Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2021/240397
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AN AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM AND DEVICE INCLUDING A LIQUID CAPSULE AND A
HOLDER WITH A HEATER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority to European Patent Application No.
EP20177259.7 that was
filed on May 28, 2020, the entire contents thereof herewith incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates generally to aerosol or vapor generating
systems and devices, more
particularly systems and devices having a removable container element for
storing a vaporizable
material, and specific arrangement of heating elements for heating vaporizable
material for these
systems and devices, to produce an aerosol for inhalation by a user.
BACKGROUND
The use of aerosol generating systems, also known as e-cigarettes, e-cigs
(EC), electronic nicotine
delivery systems (ENDS), electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS),
electronic smoking
devices (ESDs), personal vaporizers (PV), inhalation devices, vapes, which can
be used as an
alternative to conventional smoking articles such as lit-end cigarettes,
cigars, and pipes, is becoming
increasingly popular and widespread. The most commonly used e- cigarettes are
usually battery
powered and use a resistance heating element to heat and atomize a liquid
containing nicotine and/or
flavorants (also known as e-cigarette liquid, e-cig liquids, e-liquid, juice,
vapor juice, smoke juice, e-
juice, e-fluid, vape oil, hereinafter referred to as "e-liquid"), to produce
an aerosol (often called vapor)
which can be inhaled by a user.
In the conventional e-cigarettes described above, the liquid is put into
contact through small channels
to a resistance heating element where it is heated and vaporized, for example
via a wick or other type
of porous element, having a plurality of small channels that transport the
liquid from a reservoir to the
heating element. This heating element together with the porous element, a
reservoir that contains the
e-liquid, and a mouthpiece are usually arranged within a disposable cartridge
or pod, that is discarded
once the e-liquid has been consummated by the user, and usually removably
connects to a main
body that includes a rechargeable battery.
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For example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0333650, this reference
herewith incorporated by
reference in its entirety, shows an e-cigarette 10 is shown that has a
disposable cartridge assembly
30, cartridge assembly 30 provided with mouthpiece 35, heating element 103 for
heating source liquid
to generate the aerosol by vaporization, and a reservoir 38 for holding the
liquid, the cartridge
assembly 30, cartridge assembly being removably connected to the e-cigarette
10 with cooperating
engagement elements 21, 31. Heating element 103 is made of a sintered metal
fiber material that
forms a porous conducting material for the liquid in the form of a sheet, and
has a main portion 103A
with electrical contact extensions 103B at each end.
As another example, U.S. Patent No. 9,675,118, this reference herewith
incorporated by reference in
its entirety, discusses an electronic cigarette 1 with a cylindrical housing
10, including a power supply
assembly 70, an atomizer assembly 50, a reservoir 60 for holding the liquid
solution, and a
mouthpiece 20. An atomizer assembly 50 itself include an air flowing pipe 51,
a wick 52, a heating
member 53, a positioning sleeve 54, and a supporting pipe 55.
However, in the state of the art of atomizing or vaporizing cigarette systems
and devices, the heating
element for heating and vaporizing the e-liquid is usually fixedly associated
with the liquid reservoir.
This leads to a reservoir assembly, for example an e-liquid capsule or
container, that are more
expensive, more complex, and require an electric connection to the holder, and
are therefore more
prone to failure, are more costly to manufacture, and also difficult to
recycle, leaving a larger carbon
footprint for the emptied capsules that are disposed of in the trash. In light
of these deficiencies of the
state of the art, substantially improved atomizing or vaporizing cigarette
systems and devices are
desired.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic cigarette
system is provided.
Preferably, the electronic cigarette system includes a vaporizable material
capsule including a
reservoir for holding vaporizable material, a holder-facing surface, a vapor
pipe with a vapor inlet at
the holder-facing surface, an inhalation opening, and a liquid exit port
arranged at the holder-facing
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surface, a capsule holder for removably receiving the liquid capsule, the
capsule holder including a
capsule accommodating opening, the capsule holder having a heating device, and
a wicking element
for being soaked with the vaporizable material. Moreover, preferably, when the
liquid capsule and the
capsule holder are interconnected to each other, a fluid chamber is formed
between an outer surface
the capsule accommodating opening of the capsule holder and the holder-facing
surface of the liquid
capsule, the fluid chamber having the wicking element arranged therein and
exposed to a heating
surface of the heating device. In addition, preferably, when the liquid
capsule and the capsule holder
are interconnected to each other, a fluidic connection path is formed from the
reservoir to the fluid
chamber via the liquid exit port, from the fluid chamber to the vapor pipe via
the vapor inlet, to reach
the inhalation opening.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic cigarette
system is provided.
Preferably, the electronic cigarette system includes a first element having a
liquid container for
holding vaporizable material, a vapor pipe that is configured to at least
partially traverse the liquid
container, and a liquid exit port, and a second element including an opening
for receiving the first
element, a mechanism for opening the liquid exit port, and a heater, and a
wicking element for being
soaked with vaporizable material, wherein the mechanism for opening the liquid
exit port is configured
to open the liquid exit port when the first element is placed into the opening
of the second element,
and wherein the opening of the second element has a conical surface, the
heater configured to heat
the conical surface of the opening.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
and the manner of
realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best
be understood from a
study of the following description with reference to the attached drawings
showing some preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part
of this specification,
illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together
with the general
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description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to
explain features of the
invention.
FIGs. 1A to lE show different cross-sectional and perspective views of of an
aerosol generating
system 100 including an vaporizable material capsule 10 and a holder 50 having
a heating device 70,
with FIG. 1A showing a cross-sectional view of vaporizable material capsule 10
and holder 50 in a
disconnected state, FIG. 1B showing a cross-sectional view of the of
vaporizable material capsule 10
and holder 50 in a connected state, FIG. 1C showing a perspective view of an
exemplary capsule 10
having a substantially round cross-section, FIG. 10 shows a transparent
perspective view of the
capsule receiving portion of the holder 50 showing two different heating
elements 72, 74 of the
heating device 70, according to one aspect of the present invention, and FIG.
1E shows a cross-
sectional side view of a variant of the aerosol generating system 100 with a
wicking element 76
attached to capsule or cartridge 10;
FIGs. 2A to 2C show different exemplary cross-sectional side views of
different types of liquid exit
ports 146, 246, 346 arranged at the capsule 10, and different types of opening
devices 178, 278, 378
arranged in the capsule receiving cavity or opening 80 of the holder 50,
according to another aspect
of the present invention;
FIGs. 3A to 3G show different exemplary cross-sectional side and top views of
different arrangements
of capsule 10, holder 50, and different arrangements and structures for
embodying one or more
venting holes 84 of capsule accommodating opening 80, with FIG. 3A showing a
cross-sectional side
view depicting side vents as holes 84 below the heater 70, FIG. 3B showing a
cross-sectional side
view with L-shaped vent channels 84 entering from a top face of holder 50 and
entering opening 80
through holes of heater 70, FIG. 3C showing a side view and a top view in a
direction of axis CA
towards holder, showing cut-in recesses 84 as venting or air intake holes, and
having venting
channels 89 along a side surface 83 of opening 90, FIG. 3D showing a side view
of a variant where
cut-in recesses 84 for air intake are arranged at an edge of the capsule 10,
FIG. 3E showing a cross-
sectional side view of a variant where no seal 30 may be present, and the air
intake is made by a gap
584 between capsule 10 and holder 50, FIG. 3F shows a cross-sectional view
along line CS1 of FIG.
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3E where grooves or channels 89 are formed at an inner surface of heater 70,
with vapor channels 22
arranged in a star-like fashion, and FIG. 3G shows a cross-sectional,
exemplary view of different
channels at an interface area 90 between capsule 10 and holder 50, according
to still another aspect
of the present invention; and
FIGs. 4A to 4C show exemplary views of another embodiment of the capsule 410
for an electronic
cigarette or vaporizing system 300, with capsule 410 having a closing ring 413
that allows to manually
open and close a delivery of vaporizable material EL from reservoir 440 to
wicking element 476, with
FIG. 4B being a cross-sectional view along line CS2, and FIG. 4C being a cross-
sectional view along
line CS3, according to another aspect of the present invention.
Herein, identical reference numerals are used, where possible, to designate
identical elements that
are common to the figures. Also, the images are simplified for illustration
purposes and may not be
depicted to scale.
DETAILLED DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS
FIGs. 1A to lE show different cross-sectional and perspective views of an
exemplary aerosol
generating system 100 including an vaporizable material EL or liquid capsule
or cartridge 10 for
containing an vaporizable material EL and a holder 50 having a heating device
70. In the context of
this description, capsule or cartridge 10 can be pre-filled with EL, and is a
disposable or discardable
part when capsule 10 is empty, while holder 50 can be a reusable part. But in
a variant, capsule 10
can be refilled with EL once empty. In this respect, FIG. 1A shows a cross-
sectional representation of
the liquid capsule 10 having an inhalation side IS, in the present
representation atop or upper side,
with an inhalation port or opening 24 arranged therein, and a holder facing
side HS having a liquid exit
port 46 arranged therein, hereinafter represented as the bottom or lower side,
and FIG. 1C shows a
perspective view thereof. Liquid capsule 10 includes a traversing vapor pipe
structure 20 with a
centrally-arranged vapor pipe 21 that fluidically lead to inhalation opening
24, and is fluidically
connected to one or more lateral conduits or tubes 22, the tubes 22 having an
input port 28 arranged
at a tapered or conically-shaped side wall 14 of the liquid capsule or
cartridge 10. One or more input
ports 28, one or more tubes 22, central vapor pipe 21, and inhalation opening
24 form elements of a
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downstream part of a fluidic pathway FP of the aerosol generating system 100,
as further explained
below. Liquid capsule 10 can have different shapes, for example when viewed in
cross-sectional view
along central axis CA, a rectangular shape, square shape, oval shape,
irregular shape, but in the non-
limiting embodiment represented by FIG. 1C a round cross-sectional shape is
shown. In a variant
where the cross-sectional area or shape of capsule or cartridge 10 is nor
round or oval, but for
example square or rectangular, or has a polyhedral shape, side walls 14 can be
oblique or slanted
relative to central axis CA.
Moreover, liquid capsule 10 can further include a reservoir structure 40
within the walls 12 of capsule
10, with an upper section 42 of the reservoir structure 40 that can be in
fluidic connection with a lower
section 44 of the reservoir structure 40, lower section being in fluidic
connection with liquid exit port 46
that shown to be closed by a sealing member 48, for example but not limited to
a pierceable
membrane, an openable and closable valve element, a breakable barrier layer, a
fluidic
interconnection port. The liquid capsule 10 can be pre-filled with vaporizable
material EL for use with
holder 50. The term vaporizable material is used to designate any material
that is vaporizable at a
temperature up to 400 C, preferably up to 350 C, for example aerosol
generating liquid, gel, wax and
the like.
As shown in FIG. 1C, a plurality of input ports 28 can be arranged
circumferentially around the
conically-shaped side wall 14, each having a corresponding connection tube 22
that fluidically
connects to central vapor pipe 21 in a star-like fashion. However, in a
variant, there can be only one
input port 28 and connection tubes 22, or two input ports 28 and two
corresponding connection tubes
22, or any other number. In the variant shown, a sealing ring 30 in the form
of a 0-ring or sealing
washer is provided around the circumference of the outer walls 12 of liquid
capsule 10, for example
partially located inside a circular groove around a cylindrical portion of
outer wall 12, but in a variant,
the sealing ring is provided inside capsule accommodating opening 80 of
capsule holder 50, and is
thereby not a part of capsule 10, or on both capsule 10 and holder 50.
In FIG. 1A, holder 50, at the capsule facing side CS is shown having capsule
accommodating
opening 80 that is shaped complementarily to a lower portion of liquid capsule
10 that facing the
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holder HS. For example, side walls 14 of holder facing section of liquid
capsule 10 are tapered or
conical, and side walls 83 of lower section 82 of capsule accommodating
opening 80 are also tapered
or conical, to match the shape of capsule 10. For embodiments where capsule 10
and capsule
accommodating opening 80 have a rectangular, square or other flat-surfaced
shapes, side walls 82
can be slanted or oblique relative to central axis CA. For example, side walls
14 and side walls 83
can be arranged to be concentrical to each other, having the same slope angle,
i.e. appear in a cross-
sectional view to be parallel to each other. Moreover, a heating device 70 is
shown, having a first
heating element 72 arranged at a central axis CA inside capsule accommodating
opening 80, and a
second heating element 74 is shown that is arranged at side walls 83 of
capsule accommodating
opening 80. Heating surface of first and second heating elements 72, 74 are
arranged to be exposed
to capsule accommodating opening 80, and a wicking element, structure, or
layer 76 for example
formed of a mesh layer, other type of mesh-like structure, such as but not
limited to porous material,
textile wick, cotton wick, is arranged on bottom wall 77 and on lower portions
of an interior surface of
side walls 83 of capsule accommodating opening 80. In the variant shown,
wicking element 76 has a
cup-like shape to cover the bottom wall 77 and lower sections of the side
walls 83 of capsule
accommodating opening 80, and is thereby attached to holder 50. However, in a
variant, wicking
element 76 can be attached to either side walls 14, bottom wall 17 or both of
capsule 10, to be part of
the disposable unit.
The provision of the complementary and conical or tapered shapes between wall
83 of capsule
accommodating opening 80 and wall 14 of holder-facing side of capsule 10
provides for some specific
advantages for operation of aerosol generating system 100. For example, the
conically-shaped or
tapered shape of capsule accommodating opening 80 allows for an easier manual
insertion of
capsule 10 to the opening 80, for example by an insertion direction
corresponding to CA that is not
perfectly parallel with central axis of opening 80 or longitudinal axis of
holder 50. Upon full insertion of
capsule 10 to opening 80, capsule 10 is guided by conical to tapered wall 83
for centering and final
position and interconnection with holder 50. Moreover, the complementary and
conical or tapered
shapes also allow to provide for a linearly increasing compressive force on a
wicking element 76 that
is arranged between walls 14, 83, depending on a penetration depth of capsule
10 into holder 80.
The portion of wicking element 76 can at least partially surround capsule 10
in the inserted position,
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for example to be circularly arranged around capsule 10. Upon insertion of
capsule 10 to holder 50,
this portion of wicking element 76 becomes sandwiched between conical or
tapered wall 14 and
conical or tapered wall 83, and further insertion pressure by a user on
capsule 10 towards holder 50
will provide for a compressive force to wicking element 76, as illustrated in
FIG. 1B. As wicking
element 76 can be made of a porous, spongy, or absorptive compressible
material, this compressive
force can cause a reduction is thickness of a layer that forms wicking element
76, and a
consequential increase and improvement of surface contact of external surfaces
of wicking element
76 and conical or tapered shapes of walls 14, 83. This improved contact in
turn can provide fora
defined fluidic resistance between liquid exit port 46 of capsule 10 and the
pores or other openings in
wicking element 76, that can also lead to an improved and facilitated
distribution of vaporizable or
atomizable material EL, for providing a defined flow rate of EL from reservoir
40 of capsule 10 to
wicking element 76 and heating element 70. In addition, the improved contact
by compression can
also provide for an improved heat transfer from second heating element 74 of
heating element 70 to
wicking element 76, by reducing a thermal resistance between heating element
70 and wicking
element 76. The penetration depth of capsule 10 into capsule accommodating
opening 80 for the
operation can be limited and defined by a fastening mechanism (not shown),
that allows to removably
fasten capsule 10 to holder, as further described below. For example, the
fastening mechanism can
be used in combination by a type of penetration limiting mechanism, so that in
an engaged position of
capsule 10 with holder 50 for inhalation, a defined compressive force is
applied to wicking element 76.
Wicking element 76 is formed to receive and distribute vaporizable material EL
from liquid exit port 46
when capsule 10 is connected to holder 50, for example by capillary action of
the vaporizable material
EL. Wicking element 76 can be made of different types of materials and
structures that can soak up
vaporizable material EL that is delivered by liquid exit port 46 or provide
for capillary force liquid
distribution, for example a fibrous material, porous structure, perforated
component, wick, cloth, fleece
or other device or material that can soak up and fluidically distribute
vaporizable material EL. Woking
element 76 can be attached inside capsule accommodating opening 80 to holder
50, can be attached
to capsule 10, or can be a separate element that can be placed between holder
50 and capsule 10.
In variant, there can be two different wicking elements 76, one attached to
holder 50, and one
attached to capsule 10.
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In a variant, it is also possible that wall 83 of capsule accommodating
opening 80 and wall 14 of
holder-facing side of capsule 10 have different types of complementary shapes
and surfaces, but still
preserve the conical or tapered feature. For example, it is possible that a
piecewise progressive
tapered or conical shape is used for at least a portion of walls 14, 83, for
example where the oblique
angle of the surface relative to central axis CA increases with a portion of
walls 14, 83 that are closer
to the body part of holder 50, or a curved cross-sectional shape, for example
a spherical shape of
walls 14, 83.
In the variant shown, first heating element 72 is formed as a circular plate-
like or disk-like device (see
FIG. 1D) as a heating electrode that is operatively connected to a first power
device 62, arranged at a
center and bottom surface of capsule accommodating opening 80, having an upper
surface thereof
exposed and in contact with wicking element 76 (not shown in FIG. 1 D) , and
second heating element
74 is formed as a circular band or ring around conically shapes side walls 83
forming a second
heating electrode, operatively connected to a second power device 64, allowing
for different
temperature control of first and second heating element 72, 74. Second heating
element 74 has a
cylindrical inner surface that is configured to heat wicking element layer 76,
for example by being in
contact with wicking element 76. In a variant, first and second heating
elements 72, 74 can also be
partially or fully integrated to wicking element 76, for example but not
limited to a meandering heating
wire, heating plate, porous heating structure to be fully integral to wicking
element 76. Also, to each
heating element 72, 74, there can be a temperature sensor that is in operative
contact or proximity for
temperature measurement, operatively connected to microcontroller 68 of holder
50.
Moreover, at bottom wall 77 of capsule accommodating opening 80, an opening
device 78 is provided
for opening liquid exit port 46 when capsule 10 is connected to holder 50,
placed at a location that
matches with a location of liquid exit port 46 when capsule 10 and holder 50
are interconnected
together. In the variant shown, liquid exit port 46 and opening device 78 are
arranged at the central
axis CA. Opening device 78 can be a type that can irreversibly open liquid
exit port 46, for example a
tube or cannula that has a sharp edge, for example a hollow needle, that
allows to pierce an opening
into a membrane or layer 48 that closes and seals liquid exit port 46. It is
also possible that opening
device 78 includes a structure that allows for reversible opening and closing
of liquid exit port 46, for
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example a tab or column that can push against a valve structure that will open
upon being pressured
by tab or column, when capsule 10 is connected to holder 50, and upon removal
of capsule 10 from
holder 50 allows let liquid exit port 46 close. For example but not limited
to, element 48 can be an
elastic closable flap or lid that will close again upon removal of holder 50
and opening device 78, a
ball or disk that is downwardly compressed by a spring for closure, or can be
an expandable and
elastic tube, some of these embodimens shown in FIGs. 2A-2C. In variant,
liquid exit port 46 can be
manually opened by user by a mechanism before interconnection of capsule 10
with holder 50.
Moreover, holder 50 can be equipped with a removable or fixedly installed
battery 60 or other power
source that provides for electric power to a data processor 68, for example a
microcontroller, and to
power switches or converters 62, 64t0 provide for electric power to the first
heating element 74 and
the second heating element 72, respectively. Also, data processor 68 can be
operatively connected
to a variety of sensors, for example a presence sensor that allows to detect
when capsule 10 is
connected to holder 50, inhalation sensor that can detect whether a person is
inhaling an aerosol from
mouth piece that is formed by inhalation side of capsule 10, temperature
sensors for selectively
measuring a temperature of first and second heating elements 72, 74, voltage
meter to measure
power delivery battery 60, and also configured to detect activation or
pressing of any switches,
buttons, dials, or other type of manually operated elements on holder 50. The
provision of two
different power switches 64, 66 permits to selectively provide electric energy
to the first and second
heating elements 74, 72, so that they can be heated at different temperatures
for selective
vaporization. Microcontroller 68 can be configured to control power delivery
by power switches 64, 66
to control a temperature of each one of the first and second heating elements
74, 72.
FIG. 1B shows capsule 10 in the state where it is connected to the holder 50,
by being inserted to
capsule accommodating opening 80, and liquid exit port 46 of capsule 10 has
been opened by
opening device 78, in the variant shown seal 48 has been pierced by cannula
78, thereby allowing
vaporizable material EL to egress from reservoir 40 into a fluidic channel,
chamber, volume, or space
90 formed between outer side surface 14 of capsule 10, and inner side surface
83 of capsule
accommodating opening 80. A wicking element 76 is shown to have a U-shaped
cross-section, filling
up a portion of fluidic channel, chamber, or space 90, and wicking element 76
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compressively pressured by outer side wall 14 and bottom wall 17 of capsule 10
against the
corresponding portions of side walls 83 of capsule accommodating opening 80.
Side wall 14 and
bottom wall 17 of capsule 10 together form a holder-facing section of capsule,
having surfaces that
will face or are exposed to capsule accommodating opening 80 of holder 50,
forming a holder facing
surface. The compression of wicking element allows to force all or a
substantial part of vaporizable
material to flow through wicking element 76, to avoid that there are any empty
spaces where
vaporizable material EL can avoid wicking element 76. In the variant shown,
wicking element 76
forms a cup-like shape with conically shaped or tapered side walls, having an
upper edge that lies
below input ports 28 so that input ports 28 are not obstructed.
A fluidic path FP is show for vaporizable material and for the vaporized or
atomized vaporizable
material, leading from reservoir 40 via the liquid exit port 46 and opening
device 78 through wicking
element 76 arranged inside fluidic chamber 90, towards input ports 28 through
lateral tubes 22 to
central vapor pipe 23, to be released via inhalation port 24. In the variant
shown, fluidic chamber or
channel 90 has a conical bowl-like shape, with the lower portion substantially
filled with wicking
element or structure 76. In the context of this description, the expression
downstream is used for
parts or portions of the FP that are located closer to inhalation port 24 and
the user, or for a fluid flow
towards inhalation port 24, while upstream is used for parts or portions of
the FP that are located
closer to reservoir 40, or for against a fluid flow towards reservoir 40
holding vaporizable material EL.
Moreover, venting ducts, holes, channels or openings 84 are formed in the side
wall 52 of holder 50,
providing for a fluidic connection between an external area of holder and
fluidic chamber 90 for air.
These venting holes 84 are configured to provide air from the external
environment that is pulled into
chamber 90 by the suction generated by the user or operator via inhalation
port 24. In the variant
shown, venting holes 84 are laterally arranged on sides or radially arranged
around capsule
accommodating opening 80, leading into chamber 90 via wicking element 76, but
venting hole or
channel 84 can also lead directly into space 92 that is not occupied with
wicking element 76.
A user or operator can connect capsule 10 to holder 50, by inserting capsule
10 to capsule
accommodating opening 80. This action will open up liquid exit port 46 by
opening device 78, for
example a cannula. Thereafter, vaporizable material EL will leak out of
reservoir 40 to soak wicking
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element 76. Upon detection of inhalation by a sensor that is operatively
connected to processor 68,
or by the user or operator pressing an inhalation button, processor 68 can
control power devices or
switches 62, 64, to heat heating elements 72, 74 of heating device 70. The
inhalation will also cause
a suction effect from inhalation port 24 along the fluidic pathway FP, with
air being fed inside chamber
90 via venting holes 84.
Along fluidic pathway FD, vaporizable material EL can be vaporized or atomized
by a two-zone
heating process at first and second heating zones HZ1, HZ2. For example, upon
vaporizable material
exiting liquid exit port 46 deliver port of capsule 10, with first heating
element 72 of heating device 70,
EL is laterally distributed in the bottom portion of wicking element 76, and
is then first partially
vaporized or atomized in a first heating zone HZ1 that is adjacent to first
heating element 72, at a
temperature Ti. This heating at HZ1 can render portions or compositions of the
liquid state EL that
has a lower vaporization temperature to a gaseous state, as compared to other
portions or
compositions of vaporizable material EL. This allows to perform a first
vaporization process within
wicking element 76, to vaporize a first amount and composition of vaporizable
material that vaporizes
at a first temperature that is somewhat below temperature Ti. Thereafter, a
first amount in gaseous
state and a second amount and composition of EL in a liquid state passes
through wicking element 76
by capillary action and suction from inhalation of user, to reach a second
heating zone HZ2 in side
walls of the wicking element 76 that are more downstream than the first
heating zone HZ1. In HZ2, a
second part of the EL that is in the liquid state can be vaporized or atomized
in the second heating
zone HZ2, adjacent to the second heating element 74, at a temperature T2 that
can be different than
temperature Ti, preferably a higher temperature than Ti, to render portions or
compositions of EL
that has a higher vaporization temperature to a gaseous or vapor state.
Thereafter, in this example, all or a substantial portion of vaporizable
material EL has been rendered
gaseous by heating zones HZ1, HZ2 and passes in its gaseous state or vapor
state further
downstream along FP into the channel or space 92 that is not occupied with
wicking element 76, after
exiting wicking element 76, and thereafter enters one or more input ports 28
of capsule 10, to
continue along FP to vapor pipe 21, towards inhalation port 24 for inhalation
by user. In variant, there
can be more than two heating zones, for additional selective application of
heating temperatures to
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vaporizable material EL, by having the lower heating temperatures upstream for
vaporizing portions of
EL with a lower vaporization temperature first, and having the higher heating
temperatures further
downstream for vaporizing portions of EL with a higher heating temperature
later. In a variant, the
different heating elements 72, 74 can have the same heating temperature, for a
multi-zone heating of
vaporizable material spread over a certain distance along a fluidic path FP.
FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of an exemplary capsule 10 having a
substantially round cross-
section, in a bullet-like shape, having attachment notches 18 for removably
fastening capsule 10 to
capsule accommodating opening 80 of holder 50 arranged on a cylindrically-
shapes side surface of
capsule 10, and FIG. 1D shows a transparent perspective view of the capsule
receiving side CS of
the holder 50 showing two different heating elements 72, 74 of the heating
device 70 facing lower
section 82 of capsule accommodating opening 80, with the wicking element 76
removed for
illustration purposes, and two different power devices or switches 62, 64, and
showing engagement
grooves 88 for receiving corresponding attachment notches 18 of capsule 10.
Different types of
fastening mechanism between capsule 10 and holder 50 are possible that allow
for a removal
connection, for example but not limited to a snap-in ring and corresponding
groove partially or entirely
surrounding capsule 10 or capsule accommodating opening 80, a bayonet-type
lock, a tap, a
threading, a clip in mechanism, a loose press-fit engagement for easy removal.
FIG. 1E shows an exemplary cross-sectional view of another variant with
capsule 10 and holder 50,
where heating device 70 is part of holder 50 and is made of a single heating
electrode that has a cup
or bowl-like shape to form one heating zone HZ, operatively connected to a
power switch 64, to form
a lower portion of the side walls 83 and bottom wall 77 of capsule
accommodating opening 80. Also,
a seal ring 30 is shown that is located in a circular groove formed in side
walls of capsule
accommodating opening 80, instead of seal ring 30 of capsule 10. In a variant,
no seal ring 30 needs
to be present, and a gap between capsule 10 and walls of capsule accommodating
opening 80 can
be used as venting holes 84. Moreover, in the embodiment of FIG. 1E, the
wicking element 76 is
fixedly or removably attached to capsule 10, for example at the conical or
slanted side walls 14, but
also at the bottom wall 17 in proximity or surrounding liquid exit port 46. It
is also possible that
wicking element 76 is formed at least partially inside side wall 14, bottom
wall 17, or both. Upon
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attachment of capsule 10 to holder 50, the attachment mechanism (for example
18, 88, FIGs. 1C and
1D) and capsule accommodating opening 80 are configured such that a
compressive force will be
applied to wicking element 76, by side wall 14 and bottom wall 17 of capsule
10 and side wall 83 and
bottom wall 77 sandwiching the wicking element 76 for improved contact with a
heating surface of
heater 70. As the capsule 10 can be a disposable part upon consuming all the
EL, and as wicking
element 76 can accumulate particles and some toxic matter with the
vaporization or atomizing of EL,
wicking element 76 can also be seen to have a filter function holding such
particles inside, that will be
replaced with each use of new capsule 10.
In a variant, it is also possible that cavity or opening 80 that is located in
capsule or cartridge 10,
instead of being located in holder 50 with heater 70. In this respect, holder
50 could have a protrusion
having a conical or tapered shape for receiving a cavity 80 that has a
corresponding or complemental
conical or tapered shape, the cavity 80 located inside capsule 10. Thereby the
same features with
wicking element 76 that can be squeezed between two conical-formed walls of
cavity 80 and
protrusion can be preserved. Heating elements of heating device 70 can be
arranged on the slanted
or conical side walls of the protrusion that will engage with capsule 10
having cavity 80, and vapor
channels 22 can be arranged to have their inlet at the slanted or conical side
walls that form opening
or cavity 80. Venting holes 84 or channels can be still arranged in holder 50,
to guide air from the
exterior environment to a gap formed between the conical or tapered side walls
of protrusion of holder
50, and opening, recess or cavity 80 of capsule 10.
FIGs. 2A to 2C show different exemplary cross-sectional side views of
different types of liquid exit
ports 146, 246, 346 arranged at a bottom wall 17 of capsule 10, liquid exit
ports 146, 246, 346
configured to deliver vaporizable material EL to wicking element 76 in channel
or space 90 of holder
50, when capsule 10 is connected or attached to holder 50, and also show
different types of opening
devices 178, 278, 378 arranged in the capsule receiving cavity or opening 80
of the holder 50 having
an area where capsule 50 will be placed. For example, in FIG. 2A, opening
device 178 is embodied
as a cannula or hollow tube, having an oblique upper edge for piercing a seal
membrane layer 148
that forms a closing lid for capsule 10, for example made of metal, having one
or more traversing
openings 177 at a base portion thereof, so that vaporizable material EL can
pass inside cannula to
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the traversing openings 177 to reach wicking element 76, when capsule 10
connected to holder 50. It
is also possible that there is no dedicated seal membrane layer 148, but that
opening device 178
pierces through bottom wall 17 of capsule 10. In this variant, liquid exit
port 146 remains open once
capsule 10 is removed from holder 50, but could be manually closed by an
adhesive layer, a plug, or
a lid. Also, in this variant, an alternative version of first heating element
72 is shown, having a toroid
shape, with an empty space in the middle where opening device 178 is arranged.
Moreover, FIG. 2B shows another variant where a re-closable liquid exit port
246 is presented, having
a compressible element such as a spring 242 that is held by a holding
structure 245, compressible
element 242 pressing or urging against a plug 243 that closes the opening in
wall 14 of capsule 10,
the holding structure 245 having one or more traversing openings 249, for
letting vaporizable material
EL pass towards opening. Opening element 278 can be a simple rod, column, or
bolt that is smaller
in diameter than an opening in bottom wall 17 of capsule 10 to urge or push
back plug 243 when
capsule 10 is connected to holder 10, or can be a tube or hollow cylinder with
upper and lower wall-
traversing openings, 279, 277 for improved fluidic connection between
reservoir 40 and space or
channel 90. Lower opening 277 can laterally lead directly to wicking element
76. Upon removing of
capsule 10 from holder 50, plug 243 is pushed down by compressible element 242
as it is not being
pushed by opening element 278 anymore.
FIG. 2C shows yet another variant where a re-closable liquid exit port 346 is
presented, having a
tubular compressible and expandable element 342 such as an elastic tube that
is held by a holding
structure 345, a lower end of tubular compressible and expandable element 342
holding a plug 343
for closing an opening in bottom wall 17 of capsule 10. Moreover, opening
device 378 is embodied as
a bolt, rod, pin, column, protrusion that can push against plug 343 Upon
insertion and connection of
holder 50 to capsule 10, bolt 378 presses against plug 343, and due to its
tubular structure and
upwardly movement, expandable element 342 will compress to become shorter and
will
simultaneously expand, so that plug 343 will move upwards. As a diameter of
bolt 378 is designed to
be smaller than a diameter of opening in bottom wall 17 of capsule 10,
vaporizable material EL can
flow from reservoir 40 to channel 90 that includes wicking element 76. Upon
removing of capsule 10
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from holder 50, plug 343 is pushed down by compressible element 342 as it is
not being pushed by
rod 378 anymore.
FIGs. 3A to 3G depict different views of a capsule 10 and a holder 50 for
capsule 10, schematically
depicting different arrangements and structures for embodying one or more
venting holes 84 to
provide for an air intake to capsule accommodating opening 80 or chamber 90.
FIG. 3A showing a
cross-sectional side view showing a capsule 10 with a conically- and ring-
shaped wicking element 76
around a conical wall 14 of capsule 10, and showing a holder 50 having a
conically- and ring-shaped
heater element 70 with a heating surface that matches an outer surface of
wicking element 76 when
capsule 10 is inserted and connected to opening 50. Venting holes 84 form
channels that lead
radially towards opening 80 to provide for air below heating element 70 and
wicking element 76, to
chamber 90. In this variant, holder 50 includes two separate parts, with upper
capsule holding part
51, and lower battery holding part 53. Capsule holding part 51 can be made
removable from battery
holding part 53, as heater 70 may age and degrade and need replacement. An
attachment
mechanism can be provided to removably attach capsule 10 to holder 50, such
that a compressive
force is exerted by surface of heater 70 to wicking element 76 when
interconnected, but is not shown
here. Moreover, wicking element 76 is formed within a ring-like recess in side
wall 14 of capsule 10,
such that only a portion of wicking element is protrudes out from recess, for
compression by heating
element 70 when capsule 10 and holder 50 are interconnected.
FIG. 3B shows another embodiment as a cross-sectional side view with L-shaped
vent channels 84
entering from a top face of holder 50 and entering opening 80 through holes
that are arranged in
heater 70. Moreover, capsule 10 is shown that has a circular ledge 19 that is
in parallel to an upper
surface of holder 50 when interconnection, such that ledge 19 can press
against seal ring or washer
30 for sealing of chamber 90 that is arranged between capsule 10 and holder 50
in capsule
accommodating opening 80. When interconnected, entry holes of channels 84 are
arranged radially
outwardly from axis CA so that they are not obstructed by ledge 19. Walls of
heater 70 can include
openings or holes that allow for air to pass to chamber 90, but it is also
possible that heater 70 is
made of two conical rings that are arranged to sandwich channels 84 inbetween.
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FIG. 3C shows another variant with a side view and a top view in a direction
of axis CA towards
holder, showing cut-in recesses 84 at an upper edge of holder 50 serving as
venting or air intake
holes, and having venting channels 89 along a side surface 83 of opening 90,
at least some of the
venting channels 89 being in fluidic communication with cut-in recesses 84, in
the variant shown a
channels leading along a surface of the conically- and ring-shaped inner
surface 83 of opening 80. In
this variant, a heater 70 is formed having a disk-like shape on bottom surface
77 of capsule
accommodating opening 80, and a pin as capsule opening device 78. Air can
thereby enter from the
exterior environment laterally through cut-in recesses 84 and can then
progress and be distributed to
chamber 90 via venting channels 89, for example to be lead to a bottom of
capsule accommodating
opening 80. FIG. 3D showing a side view of a variant where cut-in recesses 84
for air intake are
arranged at a lower edge of the capsule 10, and not at the upper edge of
holder 50. But in a variant,
it is possible that cut-in recesses or holes are arranged at both the capsule
10 and the holder 50.
FIGs. 3E and 3G show a cross-sectional side view and a cross-sectional view of
a variant where no
seal 30 may be present between capsule 10 and holder 50, and the air intake is
made by a gap 584
between capsule 10 and holder 50, when capsule 10 and holder 50 are
interconnected to each other.
In this respect, upon putting capsule 10 to capsule accommodating opening 80
of holder 50, and the
compression of wicking element 76 by heating surface 70, the capsule 10 is
dimensioned that a gap
584 is formed having a diameter D1 that is large enough to let air pass into
chamber 90. For
example, this can be done by a distance D2 between lower surface 17 of capsule
10 and upper
surface 77 of opening 80, when capsule 10 and holder 50 are interconnected, is
smaller than Dl.
FIG. 3G shows a cross-sectional view on a direction of axis CA along line CS1
shown in FIG. 3E,
where longitudinal grooves 89 are shown within inner surface of heater 70,
acting to distribute air
entering from gap 584 towards wicking element 76. Grooves 89 can be machined
into the metallic
element that forms heater 70, and can be distributed around inner surface of
heater 70. Moreover,
vapor channels 22 are shown that have a slot-like opening or inlet facing the
inner side of wicking
element 76 to collect the vapor or the atomized liquid from heated wicking
element 76, with a plurality
of star-like arranged channels 22 leading to vapor pipe 21. In a variant,
there can be the same
amount of angularly distributed channels 22 and angularly distributed grooves
89. It is also possible
that a groove/ridge mechanism is arranged between capsule 10 and opening 80 of
holder 50, for
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example ridges or knobs that engage with grooves 89 of heater 70 or surface
83, so that capsule 10
is always connected to opening 80 with a certain angular orientation to each
other. This allows to
ascertain that vapor channels 22 and grooves 89 can be arranged to face each
other when capsule
and holder 50 are interconnected, or arranged not to face each other.
5
FIG. 3G shows a cross-sectional, exemplary view of different channels at an
interface area that forms
chamber 90 between capsule 10 and holder 50 when they are interconnected with
each other, with
surface 17 of capsule 10 and surface 77 of opening 80 facing each other and
arranged in parallel,
having a wicking element 76 compressed therein, and forming a vapor chamber or
channel 90. In this
10 representation, surfaces 17, 77 are shown to be linear, but they
could also be curved and arranged
concentrically to each other, oval, slanted, depending on the application and
form of capsule 10 used.
It shows that vapor channels 22 that are in fluidic connection with vapor pipe
21 are arranged with
inlets that directly face a surface of wicking element 76, and that a heating
surface of heater 70 will be
located opposite of inlets of channels 22, to be in contact with the opposite
side of wicking element
76, forming the heating zone HZ. This arrangement allows for rapid evacuation
of vapor made from
vaporizable material EL formed in heating zone HZ towards inlets of channels
22. Exemplarily, three
channels 22 are shown, but there can be more or less. On more liquid exit
ports 46 can be arranged
in the walls of capsule 10, to provide for a fluidic connection between
reservoir 40 and chamber 90.
In the variant shown, liquid exit ports are arranged to directly lead to the
wicking element 76.
Preferably, wicking element 76 is attached to wall 17 capsule 10, and not to
wall 77 of opening 80.
One or more air channels 89 can be present in surface of wall 17, also
directly leading to a surface of
wicking element 76 to improve aeration of wicking element 76 by air from the
exterior environment,
arriving via vent openings 84, 584.
FIGs. 4A to 4C show exemplary views of another embodiment of the capsule 410
for an electronic
cigarette or vaporizing system 300, with capsule 410 having a closing ring 413
that allows to manually
open and close a delivery of vaporizable material EL from reservoir 440 to
wicking element 476. In
this embodiment, capsule 410 includes an inhalation side or upper part 411 and
a holder side or lower
part 412, and a rotatable ring 413 inbetween, arranged inside a circular
recessed ring. Upper and
lower part 411, 412 can be fixed together with different attachment means, for
example but not limited
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to a snap-in mechanism, adhesive, lock, threading. In the variant shown, lower
part 412 includes a
vapor pipe 421 that is arranged to fully traverse the upper part 411 via a
corresponding bore or hole
419, and upper part 411 includes a toroid-shaped inner cavity as the reservoir
440 for the vaporizable
material EL. For example, in a removable configuration, corresponding
threading can be arranged
along outer surface of vapor pipe 421 and inner surface of hole or bore 419,
or a threaded nut can be
arranged at the vapor exit port 413 to removably attach upper and lower part
411, 421 together. In a
variant, a snap-in or ratchet like surface can be arranged on the surfaces of
hole or bore 419 and
vapor pipe 421.
FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view in a viewing direction of axis CA along
line CS2 shown in FIG.
4A, showing rotatable ring 413 having a seal layer 430 provided thereon, with
openings for each liquid
channel 492 that traverses the ring 413, channels 492 shown to be being
arranged substantially in
parallel with axis CA. In the assembled state, rotatable ring 413 can be
turned to different angular
positions around axis CA such that positions of liquid exit ports 446 can
match with positions of liquid
channels 422 that provide for an outlet of vaporizable material EL from
reservoir 440 of upper part
411, forming a fluidic pathway from reservoir 440, to liquid exit ports 446,
to liquid channel 492 of ring
413, and to wicking element 476 for soaking the wicking element 476, so that
the vaporized EL can
continue to vapor channels 422 after vaporization with wicking element 476. By
turning ring 413 to a
different position, all of liquid exit ports 446 can be closed by the angular
mismatch of the positions of
liquid exit ports 446 relative to liquid channels 492, or the cross-section of
a fluidic area for EL can be
reduced, by a partial mismatch of positions of liquid exit ports 446 relative
to channels 492. As shown
in FIG. 4B, ring 413 can be equipped with protruding knobs or ridges 497 to
facilitate manual turning
by user, and these knobs can be arranged to protrude slightly away from an
outer surface of capsule
410. In this embodiment, the fluid chamber 490 is formed by the area that is
occupied by wicking
element 476.
FIG. 4C shows a cross-sectional view in a viewing direction of axis CA along
line CS3 that is shown in
FIG. 4A, showing a star-like arrangement of vapor inlets and channels 422 that
lead to the centrally-
arranged vapor pipe 421. As shown in FIG. 4A, each inlet of channel 422 can
have a longitudinal
slot-like shape, to face a large surface area of the inner surface of wicking
element 476. Also, in the
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variant shown, upper side surface of wicking element 476 directly face outlet
or exit openings of
channels 492 of ring 413, so that the EL can directly soak into wicking
element 476 from the top.
Ring 413 is arranged that it can be turned relative to upper part 411
regardless of whether capsule
410 is connected to holder 450 or not, but in a variant, walls of opening 80
are arranged to cover
outer surface of ring 413, so that it cannot be turned in a connected
position. Moreover, wicking
element 476 slightly protrudes or reaches out over a surface define by wall
414, so that in a
connected position with holder 450, heating surfaces of heater 470 will
compress wicking element 476
towards capsule 410.
With the present embodiments of the atomizing, vaporization, or electronic
cigarette system 100, 300,
discussed herein, it is possible to fully dissociate the heating device 70
from the capsule 10 or other
type of liquid container element, specifically for the case where the capsule,
cartridge, or other
container 10 is removable from a holder, to thereby provide for several
advantages over the state of
the art. For example, this design allows to provide for a more complex but
also more reliable heating
structure and design, as the heating device 70 can be part and can also be
fixedly installed to the
holder 50, 450, thereby avoiding electric connection terminals to the capsule
10, and proposing
simpler capsule design with no electric elements. In addition, wicking
elements 76, 476 are still part
of the disposable capsule 10, 410, and are thereby still replaced on a regular
basis, as contaminants
can accumulate therein. This allows to provide for more complex heating
systems with two or more
heating zones HZ1, HZ2, to provide for selective heating of a wicking element
like mesh layers 76,
476 area where vaporizable material EL is accumulated. As the active heating
system is thereby fully
placed inside the re-usable holder, and not inside the disposable capsule, the
heating system can be
made more reliable with more solid and reliable parts and design. The less
complex design of
capsule 10, 410 allows to make capsules cheaper, using less parts, being less
prone to failure and
also made entirely of recyclable parts, to reduce its carbon footprint.
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain preferred
embodiments, numerous
modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments, and
equivalents thereof, are
possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, it is intended that
the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, and be given the
broadest reasonable
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interpretation in accordance with the language of the appended claims. The
features of any one of
the above described embodiments may be included in any other embodiment
described herein.
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