Patent Publication Number: US-2023146056-A1

Title: Vaping Pod with Pressure Regulator Protection

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is the first application for the instant invention. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates generally to a pod for use in a vaping system, and more particularly to a pod having a vent between the interior of its reservoir along with a mechanism to hold air near the vent for use in conjunction with an electronic cigarette or vaporizer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic cigarettes and vaporizers are well regarded tools in smoking cessation. In some instances, these devices are also referred to as an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). A nicotine based liquid solution, commonly referred to as e-liquid, often paired with a flavoring, is atomized in the ENDS for inhalation by a user. In some embodiments, e-liquid is stored in a cartridge or pod, which is a removable assembly having a reservoir from which the e-liquid is drawn towards a heating element by capillary action through a wick. In many such ENDS, the pod is removable, disposable, and is sold pre-filled. 
     In some ENDS, a refillable tank is provided, and a user can purchase a vaporizable solution with which to fill the tank. This refillable tank is often not removable, and is not intended for replacement. A fillable tank allows the user to control the fill level as desired. Disposable pods are typically designed to carry a fixed amount of vaporizable liquid, and are intended for disposal after consumption of the e-liquid. The ENDS cartridges, unlike the aforementioned tanks, are not typically designed to be refilled. Each cartridge stores a predefined quantity of e-liquid, often in the range of 0.5 to 3 ml. In ENDS systems, the e-liquid is typically composed of a combination of any of vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol, nicotine and flavorings. In systems designed for the delivery of other compounds, different compositions may be used. In some systems, the e-liquid may be a carrier for cannabinoids such as one or both of cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These cannabinoid based e-liquids may also contain terpenes, and use carriers based on vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol, while in some embodiments, the e-liquids may not have flavorings and may be based on different carriers than vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol. 
     In the manufacturing of the disposable cartridge, different techniques are used for different cartridge designs. Typically, the cartridge has a wick that allows e-liquid to be drawn from the e-liquid reservoir to an atomization chamber. In the atomization chamber, a heating element in communication with the wick is heated to encourage aerosolization of the e-liquid. The aerosolized e-liquid can be drawn through a defined air flow passage towards a user&#39;s mouth. 
       FIGS.  1 A,  1 B and  1 C  provide front, side and bottom views of an exemplary pod  50 . Pod  50  is composed of a reservoir  52  having an air flow passage  54 , and an end cap assembly  56  that is used to seal an open end of the reservoir  52 . End cap assembly has wick feed lines  58  which allow e-liquid stored in reservoir  52  to be provided to a wick (not shown in  FIG.  1   ). To ensure that e-liquid stored in reservoir  52  stays in the reservoir and does not seep or leak out, and to ensure that end cap assembly  56  remains in place after assembly, seals  60  can be used to ensure a more secure seating of the end cap assembly  56  in the reservoir  52 . In the illustrated embodiment, seals  60  may be implemented through the use of o-rings. 
     As noted above, pod  50  includes a wick that is heated to atomize the e-liquid. To provide power to the wick heater, electrical contacts  62  are placed at the bottom of the pod  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical contacts  62  are illustrated as circular. The particular shape of the electrical contacts  62  should be understood to not necessarily germane to the function of the pod  50 . 
     Because an ENDS device is intended to allow a user to draw or inhale as part of the nicotine delivery path, an air inlet  64  is provided on the bottom of pod  50 . Air inlet  64  allows air to flow into a pre-wick air path through end cap assembly  56 . The air flow path extends through an atomization chamber and then through post wick air flow passage  54 . 
     A mouthpiece  68  (shown in cross section atop pod  50 ) is seated on the top of pod  50 , with an absorbent pad  66  placed between the two. The absorbent pad is often formed from a material such as cotton, and is used to absorb condensation and large droplets of e-liquid. The mouthpiece may have openings that are positioned to require an e-liquid laden airflow to curve. As larger e-liquid droplets are heavier than smaller e-liquid droplets, the placement of openings in the mouthpiece  68  allows for some control over the size of the droplets delivered on the e-liquid laden airflow. Larger droplets are more likely to continue in straight airflow paths as a result of their increased momentum, allowing the placement of the openings to provide a rudimentary filter. 
     Additionally shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  is an e-liquid  70  within pod  50 , and an air pocket  72  corresponding to the space within reservoir  52  that is not filled with the e-liquid  70 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a cross section taken along line A in  FIG.  1 B . This cross section of the device is shown with a complete (non-sectioned) wick  76  and heater  78 . End cap assembly  56  resiliently mounts to an end of air flow passage  54  in a manner that allows air inlet  64  to form a complete air path through pod  50 . This connection allows airflow from air inlet  64  to connect to the post air flow path through passage  54  through atomization chamber  74 . Within atomization chamber  74  is both wick  76  and heater  78 . When power is applied to contacts  62 , the temperature of the heater  78  increases and allows for the volatilization of e-liquid that is drawn across wick  76 . 
     Typically the heater  78  reaches temperatures well in excess of the vaporization temperature of the e-liquid. This allows for the rapid creation of a vapor bubble next to the heater  78 . As power continues to be applied the vapor bubble increases in size, and reduces the thickness of the bubble wall. At the point at which the vapor pressure exceeds the surface tension the bubble will burst and release a mix of the vapor and the e-liquid that formed the wall of the bubble. The e-liquid is released in the form of aerosolized particles and droplets of varying sizes. These particles are drawn into the air flow and into post wick air flow passage  54  and towards the user. The e-liquid  70  and the air bubble  72  are also clearly illustrated in this figure. 
     It has been an observed issue that when a pod  50  with an air pocket  72  is packaged and shipped, the air pocket  72  can be associated with a number of undesired results. It should be understood that when the pod  50  is filled, and the air pocket  72  is trapped, it is trapped at the environmental conditions of the filling plant. If the pod  50  is transported through high altitudes, such as in the cargo hold of an airplane, the air pressure outside the pod is lower than the air pressure of the air pocket  72 . This can result in the air pocket  72  swelling in size to equalize with the exterior air pressure. An equalization of the air pressure will typically entail an increase in the volume of the air pocket  72 . The increase in the volume of the air pocket  72  will increase the pressure exerted by air pocket  72  on e-liquid  70 . E-liquid  70  would then be punished into the fill lines  58 . The e-liquid may be pushed into the wick  76  to the point that the wick  76  cannot carry the e-liquid, resulting in e-liquid  70  entering one or more of the atomization chamber and the pre-wick airflow chamber  64 . This may result in e-liquid leaking from the pod  50 . It should also be noted that there are a plurality of other leakage vectors including the expansion of air pocket  72  pushing e-liquid past the seals  60 , or e-liquid pushed into the atomization chamber  74  leaking through the connections to the electrical contacts  62 . The leakage of pod  50  can also occur after the pod is removed from the packaging and inserted into a device. If the pod is left in a sufficiently warm environment, the e-liquid may become less viscous and the air bubble  72  may expand. This combination of factors may drive the e-liquid  70  to leak in any of the number of ways discussed above. 
     There have been many attempts to address e-liquid leakage from pods, including modifications to pod designs, such as the pod  50  illustrated in  FIG.  3   . Pod  50  is largely similar to the structure of the pod illustrated in  FIG.  2   , with the addition of a valve  80  placed near the top of the pod  50 . When the air pressure within air bubble  72  exceeds the air pressure outside the pod  50 , either through heating of the air bubble  72  or reduction in the air pressure outside the pod  50 , prior art pods experience leakage as a result of the equalization of pressure. In the embodiment of  FIG.  3   , pod  50  adds a valve  80  that allows venting of air within air pocket  72 , when the pressure within the air pocket  72  exceeds the air pressure outside pod  50  by the cracking pressure of the valve  80 . When the valve  80  opens, air pressure can be equalized and then the valve  80  can close. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an alternate embodiment of pod  50 . While maintaining many of the structural elements of the previously described pods,  FIG.  4    illustrates an alternate embodiment of pod  50 , shown in an inverted orientation with respect to the previous figures. The illustrated embodiment of pod  50  avoids the use of O-ring style seals, and instead makes use of a resilient cap  82  that sits atop end cap  56 . Resilient cap  82  may be made of a deformable material such as silicone. Additionally, an airflow feature  84  is introduced that can be situated either in the post wick air flow passage  54  or it may be situated in the resilient cap  82 . In some embodiments, the airflow feature  84  may be a blunt shaped object, such as a rod perpendicular to the airflow path. This optional airflow feature  84  can induce turbulence in the airflow which may result in vortices forming in the post wick airflow path  54  that encourage droplets over a threshold size to be directed into the walls of the post wick airflow path  54 . At the mouthpiece-end of the pod  50 , is a valve  80  designed to allow venting of excess pressure within the pod  50 . As noted above, pod  50  shown in  FIG.  4    is inverted in comparison to the pods shown in previous figures. As a result, e-liquid  70  fills what would otherwise be the top of the reservoir  52 , leaving air pocket  72  near the end cap  56 . When air pressure inside air pocket  72  exceeds the outside air pressure, it may be able to exit through end cap  56 , but it may also push against e-liquid  70 , creating sufficient pressure to force valve  80  to open, and allowing e-liquid to be expelled. Thus, while addressing some of the issues associated with the presence of air pockets, valves within the pod to allow for expelling air have not become terribly common, while the problem of pod leakage during shipping continues. 
     It would therefore be beneficial to have a mechanism to further mitigate pod leakage due to pressure differentials. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the aspects of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problems of the above-discussed prior art. 
     In a variety of aspects of the present invention, and in embodiments thereof, problems associated with the prior art are mitigated or obviated. By preventing the movement of at least a portion of an air bubble within a reservoir, aspects and embodiments disclosed herein allow for pressure regulation to be carried out within the pod with a reduced possibility of expelling e-liquid from the reservoir. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pod for storing an atomizable e-liquid for use in a vaping system. The pod comprises a reservoir, a pressure regulator and a membrane. The pod can store an atomizable e-liquid for use in a vaping system. Within the pod, the reservoir stores the e-liquid. Within the reservoir is a pressure regulator, typically placed within a wall of the reservoir, that allows for pressure equalization between an internal pressure (a pressure inside the reservoir) and an external pressure (a pressure outside the reservoir). The membrane is impermeable to the e-liquid in at least one direction under normal conditions. The membrane is positioned within the reservoir to allow for separation of the e-liquid from an air pocket within the reservoir. The impermeability of the membrane allows for the air pocket within the reservoir to be kept in fluid communication with the pressure regulator. 
     In an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the e-liquid comprises at least one of vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol, nicotine and a flavoring. In another embodiment, the e-liquid comprises a cannabinoid. In a further embodiment, the pressure regulator allows an air pressure within the reservoir to be regulated down to an air pressure outside the reservoir. In another embodiment, the pressure regulator is a vent. In a further embodiment, the pressure regulator is a valve that allows air to flow from inside the reservoir to outside the reservoir. 
     In an embodiment, the membrane is permeable to air. In a further embodiment, the membrane is positioned within the reservoir at a level at or above the level of the e-liquid stored within the pod. In another embodiment, the membrane is permeable to the e-liquid in one direction, and impermeable to the e-liquid in the other direction, and optionally the membrane is impermeable to the e-liquid in the direction of the pressure regulator. In another embodiment, the membrane is formed of filaments spaced apart no greater than a threshold distance. In some embodiments, the threshold distance is determined in accordance with physical properties of the e-liquid, and optionally the physical properties include at least one of a density of the e-liquid, a viscosity of the e-liquid and a surface tension of the e-liquid. Optionally, the threshold distance is determined in accordance with at least one of a maximum storage temperature and a volume of e-liquid to be stored in the reservoir. 
     In a second aspect, there is provided a vaping device comprising a battery, control circuitry, and components of the pod of the first aspect. The battery stores power for delivery to a heater engaged with the wick. The control circuitry controls delivery of power to the heater, optionally in accordance with a user input. The reservoir stores e-liquid for delivery to the wick. The pressure is positioned within the reservoir to allow for equalization of pressure inside the reservoir with pressure outside the reservoir. The membrane is impermeable to the e-liquid in at least one direction under normal conditions. It is positioned within the reservoir to allow for separation of the e-liquid from an air pocket within the reservoir, and for keeping the air pocket within the reservoir within fluid communication with the pressure regulator. 
     The limitations discussed above with respect to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention can equally be applied to embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figure in which: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a front view of a prior art pod for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a side view of the pod of  FIG.  1 A ; 
         FIG.  1 C  is a bottom view of the pod of  FIG.  1 A ; 
         FIG.  2    is a cross section of the pod of  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  along cut line A in  FIG.  1 B ; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross section of a prior art pod with a pressure regulator; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross section of an alternate prior art pod design with a pressure regulator; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross section of a pod having a pressure regulator and a membrane for separating e-liquid from an air bubble; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates the pod of  FIG.  5    inverted; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross section of an alternate design of a pod having a pressure regulator and a membrane for separating e-liquid from an air bubble; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a cross section of the pod of  FIG.  7    taken along cut line B in  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9 A  illustrates an example of a membrane preventing movement of an e-liquid in one direction; and 
         FIG.  9 B  illustrates the membrane of  FIG.  9 A  allowing movement of e-liquid across the membrane in the other direction. 
     
    
    
     In the above described figures like elements have been described with like numbers where possible. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the instant description, and in the accompanying figures, reference to dimensions may be made. These dimensions are provided for the enablement of a single embodiment and should not be considered to be limiting or essential. Disclosure of numerical range should be understood to not be a reference to an absolute value unless otherwise indicated. Use of the terms about or substantively with regard to a number should be understood to be indicative of an acceptable variation of up to ±10% unless otherwise noted. 
     As noted earlier, the addition of valves of various types have been disclosed with respect to addressing the problems associated with pressure relief within a pod. Because the valve should permit flow of trapped air, but should not allow e-liquid to be exhausted, valved pods are often recommended for shipping in a defined orientation, so that the air pocket is adjacent to the valve. However, for a conventional pod without a valve, shipping the pod in an orientation that keeps the air pocket between e-liquid and the end cap may also find success as expansion of the air pocket is more likely to push air out of the pod instead of pushing e-liquid out. However, even if packed in a specific orientation, it should be understood that pods are likely to be moved around during transit, and there is no guarantee that a pod will end up in the orientation that is indicated as correct (e.g. a container labelled “This Side Up” may not in fact spend most of its shipping time with the indicated side facing up.) 
     In embodiments of the present invention, a mechanism is provided to ensure that the air pocket and valve are maintained in a configuration so that they are adjacent to each other regardless of the orientation of the pod. This is done through the introduction of a barrier within the pod that is located at or above the level at which the e-liquid should reach in a filled pod. This barrier is preferably permeable to air, but largely impermeable to the e-liquid. This mix of permeabilities with respect to the two fluids allows the fixed position of the valve to be adjacent to an air pocket at all times. This allows the venting of air from the air pocket so that pressure can be equalized between the interior and exterior of the pod. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a cross section view of a pod  100  of an embodiment of the present invention. Pod  100  is comprised of a reservoir  102  which defines a post-wick airflow passage  104  and an end cap  106 . The end cap  106  defines wick feedlines  108  that allow for e-liquid stored within reservoir  102  to flow into end cap  106 . Between end cap  106  and the walls of reservoir  102  are seals  110 , that in some embodiments are implemented as o-rings or other resilient seals. Electrical contacts  112  allow for an electrical connection to a vaping device that allows for power to be delivered across electrical contacts  112  and through the heater  120 . Aligned with the post-wick airflow passage  104  is a pre-wick airflow passage  114  (in this illustrated embodiment, but it should be understood that this vertical alignment is not essential and is only specific to this discussed embodiment). Air can enter a filled pod through pre-wick airflow passage  114 , and enter into atomization chamber  116 . Within the atomization chamber is a segment of wick  118 , which extends across the atomization chamber and ends in the wick feed lines  108 . This allows wick  108  to be in fluid contact with the e-liquid within the reservoir. Wick  118  draws e-liquid across from the feedlines  108  towards the center of the wick  118 , which is generally aligned with an airflow path through pre-wick airflow passage  114 , the atomization chamber  116  and the post wick airflow passage  104 . The wick  118  is also in contact with heater  120 , and when power is delivered across electrical contacts  112 , the heater  120  atomizes e-liquid carried across wick  116 . The atomized e-liquid is entrained in an airflow and continues into post wick airflow passage  104  for delivery to the user. 
     As before, above e-liquid  122  is an air pocket  124 , as well as a valve  126 . The particular implementation of valve  126  is not necessarily germane to the following discussion so long as it allows outflow of liquids when the pressure inside the pod exceeds the pressure outside the pod by a cracking pressure associated with the valve  126 . The valve  126  may be implemented in any of a number of different fashions as would be understood by those skilled in the art. Additionally, a membrane  128  is positioned inside reservoir  102  at a level at or above the level of e-liquid  122 . Membrane  128  is designed to be permeable to air, but largely impermeable to the e-liquid. This means that the membrane  128  will allow air to pass through it (in either direction) and it will resist the passage of the e-liquid through the membrane in at least one direction. It should be noted that the membrane being completely impermeable to the e-liquid in either direction is not a requirement, and as such, while the positioning of the membrane  128  has been described as being at or above the level of the e-liquid within the reservoir  102  is optional. In some embodiments, membrane  128  may have pores that are small enough so that e-liquid  122  cannot pass through, but large enough to allow air from the air pocket  124  to pass through. Depending upon the viscosity and other characteristics of the e-liquid in question, this may allow membrane  128  to be implemented as a screen. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates the pod  100  of  FIG.  5    in an inverted orientation. The e-liquid  122  within reservoir  102  falls towards the mouthpiece end of pod  100 . It rests atop membrane  128  as the membrane is impermeable to the e-liquid (at least in the illustrated direction). Below membrane  128 , air pocket  124  is maintained. Valve  126  is in fluid communication with air pocket  124  and not with e-liquid  122 . This allows any over pressurization of the inside of reservoir  102  to be vented safely without expelling e-liquid. It should be understood that there may be a second air pocket  130  that is formed at the top of the e-liquid  124 . Over pressurization of air pocket  130  can be safely accommodated by venting through the feed lines  108 , the wick and either of pre-wick airflow passage  114  or post wick airflow passage  104 . Thus, membrane  128  prevents e-liquid from migrating into an area adjacent to the valve  126 , allowing for valve  126  to allow for regulation of the pressure within reservoir  102  without expelling e-liquids. 
     In some embodiments, the outward face of valve  126  can be covered by an absorbent material, such as cotton. This absorbent material may be the absorbent pad illustrated in  FIG.  1   . This would further protect from valve  126  expelling e-liquid in an unexpected situation. 
     The membrane  126  can be formed in any of a number of different fashions, as will be explained in discussions of subsequent figures. But, at this moment it is important to understand that the membrane  126  should prevent movement of the e-liquid across the membrane in the direction of the valve  126 . In the disclosed embodiments of  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the membrane  126  permits air to pass through the membrane in both directions. This allows for an air bubble that straddles both sides of the membrane to have its air pressure consistent in both sections. If the membrane can be designed so that it allows e-liquid  122  to pass through the membrane in the direction away from the valve  126 , this allows e-liquid  122  to be effectively drained into the larger volume of e-liquid  122  through the use of the pod  100 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an embodiment of an alternate design of the pod  100 . In place of seals  110 , pod  100  in  FIG.  7    makes use of a resilient cap  134  that engages with end cap  106  to provide a sealing interface between the end cap  106  and reservoir  102 . In some embodiments, resilient cap  134  is formed from silicone and is compressible so that it is distorted when end cap  106  is inserted into reservoir  102 . This distortion of the resilient cap  134  provides a high degree of sealing to prevent egress of e-liquid from the endcap-reservoir interface. Airflow feature  132  can optionally be included in the post wick airflow passage  104  or within the resilient cap  134 , as illustrated in this embodiment. In some embodiments, the airflow feature  132  may be a blunt shaped object, such as a rod perpendicular to the airflow path. This optional airflow feature  132  can induce turbulence in the airflow which may result in vortices forming in the post wick airflow path  104  that encourage droplets over a threshold size to be directed into the walls of the post wick airflow path  104 . Valve  126  and membrane  128  are situated within the reservoir, at the mouthpiece end distal to the end cap  106 . As with the previously described figures, the air bubble within pod  100  may be divided into two air pockets when the pod  100  is stored within this inverted position. The air pocket  124  is kept at the mouthpiece end of pod  100  due to the presence of membrane  128 , while air pocket  130  can migrate through the pod  100  with changes in the orientation of pod  100 . Valve  126  is maintained in fluid communication with air pocket  124  in all orientations as a result of the placement of membrane  128 . Also shown in  FIG.  7    is a cut line B, that defines the perspective position used to show the cross section illustrated in  FIG.  8   . 
       FIG.  8    is a cross section view of pod  100  (shown without e-liquid) along section line B in  FIG.  7   . From this view, pod  100  has a reservoir  102  and post wick airflow passage  104 , along with membrane  128 . The membrane is mounted so that it connects with the sidewalls of reservoir  102 . The illustrated embodiment of membrane  128  is a mesh made of filaments  136  with an interfilament spacing  138 . Although illustrated here with just horizontal and vertical filaments  136 , it should be understood that other patterns can be used as well. Furthermore, there is no requirement for the vertical and horizontal filaments to be the same diameter or have other similar characteristics. The interfilament spacing  138  has a maximum size that is determined in accordance with physical characteristics of the e-liquid being used within pod  100 . The surface tension of the e-liquid defines a minimum size of aperture through which the e-liquid can pass in accordance with a number of factors including an expected temperature range and the mass of the e-liquid that will be supported on membrane  128 . When these factors are taken into account, a maximum interfilament spacing can be determined that prevents the movement of the e-liquid across the membrane  128  under a set of expected conditions. Thus, in operation, if e-liquid resides on one side of the membrane, even under the weight of the entire allotment of a full pod, the e-liquid will not pass through the membrane  128 , allowing the air pocket to remain adjacent to the valve. 
       FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  illustrate an embodiment of membrane  128 . Instead of embodiments in which the membrane is symmetrical on either side, this embodiment of membrane  128  is directional. As shown in  FIG.  9 A , filaments of the membrane are formed so that they have two different faces. In the illustrated embodiment, membrane  128  has triangular filaments that allow air  125  or other gasses to pass through membrane  128  in both directions. As shown in  FIG.  9 A , a mass of e-liquid  122  can pass through the membrane  128  in one orientation. The e-liquid  122  is able to come through the membrane  128  as droplets, which can reduce the amount of the e-liquid above the membrane  128 . 
     In  FIG.  9 B , the membrane has been inverted, and due to the asymmetry of the filaments within membrane  128 , the e-liquid  122  has too much surface tension to allow for passing through the membrane  128  in this direction. As such, membrane  128  is able to prevent movement of the e-liquid  122  in one direction but it also can allow movement of the e-liquid across the membrane in the other direction. Use of such a membrane  128  would allow for the placement of the membrane  128  within pod  100  at or below the fill level of the e-liquid. As e-liquid is used, the e-liquid would be drained and would migrate to below the membrane  128 . Over pressurization of the pod  100  could still be prevented through the use of valve  126 , with the understanding that this would find its greatest effect after the pod  100  had been used and e-liquid level had dropped below the level of the membrane  128 . 
     In the above embodiments valve  126  has been discussed as a mechanism to allow for the regulation of pressure between the inside and outside of reservoir  102  in pod  100 . It should be noted that so long as the membrane is sufficiently impermeable to the e-liquid, valve  126  could be replaced by a vent. This would function as a perpetually open valve, and would avoid over pressurization of the reservoir. It should be understood that this may have some effects including an increased rate of oxidation of the e-liquid, but this may be offset by an ease of implementation. Thus, a vent or a valve may be used as a pressure regulator within the pod  100 . Thus, the pressure regulator and membrane, allow a pod to equalize pressure between the air pocket separated from the e-liquid by the membrane through the pressure regulator. 
     It should also be understood that while discussed above within the context of a pod for use with a distinct vaping device, the above embodiments may also be employed in disposable devices that integrate the reservoir and heating systems within a device that does not use a replaceable pod. In discussing such devices it should be understood that an integrated pod may simply be referred to as by its constituent components. It should also be understood that although the above descriptions have addressed pre-filled pods, some of the above described embodiments may be used in systems that make use of refillable pods which have a port that allows for user refilling of the reservoir. 
     Although presented below in the context of use in an electronic nicotine delivery system such as an electronic cigarette (e-cig) or a vaporizer (vape) it should be understood that the scope of protection need not be limited to this space, and instead is delimited by the scope of the claims. Embodiments of the present invention are anticipated to be applicable in areas other than ENDS, including (but not limited to) other vaporizing applications. 
     In the instant description, and in the accompanying figures, reference to dimensions may be made. These dimensions are provided for the enablement of a single embodiment and should not be considered to be limiting or essential. The sizes and dimensions provided in the drawings are provided for exemplary purposes and should not be considered limiting of the scope of the invention, which is defined solely in the claims.