Patent Publication Number: US-2016242467-A1

Title: Flavor module

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/119,536, filed Feb. 23, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirely. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a vaporizer accessory. More specifically, the present invention relates to an accessory that provides flavor to the vaporizer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vaporizers, such as E-cigarettes, are increasingly popular as a more health-conscious public has increasingly moved away from cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products. Improving the flavor of the paper inhaled improves the experience for the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment is drawn to a flavor apparatus comprising a flavoring reservoir configured to hold a liquid flavoring, a central conduit and a nozzle operably connected to the flavoring reservoir and configured to atomize the liquid flavoring and provide atomized flavoring to the central conduit. 
     Another embodiment is drawn to a method of adding flavoring to an E-cigarette vapor comprising providing a nicotine containing vapor to a central conduit of a flavor apparatus, atomizing a flavoring liquid in the flavoring apparatus and providing atomized flavoring to the central conduit and mixing the atomized flavoring with the nicotine containing vapor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side schematic illustration of a flavor apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side schematic illustration of a flavor apparatus of  FIG. 1  attached to a vaporizer according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a side schematic illustration of a flavor apparatus according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side schematic illustration of vaporizer without a flavor apparatus attached. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side schematic illustration of the flavor apparatus of  FIG. 3  attached to a vaporizer. 
         FIG. 5  is a side schematic illustration of a flavor apparatus according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a side schematic illustration of the flavor apparatus of  FIG. 5  attached to a vaporizer. 
         FIG. 7A  is a side schematic illustration illustrating another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic illustration of a vent cover for reservoirs, tanks lacking an adjustable vent. 
         FIG. 8  is a side schematic illustration of a conventional E-cigarette. 
         FIG. 9  is a side schematic illustration of a conventional flavor module for an E-cigarette. 
         FIG. 10A  is a side schematic illustration a flavor apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10B  is a side schematic illustration of a detail of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10A   
         FIG. 11  is a side schematic illustration a flavor apparatus according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention include tanks that mix flavor with the vapor from the vaporizer. In an embodiment, the vaporizer includes a battery-powered atomizer that heats the fluid to be vaporized. In an embodiment, the flavor fluid is provided in its own separate tank. That is, the unflavored fluid and the flavored fluid are stored in different tanks. 
     In an embodiment, the flavored fluid is added to the vapor via a Venturi that creates a vapor-like spray that mixes with the unflavored vapor. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a filter to absorb any non-vaporized fluid. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a tank that has a generally round shape. However, any suitable shape may be used, such as hexagonal, octagonal, etc. The tank may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, aluminum and the like. In an embodiment, the tank may hold 0.5-10 ml, such as 1-5 ml, such as 2-5 ml. 
     As discussed in more detail below, the apparatus may by removably affixed to a standard vaporizer, such and an E-cigarette. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a Venturi tube that operably connects a flavor reservoir to the conduit supplying the nicotine vapor. The atomized flavor droplets mixes with the nicotine vapor produced and atomized by heating the nicotine containing fluid in its own separate tank with a battery powered atomizer. 
     In an embodiment, the apparatus is made of injection molded plastic. In an embodiment, the apparatus is includes a liquid flavoring. As discussed above, a Venturi may be used to create a vapor-like spray which mixes with the nicotine containing vapor traveling through the center tube. In an embodiment, the apparatus may include a filter in a front (downstream) portion of the apparatus to absorb any non-vaporized fluid. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is designed to plug into a standard atomizer, such as a 510 or KR808 using a standard 510 or KR808 connector. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes an adjustment mechanism, such as an adjustable vent, to control the amount of flavor that is being delivered. Embodiments of the invention enhance the flavor of vaporizing by mixing a flavoring, such as an oil-based flavoring, with the existing oil-based vapor traveling through the center tube of the vaporizer. 
     A conventional vaporizer, such as an E-cigarette  100 , is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The conventional E-cigarette  100  includes a battery module  104  which provides power to the E-cigarette  100 . Typically, the conventional E-cigarette  100  also includes an indicator light  102  which indicates if the E-cigarette  100  is on. The indicator light  102  may be configured to mimic the end of a lit cigarette for aesthetics. 
     The conventional E-cigarette type vaporizer  100  typically includes an atomizer  106  located adjacent to the battery module  104 . A liquid reservoir/tank  108  is located adjacent the other side of the atomizer  106 . In the conventional E-cigarette  100 , a nicotine containing liquid is provided to the liquid reservoir/tank  108 . In alternative uses, non-nicotine containing liquids may be added to the liquid reservoir/tank  108 . An inhaler/tip  110  is attached to the opposite end of the liquid reservoir/tank  108 . 
     When in use, power from the battery module  104  is provided to the atomizer  106 . Heat from the atomizer  106  vaporizes the liquid, such as nicotine containing liquid, in the liquid reservoir/tank  108 , forming a vapor, such as a nicotine containing vapor. The vapor is inhaled by the user via the inhaler/tip  110 . 
     Traditionally, a nicotine containing liquid is not flavored.  FIG. 9  illustrates a conventional after-market flavor module  900  that may be added to a conventional E-cigarette  100 . The after-market flavor module  900  is inserted between the nicotine liquid reservoir/tank  108  and the inhaler/tip  110 . The flavor module  900  includes a reservoir  904  that is provided with a flavoring and a wick  902  between the reservoir  904  and the inhaler/tip  110 . As the vapor is sucked past the wick  902 , flavor is added to the vapor. This design however, tends not have consistent flavor addition due to absorption of flavor liquid into the wick  902 . Additionally, the wick tends to block the flow of vapor from the liquid reservoir/tank  108 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates and improve flavor apparatus  200 . The flavor apparatus  200  includes a flavor reservoir/tank  202 . As discussed above, the flavor apparatus  200  is designed to attach to and operate with conventional vaporizers  100 . Preferably, the flavor apparatus  200  is located between the atomizer  106 /liquid reservoir/tank  108  and the inhaler/tip  110  of the conventional vaporizers  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the details of a flavor apparatus  300  according to an embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the flavor apparatus  300  includes a cylindrical reservoir/tank  202  which surrounds a central conduit  112 . Vapor from the atomizer  106 /liquid reservoir/tank  108  enters one end of the central conduit  112 . Liquid flavoring in the cylindrical reservoir/tank  202  is provided to one or more nozzles, discussed in more detail below. The nozzles atomize the liquid flavoring and inject atomized flavoring  206  into the central conduit  112 . The atomized flavoring  206  mixes with the vapor from the atomizer  106 /liquid reservoir/tank  108  in the central conduit  112 . The flavored vapor may then be inhaled by the user via the inhaler/tip  110 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  another embodiment.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a vaporizer without the flavor apparatus  200 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the flavor apparatus  200  located between the atomizer  106 /liquid reservoir/tank  108  and the inhaler/tip  110 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate another embodiment of a flavor apparatus  500 . This embodiment includes a housing  502  which covers the flavor tank/reservoir  202  and at least a portion of the inhaler/tip  110 . This embodiment also includes an adjustment mechanism  210 . The adjustment mechanism  210  may be, for example, an adjustable air vent. As discussed in more detail below, the adjustment mechanism  210  may be used to adjust the amount of flavoring provided to the central conduit  112 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the atomizer  106  heats the liquid reservoir  108 , generating vapor  114 . The vapor  114  is provided to the central conduit  112  of the flavor apparatus  500  where it mixes with atomized flavoring  206 . The flavored vapor  504  is provided to the inhaler/tip  110 . 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates another embodiment of a flavor apparatus  700 . This embodiment includes a plurality of flavor delivery mechanisms  204 . In an embodiment, the flavor delivery mechanisms  204  are nozzles.  FIG. 7B  illustrates a vent cover for a flavor apparatus  700  that includes a flavor tank/reservoir  204  that lacks an adjustable vent. In this embodiment, the flavor apparatus  700  may include a filter  208  located to prevent or absorb liquid from passing from the central conduit  112  to the inhaler/tip  110 . That is, should some of the vapor in the central conduit  112  cool and condense, the filter  208  prevents it from reaching the user. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a flavor apparatus  1000  according to another embodiment. Rather than a cylindrical reservoir  108 , this embodiment includes a coiled tube reservoir  1002  to hold the liquid flavoring. The coiled tube reservoir  1002  may be wrapped around the central conduit  112 . One end of the coiled tube reservoir  1002  may be connected to a back port  1004  and the other end of the coiled tube reservoir  1002  may be connected to a front port  1006 . In an embodiment, the back port  1004  is located adjacent to and operable coupled to an adjustment mechanism  210 . The front port  1006  is operably connected to a nozzle  1008  configured to provide atomized flavoring to the central conduit  112 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a flavor apparatus  1100  according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the cylindrical reservoir/tank  108  includes a small feed tube  1102  which is operable connected to a nozzle  1008  configured to provide atomized flavoring to the central conduit  112 . As in the previous embodiment, this embodiment may also include an adjustment mechanism  210 , such as an adjustable air vent. 
     Although the foregoing refers to particular preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited. It will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments and that such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the invention. All of the publications, patent applications and patents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.