IP Library Granted Patent US 8,746,240
Granted Patent B2
US 8,746,240 · App. 12/780,872 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Activation trigger for a personal vaporizing inhaler

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,746,240
App. No.
12/780,872
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.

Claims (31)

1. A personal vaporizer unit, comprising:

circuitry;

a vaporizer that vaporizes a substance in response to being activated;

a first conductive surface on a main shell configured to contact a first body part of a person holding said main shell of said personal vaporizer unit; and,

a mouthpiece having a second conductive surface, conductively isolated from said first conductive surface, configured to contact a second body part of said person, wherein said circuitry activates said vaporizer in response to detecting a change in conductivity between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

2. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface is used to pass a charging current to a battery.

3. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1 , wherein said change in conductivity comprises a drop in impedance between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

4. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1 , wherein said change in conductivity comprises a change in capacitance between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

5. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 1 , wherein said first body part is a finger.

6. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 5 , wherein said second body part is a lip.

7. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 5 , wherein said second body part is a second finger.

8. A method of operating a personal vaporizing unit including circuitry, comprising:

detecting a first impedance with said circuitry between a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface, said first conductive surface disposed on a main shell that is used to hold said personal vaporizing unit, said second conductive surface disposed on a mouthpiece of said personal vaporizing unit;

detecting a second impedance with said circuitry between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface;

based on said second impedance meeting a criteria, activating said personal vaporizing unit.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said first impedance indicates conductive isolation and said second impedance indicates electrical continuity.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said first impedance is associated with only one of a first body part and a second body part being in contact with only one of said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said first body part is a finger.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said second body part is a lip.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said second body part is a second finger.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said second impedance is associated with a first body part being in contact with said first conductive surface and a second body part being in contact with said second conductive surface.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first body part is a finger.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said second body part is a lip.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said second body part is a second finger.

18. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

charging a battery of said personal vaporizing unit by passing a current through at least one of said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

19. A personal vaporizer unit, comprising:

circuitry;

a vaporizer that vaporizes a substance in response to being activated; a first conductive surface on a main shell configured to contact a first body part of a person holding said main shell of said personal vaporizer unit; and,

a second conductive surface on said main shell, conductively isolated from said first conductive surface, configured to contact a second body part of said person, wherein said circuitry activates said vaporizer in response to detecting a change in conductivity between said first conductive surface and said second conductive surface.

20. The personal vaporizer unit of claim 19 , wherein said first body part is a first finger and said second body part is a second finger.

Assignments (11)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE U.S. PATENT NO. 9,259,020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038004 FRAME 0633. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 28, 2017
From: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
To: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042370/0292 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2016
From: R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
To: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038004/0633 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2014
From: MINUSA HOLDINGS LLC
To: R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033489/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2014
From: TERRY, NATHAN ANDREW; MINSKOFF, NOAH MARK; BREEDE, MICHAEL EDWARD; DUFFIN, LAWRENCE
To: MINUSA HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 033128/0053 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2014
From: BREEDE, MICHAEL EDWARD
To: TERRY, NATHAN ANDREW
Reel/Frame 033108/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: BREEDE, MICHAEL EDWARD
To: MINUSA HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 033094/0176 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: TERRY, NATHAN ANDREW
To: MINUSA HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 033126/0371 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2014
From: DUFFIN, LAWRENCE H., III
To: MINSKOFF, NOAH M.
Reel/Frame 032237/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2014
From: MINSKOFF, NOAH MARK
To: BREEDE, MICHAEL EDWARD
Reel/Frame 032091/0847 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 6, 2013
From: TERRY, NATHAN ANDREW
To: BREEDE, MICHAEL EDWARD
Reel/Frame 030620/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2013
From: MINSKOFF, NOAH MARK
To: DUFFIN, LAWRENCE
Reel/Frame 029784/0785 →