IP Library Granted Patent US 11,553,734
Granted Patent B2
US 11,553,734 · App. 16/677,121 · Granted Jan 17, 2023

Cartridges for vaporizer devices

Inventor: Christopher James Rosser (Cambridge, GB)
Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
A24F40/42A24B15/167A61M11/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,553,734
App. No.
16/677,121
Granted
Jan 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Cartridges for vaporizer devices are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the cartridge can include a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of encapsulated particles and an airflow tube extending through the reservoir. Each of the plurality of encapsulated particles includes a core formed of a liquid vaporizable material and a coating material that forms a shell surrounding the core, in which the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles are configured to be selectively ruptured to release the liquid vaporizable material therefrom. The airflow tube includes a wicking element that is in communication with the reservoir, in which the wicking element is configured to draw, into the airflow tube for vaporization, at least a portion of the liquid vaporizable material that is released by rupturing one or more shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles. Vaporizer devices are also provided.

Claims (30)

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

a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of encapsulated particles, each of the plurality of encapsulated particles includes a core formed of a liquid vaporizable material and a coating material that forms a shell surrounding the core, wherein the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles are configured to be selectively ruptured to release the liquid vaporizable material therefrom; and

an airflow tube extending through the reservoir, the airflow tube including a wicking element that is in communication with the reservoir, wherein the wicking element is configured to draw, into the airflow tube for vaporization, at least a portion of the liquid vaporizable material that is released by rupturing one or more shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles;

wherein the wicking element is configured to be selectively bulk heated to thermally rupture a portion of the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles to release the liquid vaporizable material therefrom.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the wicking element is configured to substantially draw at least a portion of ruptured shells into the airflow tube for vaporization.

3. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the vaporization of the portion of the ruptured shells drawn into the airflow tube occurs concurrently with the vaporization of the liquid vaporizable material.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein another portion of the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles are configured to be mechanically ruptured.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein another portion of the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles are configured to be chemically ruptured.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the shells that are ruptured are within a predetermined distance of the wicking element.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the wicking element is configured to receive at least a portion of the released liquid vaporizable material under the influence of gravity.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes at least one vent that is configured to substantially allow air to pass into the reservoir.

9. The cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the at least one vent is configured to inhibit the plurality of encapsulated particles to pass therethrough and out of the reservoir.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes at least one vent that is configured to substantially allow air to pass into the reservoir.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one vent is configured to inhibit the plurality of encapsulated particles to pass therethrough and out of the reservoir.

12. A cartridge for a vaporizer device, the cartridge comprising:

a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of particles, each particle of the plurality of particles being formed of a substantially solid vaporizable material; and

an airflow tube extending through the reservoir, the airflow tube including a wicking element that is in communication with the reservoir, wherein the wicking element is configured to be selectively bulk heated to cause a portion of the plurality of particles to be substantially melted to form a liquid vaporizable material, and wherein the wicking element is configured to draw the liquid vaporizable material into the airflow tube for vaporization.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the wicking element is configured to receive at least a portion of the liquid vaporizable material under the influence of gravity.

14. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the reservoir includes at least one vent that is configured to substantially allow air to pass into the reservoir.

15. The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the at least one vent is configured to substantially inhibit the plurality of particles to pass therethrough and out of the reservoir.

16. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the plurality of particles that are substantially melted are within a predetermined distance of the wicking element.

17. A vaporizer device, comprising:

a vaporizer body; and

a cartridge that is selectively coupled to and removable from the vaporizer body, the cartridge including:

a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of encapsulated particles, each of the plurality of encapsulated particles includes a core formed of a liquid vaporizable material and a coating material that forms a shell surrounding the core, wherein the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles are configured to be selectively ruptured to release the liquid vaporizable material therefrom, and

an airflow tube extending through the reservoir, the airflow tube including a wicking element that is in communication with the reservoir, wherein the wicking element is configured to draw, into the airflow tube for vaporization, at least a portion of the liquid vaporizable material that is released by rupturing one or more shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles;

wherein the wicking element is configured to be selectively bulk heated to thermally rupture a portion of the shells of the plurality of encapsulated particles to release the liquid vaporizable material therefrom.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the wicking element is configured to receive at least a portion of the released liquid vaporizable material under the influence of gravity.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the cartridge includes a spit-catch element that is disposed within the air-flow tube.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the cartridge includes an attachment structure for coupling to the vaporizer body.

Assignments (12)
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 2, 2022
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061588/0176 →
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2020
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 053418/0664 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2019
From: CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051308/0617 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS LTD.
To: CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS INC.
Reel/Frame 051225/0839 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2019
From: ROSSER, CHRISTOPHER JAMES
To: CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS LTD.
Reel/Frame 051204/0729 →