IP Library Granted Patent US 11,944,130
Granted Patent B2
US 11,944,130 · App. 17/134,075 · Granted Apr 2, 2024

Vaporizer device

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.
A24F40/90H01R13/6205H01R13/6683H01R43/26H02J7/0045H02J7/0042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,944,130
App. No.
17/134,075
Granted
Apr 2, 2024
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 (42)

1. A cartridge connector for securing a vaporizer cartridge to a vaporizer body having an outer shell and a cartridge receptacle configured to receive the vaporizer cartridge, the cartridge connector configured to be disposed within the outer shell and comprising:

a cartridge connector body comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the cartridge connector body configured to define at least a portion of the cartridge receptacle within the outer shell;

at least two receptacle contacts proximate the first side of the cartridge connector body, the at least two receptacle contacts configured to electrically communicate with the vaporizer cartridge and supply power to the vaporizer cartridge via a power source within the outer shell;

a connection feature extending from the second side of the cartridge connector body, the connection feature configured to couple the cartridge connector within and to the outer shell of the vaporizer body; and

a retaining feature extending from the first side of the cartridge connector body, wherein the retaining feature is configured to secure the vaporizer cartridge within the cartridge receptacle.

2. The cartridge connector of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the at least two receptacle contacts is configured to deflect towards the cartridge connector body when the vaporizer cartridge is coupled to the cartridge connector.

3. The cartridge connector of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle contacts are configured to measure a resistance of a heating element of the vaporizer cartridge to control a temperature of the heating element.

4. The cartridge connector of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge connector comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The cartridge connector of claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor is centrally aligned between two opposing dimensions of the cartridge connector, in line with an airflow path.

6. The cartridge connector of claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor is positioned on the second side of the cartridge connector body.

7. The cartridge connector of claim 4 , wherein the cartridge connector further comprises a pressure sensor recess configured to receive the pressure sensor, the pressure sensor recess positioned on the second side of the cartridge connector body.

8. The cartridge connector of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge connector further comprises a sealing mechanism, the sealing mechanism comprising:

a first portion extending about an exterior surface of the cartridge connector body; and

a second portion extending about a pressure sensor recess configured to receive a pressure sensor.

9. The cartridge connector of claim 8 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed.

10. The cartridge connector of claim 8 , wherein the exterior surface of the cartridge connector body is approximately perpendicular to the pressure sensor recess.

11. The cartridge connector of claim 8 , wherein the cartridge connector body includes a recess extending around the exterior surface, and wherein the first portion of the sealing mechanism is configured to be at least partially located within the recess.

12. The cartridge connector of claim 8 , wherein the first portion includes a ribbed portion.

13. The cartridge connector of claim 12 , wherein the ribbed portion includes at least one rib.

14. The cartridge connector of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge connector is separable from the outer shell.

15. The cartridge connector of claim 1 , wherein the retaining feature comprises a plurality of retaining features integrally formed and/or insert molded with at least a portion of the cartridge connector body.

16. The cartridge connector of claim 15 , wherein the retaining feature comprises:

a longitudinal member;

a lateral member aligned perpendicular relative to the longitudinal member, the lateral member including a first end portion and a second end portion;

a first side leg extending outwardly from the first end portion;

a second side leg extending outwardly from the second end portion; and

a central leg extending from the lateral member,

wherein the retaining feature is selectively coupled to a corresponding receiving feature on an interior of the outer shell.

17. The cartridge connector of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the first side leg and at least a portion of the second side leg is configured to be injection molded with the cartridge connector body.

18. A vaporizer device comprising

a vaporizer cartridge comprising: a mouthpiece, a reservoir, a wicking element, and a heating element configured to vaporize vaporizable material stored within the reservoir; and

a vaporizer body comprising:

an outer shell;

a cartridge receptacle configured to receive the vaporizer cartridge;

power source within the outer shell; and

a cartridge connector configured to be disposed within the outer shell and comprising:

a cartridge connector body comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the cartridge connector body defining at least a portion of the cartridge receptacle within the outer shell;

at least two receptacle contacts proximate the first side of the cartridge connector body, the at least two receptacle contacts configured to electrically communicate with the vaporizer cartridge and supply power to the vaporizer cartridge via the power source;

a connection feature extending from the second side of the cartridge connector body, the connection feature configured to couple the cartridge connector within and to the outer shell of the vaporizer body; and

a retaining feature extending from the first side of the cartridge connector body, wherein the retaining feature is configured to secure the vaporizer cartridge within the cartridge receptacle.

19. The vaporizer device of claim 18 , wherein the receptacle contacts are configured to measure a resistance of the heating element of the vaporizer cartridge to control a temperature of the heating element.

20. The vaporizer device of claim 18 , wherein the cartridge connector comprises a pressure sensor centrally aligned between two opposing dimensions of the cartridge connector, in line with an airflow path.

Assignments (11)
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 067701/0082 →
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 061588/0189 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: ANDERSON, SAMUEL C.; CHANG, WEI-LING; CHEUNG, BRANDON; CHRISTENSEN, STEVEN; CHUN, JOSEPH; FISHER, JOSEPH R., JR.; 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 058494/0066 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 057681/0094 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2021
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056281/0893 →