IP Library Granted Patent US 9,549,573
Granted Patent B2
US 9,549,573 · App. 15/053,927 · Granted Jan 24, 2017

Vaporization device systems and methods

Inventors: James Monsees (San Francisco, CA); Adam Bowen (San Francisco, CA); Nicholas Jay Hatton (San Francisco, CA); Steven Christensen (San Francisco, CA); Kevin Lomeli (San Francisco, CA); Ariel Atkins (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: PAX Labs, Inc.
A24F47/008H05B1/0244H05B3/04H05B3/44H05B2203/014H05B2203/016H05B2203/021H05B2203/022
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,549,573
App. No.
15/053,927
Granted
Jan 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Vaporization devices and methods of operating them. In particular, described herein are methods for controlling the power applied to a resistive heater of a vaporization device by measuring the resistance of the resistive heater at discrete intervals. Changes in the resistance during heating may be used to control the power applied to heat the resistive heater during operation. Also described herein are vaporization devices that are configured to measure the resistance of the resistive heater during heating and to control the application of power to the resistive heater based on the resistance values.

Claims (40)

1. A cartridge for a vaporization device, the cartridge comprising:

a flattened body having a long axis and a short axis;

a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material within the flattened body;

a heater chamber at an end of the cartridge;

a resistive heater comprising a pair of plates on a first side and a second side of the heater chamber extending in the long axis and a wick suspended between the plates extending in the long axis, and a resistive heating element directly in contact with the pair of plates and with the wick, wherein the wick is configured to contact the vaporizable material from the reservoir; and

a pair of exposed flat contact tabs integrally formed from the plates and extending from the resistive heater and folded over an outer surface of the end of the cartridge and configured to complete a circuit with the vaporization device when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the pair of exposed contact tabs are configured to mate with a pair of electrical contacts in a cartridge receptacle of the vaporization device to complete the circuit.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the pair of exposed contact tabs are configured to mate with a pair of electrical contacts comprising pogo pins in a cartridge receptacle of the vaporization device to complete the circuit.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the resistive heating element is wound around the wick.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the resistive heater comprises a condensation chamber.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a protective cap.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the resistive heater encloses a first end of the cartridge.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece fitted onto the reservoir.

10. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece coupled with a snap-fit coupling.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising an air inlet passage.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a channel integral to an exterior surface, wherein the channel forms a first side of an air inlet passage.

13. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the resistive heating element is attached to the pair of plates on the first and second sides of the heater chamber.

14. A cartridge for a vaporization device, the cartridge comprising:

a flattened body having a long axis and a short axis;

a reservoir holding a liquid vaporizable material within the flattened body;

a heater chamber at a distal end of the flattened body;

a resistive heater comprising a pair of plates on a first side and a second side of the heater chamber extending in the long axis and a wick suspended between the plates, and a resistive heating element directly in contact with the pair of plates and in thermal contact with the wick, wherein the wick contacts the vaporizable material in the reservoir;

a pair of exposed flat contact tabs integrally formed from the plates and extending from the resistive heater and folded over an outer surface of the distal end of the flattened body and configured to complete a circuit with the vaporization device when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device; and

a raised rail on each side of the flattened body.

15. A cartridge for a vaporization device, the cartridge comprising:

a flattened body having a long axis and a short axis;

a reservoir holding a liquid vaporizable material within the flattened body;

a heater chamber at a distal end of the flattened body;

a resistive heater comprising a pair of plates on a first side and a second side of the heater chamber extending in the long axis, and a wick suspended between the plates at the distal end of the flattened body, and a resistive heating element directly in contact with the pair of plates and in thermal contact with the wick, wherein the wick contacts the vaporizable material in the reservoir;

a pair of exposed flat contact tabs integrally formed from the plates and extending from the resistive heater and folded over an outer surface of the distal end of the flattened body and configured to complete a circuit with the vaporization device when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device; and

a mouthpiece fitted onto the reservoir and having a notch providing a view of into the reservoir.

16. A cartridge for a vaporization device, the cartridge comprising:

a flattened body having a long axis and a short axis;

a reservoir holding a liquid vaporizable material within the flattened body;

a heater chamber at a distal end of the flattened body;

a resistive heater comprising a pair of plates on a first side and a second side of the heater chamber extending in the long axis, and a wick suspended between the plates at the distal end of the flattened body, and a resistive heating element directly in contact with the pair of plates and in thermal contact with the wick, wherein the wick contacts the vaporizable material in the reservoir;

a pair of exposed flat contact tabs integrally formed from the plates and extending from the resistive heater and folded over an outer surface of the distal end of the flattened body and configured to complete a circuit with the vaporization device when the cartridge is inserted into the vaporization device;

a mouthpiece fitted onto the reservoir and having a notch providing a view of into the reservoir; and

a raised rail on each side of the flattened body.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
Reel/Frame 069185/0228 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2023
From: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 064252/0225 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062114 FRAME: 0196. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 23, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062214/0142 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062114/0195 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2022
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061587/0947 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 061578/0865 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060446/0261 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 049948/0881 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049013/0519 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049013/0397 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 043544 FRAME: 0004. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 6, 2018
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046732/0847 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2018
From: MORENSTEIN CRONAN, LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046098/0655 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2018
From: HIBMACRONAN, CHRISTOPHER NICHOLAS; MORENSTEIN, JOSHUA
To: MORENSTEIN CRONAN, LLC
Reel/Frame 046089/0068 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 3, 2018
From: JUUL LABS, INC
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045832/0328 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043544/0004 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2016
From: MONSEES, JAMES; BOWEN, ADAM; HATTON, NICHOLAS JAY; CHRISTENSEN, STEVEN; LOMELI, KEVIN; ATKINS, ARIEL
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039073/0713 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 14581666 · Dec 23, 2014
Provisional Application 61920225 · Dec 23, 2013
Provisional Application 61936593 · Feb 6, 2014
Provisional Application 61937755 · Feb 10, 2014
Related Publication 20160174611A1 · Jun 23, 2016