Personal vaporizer for use with vial
A personal vaporizer is configured to be used with a separately-formed vial. The vial can be sandwiched between a proximal and distal portion of the vaporizer, which in turn can be releasably attached to, and powered by, a battery assembly. Attaching the proximal and distal portions, with the vial in place, can both hold the vial in place and provide access to the vial so that vaporizing media within the vial can flow to an atomizer of the vaporizer. The vaporizer can include a child-proof locking structure for releasably engaging the proximal and distal portions.
1 . A personal vaporizer, comprising:
an atomizer configured to atomize vaporizing media, the atomizer comprising a wick and a heating element;
a vial receiver configured to accept a media vial, the vial receiver comprising a feed hole, the atomizer, wick and heating element being disposed at least partially within the vial receiver, the vial receiver and media vial sized and configured so that the vial receiver can extend into the media vial;
a seat surface defined on an outer surface of the vial receiver; and
a puncture tip configured to puncture a stopper of the media vial, the vial receiver and puncture tip configured so that the stopper of the media vial is punctured by the puncture tip as the media vial is advanced over the vial receiver toward the seat surface;
wherein a tank of the media vial is in communication with the feed hole and the atomizer, wick and heating element are at least partially disposed within the media vial when the media vial is advanced over the vial receiver sufficiently that the media vial is engaged with the seat surface; and
wherein the feed hole is in communication with the wick.
2 . The personal vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the wick has a side wall and an end wall that define a vaporization chamber, at least a portion of the vaporization chamber disposed at least partially within the vial receiver so that the vaporization chamber is at least partially within the media vial when the media vial is advanced over the vial receiver and in engagement with the seat surface.
3 . The personal vaporizer of claim 2 , wherein the vaporizer comprises an open end that is open in a direction opposite the vial receiver.
4 . The personal vaporizer of claim 3 , comprising an input air passage having an air path directed toward the open end.
5 . The personal vaporizer of claim 2 , wherein the wick comprises the puncture tip.
6 . The personal vaporizer of claim 1 , additionally comprising a guide configured to selectively attach to the personal vaporizer, the guide configured to fit over the media vial.
7 . The personal vaporizer of claim 6 , wherein the guide comprises a guide lumen sized and configured to receive the media vial.
8 . The personal vaporizer of claim 7 , wherein the guide, personal vaporizer and media vial are sized and configured so that when the guide is attached to the personal vaporizer with the media vial in the guide lumen, the media vial is urged against the seat surface.
9 . The personal vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the vial receiver comprises a seal member disposed about an outer surface between the puncture tip and the seat surface.
10 . A method of using a personal vaporizer, comprising:
advancing an elongated vial enclosing a vaporizing media toward a distal portion of the personal vaporizer, the distal portion of the personal vaporizer having a vial receiver, a vaporization chamber and a heating element being at least partially disposed within the vial receiver;
advancing an opening end of the elongated vial over the vial receiver so that a portion of the vaporization chamber and heating element within the vial receiver are disposed within the elongated vial; and
advancing the opening end of the elongated vial over the vial receiver and into engagement with a seat defined on the vial receiver.
11 . The method of claim 10 , comprising advancing a guide defining a guide lumen over the vial and attaching the guide to the distal portion of the personal vaporizer so that the vial is sandwiched between the guide and the distal portion of the personal vaporizer.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a closure is disposed on the opening end of the vial, and wherein the closure includes a resilient member engaged with the opening end of the elongated vial, and comprising compressing the resilient member onto the seat defined on the vial receiver.
13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising advancing a guide defining a guide lumen over the elongated vial and attaching the guide to the distal portion of the personal vaporizer so that the vial is sandwiched between the guide and the distal portion of the personal vaporizer.
14 . A method of using a personal vaporizer, comprising:
advancing an elongated vial enclosing a vaporizing media toward a distal portion of the personal vaporizer, the distal portion of the personal vaporizer having a vial receiver, a vaporization chamber and a heating element being at least partially disposed within the vial receiver; and
advancing an opening end of the elongated vial over the vial receiver so that a portion of the vaporization chamber and heating element within the vial receiver are disposed within the elongated vial; and
wherein the opening end of the elongated vial comprises an opening closed by a closure, and comprising puncturing the closure while advancing the elongated vial over the vial receiver.
15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising engaging a sealing member on an outer surface of the vial receiver with an inner surface of the elongated vial.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the closure includes a resilient member engaged with the opening end of the elongated vial, and comprising compressing the resilient member onto a seat defined on the vial receiver.