IP Library Granted Patent US 11,660,403
Granted Patent B2
US 11,660,403 · App. 15/396,584 · Granted May 30, 2023

Leak-resistant vaporizer device

Inventors: Ariel Atkins (San Francisco, CA); Adam Bowen (San Mateo, CA); Steven Christensen (San Mateo, CA); Esteban Leon Duque (San Francisco, CA); James Monsees (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
A61M11/00A24F40/40A61M11/042A61M15/06A24F40/10A61M15/0021A61M2205/8206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,660,403
App. No.
15/396,584
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer apparatuses, and methods for making, using, and/or delivering vapor to a user are described. In some aspects, leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges and/or apparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materials including cannabis oils are described.

Claims (52)

1. A vaporizer device having a distal to proximal axis and a cross-section that is transverse to the distal to proximal axis, the cross-section defined along a shorter transverse axis and a longer transverse axis, the vaporizer device comprising:

a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material;

a mouthpiece configured to deliver an aerosol comprising the vaporizable material to a user;

a tube defining an unoccluded central portion of an air flow path along the distal to proximal axis;

a heating element configured to heat and cause vaporization of the vaporizable material into air drawn into the vaporizer device along the air flow path, thereby forming the aerosol, the air flow path fluidly connecting an air inlet from which air outside the vaporizer device enters the vaporizer device and the mouthpiece, the air flow path passing proximate to the heating element and extending through the mouthpiece; and

a pair of pads positioned within the mouthpiece, the pair of pads positioned outside of the tube and along the longer transverse axis, the pair of pads including a first pad disposed on one side of the mouthpiece and a second pad disposed on an opposite side of the mouthpiece, the first pad on the one side of the mouthpiece being parallel to and spaced apart along the shorter transverse axis from the second pad on the opposite side of the mouthpiece, and the pair of pads positioned off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path such that the pair of pads are configured to capture moisture and/or particles from the aerosol as the aerosol travels along the air flow path and between the pair of pads.

2. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of pads are each biased against a respective interior wall of the mouthpiece, the pair of pads disposed parallel to the longer transverse axis.

3. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , further comprising an overflow leak chamber at a distal end of the reservoir, opposite the mouthpiece.

4. The vaporizer device of claim 3 , wherein the overflow leak chamber is formed between sidewalls of the vaporizer device and a bottom cover plate.

5. The vaporizer device of claim 3 , wherein the air flow path extends from the overflow leak chamber through the reservoir to the mouthpiece.

6. The vaporizer device of claim 3 , further comprising one or more absorbent pads within the overflow leak chamber and off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path.

7. The vaporizer device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more absorbent pads is biased against a respective sidewall of the vaporizer device.

8. The vaporizer device of claim 3 , further comprising an elongate and flattened tubular body extending in the distal to proximal axis, wherein the reservoir is within a proximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body, and further wherein the overflow leak chamber is within a distal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body.

9. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the mouthpiece is configured to fit over the proximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body.

10. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body is configured to fit into a vaporizer body.

11. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the tube extends through the reservoir towards the mouthpiece.

12. The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizer device is a cartridge.

13. A vaporizer device comprising:

a vaporizer body comprising a shell; and

a cartridge having a distal to proximal axis and a cross-section that is transverse to the distal to proximal axis, the cross-section defined along a shorter transverse axis and a longer transverse axis, the cartridge comprising:

a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material;

a mouthpiece configured to deliver an aerosol comprising the vaporizable material to a user;

a tube defining an unoccluded central portion of an air flow path along the distal to proximal axis;

a heating element configured to heat and cause vaporization of the vaporizable material into air drawn into the cartridge along the air flow path, thereby forming the aerosol, the air flow path fluidly connecting the mouthpiece and an air inlet from which air outside the vaporizer body enters the vaporizer body, the air flow path passing proximate to the heating element and extending through the mouthpiece; and

a pair of pads positioned within the mouthpiece, the pair of pads positioned outside of the tube and along the longer transverse axis, the pair of pads including a first pad disposed on one side of the mouthpiece and a second pad disposed on an opposite side of the mouthpiece, the first pad on the one side of the mouthpiece being parallel to and spaced apart along the shorter transverse axis from the second pad on the opposite side of the mouthpiece, and the pair of pads positioned off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path such that the pair of pads are configured to capture moisture and/or particles from the aerosol as the aerosol travels along the air flow path and between the pair of pads.

14. The vaporizer device of claim 13 , wherein the pair of pads are each biased against a respective interior wall of the mouthpiece, the pair of pads disposed parallel to the longer transverse axis.

15. The vaporizer device of claim 13 , further comprising an overflow leak chamber at a distal end of the reservoir, opposite the mouthpiece.

16. The vaporizer device of claim 15 , wherein the overflow leak chamber is formed between sidewalls of the vaporizer device and a bottom cover plate.

17. The vaporizer device of claim 15 , wherein the air flow path extends from the overflow leak chamber through the reservoir to the mouthpiece.

18. The vaporizer device of claim 15 , further comprising one or more absorbent pads within the overflow leak chamber and off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path.

19. The vaporizer device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more absorbent pads is biased against a respective sidewall of the cartridge.

20. The vaporizer device of claim 13 , wherein the tube extends through the reservoir towards the mouthpiece.

21. The vaporizer device of claim 13 , wherein the cartridge further comprises an elongate and flattened tubular body extending along the longitudinal axis.

22. The vaporizer device of claim 21 , wherein the mouthpiece is configured to fit over a proximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body.

23. A cartridge of a vaporizer device for generating an aerosol, the cartridge having a distal to proximal axis and having a width and a diameter that are transverse to the distal to proximal axis, wherein the diameter is 1.2 times or greater than the width, the cartridge comprising:

a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material;

a mouthpiece configured to deliver an aerosol comprising the vaporizable material to a user;

a tube defining an unoccluded central portion of an air flow path along the distal to proximal axis;

a heating element configured to heat and cause vaporization of the vaporizable material into air drawn into the cartridge along the air flow path, thereby forming the aerosol, the air flow path fluidly connecting the mouthpiece and an air inlet from which air outside the vaporizer body enters the vaporizer body, the air flow path passing proximate to the heating element and extending through the mouthpiece; and

a pair of pads positioned within the mouthpiece, the pair of pads positioned outside of the tube and along the diameter of the cartridge, the pair of pads including a first pad disposed on one side of the mouthpiece and a second pad disposed on an opposite side of the mouthpiece, the first pad on the one side of the mouthpiece being parallel to and spaced apart along the width of the cartridge from the second pad on the opposite side of the mouthpiece, and the pair of pads positioned off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path such that the pair of pads are configured to capture moisture and/or particles from the aerosol as the aerosol travels along the air flow path and between the pair of pads.

24. The cartridge of claim 23 , wherein the pair of pads are each biased against a respective interior wall of the mouthpiece, the pair of pads disposed parallel to the diameter of the cartridge.

25. The cartridge of claim 23 , further comprising an overflow leak chamber at a distal end of the reservoir, opposite the mouthpiece.

26. The cartridge of claim 25 , wherein the air flow path extends from the overflow leak chamber through the reservoir to the mouthpiece.

27. The cartridge of claim 25 , further comprising one or more absorbent pads within the overflow leak chamber and off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path, wherein the one or more absorbent pads is biased against a respective sidewall of the cartridge.

28. The cartridge of claim 23 , wherein the tube extends through the reservoir towards the mouthpiece.

29. The cartridge of claim 23 , wherein the mouthpiece is configured to fit over a proximal end of the cartridge.

30. A method comprising:

heating, via a heating element of a vaporizer device, a vaporizable material to vaporize the vaporizable material into air drawn into the vaporizer device along an air flow path, thereby forming an aerosol, wherein a reservoir of the vaporizer device is configured to contain the vaporizable material, wherein a mouthpiece of the device is configured to deliver the aerosol comprising the vaporizable material to a user, wherein the air flow path fluidly connects an air inlet via which air from outside the vaporizer device enters the vaporizer device and the mouthpiece, the air flow path passing proximate the heating element and extending through the mouthpiece, the vaporizer device having a distal to proximal axis and a cross-section that is transverse to the distal to proximal axis, the cross-section defined along a shorter transverse axis and a longer transverse axis, and wherein an unoccluded central portion of the air flow path is defined along the distal to proximal axis by a tube of the vaporizer device; and

capturing, via a pair of pads positioned within the mouthpiece of the vaporizer device, moisture and/or particles from the aerosol as the aerosol travels along the air flow path and between the pair of pads, the pair of pads positioned outside of the tube and along the longer transverse axis, the pair of pads including a first pad disposed on one side of the mouthpiece and a second pad disposed on an opposite side of the mouthpiece, the first pad on the one side of the mouthpiece being parallel to and spaced apart along the shorter transverse axis from the second pad on the opposite side of the mouthpiece, and the pair of pads positioned off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the pair of pads are configured to capture deposited and/or condensed liquid from the aerosol without requiring the aerosol to pass through the pair of pads.

32. The method of claim 30 , further comprising directing the air through an overflow leak chamber formed between sidewalls of the vaporizer device and a bottom cover plate.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein one or more absorbent pads are positioned within the overflow leak chamber and off-axis relative to the unoccluded central portion of the air flow path.

Assignments (18)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066283/0893 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066283/0921 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2024
From: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066283/0939 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2024
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066267/0086 →
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 049948/0881 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049013/0397 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049013/0519 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 043544 FRAME: 0004. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 6, 2018
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046732/0847 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 3, 2018
From: JUUL LABS, INC
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045832/0328 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043544/0004 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2017
From: HATTON, NICHOLAS JAY; CHRISTENSEN, STEVEN; DUQUE, ESTEBAN L.; ATKINS, ARIEL; MONSEES, JAMES; BOWEN, ADAM
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042497/0262 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62398494 · Sep 22, 2016
Related Publication 20180077967A1 · Mar 22, 2018
Cited By (4)
US 12,207,686 US 12,226,567 US 12,311,099 US 12,653,969