Abstract:
A handheld vaporization device comprises a heating chamber for heating a substrate of volatile compound so as to yield vapor including the volatile compound. The heating chamber includes a closable opening, for example using a plug, to receive the substrate. The heating chamber also includes scavenging channels for allowing air to enter therein. The handheld vaporization device further comprises a vapor chamber mounted to the heating chamber so as to be in fluid communication therewith for receiving the vapor scavenged therefrom and has a vapor outlet for releasing the vapor including the volatile compound. By applying heat to the exterior of the handheld vaporization device&#39;s heating chamber, with a flame or any heating device, the confinement resulted from the heating chamber and the emissivity of its walls create a uniform heat across the substrate which is deposed into it. Heating the substrate in this manner permits great efficacy in extraction of undiluted organo-volatile elements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to heating and vaporization devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for converting to a gaseous phase organo-volatile compounds contained in a substrate. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many means are presently known for converting a substrate of organo-volatile compounds into gaseous phase. These means can be divided into two categories. 
     A first type of device is based on the injection of a stream of hot air through the substrate to heat and vaporize organo-volatile compounds contained in it. 
     An example of such a device is described in United States Patent Application No. 2004/0031495 A1, published on Feb. 19, 2004 and naming Steinberg as the inventor. 
     A drawback of this type of device is that it tends to dilute the organo-volatile vapours into a stream of heating air. 
     A second type of device is based on the heating of a plate, onto which the substrate is deposited and heated thereon through one of its face. 
     A problem with these types of devices is that they only heat the substrate from a single side at a time. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is therefore to provide improved method and system for converting to a gaseous phase organo-volatile compounds contained in a substrate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a portable system for converting to a gaseous phase organo-volatile compounds contained in a substrate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handheld vaporization device comprising: 
     a heating chamber for heating a substrate of volatile compound enclosed therein so as to yield vapour including the volatile compound; the heating chamber including at least one scavenging opening and being openable to receive the substrate; and 
     a vapour chamber mounted to the heating chamber so as to be in fluid communication therewith for receiving the vapour scavenged from the heating chamber and having a vapour outlet for releasing the vapour including the volatile compound. 
     By applying heat to the exterior of the handheld vaporization device&#39;s heating chamber, with a flame or any heating device, the confinement resulted from the heating chamber and the emissivity of its walls create a uniform heat across the substrate which is deposed into it. Heating the substrate in this manner permits great efficacy in extraction of undiluted organo-volatile elements. 
     Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following non restrictive description of illustrated embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the appended drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a handheld vaporization device according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section taken along line  2 - 2  from  FIG. 1 , the handheld vaporization device being illustrated with a tubing; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic top plan view of a handheld vaporization device according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-section taken along line  4 - 4  from  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A handheld vaporization device  10  according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-2 . 
     The handheld device  10  comprises a first elongated body  12  having a cavity therein defining a vapour chamber  14 , and a second elongated hollow body defining a heating chamber  18 . The heating chamber  18  has a first longitudinal end opening  20  mounted to the vapour chamber  14  so as to be in fluid communication therewith and a second longitudinal end opening  24  closed by a plug  22 . The first longitudinal end opening  20  of the heating chamber  18  defines a vapour exit and the second longitudinal end opening  24  defines a substrate deposite opening as will become apparent upon reading the following description. 
     Each of these components of the handheld vaporization device  10  will now be described in more detail. 
     The heating chamber  18  is configured for receiving and heating a substrate of organo-volatile compound (not shown). For that purpose, the heating chamber  18  is made of a heat resistant and thermally conductive material such as a ceramic and any metallic material including without limitations copper and silver. Indeed, as will be explained hereinbelow in more detail, heat is brought to the substrate by heating the outer surface of the heating chamber  18  using a flame or another heat source (not shown). 
     The heating chamber  18  can also be made of a composite heat resistant and conductive material. Also the heating chamber  18  can only be partly made of such a heat resistant and conductive material allowing bringing heat therein. 
     For example, the heating chamber  18  can be cylindrical, having a diameter of about 12 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm. Of course, since the handheld vaporization device  10  is to be portable, the heating chamber  18  can be made as compact as possible, such as for example having a volume less than about 20 cm 3 . The dimensions of the heating chamber  18  are however sufficient to allow receiving a substrate. 
     The heating chamber  18  can also have other shapes and sizes, including a greater volume than 20 cm 3 . Also, even though the heating chamber  18  is illustrated as having a regular cross section, it can also be provided with an irregular cross section. 
     The first longitudinal end  20  of the heating chamber  18  is mounted in the cavity  14  of the first elongated body  12 . More specifically, the longitudinal end of the elongated body  12  adjacent the cavity  14  is provided with a shoulder portion  26  for receiving the first longitudinal end  20  of the chamber  18 . The heating chamber  18  is secured to the first elongated body  12  using fastening means such as fasteners, glue, etc. The two bodies  12  and  18  can also be attached by press fitting, snuggly fitting, or by providing threads at their respective longitudinal ends, allowing screwing the heating chamber  18  in the cavity  14 . 
     The first longitudinal end  20  of the heating chamber  18 , which defines its vapour exit, is provided with a filter  28  for preventing solid particles coming from the substrate to exit through the vapour outlet  16  as will be explained hereinbelow in more detail. 
     Although the filter  28  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  as being snuggly fitted in the heating chamber  18 , it can be secured therein using other means. For example, shoulder portions can be provided in the heating chamber  18 , wherein the filter  28  can simply be abutted thereon. The filter can also be secured at the interface between the two bodies  12  and  18 . 
     It is to be noted that the filter  28  can also be mounted in the vapour chamber  14  anywhere between the first longitudinal end  20  of the heating chamber  18  and the proximate end  29  of the vapour outlet  16  so as to be upstream thereof. 
     The filter  28  can also be integral to the heating chamber  18 , defining, for example, a perforated wall at the vapour exit end  20  of the heating chamber  18 . 
     The vapour chamber  14  defined by the body  12  can be made of any material including polymeric resin, high performance polymeric material, composite material, ceramic material, metallic material, wood, etc, or any combination thereof. 
     The configuration and sizes of the vapour chamber  14  may vary. 
     The opening  16  in the first elongated body  12  defining the vapour outlet has a generally circular cross section. Although the opening  16  according to the first illustrative embodiment defines an acute angle with the body top surface  30  and with the longitudinal axis  32  generally defined by the device  10 , it can also be perpendicular therewith. Also, the cross section of the vapour outlet  16  may have other cross-section than a circular one. 
     A tube guide  34 , in the form of a small cylinder, is mounted in the vapour outlet  16  so as to protrude therefrom. The tube guide  34  allows receiving a flexible tubing  36  which is terminated by a flared end  38  that can act as a mouthpiece. The flexible tubing  36  with the flared end  38  allows canalizing of the vapour exiting from the vapour chamber  14  through the vapour outlet  16 . In some application, it may also be used to facilitate its inhalation by a user. In operation, the flexible tubing  36  then allows safely putting some distance between the face of the user and the heat source (both not shown). The mouthpiece  38 , flexible tubing  36  and tube guide  34  are tightly assembled to one another. 
     The position and configuration of the flexible tubing  36  can be adjusted via a deformable rod  40  which is attached to the flexible tubing  36  therealong. The rod  40  is secured along the tubing  36  using, for example, heat-shrinkable joints  42 . The rod  40  can also be secured to the tubing  36  using other means, including without limitations clips (not shown), rubber bands (not shown), etc., The rod  40  can alternatively be inserted within the thickness of the tubing  36 . 
     The distal end  44  of the rod  40  is received in a hole  45  practiced in the elongated body  12  adjacent the vapour outlet  16 . 
     The position and configuration of the vapour outlet  16  may vary. The diameter and length of the tubing  36  may also vary. The tubing  36  may alternatively be directly connected in the vapour outlet  36  without being connected to a tube guide. 
     The tubing  36  can be made of any resilient material such as silicone, vinyl and ABS resin. The rod  40  is made of any semi-rigid hand-deformable material including metallic and polymeric materials. 
     The tubing  36  can also be made itself from a semi-rigid hand-deformable material. 
     The plug  22  is removably secured at the second longitudinal end  24  of the heating chamber  18  so as to selectively close the substrate deposite opening defined thereby. 
     The plug  22  is made for example of a polymeric resin. Other materials such as, without limitations, wood, polymeric, ceramic or metallic materials can also be used. The plug  22  is snugly fitted into the heated chamber  18 . According to a further embodiment, it can also be snuggly fitted onto the heated chamber  18 . 
     The plug  22  alternatively includes threads for screwing onto the peripheral edge of the cylinder  18 . 
     Even though the handheld vaporization device  10  according to the first illustrative embodiment has been illustrated having its plug  22  positioned at the second longitudinal end opening  24  of the chamber  18 , it can be positioned at any other position on the chamber  18  so as to allow temporary opening of the heating chamber  18  to deposit a substrate therein. 
     The plug  22  includes scavenging channels  48  for allowing air into the heating chamber  18  for scavenging the vapour produced therein out of the heating chamber  18  towards the vapour chamber  14 . 
     It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to a handheld vaporization device having scavenging channels positioned in the plug  22 . The scavenging channels can be in the form of small openings in the heating chamber  18 . 
     The plug  22  further comprises a cleaning rod  50  extending in the heating chamber  18  coaxially with the plug  22 . The cleaning rod  50  is used to remove consumed substrate from the heating chamber  18  resulting from the operation of the handheld vaporization device  10 . 
     The cleaning rod  50  is attached to the plug  22  by thread pressure, using glue or any other fastening means. The cleaning rod  50  can be made of any rigid material including without limitations wood or polymeric, metallic and ceramic materials. 
     The device  10  further comprises a flame gage  52  in the form of an annular collar  52  mounted to the heating chamber so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The flame gage  52  allows for visually indicating a preferential distance to the heating chamber  18  for keeping a heat source during heating of the heating chamber  18 . A typical such preferential distance can be about 3 cm. 
     The flame gage  52  is made of a polymeric resin. It can also be made, without limitations, of wood, polymeric, ceramic, or metallic material. 
     According to the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flame gage  52  is fastened to the heating chamber  18  using glue. Other fastening means, including fasteners can also be used. The flame gage  52  can also be made integral to the heating chamber  18 . 
     Even though the flame gage  52  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as an annular collar mounted to the heating chamber  18 , it can take any form allowing indicating a preferential distance between a heat source (not shown) and the heating chamber  18 . According to further illustrative embodiment, the flame gage  52  is secured to the cylinder first elongated body  12  or to the plug  22  for example. 
     The handheld vaporization device  10  further comprises a temperature monitor  54 , mounted to the elongated body  12 , for monitoring and controlling the temperature in the heating chamber  18  and for showing information indicative of said temperature. The temperature monitor  54  can take many forms including an electronic sensor with light and/or sound indicator. The temperature monitor  54  may be configured to indicate a precise temperature or a temperature range. 
     The temperature monitor  54  can alternatively be mounted to the heated chamber  18 . In such a case, the temperature monitor  54  can be in the form of a well-known temperature-indicating paint or of a thermal stick applied onto the heated chamber  18  exterior wall. 
     The first elongated body  12  further defines a handle portion  56  for handling the handheld vaporization device  10 . 
     In operation, a user removes the plug  22  to gain access to the substrate deposit opening  24  and inserts a substrate of organo-volatile compound into the heating chamber  18 . The plug  22  is then put back in place to close the opening  24  of the heating chamber  18 . 
     A heat source, such as a lighter (not shown), is used to heat the heating chamber  18  from the outside thereof. The flame gage  52  is used to determine the approximate position of the flame of the lighter from the heating chamber  18 . In some applications, a user can then put the mouth piece  38  in or adjacent his or her mouth. 
     Heating of the heating chamber  18  causes the heating of the substrate therein, yielding a vapour which comprises the organo-volatile compound. The vapour is scavenged into the vapour chamber  14 , passing through the filter  28 , and then exits through the vapour outlet  16  and the tubing  36 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the appended drawings, a handheld vaporization device  60  according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the handheld vaporization device  60  is similar to the handheld vaporization device  10 , and for concision purposes, only the differences between the two embodiments will be described furthering. 
     The handheld vaporization device  60  comprises a vapour chamber  62  and a heating chamber  64  mounted to the vapour chamber  62  so as to be in fluid communication therewith. The vapour chamber  62  is defined by an elongated enclosure  66  having a first spout shape opening at its proximate end defining the vapour outlet  68  and a second opening  70  at its distal end. The distal end of the vapour chamber  62  includes a shoulder portion  72  to receive a filter  74  similar to the filter  28 . 
     A tube guard  76  in the form of a clip protrudes from the top surface of the enclosure  66  near the proximate end thereof. The tube guard  76  allows attaching the flexible tubing (not shown) while in disuse. 
     A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the device  60  can be used without tubing, wherein the vapour exits the device  60  directly from the vapour outlet  68 . 
     The temperature monitor  54  is secured to the top surface of the enclosure  66 . 
     A plug  78 , provided with scavenging channels  80  and a cleaning rod  82 , is removably mounted in the distal end opening  84  of the heating chamber  64  in a press fitted way. The distal end opening  84  is thereby closable. 
     Finally, a flame gage in the form of a wall  86  is secured to the heating chamber  64  near the distal end thereof. 
     Even though the handheld vaporization devices  10  and  60  according to the first and second illustrative embodiment both include a heating chamber having a substrate deposit opening which can be closed using a plug, there is provided A handheld vaporization device according to a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention (not shown) similar to the handheld vaporization device  60  which includes a heating chamber having a substrate deposit opening located at the junction with the vapour chamber wherein the heating chamber is releasably mounted to the vapour chamber so as to allow access to the heating chamber to introduce a substrate. Of course, the heating chamber according to this third illustrative embodiment of the present invention also includes scavenging channels. 
     Moreover, the handheld vaporization device according to the present invention is not limited to a device including a heating chamber which requires to be heated using a remote heat source, such as a flame. Indeed, the heating chamber can be made or can include a material which can selectively generate heat. For example, the heating chamber may include one or more heating element which can be energized or activated for heating a substrate enclosed in the chamber. 
     Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of illustrated embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.