IP Library Granted Patent US 11,779,049
Granted Patent B2
US 11,779,049 · App. 16/877,043 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Multiple heating elements with separate vaporizable materials in an electric vaporization device

Inventors: Adam Bowen (San Mateo, CA); James Monsees (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Juul Labs, Inc.
A24F40/30A24F40/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,779,049
App. No.
16/877,043
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cartridge for use with a vaporization device comprising a first heating element, a first compartment for containment of a first vaporizable material, and a second compartment for containment of a second vaporizable material, wherein the device generates an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating the first vaporizable material or the second vaporizable material.

Claims (40)

1. An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the apparatus comprising:

a first compartment configured to store a first vaporizable material, the first compartment comprising a first atomization chamber configured to be in fluid communication with the first vaporizable material, wherein the first atomization chamber defines a first portion of an airflow path;

a first heating element configured to vaporize the first vaporizable material to form a first vapor;

a second compartment positioned upstream of the first compartment and configured to store a second vaporizable material, the second compartment comprising a second atomization chamber configured to be in fluid communication with the second vaporizable material, wherein the second atomization chamber defines a second portion of the airflow path; and

a second heating element configured to vaporize the second vaporizable material to form a second vapor that mixes with the first vapor present in the second atomization chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment are removable from the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the first vaporizable material and the second vaporizable material, wherein at least one of the first vaporizable material and the second vaporizable material comprise a gel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wicking material configured to be in fluid communication with the first vaporizable material, wherein the first heating element is in contact with the wicking material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wicking material configured to be in fluid communication with the second vaporizable material, wherein the second heating element is in contact with the wicking material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element is configured to heat the first vaporizable material to a first target temperature, and wherein the second heating element is configured to heat the second vaporizable material to a second target temperature that is different than the first target temperature.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first target temperature is from about 250° C. to about 300° C.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second target temperature is greater than 250° C.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first vaporizable material comprises nicotine, wherein the first target temperature is between about 100° C. and about 190° C.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second vaporizable material comprises humectants, and wherein the second target temperature is between about 100° C. and about 210° C.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second vaporizable material comprises flavorants, and wherein the second target temperature is between about 100° C. and about 170° C.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a body, the body comprising:

a battery, and

circuitry configured to selectively activate the first heating element to heat the first vaporizable material and to selectively activate the second heating element to heat the second vaporizable material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are positioned within the cartridge, and wherein the cartridge comprises a mating end configured to detachably couple to a body comprising a battery housed therein, the mating end comprising:

a first plurality of contacts electrically coupled to the first heating element, and

a second plurality of contacts electrically coupled to the second heating element.

14. An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the apparatus comprising:

a cartridge having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the cartridge comprising,

an airflow path extending along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge;

a first compartment configured to store a first vaporizable material, the first compartment comprising a first airflow path, the first compartment comprising a first chamber comprising the first airflow path;

a first heating element configured to vaporize the first vaporizable material to form a first vapor;

a second compartment configured to store a second vaporizable material, the second compartment comprising a second airflow path that is in communication with the first airflow path, the second compartment comprising a second chamber comprising the second airflow path; and

a second heating element configured to vaporize the second vaporizable material to form a second vapor, the second vapor introduced to the first vapor in the second chamber;

wherein the first and second compartments are positioned in series relative to the airflow path.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising the first vaporizable material and the second vaporizable material, wherein at least one of the first vaporizable material and the second vaporizable material comprise a gel.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment are removable from the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a wicking material configured to be in fluid communication with the first vaporizable material, wherein the first heating element is in contact with the wicking material.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a wicking material configured to be in fluid communication with the second vaporizable material, wherein the second heating element is in contact with the wicking material.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first heating element is configured to heat the first vaporizable material to a first target temperature, and wherein the second heating element is configured to heat the second vaporizable material to a second target temperature that is different than the first target temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a cartridge, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are positioned within the cartridge.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a body, the body comprising:

a battery, and

circuitry configured to selectively activate the first heating element to heat the first vaporizable material and to selectively activate the second heating element to heat the second vaporizable material.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a first capacitive sensing zone and a second capacitive sensing zone, wherein the first capacitive sensing zone is electrically isolated from the second capacitive sensing zone, and wherein the first and second capacitive sensing zones are configured so that when a user swipes a finger from the first capacitive sensing zone to the second capacitive sensing zone, or from the second capacitive sensing zone to the first capacitive sensing zone, the apparatus communicates information to the user, the information comprising, a battery charge level, a vaporizable material level, a pre-heat state, or a combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a first capacitive sensing zone and a second capacitive sensing zone, wherein the first capacitive sensing zone is electrically isolated from the second capacitive sensing zone, and wherein the first and second capacitive sensing zones are configured so that when a user swipes a finger from the first capacitive sensing zone to the second capacitive sensing zone or from the second capacitive sensing zone to the first capacitive sensing zone, the apparatus is activated.

Assignments (13)
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 Jun 12, 2024
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 067701/0009 →
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 20, 2020
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054489/0849 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2020
From: PLOOM, INC.
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054481/0792 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2020
From: MONSEES, JAMES; BOWEN, ADAM
To: PLOOM, INC.
Reel/Frame 054387/0692 →
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 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14304847 · Jun 13, 2014
Provisional Application 61835458 · Jun 14, 2013
Related Publication 20200275693A1 · Sep 3, 2020