IP Library Granted Patent US 10,888,125
Granted Patent B2
US 10,888,125 · App. 16/455,680 · Granted Jan 12, 2021

Vaporizer device with subassemblies

Inventors: Samuel C. Anderson (San Francisco, CA); Wei-Ling Chang (San Francisco, CA); Brandon Cheung (San Francisco, CA); Steven Christensen (San Mateo, CA); Joseph Chun (El Dorado Hills, CA); Joseph R. Fisher, Jr. (Santa Cruz, CA); Nicholas J. Hatton (Oakland, CA); Kevin Lomeli (San Francisco, CA); James Monsees (San Francisco, CA); Andrew L. Murphy (San Francisco, CA); Claire O'Malley (San Francisco, CA); John R. Pelochino (Portland, OR); Hugh Pham (San Jose, CA); Vipul V. Rahane (Sunnyvale, CA); Matthew J. Taschner (Alameda, CA); Val Valentine (San Francisco, CA); Kenneth Wong (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Juul Labs, Inc.
A24F47/008H01R13/6205H01R13/6683H01R43/26H02J7/0045H02J7/0047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,888,125
App. No.
16/455,680
Granted
Jan 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vaporizer device includes various modular components. The vaporizer device includes a first subassembly. The first subassembly includes a cartridge connector that secures a vaporizer cartridge to the vaporizer device and includes at least two receptacle contacts that electrically communicate with the vaporizer cartridge. The vaporizer device includes a second subassembly. The second subassembly includes a skeleton defining a rigid tray that retains at least a power source. The vaporizer device also includes a third subassembly. The third subassembly includes a plurality of charging contacts that supply power to the power source, and an end cap that encloses an end of the vaporizer device.

Claims (37)

1. A vaporizer device comprising:

a first subassembly comprising a cartridge connector configured to secure a vaporizer cartridge to the vaporizer device, the cartridge connector comprising a cartridge connector body and at least two receptacle contacts coupled to the cartridge connector body, the at least two receptacle contacts configured to be electrically coupled with the vaporizer cartridge, and the at least two receptacle contacts configured to receive power from a power source;

a second subassembly coupled to the first subassembly, the second subassembly comprising a skeleton defining a rigid tray configured to retain the power source; and

a third subassembly coupled to the second subassembly, the third subassembly comprising:

a plurality of charging contacts configured to supply power to the power source, retained by the rigid tray of the second subassembly, from an external power supply; and

an end cap configured to enclose one end of the vaporizer device, the end cap comprising a plurality of openings to allow the plurality of charging contacts to couple to the external power supply,

wherein each of the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the third subassembly form modular components that are configured to be assembled and at least partially fit within an outer shell of the vaporizer device.

2. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the rigid tray includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first subassembly is coupleable to the first end of the skeleton and the third subassembly is coupleable to the second end of the skeleton, and wherein the first end and the second end are positioned on opposite sides of the power source.

3. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the third subassembly further comprises a light source configured to indicate a state of the vaporizer device, the state of the vaporizer device comprising a state of charge of the power source, and wherein a controller of the vaporizer device is configured to cause the light source to indicate the state of the vaporizer device.

4. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the third subassembly further comprises an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device, the antenna being electrically coupled with a controller of the vaporizer device, the controller configured to cause the antenna to wirelessly communicate with the external device.

5. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the third subassembly further comprises a magnet positioned opposite the plurality of charging contacts, the magnet configured to magnetically couple the vaporizer device to the external power supply.

6. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge connector comprises a sidewall connection feature comprising an opening, wherein the skeleton comprises a protrusion member, and wherein the opening is configured to receive at least a portion of the protrusion member to securably engage the skeleton with the sidewall connection feature of the cartridge connector.

7. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge connector comprises a pressure sensor positioned on the cartridge connector body, opposite the at least two receptacle contacts, the pressure sensor configured to detect an air pressure along an airflow path passing between the vaporizer device and the vaporizer cartridge.

8. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein a controller of the vaporizer device is configured to measure, across the at least two receptacle contacts, a resistance of a heating element of the vaporizer cartridge to control a temperature of the heating element.

9. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the at least two receptacle contacts comprises at least four receptacle contacts.

10. A method of assembling the vaporizer device of claim 1 , the method comprising:

coupling the first subassembly to a first end of the second subassembly;

coupling the third subassembly to a second end of the second subassembly, the second end opposite the first end; and

positioning at least a portion of the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the third subassembly within the outer shell.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: coupling the cartridge connector to the outer shell via a snap-fit arrangement to secure the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the third subassembly to the outer shell.

12. A method of assembling a vaporizer device comprising:

coupling a first subassembly to a first end of a second subassembly,

the first subassembly comprising a cartridge connector configured to secure a vaporizer cartridge to the vaporizer device, the cartridge connector comprising a cartridge connector body and at least two receptacle contacts coupled to the cartridge connector body, the at least two receptacle contacts configured to be electrically coupled with the vaporizer cartridge, and the at least two receptacle contacts configured to receive power from a power source; and

the second subassembly comprising a skeleton defining a rigid tray configured to retain the power source;

coupling a third subassembly to a second end of the second subassembly, the second end opposite the first end, the third subassembly comprising:

a plurality of charging contacts configured to supply power to the power source, retained by the rigid tray of the second subassembly, from an external power supply; and

an end cap configured to enclose one end of the vaporizer device, the end cap comprising a plurality of openings to allow the plurality of charging contacts to couple to the external power supply; and

positioning at least a portion of the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the third subassembly within an outer shell of the vaporizer device,

wherein each of the first subassembly, the second subassembly, and the third subassembly form modular components.

13. The method of 12 , wherein the rigid tray includes a first skeleton end and a second skeleton end opposite the first skeleton end, wherein the first subassembly is coupleable to the first skeleton end and the third subassembly is coupleable to the second skeleton end, and wherein the first skeleton end and the second skeleton end are positioned on opposite sides of the power source.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first subassembly is coupleable to the second subassembly via a snap-fit arrangement.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third subassembly is coupleable to the second subassembly via a snap-fit arrangement.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third subassembly further comprises a light source configured to indicate a state of the vaporizer device, the state of the vaporizer device comprising a state of charge of the power source, and wherein a controller of the vaporizer device is configured to cause the light source to indicate the state of the vaporizer device.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third subassembly further comprises an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device, the antenna being electrically coupled with a controller of the vaporizer device, the controller configured to cause the antenna to wirelessly communicate with the external device.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third subassembly further comprises a magnet positioned opposite the plurality of charging contacts, the magnet configured to magnetically couple the vaporizer device to the external power supply.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: engaging a sidewall connection feature of the cartridge connector with a protrusion member of the skeleton to couple the first subassembly with the second subassembly, the sidewall connection feature comprising an opening configured to receive at least a portion of the protrusion member.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge connector comprises a pressure sensor positioned on the cartridge connector body, opposite the at least two receptacle contacts, the pressure sensor configured to detect an air pressure along an airflow path passing between the vaporizer device and the vaporizer cartridge.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: ENVENIO INC.; JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 18, 2020
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053535/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: ANDERSON, SAMUEL C.; CHANG, WEI-LING; CHEUNG, BRANDON; CHRISTENSEN, STEVEN; CHUN, JOSEPH; FISHER, JR., JOSEPH R.; HATTON, NICHOLAS J.; LOMELI, KEVIN; MONSEES, JAMES; MURPHY, ANDREW L.; O'MALLEY, CLAIRE; PELOCHINO, JOHN R.; PHAM, HUGH; RAHANE, VIPUL V.; TASCHNER, MATTHEW J.; VALENTINE, VAL; WONG, KENNETH
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050846/0347 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 049948/0881 →