Abstract:
Vaporizers are provided. A representative vaporizer includes a power source; a heating element that is electrically coupled to the power source; multiple chambers that are coupled to the heating element and are configured to vaporize a substance that is placed within the multiple chambers; an inner tube that is coupled to the multiple chambers and is configured to allow the vaporized substance to exit therefrom; and a housing that houses the power source, heating element, inner tube, and multiple chambers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application entitled, “VAPORIZER,” having Ser. No. 61/863,872, filed on Aug. 8, 2013, all of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is generally related to vaporizer and, more particularly, is related to systems and methods for vaporizing substance in multiple chambers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Vaporizers are becoming more popular for various reasons. One reason is that vaporizers produce less carcinogens than regular cigarettes. This is especially beneficial patients who use cannabis for medical reasons. 
         [0004]    Desirable in the art is an improved vaporizer that would improve upon the conventional vaporizer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Vaporizers are provided. A representative vaporizer includes a power source; a heating element that is electrically coupled to the power source; multiple chambers that are coupled to the heating element and are configured to vaporize a substance that is placed within the multiple chambers; an inner tube that is coupled to the multiple chambers and is configured to allow the vaporized substance to exit therefrom; and a housing that houses the power source, heating element, inner tube, and multiple chambers. 
         [0006]    Other systems, devices, methods, features of the invention will be or will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such systems, devices, methods, features be included within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, the reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vaporizer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded pre-assembly view of a vaporizer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a diagram that shows the alignment and misalignment of extending bars and the corresponding holes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagram that shows the alignment and misalignment of extending bars and the corresponding holes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a diagram that illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer that directs air movement inside the vaporizer where outgoing air preheats ingoing air in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a diagram that illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer that shows air movement inside the vaporizer where outgoing air preheats ingoing air in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a diagram that illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer that shows heat transfer inside the vaporizer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Exemplary vaporizers are first discussed with reference to the figures. Although these vaporizers are described in detail, they are provided for purposes of illustration only and various modifications are feasible. 
         [0016]    A new, novel and useful vaporizer  100  that is disclosed herein can be a compact unit that slightly bigger than a business card.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vaporizer  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The vaporizer  100  includes at least one internal chamber  105 . In this example, the vaporizer  100  includes two internal chambers  105  that can optimize vaporization, lessen heat up time inside the chambers and provide the user with two chambers to draw from at different times. The chambers  100  can be made of a thermal conductive material, such as stainless steel, and can be shaped as bowls, which are cylindrical, but can be designed to have any geographical shapes as long as the chambers  100  can contain the herbs for vaporization. The vaporizer  100  further includes controls  110  that rotate at least one internal structure  220  ( FIG. 2 ) that aligns/misaligns air pathways while actuating electronic switches  115 ,  120 . The two chambers  105  can be designed to be contacting with the heating elements (aka “conduction method”) to heat, for example, Cannabis oil and wax, and/or to not contact with the heating element (aka “convection method”) to heat, for example, herbs. The vaporizers can be designed to have two chambers  105 , both using conduction method, both using convection method, or one using conduction method and the other using convection method. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded pre-assembly view of the vaporizer  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this figure, the rotatable internal structure  220  is referred to as a “heatsink structure” that is an elongated tubular structure. The rotatable internal structure  220  is mechanically coupled at the top end of the structure  220  to a heatsink structure upper seal  215  and a heatsink structure linkage  210 . At the bottom end of the structure  220 , the rotatable internal structure  220  is mechanically coupled to a heatsink structure lower seal  225 , which rest on a base cover  235  of the vaporizer  100 . The internal herbal chambers  100  is placed within a chamber container  230 ,  240 ,  245  that stores and positions the internal herb chambers  100  vertically along the side of the rotatable internal structure  220 . 
         [0018]    The lever structure  265  includes a cylindrical base  280  that couples to the rotatable internal structure  220  at a proximal end and an arm  275  at a distal end of the base  280 . The arm  275  includes a bar attached on top and at the distal end of the arm  275 . The heatsink structure linkage  210  is mechanically coupled to a lever structure  265  via the arm  275 , which rotates horizontally to the left or right with respect to the rotatable internal structure  220 . The rotation of the lever structure is further described in connection to  FIG. 3 . The lever structure  265  is covered by a lever cover  270 , which also provides structural support to the lever structure  265  to be able to rotate horizontally. 
         [0019]    The lever structure  265  includes a switch linkage  290  which mechanical couples to a switch/chip assembly  280 ,  285  at a distal end of the switch linkage  290 . The switch/chip assembly  280 ,  285  includes a switch  280  that is electrically coupled to a chip control device  285 , which is designed to provide power to heating elements associated with at least one of the internal chambers  105 . For example, the chip control device  285  is designed to connect electrical components to a power source  297  (e.g., external battery) to the top internal chamber  105  in a left position or the bottom internal chamber  105  in a right position of the lever structure  265 . The chip control device  285  can be designed to disconnect electrical components to the power source  297  in an “off” position of the lever structure  265 . In the off position of the lever structure  265 , a distal end of the lever structure  265  is pointing at the rotatable internal structure  220 , such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    A push bottom  295  is placed between the lever structure  265  and the lever cover  270  and mechanically coupled to switch/chip assembly  280 ,  285  via an extending bar. Responsive to pushing in the push button  295 , the push button actuates a power control switch (not shown) to provide power to the chip assembly  280 . The operations of the vaporizer  100  is further described in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A user can further push the push button following the “power on” push to instruct the chip control device  285  to adjust temperatures of the heating elements associated with at least one of the internal chambers  105 . For example, after the user push the push button to power on the vaporizer  100 , the user can push the push button a second, third, and fourth time to adjust the heating elements to heat at three different temperatures. 
         [0021]    The chamber container  305  ( FIG. 3 ) has extending bars  255  that couples to the rotatable internal structure  220  and aligns/misaligns with corresponding holes  260  at the rotatable internal structure  220 . The extending bars  255  has a bore creating an air path from a distal end to a proximal end of the extending bars  255 , such that air can travel to chamber container  230 ,  240 ,  245 . In this example, one of the corresponding holes  260  are aligned with one of the extending bars  255  to provide an air pathway between one of the chambers  105  and the rotatable internal structure  220  and the other corresponding hole  260  are misaligned with the other extending bar  255 , such that the other extending bar  255  is adjacent to the sidewalls of the rotatable internal structure  220 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a diagram that shows the alignment and misalignment of the extending bars  255  and the corresponding holes  260  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the lever structure  265  is in a left position from the perspective of the rotatable internal structure  220 . In the left position of the lever structure  265 , the switch linkage  290  turns the switch  285  to a left direction, which in this example facilitates providing power to the heating elements associated with the bowl A (top chamber  105 ). 
         [0023]    Also in the left position of the lever structure  265 , the arm  275  of the heatsink structure linkage  210  rotates to the left, also rotating the rotatable internal structure  220  in a counterclockwise direction from a top view perspective. The top hole  260  on the rotatable internal structure  220  is aligned with the top extending bar  255  to create an air pathway to a section of the chamber container  305  containing bowl A. The bottom hole  260  on the rotatable internal structure  220  is misaligned with the bottom extending bar  255  to block an air pathway to a section of the chamber container  305  containing bowl B. The bottom extending bar  255  is sealed against the rotatable internal structure  220 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a diagram that shows the alignment and misalignment of the extending bars  255  and the corresponding holes  260  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the lever structure  265  is in a right position from the perspective of the rotatable internal structure  220 . In a right position of the lever structure  265 , the switch linkage  290  turns the switch  285  to a right direction, which in this example facilitates providing power to the heating elements associated with the bowl B (bottom chamber  105 ). 
         [0025]    Also in the right position of the lever structure  265 , the arm  275  of the heatsink structure linkage  210  rotates to the left, also rotating the rotatable internal structure  220  in a clockwise direction from a top view perspective. The bottom hole  260  on the rotatable internal structure  220  is aligned with the bottom extending bar  255  to create an air pathway to a section of the chamber container  305  containing bowl B. The top hole  260  on the rotatable internal structure  220  is misaligned with the top extending bar  255  to block an air pathway to a section of the chamber container  305  containing bowl A. 
         [0026]    Both extending bars  255  can be misaligned with the corresponding holes  260  and sealed against the rotatable internal structure  220  in a closed position of the lever structure  265 , such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . In either the left or right position of the lever structure  265 , the rotatable internal structure  220  is opened such that an air tube  205  ( FIG. 2 ) can be extracted out of the rotatable internal structure  220 . The air tube  205  can be made of durable glass or metal, for example. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a diagram that illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer  100  that directs air movement inside the vaporizer  100  where outgoing air preheats ingoing air in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. External air enters an assembly that includes two concentric tubes  505 ,  220 . An internal, thin gauge, highly conductive tube  220  is located closely to a thicker less external conductive tube  505 . The internal tube  220  is place between a bottom seal  515  and a top heat exchange seal  510 , which has an opening for a mouth piece  205  therethrough. A bowl seal and insulation  520  is mechanically coupled to the external tube  505  via extending bar  530  and the internal tube  220  via extending bar  255 . The bowl seal and insulation  520  is designed to contain an herbal chamber  105 . Heating elements  525  heat up the herbal chamber  105  for vaporizing herbs, for example. The airflow and heat exchange inside the vaporizer  100  is further described in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a diagram that illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer  100  that shows air movement inside the vaporizer  100  where outgoing air preheats ingoing air in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Cool external air  605  enters the assembly at an opening at the distal end of and between the area of the internal tube  220  and the external tube  505 . The external air  605  travels towards the bowls from the distal end to the proximal end of the internal tube  220  and the external tube  505 . The external air  605  enters the bowl seal and insulation  520  via the external bar  530 , passing over heating elements on its way into the herbal chamber  105 . The heated air  605  vaporizes herbs, for example, resulting in heated vapor inside the herbal chamber  105 . The heated vapor  610  exits the herbal chamber  105  and enters the inner tube via extending bar  255  on its way out of the internal tube  220  and mouth piece  205 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a diagram that illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vaporizer  100  that shows heat transfer inside the vaporizer  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As the heated vapor  610  travels through the internal tube  220 , the heated vapor  610  transfers heat to the internal tube  220 . In other words, the internal tube  220  absorbs some of the heat of the heated vapor  610 , cooling the heated vapor  610 . Cooled vapor  615  exits out of the internal tube  220  and mouth piece  205 . Also, the heat absorbed by the internal tube  220  is passed to the incoming external air  605  in effect preheating the incoming external air  605 . This method aids in more efficient heating of the air inside the herbal chamber  105 , conserves battery energy and cools vapor exited the internal tube  220  and mouth piece  205 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is an exploded pre-assembly view of a vaporizer  800  having an integrated grinder unit  805  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The haze grinder unit  805  includes a motor  815  that is attached to a gear assembly  820 . A threaded shaft  825  is mechanically coupled to the gear assembly  820  at a proximal end of the threaded shaft  825 . The threaded shaft  825  is placed through an insulated bowl housing  830 , a screen  835 , and a bearing  840 . At a distal end of the threaded shaft  825 , it is attached to rotating grinding teeth  845  by way of threads on the external surface of the shaft  825  and in the bore of the rotating grinding teeth  845 . A bowl structure  850  receives the rotating grinding teeth  845  therein at the bottom surface of the bowl structure  850 . A bowl lid  855  covers the top of the bowl structure  850  and a seal  860  seals the bowl lid  855  to the bowl structure  850 . A power source  810 , e.g., batteries, can power the motor  815 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of an assembled vaporizer  800  having an integrated grinder unit  805  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The threaded shaft  825  is driven by the mother  815  ( FIG. 8 ), which in turn drives the rotating grinding teeth  845  inside the vaporization chamber  850 . The bearing  840  facilitates rotating of the grinding teeth  845  while keeping the insulated bowl housing  830  and bowl structure  850  stationary. The insulated bowl housing  830  has slots, which are engaged by extensions of the bowl structure  850  to form an anti-rotation feature. The bowl lid  855  includes slots that can be engaged by a part of an outer housing (not shown) of the vaporizer  800 . The bowl structure  850  and the bowl lid  855  include stationary teeth  910  and stationary grinding surfaces  905 , respectively, which function in conjunction with the rotating grinding teeth  845  to grind the contents inside the bowl structure  850 . 
         [0032]    In general, the vaporizer  800  integrates motor driven grinding teeth  845  at the vaporization chamber  0 . Herbs (not shown) can be placed into the vaporization chamber  850  in their natural state (unground). The vaporizer  800  can grind the material from within the vaporization chamber  850  ensuring all particles (big and small) stay within the vaporization chamber  850 . This method bypasses the usual step of transferring ground herb from grinder to vaporization unit where loss of particles can occur. By integrating the grinder into the vaporization chamber no herbal material is lost from its unground state. Heating elements  920  can be activated during, after or before grinding as the systems are independent of each other. 
         [0033]    This description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed, however, were chosen to illustrate the principles of the disclosure, and its practical application. The disclosure is thus intended to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the disclosure, in various embodiments and with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variation are within the scope of this disclosure, as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.