thereby be designed to grow hotter than other sections of the tines or heating
element 1350. In
some implementations, at least the tines 502 (such as within the heating
portion 504) may
include a material that has high conductivity and heat resistance.
[332] The heating element 1350 may be entirely or selectively plated with one
or more
materials. Since the heating element 1350 is made of a thermally and/or
electrically conductive
material, such as stainless steel, nichrome, or other thermally and/or
electrically conductive
alloy, the heating element 1350 may experience electrical or heating losses in
the path between
the cartridge contacts 124 and the tines 502 in the heating portion 504 of the
heating element
1350. To help to reduce heating and/or electrical losses, at least a portion
of the heating element
1350 may be plated with one or more materials to reduce resistance in the
electrical path leading
to the heating portion 504. In some implementations consistent with the
current subject matter,
it is beneficial for the heating portion 504 (e.g., the tines 502) to remain
unplated, with at least
a portion of the legs 506 and/or cartridge contacts 124 being plated with a
plating material that
reduces resistance (e.g., either or both of bulk and contact resistance) in
those portions.
[333] For example, the heating element 1350 may include various portions that
are plated
with different materials. In another example, the heating element 1350 may be
plated with
layered materials. Plating at least a portion of the heating element 1350
helps to concentrate
current flowing to the heating portion 504 to reduce electrical and/or heat
losses in other
portions of the heating element 1350. In some implementations, it is desirable
to maintain a
low resistance in the electrical path between the cartridge contacts 124 and
the tines 502 of the
heating element 1350 to reduce electrical and/or heat losses in the electrical
path and to
compensate for the voltage drop that is concentrated across the heating
portion 504.
[334] In some implementations, the cartridge contacts 124 may be selectively
plated.
Selectively plating the cartridge contacts 124 with certain materials may
minimize or eliminate
contact resistance at the point where the measurements are taken and the
electrical contact is
made between the cartridge contacts 124 and the receptacle contacts. Providing
a low
resistance at the cartridge contacts 124 can provide more accurate voltage,
current, and/or
resistance measurements and readings, which can be beneficial for accurately
determining the
current actual temperature of the heating portion 504 of the heating element
1350.
[335] In some implementations, at least a portion of the cartridge contacts
124 and/or at least
a portion of the legs 506 may be plated with one or more outer plating
materials 550. For
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example, at least a portion of the cartridge contacts 124 and/or at least a
portion of the legs 506
may be plated with at least gold, or another material that provides low
contact resistance, such
as platinum, palladium, silver, copper, or the like.
[336] In some implementations, in order for the low resistance outer plating
material to be
secured to the heating element 1350, a surface of the heating element 1350 may
be plated with
an adhering plating material. In such configurations, the adhering plating
material may be
deposited onto the surface of the heating element 1350 and the outer plating
material may be
deposited onto the adhering plating material, defining first and second
plating layers,
respectively. The adhering plating material includes a material with adhesive
properties when
the outer plating material is deposited onto the adhering plating material.
For example, the
adhering plating material may include nickel, zinc, aluminum, iron, alloys
thereof, or the like.
[337] In some implementations, the surface of the heating element 1350 may be
primed for
the outer plating material to be deposited onto the heating element 1350 using
non-plating
priming, rather than by plating the surface of the heating element 1350 with
the adhering plating
material. For example, the surface of the heating element 1350 may be primed
using etching
rather than by depositing the adhering plating material.
[338] In some implementations, all or a portion of the legs 506 and the
cartridge contacts 124
may be plated with the adhering plating material and/or the outer plating
material. In some
examples, the cartridge contacts 124 may include at least a portion that has
an outer plating
material having a greater thickness relative to the remaining portions of the
cartridge contacts
124 and/or the legs 506 of the heating element 1350. In some implementations,
the cartridge
contacts 124 and/or the legs 506 may have a greater thickness relative to the
tines 502 and/or
the heating portion 504.
[339] In some implementations, rather than forming the heating element 1350 of
a single
substrate material and plating the substrate material, the heating element
1350 may be formed
of various materials that are coupled together (e.g., via laser welding,
diffusion processes, etc.).
The materials of each portion of the heating element 1350 that is coupled
together may be
selected to provide a low or no resistance at the cartridge contacts 124 and a
high resistance at
the tines 502 or heating portion 504 relative to the other portions of the
heating element 1350.
[340] In some implementations, the heating element 1350 may be electroplated
with silver
ink and/or spray coated with one or more plating materials, such as the
adhering plating
material and the outer plating material.
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[341] As mentioned above, the heating element 1350 may include various shapes,
sizes, and
geometries to more efficiently heat the heating portion 504 of the heating
element 1350 and
more efficiently vaporize the vaporizable material 1302.
[342] FIGS. 19-24 depict another example of the heating element 1350
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter. As shown, the heating element
1350 may
include the one or more tines 502 located in the heating portion 504, the one
or more legs 506
extending from the tines 502, and the cartridge contacts 124 formed at the end
portion and/or
as part of each of the one or more legs 506.
[343] The tines 502 may be folded and/or crimped to define the pocket in which
a wicking
element 1362 (e.g., a flat pad) resides. The tines 502 include a platform tine
portion 524 and
side tine portions 526. The platform tine portion 524 is configured to contact
one side of the
wicking element 1362 and the side tine portions 526 are configured to contact
other opposite
sides of the wicking element 1362. The platform tine portion 524 and the side
tine portions
526 form the pocket that is shaped to receive the wicking element 1362 and/or
conform to the
shape of at least a portion of the wicking element 1362. The pocket allows the
wicking element
1362 to be secured and retained by the heating element 1350 within the pocket.
[344] In this example, the tines 502 have various shapes and size, and are
spaced apart from
one another at the same or varying distances. For example, as shown, each of
the side tine
portions 526 includes at least four tines 502. In a first pair 570 of adjacent
tines 502, each of
the adjacent tines 502 is spaced apart at an equal distance from an inner
region 576 positioned
near the platform tine portion 524 to an outer region 578 positioned near the
outer edge 503.
In a second pair 572 of adjacent tines 502, the adjacent tines 502 are spaced
apart by a varying
distance from the inner region 576 to the outer region 578. For example, the
adjacent tines 502
of the second pair 572 are spaced apart by a width that is greater at the
inner region 576 than
at the outer region 578. These configurations may help to maintain a constant
and uniform
temperature along the length of the tines 502 of the heating portion 504.
Maintaining a constant
temperature along the length of the tines 502 may provide higher quality
aerosol, as the
maximum temperature is more uniformly maintainable across the entire heating
portion 504.
[345] As noted above, each of the legs 506 may include and/or define a
cartridge contact 124
that is configured to contact a corresponding receptacle contact 125 of the
vaporizer 100. In
some implementations, each pair of legs 506 (and the cartridge contacts 124)
may contact a
single receptacle contact 125. In some implementations, the legs 506 include
retainer portions
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180 that are configured to be bent and generally extend away from the heating
portion 504.
The retainer portions 180 are configured to be positioned within a
corresponding recess in the
wick housing 1315. The retainer portions 180 form an end of the legs 506. The
retainer
portions 180 help to secure the heating element 1350 and wicking element 1362
to the wick
housing 1315 (and the vaporizer cartridge 1320). The retainer portions 180 may
have a tip
portion 180A that extends from an end of the retainer portion 180 towards the
heating portion
504 of the heating element 1350. This configuration reduces the likelihood
that the retainer
portion will contact another portion of the vaporizer cartridge 1320, or a
cleaning device for
cleaning the vaporizer cartridge 1320.
[346] The outer edge 503 of the tines 502 in the heating portion 504 may
include a tab 580.
The tab 580 may include one, two, three, four, or more tabs 580. The tab 580
may extend
outwardly from the outer edge 503 and extend away from a center of the heating
element 1350.
For example, the tab 580 may be positioned along an edge of the heating
element 1350
surrounding an internal volume defined by at least the side tine portions 526
for receiving the
wicking element 1362. The tab 580 may extend outwardly away from the internal
volume of
the wicking element 1362. The tab 580 may also extend away in a direction
opposite the
platform tine portion 524. In some implementations, tabs 580 positioned on
opposing sides of
the internal volume of the wicking element 1362 may extend away from one
another. This
configuration helps to widen the opening leading to the internal volume of the
wicking element
1362, thereby helping to reduce the likelihood that the wicking element 1362
will catch, tear,
and/or become damaged when assembled with the heating element 1350. Due to the
material
of the wicking element 1362, the wicking element 1362 may easily catch, tear,
and/or otherwise
become damaged when assembled (e.g., positioned within or inserted into) with
the heating
element 1350. Contact between the wicking element 1362 and the outer edge 503
of the tines
502 may also cause damage to the heating element. The shape and/or positioning
of the tab
580 may allow the wicking element 1362 to more easily be positioned within or
into the pocket
(e.g., the internal volume of the heating element 1350) formed by the tines
502, thereby
preventing or reducing the likelihood that the wicking element 1362 and/or the
heating element
will be damaged. Thus, the tabs 580 help to reduce or prevent damage caused to
the heating
element 1350 and/or the wicking element 1362 upon entry of the wicking element
1362 into
thermal contact with the heating element 1350. The shape of the tab 580 also
helps to minimize
impact on the resistance of the heating portion 504.
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[347] In some implementations, at least a portion of the cartridge contacts
124 and/or at least
a portion of the legs 506 may be plated with one or more outer plating
materials 550 to reduce
contact resistance at the point where the heating element 1350 contacts the
receptacle contacts
125.
[348] FIGS. 25A-B, 26-28, 29A-B, and 30A-B depict another example of the
heating element
1350 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. As shown,
the heating
element 1350 includes the one or more tines 502 located in the heating portion
504, the one or
more legs 506 extending from the tines 502, and the cartridge contacts 124
formed at the end
portion and/or as part of each of the one or more legs 506.
[349] The tines 502 may be folded and/or crimped to define the pocket in which
a wicking
element 1362 (e.g., flat pad) resides. The tines 502 include a platform tine
portion 524 and
side tine portions 526. The platform tine portion 524 is configured to contact
one side of the
wicking element 1362 and the side tine portions 526 are configured to contact
other opposite
sides of the wicking element 1362. The platform tine portion 524 and the side
tine portions
526 form the pocket that is shaped to receive the wicking element 1362 and/or
conform to the
shape of at least a portion of the wicking element 1362. The pocket allows the
wicking element
1362 to be secured and retained by the heating element 1350 within the pocket.
[350] In this example, the tines 502 have the same shape and size and are
spaced apart from
one another at equal distances. Here, the tines 502 include a first side tine
portion 526A and a
second side tine portion 526B that are spaced apart by the platform tine
portion 524. Each of
the first and second side tine portions 526A, 526B include an inner region 576
positioned near
the platform tine portion 524 to an outer region 578 positioned near the outer
edge 503. At the
outer region 578, the first side tine portion 526A is positioned approximately
parallel to the
second tine portion 526A. At the inner region 576, the first side tine portion
526A is positioned
offset from the second tine portion 526B and the first and second side tine
portions 526A, 526B
are not parallel. This configuration may help to maintain a constant and
uniform temperature
along the length of the tines 502 of the heating portion 504. Maintaining a
constant temperature
along the length of the tines 502 may provide higher quality aerosol, as the
maximum
temperature is more uniformly maintainable across the entire heating portion
504.
[351] As noted above, each of the legs 506 may include and/or define a
cartridge contact 124
that is configured to contact a corresponding receptacle contact 125 of the
vaporizer 100. In
some implementations, each pair of legs 506 (and the cartridge contacts 124)
may contact a
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single receptacle contact 125. In some implementations, the legs 506 include
retainer portions
180 that are configured to be bent and generally extend away from the heating
portion 504.
The retainer portions 180 are configured to be positioned within a
corresponding recess in the
wick housing 1315. The retainer portions 180 form an end of the legs 506. The
retainer
portions 180 help to secure the heating element 1350 and wicking element 1362
to the wick
housing 1315 (and the vaporizer cartridge 1320). The retainer portions 180 may
have a tip
portion 180A that extends from an end of the retainer portion 180 towards the
heating portion
504 of the heating element 1350. This configuration reduces the likelihood
that the retainer
portion will contact another portion of the vaporizer cartridge 1320, or a
cleaning device for
cleaning the vaporizer cartridge 1320.
[352] The outer edge 503 of the tines 502 in the heating portion 504 may
include a tab 580.
The tab 580 may extend outwardly from the outer edge 503 and extend away from
a center of
the heating element 1350. The tab 580 may be shaped to allow the wicking
element 1362 to
more easily be positioned within the pocket formed by the tines 502, thereby
preventing or
reducing the likelihood that the wicking element 1362 will get caught on the
outer edge 503.
The shape of the tab 580 helps to minimize impact on the resistance of the
heating portion 504.
[353] In some implementations of the current subject matter, at least a
portion of the cartridge
contacts 124 and/or at least a portion of the legs 506 may be plated with one
or more outer
plating materials 550 to reduce contact resistance at the point where the
heating element 1350
contacts the receptacle contacts 125.
[354] Referring to FIGS. 24 and 30A-B, the geometry of the heating element
1350 may, in
an unfolded state, resemble the letter "H" with the heating portion 504
disposed at substantially
across a center of the legs 506. The temperature of the heating element 1350
may correspond
to a resistance of the heating element 1350, for example, across the heating
portion 504 of the
heating element 1350. For example, the temperature of the heating element 1350
may be
determined based on the thermal coefficient of resistivity and the resistance
of the heating
element 1350. Accordingly, the temperature of the heating element 1350 may be
determined
and/or controlled (e.g., by the controller 104) by at least measuring the
resistance across the
heating element 1350, for example, across the heating portion 504 of the
heating element 1350.
It should be appreciated that in some implementations of the current subject
matter, the
geometric configuration of the heating element 1350 may enable a measurement
of the
resistance across the heating portion 504 of the heating element 1350. That
is, the resistance
across the heating portion 504 may be measured in isolation (e.g., from other
portions of the
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heating element 1350), thereby increasing the accuracy of the resistance
measurement as well
as the accuracy of the corresponding temperature determination.
[355] To further illustrate, FIG. 53 depicts a resistance measurement for an
example of the
heating element 1350 consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter. Referring
to FIG. 53, the resistance across the heating portion 504 of the heating
element 1350 may be
measured by at least applying a current from a first point la to a second
point 2b located at, for
example, a respective tip portion 180A of the legs 506 of the heating element
1350. While the
current may flow from the first point la to the second point 2b, no current
may flow between
a third point 2a and a fourth point lb.
[356] The resulting voltage drop between the first point la and the third
point 2a may
correspond to a voltage drop between a fifth point C and a sixth point D. As
shown in FIG.
53, the fifth point C and the sixth point D are located at a respective end
portion of the heating
portion 504 of the heating element 1350. Accordingly, the voltage drop across
the fifth point
C and the sixth point D may correspond to the voltage drop across the heating
portion 504 of
the heating element 1350. Moreover, measuring the voltage drop across the
first point la and
the third point 2a may correspond to measuring the voltage drop across the
fifth point C and
the sixth point D. The resistance R across the heating portion 504 of the
heating element 1350
may be determined based on Equation (1) below, which relates the resistance R
across the
heating portion 504 to a voltage V and current 1 across the heating portion
504 of the heating
element 1350.
R = VI (1)
[357] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the first point
la and the third
point 2a, which are located at the tip portion 180A of the legs 506 of the
heating element 1350,
may coincide at least partially with the cartridge contacts 124 that form an
electric coupling
with the receptacle contacts 125 in the cartridge receptacle 118 of the
vaporizer body 110. As
such, the geometric configuration of the heating element 1350 may enable an
isolated
measurement of the resistance across the heating portion 504 of the heating
element 1350 by
measuring the voltage drop across the tip portion 180A of the legs 506 (e.g.,
the first point la
and the third point 2a), which is disposed outside of the wick housing 1315
and more accessible
than the heating portion 504 disposed at least partially inside the wick
housing 1315.
[358] FIGS. 31-32 depict an example of the atomizer assembly 141, with the
heating element
1350 assembled with the wick housing 1315, and FIG. 33 depicts an exploded
view of the
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atomizer assembly 141, consistent with implementations of the current subject
matter. The
wick housing 1315 may be made of plastic, polypropylene, and the like. The
wick housing
1315 includes four recesses 592 in which at least a portion of each of the
legs 506 of the heating
element 1350 may be positioned and secured. As shown, the wick housing 1315
also includes
an opening 593 providing access to an internal volume 594, in which at least
the heating portion
504 of the heating element 1350 and the wicking element 1362 are positioned.
[359] The wick housing 1315 may also include a separate heat shield 518A. The
heat shield
518A is positioned within the internal volume 594 within the wick housing 1315
between the
walls of the wick housing 1315 and the heating element 1350. The heat shield
518A is shaped
to at least partially surround the heating portion 504 of the heating element
1350 and to space
the heating element 1350 from the side walls of the wick housing 1315. The
heat shield 518A
can help to insulate the heating portion 504 from the body of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320
and/or the wick housing 1315. The heat shield 518A helps to minimize the
effects of the heat
emanating from the heating portion 504 on the of the vaporizer cartridge 1320
and/or the wick
housing 1315 to protect the structural integrity of the body of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320
and/or the wick housing 1315 and to prevent melting or other deformation of
the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 and/or the wick housing 1315. The heat shield 518A may also
help to maintain
a consistent temperature at the heating portion 504 by retaining heat within
the heating portion
504, thereby preventing or limiting heat losses.
[360] The heat shield 518A includes one or more slots 590 (e.g., three slots)
at one end that
align with one or more slots (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven
or more slots) 596
formed in a portion of the wick housing 1315 opposite the opening 593, such as
a base of the
wick housing 1315 (see FIGS. 32 and 43). The one or more slots 590, 596 allow
for the escape
of pressure caused by the flow of liquid vaporizable material within the
heating portion 504
and vaporization of vaporizable material, without affecting liquid flow of the
vaporizable
material.
[361] In some implementations, flooding may occur between the heating element
1350 (e.g.,
the legs 506) and an outer wall of the wick housing 1315 (or between portions
of the heating
element 1350). For example, liquid vaporizable material may build up due to
capillary pressure
between the legs 506 of the heating element 1350 and the outer wall of the
wick housing 1315,
as indicated by liquid path 599. In such cases, there may be sufficient
capillary pressure to
draw the liquid vaporizable material out of the reservoir and/or the heating
portion 504. To
help limit and/or prevent liquid vaporizable material from escaping the
internal volume of the
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wick housing 1315 (or the heating portion 504), the wick housing 1315 and/or
the heating
element 1350 may include a capillary feature that causes an abrupt change in
capillary pressure,
thereby forming a liquid barrier that prevents the liquid vaporizable material
from passing the
feature without the use of an additional seal (e.g., a hermetic seal). The
capillary feature may
define a capillary break, formed by a sharp point, bend, curved surface, or
other surface in the
wick housing 1315 and/or the heating element 1350. The capillary feature
allows a conductive
element (e.g., the heating element 1350) to be positioned within both a wet
and dry region.
[362] The capillary feature may be positioned on and/or form a part of the
heating element
1350 and/or the wick housing 1315 and causes an abrupt change in capillary
pressure. For
example, the capillary feature may include a bend, sharp point, curved
surface, angled
surface, or other surface feature that causes an abrupt change in capillary
pressure between
the heating element and the wick housing, along a length of the heating
element, or another
component of the vaporizer cartridge. The capillary feature may also include a
protrusion
or other portion of the heating element and/or wick housing that widens a
capillary channel,
such as a capillary channel formed between portions of the heating element,
between the
heating element and the wick housing, and the like, that is sufficient to
reduce the capillary
pressure within the capillary channel (e.g., the capillary feature spaces the
heating element
from the wick housing) such that the capillary channel does not draw liquid
into the
capillary channel. Thus, the capillary feature prevents or limits liquid from
flowing along
a liquid path beyond the capillary feature, due at least in part to the abrupt
change and/or
reduction in capillary pressure. The size and/or shape of the capillary
feature (e.g., the bend,
sharp point, curved surface, angled surface, protrusion, and the like) may be
a function of
a wetting angle formed between materials, such as the heating element and wick
housing,
or other walls of a capillary channel formed between components, may be a
function of a
material of the heating element and/or the wick housing or other component,
and/or may
be a function of a size of a gap formed between two components, such as the
heating
element and/or wick housing defining the capillary channel, among other
properties.
[363] As an example, FIGS. 34A and 34B depict the wick housing 1315 having a
capillary
feature 598 that causes an abrupt change in capillary pressure. The capillary
feature 598
prevents or limits liquid from flowing along the liquid path 599 beyond the
capillary feature
598, and helps to prevent liquid from pooling between the legs 506 and the
wick housing 1315.
The capillary feature 598 on the wick housing 1315 spaces the heating element
1350 (e.g., a
component made of metal, etc.) away from the wick housing 1315 (e.g., a
component made of
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plastic, etc.), thereby reducing the capillary strength between the two
components. The
capillary feature 598 shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B also includes a sharp edge at
an end of an
angled surface of the wick housing that limits or prevents liquid from flowing
beyond the
capillary feature 598.
[364] As shown in FIG. 34B, the legs 506 of the heating element 1350 may also
be angled
inwardly towards the interior volume of the heating element 1350 and/or wick
housing 1315.
The angled legs 506 may form a capillary feature that helps to limit or
prevent liquid from
flowing over an outer surface of the heating element and along the legs 506 of
the heating
element 1350.
[365] As another example, the heating element 1350 may include a capillary
feature (e.g., a
bridge 585) that is formed with the one or more legs 506 and spaces the legs
506 away from
the heating portion 504. The bridge 585 may be formed by folding the heating
element 1350
along the fold lines 520, 522. In some implementations, the bridge 585 helps
to reduce or
eliminate overflow of vaporizable material from the heating portion 504, such
as due to
capillary action. In some examples, such as the example heating elements 1350
shown in FIGS.
25A-30B, the bridge 585 is angled and/or includes a bend to help limit fluid
flow out of the
heating portion 504.
[366] As another example, the heating element 1350 may include a capillary
feature 598 that
defines a sharp point to causes an abrupt change in capillary pressure,
thereby preventing liquid
vaporizable material from flowing beyond the capillary feature 598. The
capillary feature 598
may form an end of the bridge 585 that extends outwardly away from the heating
portion by a
distance that is greater than a distance between the legs 506 and the heating
portion 504. The
end of the bridge 585 may be a sharp edge to further help prevent liquid
vaporizable material
from passing to the legs 506 and/or out of the heating portion 504, thereby
reducing leaking
and increasing the amount of vaporizable material that remains within the
heating portion 504.
[367] FIGS. 35-37 illustrate a variation of the heating element 1350 shown in
FIGS. 19-24.
In this variation of the heating element 1350, the legs 506 of the heating
element 1350 include
a bend at an inflection region 511. The bend in the legs 506 may form a
capillary feature 598,
which helps to prevent liquid vaporizable material from flowing beyond the
capillary feature
598. For example, the bend may create an abrupt change in capillary pressure,
which may also
help to limit or prevent liquid vaporizable material from flowing beyond the
bend and/or from
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pooling between the legs 506 and the wick housing 1315, and may help to limit
or prevent
liquid vaporizable material from flowing out of the heating portion 504.
[368] As shown in FIG. 35, the legs 506 may be bent to create one or more
joints including,
for example, a first joint 534a, a second joint 534b, and a third joint 534c.
In the example of
the heating element 1350 shown in FIG. 35-37, the legs 506 may be bent such
that the first
joint 534a may be disposed between the second joint 534b and the third joint
534c while the
second joint may be disposed between the tip 180a (of the legs 506) and the
first joint 534a.
Moreover, the plating material 550 and the cartridge contact 124 may be
disposed at the second
joint 534b. Bending the legs 506 in this manner may at least spring load the
legs 506 such that
the legs of the 506 may form a mechanical coupling (e.g., a frictional
engagement) with the
receptacle contacts 125 in the receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110.
[369] FIGS. 38-39 illustrate another variation of the heating elements 1350
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter. In this variation of the
heating element 1350,
the legs 506 of the heating element 1350 include a bend at an inflection
region 511. The bend
in the legs 506 may form a capillary feature 598, which helps to prevent
liquid vaporizable
material from flowing beyond the capillary feature 598. For example, the bend
may create an
abrupt change in capillary pressure, which also helps to limit or prevent
liquid vaporizable
material from flowing beyond the bend and/or from pooling between the legs 506
and the wick
housing 1315, and may help to limit or prevent liquid vaporizable material
from flowing out
of the heating portion 504.
[370] FIGS. 18A-E depicts another variation of the heating element 1350
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter. In some implementations of the
current subject
matter, the tip portions 180A of the retainer portions 180 of the legs 506 of
the heating element
1350 are bent inward (instead of outward in the manner shown, for example, in
FIGS. 19-22).
Each of the legs 506 may include and/or define a cartridge contact 124 that is
configured to
contact a corresponding receptacle contact 125 of the vaporizer 100. For
example, each pair
of legs 506 (and the cartridge contacts 124) may contact a single receptacle
contact 125. The
legs 506 may be spring-loaded to allow the legs 506 to maintain contact with
the receptacle
contacts 125. The legs 506 may include a portion that extends along a length
of the legs 506
that is curved to help to maintain contact with the receptacle contacts 125.
Spring-loading the
legs 506 and/or the curvature of the legs 506 may help to increase and/or
maintain consistent
pressure between the legs 506 and the receptacle contacts 125. In some
implementations, the
legs 506 are coupled with a support 176 that helps to increase and/or maintain
consistent
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pressure between the legs 506 and the receptacle contacts 125. The support 176
may include
plastic, rubber, or other materials to help maintain contact between the legs
506 and the
receptacle contacts 125. In some implementations, the support 176 is formed as
a part of the
legs 506.
[371] FIGS. 51A-D depict another variation of the heating element 1350
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter. In some implementations of the
current subject
matter, the tip portions 180A of the retainer portions 180 of the legs 506 of
the heating element
1350 are bent inward (instead of outward in the manner shown, for example, in
FIGS. 19-22).
While the retainer portions 180 of the legs 506 are positioned within a
corresponding recess in
the wick housing 1315, the tip portions 180A of the retainer portions 180 may
contact the wick
housing 1315. As shown in FIG. 51B, folding the legs 506 in this manner may
form one or
more joints including, for example, a first joint 534a, a second joint 534b,
and a third joint
534c. Further as shown in FIG. 51B, the first joint 534a may be disposed
between the second
joint 534b and the third joint 534c while the second joint 534b may be
disposed between the
tip 180a and the first joint 534a. In the example of the heating element 1350
shown in FIGS.
51A-D, the cartridge contacts 124 and the plating material 550 may be disposed
at the first
joint 534a in the legs 506. Bending the legs 506 of the heating element 1350
in this manner
may spring load the legs 506 such that the legs of the 506 may form a
mechanical coupling
(e.g., a frictional engagement) with the receptacle contacts 125 in the
receptacle 118 of the
vaporizer body 110.
[372] For example, as shown in FIG. 51B, a first fold in the legs 506 of the
heating element
1350 may bend the tip portions 180A of the retainer portions 180 of the legs
506 inward and
form the second joint 534b. While the retainer portions 180 of the legs 506
may secure the
heating element 1315 to the wick housing 1315 (e.g., by being disposed in
corresponding
recesses in the wick housing 1315), a second fold in the legs 506 of the
heating element 1350,
which may form the first joint 534a, may provide spring tension to further
secure the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 to the vaporizer body 110. That is, while the cartridge
contacts 124 are
electrically coupled with the receptacle contacts 125, the first joint 534a
formed by the second
fold in the legs 506 may exert sufficient pressure against the cartridge
receptacle 118 to secure
the vaporizer cartridge 1320 to the vaporizer body 110. It should be
appreciated that this
configuration of the heating element 1350 may be associated with a minimal
stress at the third
joint 534c in the heating element 1350 where the heating element 1350 is
folded a third time
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at least because of the force of the legs 506 against the cartridge receptacle
118 being
distributed more evenly along the length of the legs 506.
[373] FIGS. 42A-B and 43 depict another example of the atomizer assembly 141,
with the
heating element 1350 assembled with the wick housing 1315 and the heat shield
518A, and
FIG. 44 illustrates an exploded view of the atomizer assembly 141, consistent
with
implementations of the current subject matter. The wick housing 1315 may be
made of plastic,
polypropylene, and the like. The wick housing 1315 includes four recesses 592
in which at
least a portion of each of the legs 506 of the heating element 1350 may be
positioned and
secured. Within the recesses 592, the wick housing 1315 may include one or
more wick
housing retention features 172 configured to secure the heating element 1350
to the wick
housing 1315, such as, for example, via a snap-fit arrangement between at
least a portion of
the legs 506 of the heating element 1350 and the wick housing retention
features 172. The
wick housing retention features 172 may also help to space the heating element
1350 from a
surface of the wick housing 1315, to help prevent heat from acting on the wick
housing and
melting a portion of the wick housing 1315.
[374] As shown, the wick housing 1315 also includes an opening 593 providing
access to an
internal volume 594, in which at least the heating portion 504 of the heating
element 1350 and
the wicking element 1362 are positioned.
[375] The wick housing 1315 may also include one or more other cutouts that
help to space
the heating element 1350 from a surface of the wick housing 1315 to reduce the
amount of heat
that contacts the surface of the wick housing 1315. For example, the wick
housing 1315 may
include cutouts 170. The cutouts 170 may be formed along an outer surface of
the wick housing
1315 proximate to the opening 593. The cutouts 170 may also include a
capillary feature, such
as the capillary feature 598. The capillary feature of the cutouts 170 may
define a surface (e.g.,
curved surface) that breaks tangency points between adjacent (or intersecting)
walls (such as
the walls of the wick housing). The curved surface may have a radius that is
sufficient to
reduce or eliminate the capillarity formed between the adjacent outer walls of
the wick housing.
[376] Referring to FIGS. 42A, the wick housing 1315 may include a tab 168. The
tab 168
may help to properly position and/or orient the wick housing during assembly
of the vaporizer
cartridge, with respect to one or more other components of the vaporizer
cartridge. For
example, added material forming the tab 168 shifts the center of mass of the
wick housing
1315. Due to the shifted center of mass, the wick housing 1315 may rotate or
slide in a certain
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orientation to align with a corresponding feature of another component of the
vaporizer
cartridge during assembly.
[377] FIG. 46 illustrates an exploded view of an example of the vaporizer body
110 consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter. In some implementations of
the current
subject matter, the vaporizer body 110 may be configured to receive and/or
couple with a
cartridge having various features described above including, for example, the
cartridge
1320 having the collector 1313, the finned condensate collector 352, and/or
the like.
[378] As shown in FIG. 46, the vaporizer body 110 may include a shell 1220
including a
cosmetic sheath 1219, a battery 1212, a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)
1203, an
antenna 1217, a skeleton 1211, a charge badge 1213, the cartridge receptacle
118, and end
cap 1201, and an LED badge 1215. In some aspects, assembly of the vaporizer
body 110
includes placing the battery 1212 within the skeleton 1211 at an inferior end
of the skeleton
1211 (left-hand side of FIG. 46). The antenna 1217 may be coupled to an
inferior end of
the battery 1212. The cartridge receptacle 118, the PCBA 1203, and the battery
1212 may
be mechanically coupled, for example, via one or more coupling means. For
example, an
inferior end of the PCBA 1203 may be coupled to a superior end of the battery
1212 and a
superior end of the PCBA 1203 may be coupled to the cartridge receptacle 118
using press
fits, solder joints, and/or any other coupling means. The cosmetic sheath 1219
may be
configured to at least partially surround the cartridge receptacle 118 when
the cartridge
receptacle 118 is disposed in the cosmetic sheath 1219.
[379] As shown in FIG. 46, the cosmetic sheath 1219 may include an aperture
sized and
shaped to receive the charge badge 1213 on a first side of the cosmetic sheath
1219. A
second side of the cosmetic sheath 1219 may include the LED badge 1215, which
may be
built into the cosmetic sheath 1219 or disposed in another aperture sized and
shaped to
receive the LED badge 1215. In some aspects, the cosmetic sheath 1219 may
include a
stainless steel material and may have a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm. The
LED badge
1215 may be molded with a black printed circuit. In some aspects, the charge
badge 1213
may include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate, and/or phosphor
bronze
contacts. The charge badge 1213 may minimize distance between charge pads by
using a
mylar film. A plating of the charge badge may include palladium-nickel, black
nickel,
physical vapor deposition (PVD), or another black plating option. In some
implementations, the assembled battery 1212, PCBA 1203, a cartridge receptacle
118, and
cosmetic sheath 1219 may be configured to fit within the skeleton 1211 and the
skeleton
1211 may be configured to fit within the shell 1220. In some aspects, the
cosmetic sheath
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1219 may include a stainless steel material with a thickness of 0.2 mm. The
shell 1220 may
include grounding pads, an endcap datum, an LED interface, one or more air
inlets (that
are in fluid communication with the slots 596 at the bottom of the wick
housing 1315 when
the cartridge 1320 is coupled with the vaporizer body 110), and a skeleton
snap feature
where the skeleton 1211 snaps into place when inserted into the shell 1220.
The end cap
1201 may be disposed at an inferior end of the shell 1220 opposite the
cosmetic sheath
1219. The end cap 1201 may be configured to retain the interior components of
the
vaporizer body 210 within the shell 1220 and may also serve as a vent on the
inferior end
of the shell 1220.
[380] In vaporizers in which the power source 112 is part of a vaporizer body
110 and a
heating element is disposed in a vaporizer cartridge 1320 configured to couple
with the
vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer 100 may include electrical connection
features (e.g.,
means for completing a circuit) for completing a circuit that includes the
controller 104
(e.g., a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, or the like), the power
source, and the
heating element. These features may include at least two contacts 124 on a
bottom surface
of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124)
and at least
two contacts 125 disposed near a base of the cartridge receptacle (referred to
herein as
receptacle contacts 125) of the vaporizer 100 such that the cartridge contacts
124 and the
receptacle contacts 125 make electrical connections when the vaporizer
cartridge 1320 is
inserted into and coupled with the cartridge receptacle 118. The circuit
completed by these
electrical connections can allow delivery of electrical current to the
resistive heating
element and may further be used for additional functions, such as for example
for
measuring a resistance of the resistive heating element for use in determining
and/or
controlling a temperature of the resistive heating element based on a thermal
coefficient of
resistivity of the resistive heating element, for identifying a cartridge
based on one or more
electrical characteristics of a resistive heating element or the other
circuitry of the vaporizer
cartridge, etc.
[381] In some examples of the current subject matter, the at least two
cartridge contacts and
the at least two receptacle contacts can be configured to electrically connect
in either of at
least two orientations. For example, one or more circuits necessary for
operation of the
vaporizer can be completed by insertion of a vaporizer cartridge 1320 in the
cartridge
receptacle 118 in a first rotational orientation (around an axis along which
the end of the
vaporizer cartridge having the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge
receptacle 118 of the
vaporizer body 110) such that a first set of cartridge contacts of the at
least two cartridge
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contacts 124 is electrically connected to a first set of receptacle contacts
of the at least two
receptacle contacts 125 and a second set of cartridge contacts of the at least
two cartridge
contacts 124 is electrically connected to a second set of receptacle contacts
of the at least
two receptacle contacts 125. Furthermore, the one or more circuits necessary
for operation
of the vaporizer can be completed by insertion of a vaporizer cartridge 1320
in the cartridge
receptacle 118 in a second rotational orientation such that the first set of
cartridge contacts
of the at least two cartridge contacts 124 is electrically connected to the
second set of
receptacle contacts of the at least two receptacle contacts 125 and the second
set of cartridge
contacts of the at least two cartridge contacts 124 is electrically connected
to the first set of
receptacle contacts of the at least two receptacle contacts 125. This feature
of a vaporizer
cartridge 1320 being reversible insertable into a cartridge receptacle 118 of
the vaporizer
body 110 is described further below.
[382] In one example of an attachment structure for coupling a vaporizer
cartridge 1320 to
the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer body 110 includes one or more detents
(e.g., a dimple,
protrusion, spring connector, etc.) protruding inwardly from an inner surface
the cartridge
receptacle 118. One or more exterior surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 1320
can include
corresponding recesses (not shown in FIG. 1) that can fit and/or otherwise
snap over such
detents when an end of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 inserted into the
cartridge receptacle
118 on the vaporizer body 110. When the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the
vaporizer body
110 are coupled (e.g., by insertion of an end of the vaporizer cartridge 1320
into the
cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110), the detent into the
vaporizer body 110
may fit within and/or otherwise be held within the recesses of the vaporizer
cartridge 1320
to hold the vaporizer cartridge 1320 in place when assembled. Such a detent-
recess
assembly can provide enough support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 1320 in
place to
ensure good contact between the at least two cartridge contacts 124 and the at
least two
receptacle contacts 125, while allowing release of the vaporizer cartridge
1320 from the
vaporizer body 110 when a user pulls with reasonable force on the vaporizer
cartridge 1320
to disengage the vaporizer cartridge 1320 from the cartridge receptacle 118.
For example,
in one implementation of the current subject matter, at least two detents may
be disposed
on an exterior of the cosmetic sheath 1219. The detents on the exterior of the
cosmetic
sheath 1219 may be configured to engage one or more corresponding recesses in
the
vaporizer cartridge 1320, for example, in an interior surface of a portion of
the housing of
the vaporizer cartridge 1320 that extends below an open top of the cosmetic
sheath 1219
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(and cartridge receptacle 118) to cover at least a portion of the cosmetic
sheath 1219 ( and
cartridge receptacle 118).
[383] Further to the discussion above about the electrical connections between
a vaporizer
cartridge and a vaporizer body being reversible such that at least two
rotational orientations
of the vaporizer cartridge in the cartridge receptacle are possible, in some
vaporizers the
shape of the vaporizer cartridge, or at least a shape of the end of the
vaporizer cartridge that
is configured for insertion into the cartridge receptacle may have rotational
symmetry of at
least order two. In other words, the vaporizer cartridge or at least the
insertable end of the
vaporizer cartridge may be symmetric upon a rotation of 180 around an axis
along which
the vaporizer cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle. In such a
configuration, the
circuitry of the vaporizer may support identical operation regardless of which
symmetrical
orientation of the vaporizer cartridge occurs. In some aspects, the first
rotational position
may be more than or less than 180 from the second rotational position.
[384] In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge, or at least an end of the
vaporizer cartridge
configured for insertion in the cartridge receptacle may have a non-circular
cross section
transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge is inserted into
the cartridge
receptacle. For example, the non-circular cross section may be approximately
rectangular,
approximately elliptical (e.g., have an approximately oval shape), non-
rectangular but with
two sets of parallel or approximately parallel opposing sides (e.g., having a
parallelogram-
like shape), or other shapes having rotational symmetry of at least order two.
In this
context, approximately having a shape indicates that a basic likeness to the
described shape
is apparent, but that sides of the shape in question need not be completely
linear and vertices
need not be completely sharp. Rounding of both or either of edges or vertices
of the cross-
sectional shape is contemplated in the description of any non-circular cross
section referred
to herein.
[385] FIGS. 47A-C depicts various examples of receptacle contacts 125
consistent with
implementations of the current subject matter. FIG. 47A shows an example pod
ID contact
307A extending from the pod ID overmold 308. The pod ID contact 307A may be
configured to couple to a contact 293 of the identification chip 174. FIG. 47B
shows
another example pod ID contact 307B extending from the pod ID overmold 308.
FIG. 47C
depicts another example pod ID contact 307C extending from the pod ID overmold
308.
[386] As shown in FIGS. 47A-C, the cartridge 1320 may be inserted into the
cartridge
receptacle 318 from the top of the page. In some aspects, as the cartridge
1320 is being
inserted into the cartridge receptacle 318 the pod ID contacts 307A-307C may
compress
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inward, or to the left of the page, in response to the cartridge 1320
insertion. Additionally,
the pod ID contacts 307A-307C may be configured to couple to one or more
cartridge
contacts 124 (e.g., contacts 293) after the cartridge 1320 has been fully
inserted into the
cartridge receptacle 318.
[387] As shown in FIG. 47A, the pod ID contact 307A includes a 180 bend in
the pod ID
contact 307 a material at location 407. Pod ID contact 307C of FIG. 47C is
similar to and
adapted from pod ID contact 307B of FIG. 47B. As shown in FIG. 47C, the pod ID
contact
307C includes a protective member, (e.g. foot or boot) 408 at least partially
surrounding a
portion of the pod ID contact 307C.
[388] FIG. 47D shows an assembled cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer
body 110. As
shown in FIG. 47D, the cartridge receptacle 118 includes one or more pod ID
contacts
including, for example, the pod ID contacts 307A, 307B, and 307C, on a first
side 404of
the cartridge receptacle 418. FIG. 47D further illustrates two
heater/cartridge receptacle
contacts 125A and 125B on a second side 402 of the cartridge receptacle 118.
[389] FIG. 47E depicts a top perspective view of the vaporizer body 110
including an
example of the cartridge receptacle 118 consistent with implementations of the
current
subject matter. As shown in FIG. 47E, the cartridge receptacle 118 may be
disposed at
least partially within the cosmetic sheath 1219. For example, in the example
shown in FIG.
47E, the top rim of the cartridge receptacle 118 and the cosmetic sheath 1219
may be
substantially flush. The interior of the cartridge receptacle 118 may include
one or more
pod ID contacts (e.g., the pod ID contacts 307A, 307B, and 307C) and one or
more
receptacle contacts (e.g., the receptacle contacts 125A and 125B). Moreover,
the vaporizer
body 110 may also include one or more pod retention features 415, which may be
disposed
on an interior of the cartridge receptacle 118 and/or an exterior of the
cosmetic sheath 1219.
Examples of the pod retention features 415 may include pins, clips,
protrusions, detents,
and/or the like. The pod retention features 415 may be configured to secure
the cartridge
1320 within the cartridge receptacle 118 including by applying, against the
cartridge 1320,
a magnetic force, an adhesive force, a compressive force, a friction force,
and/or the like.
[390] In implementations where the pod retention features 415 are disposed
inside the
cartridge receptacle 118, the pod retention features 415 may be configured to
form a
mechanical coupling with, for example, at least a portion of the heating
element 1350 (e.g.,
a portion of the one or more legs 506 disposed outside of the wick housing
1315) and/or a
portion of the wick housing 1315 (e.g., the recesses in the wick housing
1315).
Alternatively and/or additionally, in example implementations where the pod
retention
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features 415 are disposed on an exterior of the cosmetic sheath 1219, the pod
retention
features 415 may be configured to form a mechanical coupling with the housing
of the
vaporizer cartridge 1320. It should be appreciated that the pod retention
features 415 may
include various means of securing the cartridge 1320 within the cartridge
receptacle 118.
Moreover, the pod retention features 415 may be disposed at any suitable
location in the
vaporizer body 110.
[391] FIGS. 48A-B depict side cut-out views of the cartridge 1320 disposed
within the
cartridge receptacle 118 consistent with implementations of the current
subject matter. As
shown in FIG. 48A, the pod ID contact 307 may be disposed on a first side the
cartridge
receptacle 118 and may be coupled to the identification chip 174 on the
cartridge 1320.
Additionally, the pod ID contact 309 may be located on a second side of the
cartridge
receptacle 118 (opposite to the first side of the cartridge receptacle 118)
and may be coupled
to the cartridge 1320. FIG. 48A further shows the pod ID contact 309 as being
coupled to
a contact 293 of the identification chip 250. It should be appreciated that
the cartridge
receptacle 118 may be sized to receive at least a portion of the cartridge
1320 including,
for example, at least a portion of the wick housing 1315. For example, the
cartridge
receptacle 118 may be approximately 4.5 millimeters deep such that the wick
housing 1315,
which has a height of approximately 5.2 millimeters including a flange
disposed at least
partially around its upper perimeter, may be disposed partially within the
cartridge
receptacle 118 (e.g., up to the flange). The flange may remain outside of the
cartridge
receptacle 118 when the vaporizer cartridge 1320 is coupled with the vaporizer
body 110
and may extend, at least partially, over a rim of the cartridge receptacle 118
and the
cosmetic sheath 1219.
[392] As noted, one or more air inlets may be formed and/or maintained while
the cartridge
1320 is coupled with the vaporizer body 110, for example, by being inserted
into the
cartridge receptacle 118. The one or more air inlets may be in fluid
communication with
the one or more slots 596 in the wick housing 1315 such that air entering
through the one
or more air inlets may further enter the wick housing 1315 through the one or
more slots
596 to flow past and/or around the wicking element 1362. As noted, adequate
airflow
through the wick housing 1315 may be necessary to enable a proper and timely
vaporization
of the vaporizable material 1302 drawn into the wicking element 1362. In
examples in
which there are more than one air inlet, this plurality of air inlets may be
disposed around
the assembly including the cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110. For
example, two
or more air inlets may be disposed on substantially opposite sides of the
assembly including
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the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110. It is also within the
scope of the
current subject matter to have more than one air inlet disposed on a same side
of the
assembly including the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110 or
to have air
inlets on different, but not substantially opposite (e.g., adjacent), sides of
such an assembly.
[393] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the air inlets
may be configured
to admit sufficient air to enable the vaporization of the vaporizable material
1302 and the
generation of an inhalable aerosol. Further as noted, the one or more air
inlet may be
configured to be resistant to blockage, for example, by a user's finger, hand,
or other body
part. For example, the one or more the air inlets may be disposed at an
interface between
the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110. As shown in FIGS. 48A-
D, a
recessed area 1395 (e.g., a cavity, a groove, a gap, a seam, and/or the like)
may be formed
between the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110 when the
vaporizer
cartridge 1320 is coupled with the vaporizer body 110. The one or more air
inlets may be
disposed within the recessed area 1395 such that portions of the cartridge
1320 (e.g., the
housing 160) and the vaporizer body 110 may extend beyond the area including
the one or
more air inlets. Moreover, the recessed area 1395 may extend at least
partially around the
circumference of the vaporizer cartridge 1320 and the vaporizer body 110 to
provide
clearance for the one or more air inlets because a user's finger (or other
body part) may be
able to cover only a portion of the recessed area 1395. Thus, as shown in FIG.
48E, even
when a user's finger (or other body part) is covering one portion of the
recessed area 1395,
air may still enter the one or more air inlet through an uncovered portion of
the recessed
area.
[394] It should be appreciated that the air inlets may present at least some
constriction to
airflow into the vaporizer cartridge 1320. For example, in the pressure maps
shown in FIG.
48F, the largest localized pressure drop is observed at the air inlets where,
as noted, ambient
air may enter the cartridge 1320 to provide sufficient air to enable the
vaporization of the
vaporizable material 1320 and the generation of an inhalable aerosol. A
maximum velocity
of airflow may also be observed through the air inlets as ambient air enters
the constricted
space of the air inlets. A drop in the velocity of airflow is observed
subsequent to the intake
through the air inlets.
[395] FIG. 49A depicts a perspective view of an assembled vaporizer body shell
1220 with
the LED badge 1215 facing the front. As shown in FIG. 49A, the shell 1220 may
include
the cartridge receptacle 118 having a second side 402 with one or more pod
retention
features, the cartridge receptacle contacts 125A and 125B, and the pod ID
contacts 307.
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FIG. 49A further shows the shell 1220 as including at least one air inlet 1605
on the right-
hand side of the shell 1220, but it should be appreciated that the shell 1220
may include
additional air inlets disposed at different locations than shown. For example,
in some
implementations of the current subject matter, the air inlet 1605 may be
positioned above
a ridge 1387 in the shell 1220 that is formed by a first portion of the shell
1220 (including
the cosmetic sheath 1219) having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than a
second portion
of the shell 1220 beneath the cosmetic sheath 1219 configured to accommodate
at least a
portion of the power source 112 (e.g., the battery 1212). The air inlet 1605
may be
configured to allow ambient air to enter the cartridge 1320 and mix with the
vapor
generated in the atomizer 141. For example, the air inlet 1605 may be in fluid
communication with the airflow passageway 1338 extending through the body of
the
cartridge 1320 such that ambient air may enter the airflow passageway 1338 via
the air inlet
1605 when the cartridge 1320 is coupled with the shell 1220. The mixture of
ambient air
and the vapor generated in the atomizer 141 may be drawn through the air
passageway
1338 for inhalation (e.g., into the user's mouth) through the mouthpiece 130.
[396] Alternatively and/or additionally, the air inlet 1605 may be in fluid
communication with
the air vent 1318 disposed at one end of the overflow channel 1104 in the
overflow volume
1344 of the collector 1313. As noted, air may travel into and out of the
collector 1313 via
the air vent 1318. For example, air bubbles trapped inside the collector 1313
may be
released via the air vent 1318. Moreover, air may also enter the collector
1313 via the air
vent 1318 in order to increase the pressure inside the reservoir 1340.
Accordingly, it should
be appreciated that the dimensions of the air inlet 1605, the shape of the air
inlet 1605,
and/or the position of the air inlet 1605 on the shell 1220 may be such that
at least a portion
of ambient air entering the air inlet 1605 may enter the collector 1313 via
the air vent 1318
and that at least a portion of the air released from the collector 1313 from
the air vent 1318
may exit via the air inlet 1605. The air inlet 1605 may be substantially round
and have a
diameter between 0.6 millimeters and 1.0 millimeters. For
example, in some
implementations of the current subject matter, the air inlet 1605 may be
substantially round
and have a diameter of approximately 0.8 millimeters. In some implementations
of the
current subject matter, the air vent 1318 may also be in fluid communication
with the air
passageway 1338. Accordingly, ambient air entering the air inlet 1605 may
supply the
collector 1313 (e.g., via the air vent 1318) and the air passageway 1338
(e.g., to create an
inhalable aerosol).
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[397] FIG. 49B depicts a cross-sectional view of the vaporizer body shell 1220
consistent
with implementations of the current subject matter. As shown in FIG. 49B, the
shell 1220
may include a pressure sensor path 1602, the cosmetic sheath 1219, the air
inlet 1605 which
may also include a pod identification cavity, and a pod ID housing 1607 which
may include
connections to the pod ID springs 307 or 309 and/or the heater contacts 125A
and 125B (or
302).
Terminology
[398] When a feature or element is herein referred to as being "on" another
feature or element,
it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features
and/or elements may
also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as
being "directly on"
another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements
present. It will also
be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being
"connected", "attached"
or "coupled" to another feature or element, it can be directly connected,
attached or coupled to
the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be
present. In contrast,
when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly connected",
"directly attached" or
"directly coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intervening
features or elements
present.
[399] Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features
and
elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be
appreciated
by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is
disposed "adjacent"
another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent
feature.
[400] Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments and
implementations only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used
herein, the
singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as
well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises"
and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of
stated features,
steps, opera tions, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition
of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof
As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or
more of the
associated listed items and may be abbreviated as "/".
[401] In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as "at least
one of' or "one or
more of' may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The
term "and/or"
may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise
implicitly or
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explicitly contradicted by the context in which it used, such a phrase is
intended to mean any
of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements
or features in
combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example,
the phrases "at
least one of A and B;" "one or more of A and B;" and "A and/or B" are each
intended to mean
"A alone, B alone, or A and B together." A similar interpretation is also
intended for lists
including three or more items. For example, the phrases "at least one of A, B,
and C;" "one or
more of A, B, and C;" and "A, B, and/or C" are each intended to mean "A alone,
B alone, C
alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C
together." Use
of the term "based on," above and in the claims is intended to mean, "based at
least in part on,"
such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.
[402] Spatially relative terms, such as "forward", "rearward", "under",
"below", "lower",
"over", "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to
describe one element
or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated
in the figures. It will
be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations
of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in
the figures. For
example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as "under"
or "beneath" other
elements or features would then be oriented "over" the other elements or
features. Thus, the
exemplary term "under" can encompass both an orientation of over and under.
The device may
be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the
spatially relative
descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Similarly, the terms "upwardly",
"downwardly", "vertical", "horizontal" and the like are used herein for the
purpose of
explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.
[403] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe
various
features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be
limited by these
terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to
distinguish one
feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element
discussed below
could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second
feature/element discussed
below could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the
teachings provided
herein.
[404] As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the
examples and
unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced
by the word
"about" or "approximately," even if the term does not expressly appear. The
phrase "about"
or "approximately" may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to
indicate that
the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of
values and/or
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positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/- 0.1% of
the stated value
(or range of values), +/- 1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 2%
of the stated value
(or range of values), +/- 5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 10%
of the stated value
(or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given herein should also be
understood to
include about or approximately that value, unless the context indicates
otherwise. For example,
if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any
numerical range recited
herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. It is also
understood that when
a value is disclosed that "less than or equal to" the value, "greater than or
equal to the value"
and possible ranges between values are also disclosed, as appropriately
understood by the
skilled artisan. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed the "less than or
equal to X" as well
as "greater than or equal to X" (e.g., where X is a numerical value) is also
disclosed. It is also
understood that the throughout the application, data is provided in a number
of different
formats, and that this data, represents endpoints and starting points, and
ranges for any
combination of the data points. For example, if a particular data point "10"
and a particular
data point "15" are disclosed, it is understood that greater than, greater
than or equal to, less
than, less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15 are considered disclosed
as well as between
and 15. It is also understood that each unit between two particular units are
also disclosed.
For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also
disclosed.
[405] Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of a
number of
changes may be made to various embodiments without departing from the
teachings herein.
For example, the order in which various described method steps are performed
may often be
changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one
or more
method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various device
and system
embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Therefore,
the
foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should
not be
interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.
[406] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein
can be realized
in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed
application specific
integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computer
hardware,
firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof These various aspects or
features can include
implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or
interpretable on
a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which can
be special
or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to
transmit data and
instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one
output device. The
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programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. A
client and
server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a
communication
network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer
programs running
on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each
other.
[407] These computer programs, which can also be referred to programs,
software, software
applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions
for a
programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural
language, an
object-oriented programming language, a functional programming language, a
logical
programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the
term
"machine-readable medium" refers to any computer program product, apparatus
and/or device,
such as for example magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, and Programmable
Logic Devices
(PLDs), used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable
processor,
including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a
machine-
readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used
to provide
machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. The machine-
readable medium
can store such machine instructions non-transitorily, such as for example as
would a non-
transient solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent
storage medium. The
machine-readable medium can alternatively or additionally store such machine
instructions in
a transient manner, such as for example, as would a processor cache or other
random access
memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.
[408] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of
illustration and not of
limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced.
As mentioned,
other embodiments may be utilized and derived there from, such that structural
and logical
substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this
disclosure.
Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein
individually or
collectively by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without
intending to
voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or
inventive concept, if
more than one is, in fact, disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have
been illustrated
and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose
may be
substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to
cover any and
all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.
Combinations of the above
embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be
apparent to
those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
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