Abstract:
A personal vaporizing inhaler having an airway that is adjustable without disassembly of the vaporizer device. Such a vaporizer may include a hollow shell having an opening at one end ending in a mouthpiece, and having at least one air passage in the side of the hollow shell; a rotatable rotary air valve disposed within the hollow shell having an air passage that can be brought into alignment with the air passage of the hollow shell and at least one rotary valve connector, and a build deck having a heating element and at least one build deck connector configured to interface with the rotary valve connector such that rotating the build deck rotates the rotary air valve. The alignment between the air passages of the rotary air valve and the hollow shell may be adjustable in order to allow more or less air into the vaporizer.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Personal vaporizing inhalers, or “electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes,” have become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional smoked tobacco products, such as cigarettes or cigars. Vaporizing inhalers can be filled with flavored liquid material (“vape liquid” or “e-juice”), often containing a nicotine product, which may then be heated and vaporized by an atomizer to provide an inhalable dose of the vaporized substance. This inhalable dose can then be inhaled by a user through an end of the vaporizing inhaler. This can produce a physical sensation similar to smoking a conventional smoked tobacco product, effectively simulating a cigarette or cigar, but without producing smoke. 
     Personal vaporizers can also be used for other purposes other than to dispense a nicotine product. For example, a personal vaporizer may be used in order to aerosolize and dispense another intoxicant or even medication. 
     Different types of personal vaporizer also exist. For example, a recent innovation in personal vaporizer technology has been the “clearomizer,” a personal vaporizing inhaler featuring a transparent tank in which liquid is placed, so that the amount of flavored liquid material that is left in the vaporizing tank can be easily perceived and measured by a user of the vaporizing inhaler. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary embodiment of a personal vaporizing inhaler may be disclosed. Such a vaporizer may include: a hollow shell having an opening at the dorsal end, the opening coupled to a mouthpiece, the hollow shell having at least one air passage disposed on a lateral side of the hollow shell; a rotary air valve disposed within the hollow shell and rotatable within the hollow shell, the rotary air valve having at least one air passage disposed on a lateral side of the rotary air valve, the rotary air valve having at least one rotary valve connector, a build deck, the build deck having a heating element, and further having at least one build deck connector configured to interface with the rotary valve connector such that a rotational force applied to the build deck produces a corresponding rotational force in the rotary air valve; and wherein the at least one air passage of the hollow shell and the at least one air passage of the rotary air valve are rotationally alignable, by rotational alignment of the air valve, between an aligned state, a partially aligned state, and a non-aligned state. 
     An exemplary method of using a personal vaporizing inhaler may also be disclosed. Such a method may include: placing a quantity of liquid material in proximity to the at least one heating element; adjusting, by rotating the build deck such that the placement of the at least one air passage of the rotary air valve is at least partially aligned with the at least one air passage of the hollow shell, the amount of airflow into the hollow shell; vaporizing, with the heating element, a portion of the quantity of liquid material; and extracting the vaporized portion of the quantity of liquid material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which: 
         FIG. 1 a    depicts an exemplary embodiment of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 1 b    depicts an exemplary embodiment of a personal vaporizing inhaler coupled to an external battery. 
         FIG. 2 a    depicts an exemplary embodiment of an atomizer component of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 2 b    depicts an exemplary embodiment of an atomizer component of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 3 a    depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rotary valve component of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 3 b    depicts an exemplary embodiment of a rotary valve component of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 4 a    depicts an exemplary embodiment of an assembly of a rotary valve component and an atomizer component of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 4 b    depicts an exemplary embodiment of an assembly of a rotary valve component and an atomizer component of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of a method of use of a personal vaporizing inhaler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, and referring generally to the Figures, various exemplary implementations of a personal vaporizing inhaler (or “personal vaporizer,” “vaporizing inhaler,” “electronic cigarette/e-cigarette,” or any other similar term) may be disclosed. 
     Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 1 a   ,  FIG. 1 a    displays an exemplary embodiment of a personal vaporizing inhaler  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 a   , the personal vaporizing inhaler  100  is a rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA or “dripper”-type atomizer); however, the term “personal vaporizing inhaler”  100  is not limited to the depicted exemplary configuration of a personal vaporizing inhaler, and may be interpreted to cover other types of personal vaporizing inhaler as well, where applicable. 
     The depicted rebuildable dripping atomizer may include an outer shell  102  which may enclose a build deck  104  and a rotary air valve  106 . Build deck  104  may include a cavity  108  in which flavored liquid material or other vaporizable material may be placed, for example in the form of a cartridge or in the form of liquid-soaked fill material, as desired. The cavity  108  may also include a heating element  110 , such as a resistive wire or other resistive heating element, which may be used to heat and vaporize vaporizable material placed in the cavity  108 . 
     The outer shell  102  of the vaporizer  100  may be open on one face and may be connected to a mouthpiece  112 . Mouthpiece  112  may be hollow and may allow for airflow in and out of the cavity  108 . A user of the vaporizer  100  may be able to breathe in through the mouthpiece when using the vaporizer  100  and thereby inhale vaporized material that has been heated by the heating element  110 . 
     The rotary air valve  106  may have at least one slot  114  which may be sized to accommodate at least one tab  116  disposed on and protruding upward from the build deck  104 . In an exemplary embodiment, the build deck  104  may have a single tab  116 ; in another exemplary embodiment, the build deck  104  may have a plurality of tabs  116 , such as two tabs  116  disposed on opposite sides of the build deck  104 . In an exemplary embodiment, the tab  116  may interlock with the slot  114  such that when the build deck  104  is radially adjusted, the tab  116  exerts a radial turning force on the slot  114  and causes the rotary air valve  106  to be turned. In other embodiments, the build deck  104  and the rotary air valve  106  may have another connection by which the build deck  104  and the rotary air valve  106  may be rotationally linked; for example, in an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic coupling, a locking catch or clasp, or another such feature may be used instead of or in addition to tab  116  and slot  114 . 
     The build deck  104  may also have a plurality of posts  118 , such as at least one positive post  118  and at least one negative post  118 , which may be disposed on the build deck  104  facing upward into the outer shell  102  of the vaporizer  100  when the vaporizer  100  is assembled. Posts  118  may be provided with electrical power, for example from a battery attached to a battery connector  122  or from another source, as may be desired. In some embodiments, the post  118  that is the positive post  118  and the post  118  that is the negative post  118  may vary based upon the positioning of the electrical connection; in other embodiments, there may be a dedicated positive post  118  and a dedicated negative post  118 , as desired. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of posts  118  may have a hole  120  which may be used to attach a heating element  110  such as a wire; for example, a heating element  110  may be installed between a positive post  118  and a negative post  118  and mounted in the holes  120  in each of the posts  118 . A heating element  110  such as a wire may be installed by, for example, loosening a clamping screw located on a post  118  or loosening another clamping element, placing an end of the wire in the hole  120  of one post  118 , and then tightening the clamping element to hold the wire in place. In some embodiments, more than two posts  118  may be present, such as a positive post  118  and more than one negative post  118 ; in such embodiments, one or more of the posts  118 , such as the positive post  118 , may have a larger hole  120  or may have several holes  120  in which heating elements  110  may be mounted. 
     Posts  118  may be connected to a battery connector  122 , which may be coupled to an external battery to provide the posts  118  with electrical power. In an embodiment, a battery connector  122  may have a first lead extending from a first part of the battery connector  122  to a positive post  118  and a second lead extending from a second part of the battery connector  122  to a negative post  118 ; these leads may be separated by an insulating gap  124  or by other insulating material. In an embodiment, another insulating gap  126  may be used to isolate the tab  116  or other connector element of the build deck  104 . 
     Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 1 b   ,  FIG. 1 b    shows an exemplary embodiment of a personal vaporizing inhaler  100  connected to a battery  132 . In an exemplary embodiment, the connection between the vaporizer  100  and the battery  132  may be a threaded connection; for example, the battery connector  122  of the vaporizer  100  may be threaded and the battery  132  may have an opening with opposite threading such that the battery connector  122  can be screwed into the opening of the battery having opposite threading. In another exemplary embodiment, another connection between the battery  132  and the vaporizer  100  may be present; for example, the battery  132  and the vaporizer  100  may be coupled magnetically, or with a snap fit, or via any other connection method, as desired. In an exemplary embodiment, a vaporizer  100  may be coupled to a battery  132  such that a conductive part of the battery connector  122  is connected to a conductive component of the battery  132 , such that electrical charge stored by the battery  132  may be used to provide electrical power to the posts  118  of the vaporizer  100  or to another vaporizing mechanism of the vaporizer  100 , as desired. Battery  132  may also have one or more controls for the vaporizer  100 , such as a button or switch that may be used in order to turn on or turn off the vaporizer  100 ; alternatively, another switch configuration, such as a switch that makes use of differences in electrical resistance to determine when a user has put the vaporizer  100  up to their mouth, may be used instead, as desired. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a vaporizer  100  may have one or more air holes  128  that may permit air to flow through the outer shell  102  of the vaporizer. These air holes  128  may be coupled with a rotary air valve  106  of the vaporizer  100  in order to control the level of airflow that is able to flow through the outer shell  102  of the vaporizer  100 , as discussed in more detail in the discussion of  FIGS. 3 a   - 3   b.    
     Turning now to exemplary  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   ,  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    each display an exemplary embodiment of a build deck  104 . The build deck  104  may include a plurality of posts  118 , each having one or more holes  120  in which a heating element  110  may be placed, and may include a tab  116  or other connector protruding from the build deck  104 . Positive and negative posts  118  may be spaced apart by an insulating gap  124  and may each be connected to a battery connector  122 . 
     Turning now to exemplary  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   ,  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    each display an exemplary embodiment of a rotary air valve  106  that may be located within an outer shell  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1 b   , according to an exemplary embodiment, the outer shell  102  may have one or more air holes  128  that may allow air to pass through the outer shell  102  into the inner portion of the vaporizer  100 . The rotary air valve  106  may likewise have one or more air holes  130  and one or more solid portions  134  which are not permeable to air or which are less permeable to air than the air holes  130 . 
     The rotary air valve  106  may be placed within the outer shell  102  of the vaporizer  100  such that, when the air holes  128  of the outer shell  102  are aligned with the air holes  130  of the rotary air valve, the overlapping air holes  128 ,  130  allow air into the inner portion of the outer shell  102 . The rotary air valve  106  may further be placed within the outer shell  102  in such a manner that the solid portions  134  of the rotary air valve  106  block the entry of air into the inner portion of the outer shell  102  through the air holes  128  of the outer shell  102  when the air holes  130  of the rotary air valve  106  and the air holes  128  outer shell  102  are not aligned. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the rotary air valve  106  may be rotationally adjusted, for example by rotating a build deck  104  to which the rotary air valve  106  is connected, such that a tab  116  of the build deck  104  presses against a slot  114  of the rotary air valve  106 . This may cause the air holes  130  of the rotary air valve  106  to become aligned, disaligned, or partially aligned with the air holes  128  in the outer shell  102 , which may allow a maximum amount of air, no air, or an amount of air less than the maximum to flow into the inner portion of the outer shell  102  through the air holes  128 ,  130 . This may allow a user of the vaporizer  100  to have some control over the amount of air that enters into the inner portion of the outer shell  102 , which may allow, for example, the quantity of flavored liquid material that is vaporized or the temperature of the vaporized material to be adjusted. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, a user may be able to operate a heating element  110  on a higher setting, or install additional heating elements  110  such as additional wires, when there is greater airflow from the airholes  128 ,  130 ; this may affect the quantity of liquid that is vaporized. 
     Various shapes of the outer shell  102  may be contemplated. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the outer shell  102  may be round, and the rotary air valve  106  may be disposed concentrically within the outer shell  102 . In another exemplary embodiment, an internal cavity of the outer shell  102  may be round, even if the outer shell  102  is not, and the rotary air valve  106  may be disposed in this internal cavity. In another exemplary embodiment, the rotary air valve  106  may be disposed within an internal cavity of another shape, if desired; for example, the rotary air valve  106  may be placed as an inscribed circle would be placed. In some embodiments, rotary air valve  106  may be free to rotate or turnable for a full turn; in other embodiments, a rotary air valve  106  may be turnable for less than 360 degrees of rotation, and may be turnable only, for example, from an open state to a closed state. 
     Turning now to exemplary  FIGS. 4 a -4 b   ,  FIGS. 4 a -4 b    each display an assembly of a rotary air valve  106  and a build deck  104 . The assembly of the rotary air valve  106  and the build deck  104  may be placed within an outer shell  102 , if desired. In an exemplary embodiment, a tab  116  of the build deck  104  and a slot  114  of the rotary air valve  106  may interlock, allowing a user to change the angular position of the rotary air valve  106  by rotating the build deck  104  with respect to the outer shell  102 . 
     Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 5 , a method of use of a personal vaporizing inhaler  100  may also be disclosed. First, in step  202 , the flavored liquid material to be vaporized may be placed in proximity to a heating element  110 , such as next to a resistive wire. Next, in step  204 , the build deck  104  may be rotated, causing consequent rotation in the rotary air valve  106 , and shifting an air passage  130  of the rotary air valve  106  to a desirable state with respect to an air passage  128  of the outer shell  102  of the personal vaporizing inhaler  100 , such as an aligned state, a partially aligned state, or a non-aligned state. Next, in step  206 , the heating element  110  may be activated if necessary (such as by pressing or otherwise activating a switch on an attached battery portion) and the liquid material may be vaporized by the heating element  110 . The user may then draw the vaporized liquid material through the mouthpiece  112  of the vaporizer  100 , and may continue to use the vaporizer  100  in this way until no longer desired. 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art (for example, features associated with certain configurations of the invention may instead be associated with any other configurations of the invention, as desired). 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.