Granted Patent B2

US 11,019,685 · App. 16/114,201 · Granted May 25, 2021

Abstract

Claims (93)

1. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

a cartridge configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a body including a receptacle configured to insertably receive the cartridge;

a heater configured to heat the vaporizable material to generate a vapor;

a condensation chamber in which at least a fraction of the vapor condenses to form the inhalable aerosol;

a first airflow path formed between an exterior surface of the cartridge and an internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is insertably received in the receptacle, wherein the first airflow path is configured to deliver air towards the heater; and

a second airflow path configured to deliver air towards the heater, the second airflow path configured to join the first airflow path, thereby forming a joined path,

wherein the cartridge has a distal end configured to be insertably received in the receptacle and a proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece disposed at the proximal end, and wherein the heater is disposed closer to the distal end than the proximal end, and

wherein the mouthpiece comprises the condensation chamber, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises at least one aerosol outlet, and wherein each of the at least one aerosol outlet is in fluid communication with the condensation chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body has a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, wherein the receptacle is disposed at the top end, wherein a body longitudinal axis extends from the top end to the bottom end, and wherein a first body transverse axis and a second body transverse axis extend substantially perpendicular to the body longitudinal axis, the body having a greater dimension along the first body transverse axis than along the second body transverse axis.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the body has a rectangular cross section along the first body transverse axis and the second body transverse axis.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second airflow path is formed between a second exterior surface of the cartridge and a second internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is insertably received in the receptacle.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the exterior surface is opposite the second exterior surface, and wherein the internal surface is opposite the second internal surface.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the joined path is configured to deliver air past the heater, through the condensation chamber, and towards the mouthpiece of the cartridge.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle terminates in a proximal edge, wherein the first airflow path extends from the proximal edge of the receptacle towards the distal end of the cartridge when the receptacle insertably receives and couples to the cartridge.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a protrusion extending from the exterior surface of the cartridge, and wherein at least a part of the protrusion is configured to be disposed within the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the body.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge has a longitudinal dimension extending from the proximal end of the cartridge to the distal end of the cartridge, and wherein the exterior surface of the cartridge and the internal surface of the receptacle are substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension when the cartridge is insertably received in the receptacle.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge comprises a storage compartment.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the mouthpiece is opaque, and wherein a portion of an exterior surface of the storage compartment is configured so that the vaporizable material is visible through the portion of the exterior surface.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the receptacle is configured so that a portion of the storage compartment is visible when the cartridge is insertably received in the receptacle.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the storage compartment comprises the vaporizable material, and wherein the vaporizable material comprises a nicotine formulation.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the receptacle comprises a first electrical receptacle contact and a second electrical receptacle contact disposed in a plane, the plane substantially parallel to the distal end of the cartridge when the cartridge is received within the receptacle.

15. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heater enclosure enclosing the heater.

16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wick, and wherein the wick comprises at least one of: a silica material, a cotton material, a ceramic material, a hemp material, and a stainless steel material.

17. The device of claim 1 , further comprising: an air passage in fluid communication with the first airflow path and the second airflow path, the air passage being formed from the exterior surface and through material of the cartridge.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first airflow path comprises a channel.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the channel is integral to the exterior surface of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the body.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the channel comprises at least one of a groove, a trough, a track, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a gutter.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the channel has a round, oval, square or rectangular cross section.

22. The device of claim 18 , wherein the channel is integral to the internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the body.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the channel comprises at least one of a groove, a trough, a track, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a gutter.

24. The device of claim 23 , wherein the channel has a round, oval, square or rectangular cross section.

25. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

a cartridge configured to be insertably received into and couple with a receptacle of a body to form a first airflow path and a second airflow path, the first airflow path formed between an exterior surface of the cartridge and an internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is insertably received in the receptacle, wherein the first airflow path is configured to deliver air towards a heater, and wherein the second airflow path is configured to deliver air towards the heater and is configured to join the first airflow path thereby forming a joined path, the cartridge comprising:

the heater disposed within the cartridge for heating a vaporizable material to generate a vapor; and

a condensation chamber in which at least a fraction of the vapor condenses to form the inhalable aerosol,

wherein the cartridge has a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece disposed at the proximal end, and wherein the heater is disposed closer to the distal end than the proximal end, and

wherein the mouthpiece comprises the condensation chamber, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a at least one aerosol outlet, and wherein each of the at least one aerosol outlet is in fluid communication with the condensation chamber; and

the body including the receptacle configured to insertably receive the cartridge.

26. The device of claim 25 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a protrusion extending from the exterior surface of the cartridge, and wherein at least part of the protrusion is configured to be disposed within the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the body.

27. The device of claim 25 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a storage compartment configured to hold the vaporizable material, and wherein the mouthpiece is opaque, and a portion of an exterior surface of the storage compartment is configured so that the vaporizable material is visible through the portion of the exterior surface.

28. The device of claim 27 , wherein the cartridge comprises a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact at the distal end of the cartridge, the mouthpiece disposed at the proximal end of the cartridge opposite the distal end, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are electrically isolated and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the distal end of the cartridge.

29. The device of claim 25 , wherein the cartridge has a longitudinal dimension extending from the proximal end of the cartridge to the distal end of the cartridge, and wherein the exterior surface of the cartridge and the internal surface of the receptacle are substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension when the receptacle insertably receives and couples to the cartridge.

30. The device of claim 25 , wherein the cartridge comprises a storage compartment having the exterior surface of the cartridge.

31. The device of claim 30 , wherein the storage compartment comprises four exterior walls between the distal end and the proximal end, and wherein the mouthpiece comprises four interior walls between the distal end and the proximal end, and wherein the mouthpiece is attached over part of the storage compartment by a snap fit coupling.

32. The device of claim 30 , wherein the mouthpiece forms a cavity, wherein a first portion of the storage compartment is disposed inside of the cavity and a second portion of the storage compartment is disposed outside of the cavity, at least part of the second portion configured for insertion into the receptacle.

33. The device of claim 32 , wherein a surface feature of the cavity is configured to secure the mouthpiece to the storage compartment.

34. The device of claim 30 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises a first coupling feature and a second coupling feature, wherein the storage compartment comprises a third coupling feature and a fourth coupling feature on opposite exterior surfaces of the storage compartment, wherein the first coupling feature is configured to couple with one of the third coupling feature and the fourth coupling feature, and wherein the second coupling feature is configured to couple with the other of the third coupling feature and the fourth coupling feature.

35. The device of claim 30 , wherein the storage compartment comprises the vaporizable material, and wherein the vaporizable material comprises a nicotine formulation.

36. The device of claim 25 , further comprising:

a heater enclosure fitted on the storage compartment and enclosing the heater.

37. The device of claim 25 , further comprising:

a wick, and wherein the wick comprises at least one of: a silica material, a cotton material, a ceramic material, a hemp material, and a stainless steel material.

38. The device of claim 25 , further comprising: an air passage in fluid communication with the first airflow path and the second airflow path, the air passage being formed from the exterior surface and through material of the cartridge.

39. The device of claim 25 , wherein the first airflow path comprises a channel.

40. The device of claim 39 , wherein the channel is integral to the exterior surface of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the body.

41. The device of claim 40 , wherein the channel comprises at least one of a groove, a trough, a track, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a gutter.

42. The device of claim 41 , wherein the channel has a round, oval, square or rectangular cross section.

43. The device of claim 39 , further comprising:

the receptacle, wherein the receptacle couples with the cartridge via a snap-fit assembly, and wherein the channel is integral to an internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the body.

44. The device of claim 43 , wherein the channel comprises at least one of a groove, a trough, a track, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a gutter.

45. The device of claim 44 , wherein the channel has a round, oval, square or rectangular cross section.

46. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

a cartridge configured to be insertably received into and couple with a receptacle of a body to form a first airflow path and a second airflow path, the first airflow path formed between an exterior surface of the cartridge and an internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is insertably received in the receptacle, wherein the first airflow path is configured to deliver air towards a heater, and wherein the second airflow path is configured to deliver air towards the heater and is configured to join the first airflow path thereby forming a joined path, the heater disposed within the cartridge for heating a vaporizable material to generate a vapor, the cartridge comprising:

a condensation chamber in which at least a fraction of the vapor condenses to form the inhalable aerosol;

a storage compartment; and

a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece is opaque, and wherein a portion of the storage compartment comprises a surface configured so that the vaporizable material is visible through the surface; and

the body including the receptacle configured to insertably receive the cartridge.

47. The device of claim 46 , wherein the storage compartment comprises the vaporizable material, and wherein the vaporizable material comprises a nicotine formulation.

48. The device of claim 46 , wherein the cartridge comprises a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact at a distal end of the cartridge, the mouthpiece disposed at a proximal end of the cartridge opposite the distal end, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are electrically isolated and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the distal end of the cartridge.

49. The device of claim 46 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a protrusion extending from the exterior surface of the cartridge, and wherein at least part of the protrusion is configured to be disposed within the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the body.

50. The device of claim 46 , wherein the cartridge has a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the mouthpiece is disposed at the proximal end, and wherein the heater is disposed closer to the distal end than the proximal end.

51. The device of claim 46 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises a first coupling feature and a second coupling feature, wherein the storage compartment comprises a third coupling feature and a fourth coupling feature on opposite exterior surfaces of the storage compartment, wherein the first coupling feature is configured to couple with one of the third coupling feature and the fourth coupling feature, and wherein the second coupling feature is configured to couple with the other of the third coupling feature and the fourth coupling feature.

52. The device of claim 46 , wherein the cartridge has a longitudinal dimension extending from a proximal end of the cartridge to a distal end of the cartridge, and wherein the exterior surface of the cartridge and the internal surface of the receptacle are substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension when the receptacle insertably receives and couples to the cartridge.

53. The device of claim 52 , wherein the storage compartment comprises four exterior walls between the distal end and the proximal end, and wherein the mouthpiece comprises four interior walls between the distal end and the proximal end, and wherein the mouthpiece is attached over part of the storage compartment by a snap fit coupling.

54. The device of claim 46 , wherein the mouthpiece forms a cavity, wherein a first portion of the storage compartment is disposed inside of the cavity and a second portion of the storage compartment is disposed outside of the cavity, at least part of the second portion configured for insertion into the receptacle.

55. The device of claim 54 , wherein a surface feature of the cavity is configured to secure the mouthpiece to the storage compartment.

56. The device of claim 46 , further comprising:

a heater enclosure fitted on the storage compartment and enclosing the heater.

57. The device of claim 46 , further comprising:

a wick, and wherein the wick comprises at least one of: a silica material, a cotton material, a ceramic material, a hemp material, and a stainless steel material.

58. The device of claim 46 , further comprising:

an air passage in fluid communication with the first airflow path and the second airflow path, the air passage being formed from the exterior surface and through material of the cartridge.

59. The device of claim 46 , wherein the first airflow path comprises a channel.

60. The device of claim 59 , wherein the channel is integral to the exterior surface of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the body.

61. The device of claim 60 , wherein the channel comprises at least one of a groove, a trough, a track, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a gutter.

62. The device of claim 61 , wherein the channel has a round, oval, square or rectangular cross section.

63. The device of claim 59 , further comprising:

the receptacle, wherein the channel is integral to an internal surface of the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the body.

64. The device of claim 63 , wherein the channel comprises at least one of a groove, a trough, a track, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a gutter.

65. The device of claim 64 , wherein the channel has a round, oval, square or rectangular cross section.

Assignments (12)