IP Library Granted Patent US 11,478,021
Granted Patent B2
US 11,478,021 · App. 15/309,554 · Granted Oct 25, 2022

Systems and methods for aerosolizing a vaporizable material

Inventors: Adam Bowen (San Francisco, CA); James Monsees (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
A24F42/10A24D1/20A24F40/42A24F42/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,478,021
App. No.
15/309,554
Granted
Oct 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A smoking device for generating and releasing smoking vapor free from contamination into the mouth of a user comprising a mouthpiece for providing vapor for inhalation to a user including a tubular casing containing a heater for heating a smoking substance at a substantially constant low temperature by regulating the flow of fuel by a thermal regulator and further having means for visual indication of the operation of the device.

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a cartridge comprising a perforated container containing a vaporizable material, the perforated container having two or more perforated surfaces configured to allow gas transfer through the perforated container between the two or more perforated surfaces, the gas transfer comprising entry of air into the perforated container and exit of the air and a vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material; and

a device comprising:

an oven region comprising an oven chamber configured to surround the perforated container and heat the vaporizable material in the perforated container;

an air inlet through which air is drawn into the oven region;

an airflow path that traverses the perforated container between the two or more perforated surfaces; and

a mouthpiece comprising an aerosol outlet configured to deliver, to a user puffing on the mouthpiece, a mixture of the air and the vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material, the air and the vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material being mixed in the oven chamber before exiting the oven region.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container comprises cellulose.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container is configured to remain substantially intact during the heating of the vaporizable material in the perforated container.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container comprises a binding agent.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the binding agent is configured to remain substantially intact during the heating of the vaporizable material in the perforated container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container is heat-sealed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises a vapor forming medium.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the vapor forming medium comprises glycerin.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to heat the vaporizable material to a temperature required to vaporize the vaporizable material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to heat the cartridge to a temperature below about 400° F.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises tobacco.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises botanicals.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises cannabis.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises fine pieces of the vaporizable material.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises loose leaves of the vaporizable material.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container encloses the vaporizable material on all surfaces of the vaporizable material.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two or more perforated surfaces are on different sides of the perforated container.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container comprises a permeable material comprising fibers.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container comprises cellulose acetate fibers.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a battery-powered electric heater.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the oven chamber includes a lid to access the oven chamber to insert and remove the perforated container.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the lid comprises the mouthpiece.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container further comprises at least one aeration well, the at least one aeration well and the perforations together allowing the air to enter the perforated container and the air and vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material to exit the perforated container.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container is pre-perforated with the perforations prior to use such that the perforated container does not require being punctured during use.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a condenser.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforated container is welded shut.

27. A cartridge configured for use in a vaporizer device comprising an oven chamber, the cartridge comprising:

a perforated container having two or more perforated surfaces; and

a vaporizable material within the perforated container;

wherein the perforations allow gas transfer that traverses the perforated container between the two or more perforated surfaces, the gas transfer comprising entry of air into the perforated container and exit of the air and a vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material when the cartridge is placed in the oven chamber.

28. The cartridge of claim 27 , wherein the perforated container is pre-perforated with the perforations such that the perforated container does not require being punctured during use.

29. The cartridge of claim 27 , wherein the vaporizable material comprises tobacco.

30. The cartridge of claim 27 , wherein the perforated container is welded shut, heat-sealed, or sealed with a binding agent.

31. A device for use with a cartridge comprising a perforated container containing a tobacco material, the perforated container having two or more perforated surfaces, the device comprising:

an oven region comprising an oven chamber configured to surround the perforated container and heat the vaporizable material in the perforated container;

an air inlet through which air is drawn into the oven region;

an airflow path via which the air traverses the perforated container between the two or more perforated surfaces;

a condenser; and

a lid to access the oven chamber to insert and remove the perforated container, the lid comprising a mouthpiece comprising an aerosol outlet configured to deliver, to a user puffing on the mouthpiece, a mixture of the air and the vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material, the air and the vapor generated by heating the vaporizable material being mixed in the oven chamber before exiting the oven region.

32. The device of claim 31 , wherein the two or more perforated surfaces are on different sides of the perforated container.

33. The cartridge of claim 27 , wherein the two or more perforated surfaces are on different sides of the perforated container.

Assignments (14)
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 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049013/0397 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049013/0519 →
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 →
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 May 11, 2017
From: BOWEN, ADAM; MONSEES, JAMES
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042346/0615 →