Abstract:
A vaporizing apparatus includes a mouthpiece, battery and a reservoir housing an intake tube forming an air passage and vaporizing chamber proximal the battery. The vaporizing chamber also includes an inlet and vaporizing element completing an electric circuit with the battery for heating. A vapor outlet tube extends through the air passage, terminating in the vaporizing chamber adjacent the vaporizing element, and an air intake proximal the mouthpiece allows suction from the mouthpiece to urge air from the air intake through the air passage to join a vaporizable material urged through the inlet in the vaporizing chamber, vaporizing the vaporizable material with vapor exiting the mouthpiece through the vapor outlet tube.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This apparatus claims the benefit of the priority filing date of provisional application Ser. No. 62/231,397, filed 6 Jul. 2015, incorporated herein in its entirety, with a petition under 37 CFR 1.78(b) submitted herewith. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The apparatus generally relates to vaporization and personal vaporizers, colloquially referred to as ‘e-cigarettes.’ More specifically, the apparatus relates to a personal vaporizer with an atypical airflow structure for vaporizing inhalation products. 
         [0003]    Personal portable vaporizers are known in the art. At a basic level these apparatus use power from a battery connected to a vaporizing element to heat a vaporization material to its vapor point for inhaling by a user. An on-board reservoir usually contains a sufficient quantity of vaporization material for several repeated vaporization events. Personal vaporizers were designed as an alternative to cigarettes and similar products that are combusted prior to inhalation, since vaporizing products designed for inhalation are thought to avoid generating harmful combustion byproducts. 
         [0004]    Conventional vaporizers have a significant drawback in that the vaporizing element is typically a thin wire filament wound helically around a ‘wick’ of porous material. The vaporization material, normally oil-based, soaks the wick, and once the vaporizing element sufficiently heats the wick, the material vaporizes, with the vapor inhaled by the user. Usually, the wick material used is synthetic, including silica thread (aka sodium silicate). When overheated, this material has a tendency to burn, releasing harmful byproducts, such as silica fragments that cause damage to a user&#39;s lungs and other ill health effects. 
         [0005]    Conventional vaporizers also have the drawback of sequestering ambient air from adjacent the battery, which can cause damage when residue of the vaporizing material exits an air port near the battery and corrodes the terminals. Since vaporizers are typically carried ‘mouth-up’, any residual vaporizing material has a tendency to move under gravitational forces toward and out of the air port, leading to hastened damage and malfunctioning of the vaporizer. 
         [0006]    Hence, what is needed is a personal vaporizer that provides for vaporization without requiring a wick, and which provides an atypical pathway for air and vaporization residue not prone to leakage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A vaporizing apparatus includes a mouthpiece and a battery as well as a reservoir housing an intake tube and a vapor outlet tube. The intake tube includes an air passage and a vaporizing chamber proximal the battery. The vaporizing chamber includes at least one inlet and a vaporizing element. The vaporizing element completes an electric circuit with the battery for heating. The vapor outlet tube extends through the air passage, terminating in the vaporizing chamber adjacent the vaporizing element. An air intake proximal the mouthpiece allows suction from the mouthpiece to urge air from the air intake through the air passage to join a vaporizable material urged through the inlets in the vaporizing chamber. Thereafter the vaporizing element vaporizes the vaporizable material, and the vapor exits the mouthpiece through the vapor outlet tube. 
         [0008]    The apparatus may include a semi-permeable barrier between the inlets and the vaporizing chamber to prevent leakage. Optionally, the air intake may be formed in the mouthpiece and the reservoir may include a refilling port. Preferably the vaporizing element is grounded to the vaporizing chamber, and the vaporizing element is optionally also grounded to the vapor outlet tube. A threaded connection may be provided between the reservoir and the battery, with an insulator placed between the vaporizing element and a threaded connection to the battery to prevent shorting. A manually operated circuit control may also be provided for completing the circuit between the vaporizing element and the battery. 
         [0009]    In an alternative embodiment, a vaporizing apparatus has a mouthpiece and a battery and a reservoir radially centered around an intake tube. The intake tube is radially centered around a vapor outlet tube and forms an air passage therebetween. The air intake is preferably proximal the mouthpiece and in open communication with the intake tube, with the intake tube comprising an enlarged vaporizing chamber opposite from the air intake, such that air entering the air intake reaches the enlarged vaporizing chamber through the intake tube. 
         [0010]    In such a configuration, the vaporizing chamber includes one or more inlets in open communication with the reservoir, and a vaporizing element completes an electric circuit with the battery. The vaporizing element also extends across the vaporizing chamber, with the vapor outlet tube extending from the mouthpiece and terminating in the vaporizing chamber adjacent the vaporizing element, such that suction at the mouthpiece urges air from the air intake through the air passage to join a vaporizable material urged through the inlets in the vaporizing chamber, and the vaporizing element vaporizes the vaporizable material, thereby allowing vapor to exit the mouthpiece through the vapor outlet tube. 
         [0011]    As with the first embodiment, a semi-permeable barrier may be placed between the inlets and the vaporizing chamber, with the air intake formed in the mouthpiece. The reservoir may include a refilling port. The vaporizing element is preferably grounded to the vaporizing chamber and optionally to the vapor outlet tube. A threaded connection may be provided between the reservoir and the battery, with an insulator between the vaporizing element and a threaded connection to the battery. A manually operated circuit control may be provided for completing the circuit between the vaporizing element and the battery. 
         [0012]    In a third embodiment, a vaporizing apparatus includes a reservoir radially centered around an intake tube. The intake tube is radially centered around a vapor outlet tube and forms an air passage therebetween. The air intake is proximal a mouthpiece and in communication with the intake tube, the intake tube terminating in a vaporizing chamber opposite from the air intake, such that air entering the air intake reaches the enlarged vaporizing chamber through the intake tube. 
         [0013]    The vaporizing chamber has at least one inlet adjacent the reservoir and a vaporizing element interruptably completing an electric circuit with the battery, with the vapor outlet tube extending between the mouthpiece and the vaporizing chamber, and terminating adjacent the vaporizing element. In this manner, mouthpiece suction urges air through the air intake and the air passage to join a vaporizable material urged through at least one inlet in the vaporizing chamber and continued mouthpiece suction urges vapor generated by the vaporizing element vaporizing the vaporizable material through the vapor outlet tube to the mouthpiece. Preferably the vaporizing apparatus includes an interrruptable circuit for powering the vaporizing element with the battery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a vaporizing apparatus having an atypical air and vapor flow circuit; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of the vaporizing apparatus; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the vaporizing apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided n the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vaporizing apparatus  10  is shown. The apparatus  10  is similar to a conventional disposable or reusable e-cigarette-type vaporizer in that it has a mouthpiece  12  through which a user draws vapor  36  ( FIG. 2 ), a battery portion  14  housing a battery for powering the apparatus  10  and reservoir  16  for holding a vaporizable material  34  (i.e., ‘product’;  FIG. 2 ) to be vaporized. The vaporizable material  34  is typically an oil-based liquid preparation containing nicotine or other compounds normally consumed through combustion inhalation (i.e., ‘smoking’); vaporization being a preferred liquid/solid-to-gas phase process that avoids generating combustion byproducts. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the reservoir  16  is entirely or partially made of glass or a similar clear material, thus allowing a user to view the contents of the reservoir and ascertain the level of product therein, in particular, allowing a user to know when the vaporizable material  34  is entirely consumed. To help a user quantify the amount of vaporizable material  34  remaining in the reservoir  16 , grading may be inscribed on or applied to the reservoir  16 . Additionally, providing a clear (or partially clear) reservoir  16  makes the apparatus  10  more aesthetically pleasing since vaporizable material  34  used in the apparatus  10  is frequently doctored with colorants tailored to a specific flavor of oil (and consequently, vapor  36 ). 
         [0020]    Since the vaporizable material  34 , although color tinted, is normally otherwise clear, other components of the apparatus  10  are visible inside the reservoir  16 . An intake tube  18  travels the length of the reservoir  16 . At the base of the intake tube  18  a vaporizing chamber  24  is provided, and one or more inlets  26  are provided thereon, through which the vaporizable material  34  travels into the vaporizing chamber  24  to be vaporized. To provide an effective, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture apparatus  10 , the reservoir  16  may comprise a mouthpiece cap  46  and a base end cap  48 , with the middle portion being clear cylindrical glass as illustrated. 
         [0021]    It should be understood that while the illustrated embodiment includes a reservoir  16  with mouthpiece cap  46  and base end cap  48 , other preferred embodiments may comprise an entirely glass reservoir  16 , and may be of any shape, or use any other material, suitable for securely holding vaporizable material  34  while providing access to the vaporizing chamber  24 . Additionally, the reservoir  16  may be sealed, making the apparatus  10  single-use and disposable, or may be capable of disassembly or have an opening or other access structure permitting refilling, thus making the apparatus  10  reusable. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , structural details of the apparatus  10  reflecting its atypical gas flow operation are shown during vaporization (i.e., in use). With the apparatus  10  activated such that the battery  14  completes a circuit, and a user providing suction at the mouthpiece  12 , air  32  is drawn into the air intake  30 . The air intake  30  may be formed directly into the mouthpiece  12  as illustrated, or may be adjacent the mouthpiece  12 , or may be disposed at another location proximal the mouthpiece  12 . From the air intake  30 , the air  32  enters an area of reducing diameter  54  and travels into the intake tube  18 , passing through the intake tube  18  toward the vaporizing chamber  42 . 
         [0023]    Inside the air intake tube  18  is a vapor outlet tube  20 . The vapor outlet tube  20  has an outer diameter smaller than the air intake tube&#39;s  18  inner diameter, thereby creating a space around the outlet tube  20  through which the air  32  travels. The vapor outlet tube  20  extends through the intake tube  18  from the vaporizing chamber  24 , through the area of reducing diameter  54 , and engages a vapor bore  56  in the mouthpiece  12  to create a hermetic seal. Hermetic engagement between the vapor bore  56  and the vapor outlet tube  20  prevents any air  32  entering the air intake  30  from escaping the apparatus  10  directly through the vapor bore  56 . 
         [0024]    Although the vapor bore  56  and vapor outlet tube  20  are shown as separate structures in the illustrated embodiment, and the contact between them shown as a conventional pressure fit, any other design conferring hermetic sealing between the two, including using a threaded or unitary construction, is contemplated. Additionally, the area of reducing diameter  54  may be of any shape or configuration as long as it permits air  32  from the air intake  30  to reach and travel through the intake tube  18  to the vaporizing chamber  24  without allowing the air  32  to escape directly through the vapor bore  56  or mouthpiece  12 . For ease of assembly, the intake tube  18  may include a threaded end  50  for resiliently engaging the mouthpiece  12 . Also, on the opposite end of the intake tube  18  may be a threaded end engaging the vaporizing chamber  24  (not shown). 
         [0025]    As a user creates suction at the mouthpiece  12 , the air intake  30 , due to a small aperture size or other constriction, creates a pressure differential that lowers pressure in the vaporizing chamber  24  relative to the reservoir  16 . That pressure differential urges some of the vaporizable material  34  to travel through the inlets  26  into the vaporizing chamber  24 , where it mingles with the air  32 . As the vaporizable material  34  enter the vaporization chamber  24 , it also coats the vaporizing element  28  therein. 
         [0026]    Supporting the generation of vapor  36 , the battery portion  14  includes a positive terminal  60  in broad contact with a filament support  64 . The filament support  64  supports the vaporizing element  28  in the vaporizing chamber  24 . The vaporizing element  28  is also connected to either the intake tube  18 , vapor outlet tube  20  or the vaporizing chamber  24  as illustrated. All three structures are preferably in electrically conducting contact, and also in electrically conducting contact with the negative (ground) area  62  of the battery portion  14 , thereby completing an electrical circuit. To prevent shorting, an insulator  58  is provided to separate the filament support  64  from the vaporizing chamber  24 . 
         [0027]    Although in the illustrated example the intake tube  18 , vapor outlet tube  20  and vaporizing chamber  24  are in conducting contact, and the vaporizing element  28  shown contacting the vaporizing chamber  24 , any arrangement whereby the vaporizing element  28  makes electrical contact with the negative (ground) area  62 , thus completing a circuit of the battery portion  14 , is contemplated. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, a threaded connection  42  is shown between the vaporizing chamber  24  and the negative (ground) area  62  of the battery portion  14 . Although this is typical of conventional (disposable and refillable) vaporizers, any suitable contact for the battery portion  14  making positive contact with the filament support  64  and negative contact leading to the vaporizing element  28  is contemplated. 
         [0028]    The vaporizing element  28  is typically made of fine wire, thus being electrically resistive and causing it to generate heat when electrical charge is applied. By arranging the fine wire in a condensed helical structure, the vaporizing element  28  also concentrates this heat at the helix. Although a helical arrangement of fine wire is contemplated, any vaporizing element achieving sufficient vaporization heat when an electrical current is applied is contemplated. With the user having activated the apparatus  10  to complete the circuit with the battery portion  14  and applied suction at the mouthpiece  12 , the vaporizing material  34  enters the inlets  26  and coats the vaporizing element  28 , which heats up to a predetermined temperature suitable for vaporizing the vaporizing material  34 . 
         [0029]    Since the air  32  also occupies the vaporizing chamber  24 , it allows the vaporizing material  34  to substantially vaporize (as opposed to simply boiling inside the vaporizing chamber  24 ) and acts as a carrier, sweeping the vapor  36  from the vaporizing chamber  24  into the vapor outlet tube  20 . The vapor  36  travels through the vapor outlet tube  20 , through the vapor bore  56  and out the mouthpiece  12  to be inhaled by the user. Importantly, since the vaporizing chamber  24  contains only the vaporizing material  34  and air  32 , as opposed to other materials such as cotton, synthetic string, etc., normally found in vaporizers, the user receives no by-products from these materials. 
         [0030]    Once the user receives a desired quantity of vapor  36 , the circuit deactivates and the user withdraws suction at the mouthpiece  12 , thus ceasing vaporization and the transit of air  32 , vaporizable material  34  and vapor  36  through the apparatus. By breaking the battery portion  14  circuit prior to withdrawing suction, a sufficient quantity of vaporizable material  34  remains in the vaporization chamber  24  for the next vaporization event. 
         [0031]    Under the pressure differential caused by suction at the mouthpiece  12 , a portion of the vaporizable material  34  is drawn into vaporizing chamber  24 . This action causes a corresponding pressure differential in the reservoir, essentially creating an increasing vacuum as vaporizing material  34  leaves the reservoir  16 . After a vaporization event is over, and suction withdrawn, the vacuum in the reservoir draws air  32  back through the vapor outlet tube  20  from the mouthpiece  12  (and, partially, through the intake tube  18  from the air intake  30 ) to travel through the inlets  26  and into the reservoir  16 . This equalizes the air pressure in the reservoir  16  to be substantially the same (i.e., atmospheric) pressure as the ambient air  32  surrounding the apparatus  10 . Optionally, for refilling, the reservoir  16  may be fitted with a resealing refilling port  40 , allowing a user to refill the reservoir  16  with vaporizable material  34  as desired. 
         [0032]    Since the inlets  26 , in connection with the mouthpiece  12  and air intake  30 , allow open communication with the reservoir  16 , there is a risk of leakage. To prevent the vaporizing material  34  from unintentionally traveling out of the reservoir  16 , a semi-permeable barrier  38  is preferably provided at each inlet  26 . The semi-permeable barrier  38  permits gas exchange, while retarding the transit of the vaporizable material  34  unless drawn through under pressure. Due to the increased viscosity of the vaporizable material  34  (typically being oil-based) and the equal-to-negative pressure differential between the reservoir  16  and ambient environment of the apparatus  10 , the semi-permeable barriers  38  are sufficient for preventing the vaporizable material  34  from ‘leaking’ through the inlets  26  when the apparatus  10  is not in use. Although any semi-permeable barrier can be used, some exemplary materials include foam, such as open-cell foam, organic materials such as cotton, or other suitable materials now known or hereinafter devised. Thus the apparatus  10  can be a micronic infiltrating (in the sense that the space through which the vaporizing material  34  travels is measured in microns) atypical vaporizing delivery system. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of the apparatus  10  is shown. The major structure of the apparatus  10  is the battery portion  14  which is preferably sized to provide charge for vaporizing the entire contents of the reservoir  16 . The battery portion  14  may include a manually operated circuit control  44 , which is typical of older vaporizers. Alternatively, it may have an internal apparatus (not shown) for completing the vaporizing circuit upon a user applying suction at the mouthpiece  12 . Additionally the battery portion  14  may have circuitry dedicated to controlling electrical current, thus providing for a particular vaporization temperature, multiple vaporization temperatures, or a stepped heating profile, wherein the temperature rises to a first level and pauses, prior to rising to a second, third and fourth level with similar pauses in between, optionally controlled by a user. An integrated circuit with programming connectivity (such as, for example, a micro-USB controller) may be provided for programming an onboard microchip (not shown) by computer. 
         [0034]    The positive terminal  60  of the battery portion  14  is typically surrounded by the negative (ground) area  62 , spaced apart at the positive terminal  60  for accommodating the filament support  64  without shorting. As discussed, the filament support  64 , containing the vaporizing element  28  and surrounded by the insulator  58 , may be inserted into the vaporization chamber  24 , with the threaded connection  42  providing secure electrical connection to the battery portion  14 . The area of the apparatus  10  comprising the reservoir  16  (with optional mouthpiece end cap  46  and base end cap  48 ), and containing the intake tube  18  (and vapor outlet tube  20 ), vaporizing chamber  24  with its inlets  26  and housing the vaporizing element  28 , is typically referred to as a single unit, termed an ‘atomizer,’ ‘clearomizer,’ or ‘cartomizer.’ The illustrated embodiment depicts a clearomizer since the entire quantity of vaporizable material  34  in the reservoir  16  is visible. For ease of assembling the ‘clearomizer’ portion of the apparatus  10 , the mouthpiece may include a receiving bore  52  for receiving the threaded end  50  of the intake tube  18 . 
         [0035]    In various embodiments, the apparatus  10  may be made as a completely disposable unit with a permanently attached battery portion  14  and clearomizer (atomizer, cartomizer, etc.) Alternatively, as illustrated, it may be made with a detachable rechargeable battery portion  14 , and may be made with an optional refilling port  40  either on the reservoir  16  as illustrated, or otherwise in fluid communication with the reservoir  16 . To provide for planned obsolescence or replacement after a given period of time, a vaporizing element  28  may be used that degrades over a specific period of time. Other contemplated embodiments include a so-called ‘inclusive’ design having a recharging onboard battery portion  14  with a refilling cartomizer design, and a ‘hybrid unit’ having a combination of a disposable (i.e., permanently sealed) and reusable (i.e., openable) parts. 
         [0036]    Also shown in  FIG. 3 , a mouthpiece cover  64  may be provided for covering the mouthpiece  12 , thus preventing the intrusion of debris therein. The cover  64  may be in a threaded or pressure fit arrangement, or removably connected in any other manner allowing it to be easily removed, yet remain in place while the apparatus  10  is not in use. In one embodiment the mouthpiece cover  64  may include a tip of capacitive material  66  for activating and operating capacitive touch screens on electronic devices (not shown), effectively transforming the apparatus  10  into a functioning stylus when not in use for vaporizing. 
         [0037]    The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.