Hybrid gel-fiber wick for use in a vaporizer device
A vaporization device includes a cartridge having a reservoir that holds a vaporizable material, a heating element, and a wicking element that can draw the vaporizable material to the heating element to be vaporized. The vaporizer cartridge is configured for coupling to a vaporizer device body and containing a vaporizable material. Various embodiments of the vaporizer cartridge are described that include one or more features for a hybrid gel-fiber wick. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
1. A hybrid gel-fiber wick comprising:
a plurality of fibers bundled together to form a fiber core, the fiber core having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion therebetween;
a gel coating a portion of the fiber core; and
a heating element, wherein the gel is in contact with the heating element.
2. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion of the fiber core is coated by the gel coating.
3. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion of the fiber core is not coated by the gel coating.
4. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the heating element is disposed between the fiber core and the gel coating.
5. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a nichrome wire.
6. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is spirally wound around the fiber core.
7. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the fiber core comprises a cotton material.
8. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the fiber core comprises a silica material.
9. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the gel comprises a polymer.
10. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the gel comprises at least one of a silicon, silane, silicate, or tetraethoxysilane.
11. The hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 , wherein the gel coating is 250 microns to 500 microns in thickness.
12. A cartridge comprising the hybrid gel-fiber wick of claim 1 .
13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material, and a portion of the hybrid gel-fiber wick is disposed within the reservoir.
14. The cartridge of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion of the fiber core are disposed within the reservoir.
15. The cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the cartridge further comprises an atomizer configured to vaporize the vaporizable material.
16. The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the middle portion of the fiber core is disposed within the atomizer.
17. A device comprising the cartridge of claim 12 and a receptacle configured to receive the cartridge.