Patent Publication Number: US-2016227836-A1

Title: Vaporizing device outer lid and basket assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vaporization of tobacco and dry herbs has become increasingly popular in recent years and the selection of such materials for vaporization has increased. A variety of vaporizers are available having integrated compartments for holding and heating such materials. However, the existing vaporizers do not provide a convenient mechanism for sampling a variety of such materials from different sources. Although disposable drop-in pods are available for use with certain vaporizing devices, such pods do not function as storage for partially spent material, do not allow use of material from a variety of sources, require the use of non-reusable packaging materials, and are relatively expensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Included herein is an outer lid and basket assembly for use with a vaporizing device having a lid, the assembly comprises a basket, further comprising a vented compartment and lateral rails; and an outer lid configured to replace the lid of the vaporizing device, wherein said outer lid further comprises a track for slidably receiving the lateral rails of the basket, and wherein the vented compartment of the basket is sized to fit within the heating chamber of a vaporizer. 
     The basket may comprise an inner basket lid having one or more snap closures and may be attached to the basket via a hinge. The basket further comprises a vented compartment, which may be comprised of metal mesh, an elevated bottom plate, or other forms of venting. The vented compartment of the basket is sized to fit within the storage chamber of a vaporizing device and may further comprise an electronic heating element configured to contact electrical contact points within the vaporizing device. 
     In certain embodiments, the outer lid comprises two or more magnets configured to removably attach the outer lid and basket assembly to the vaporing device. The outer lid may further comprise a recessed surface and a handle, wherein the handle is attached to the outer lid in the recessed portion of the outer lid. 
     In certain embodiments the assembly may be provided as part of a kit, comprising two or more interchangeable baskets, each basket having a vented compartment sized to fit within the heating chamber of a vaporizer and lateral rails; and an outer lid for use with a vaporizing device, wherein the outer lid further comprises a track for slidably receiving the lateral rails of the baskets such that the vented compartment of the baskets contact the heating element of the vaporizing device when the outer lid is engaged with the vaporizing device. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1 : Perspective view of the outer lid with a track and the basket with lateral rails configured to fit within the track 
         FIG. 2 : Front and side elevation views of the basket and outer lid 
         FIG. 3 : Bottom and top plan views of the basket and outer lid 
         FIG. 4 : Perspective view of the basket and basket lid having snap closure 
         FIG. 5 : Perspective view of the outer lid with a track and the basket with lateral rails configured to fit within the track, showing the basket with a hinged basked lid and snap closure 
         FIG. 6 : Back elevation view of the basket with an open hinged lid 
         FIG. 7 : Outer lid with recessed handle 
         FIG. 8 : Perspective view of the outer lid and basket assembly configured to fit within the heating chamber of a vaporizing device 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Definitions 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the inventions described herein belong. 
     Alternative embodiments of the claimed invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the claimed invention. Of these, variations of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing disclosure. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the claimed invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the claimed invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the claimed invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 
     It is to be understood that the use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of this disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as, preferred, preferably) provided herein, is intended merely to further illustrate the content of the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the claimed invention. 
     Provided herein is an outer lid and basket assembly for use with vaporizing devices, wherein one or more removable baskets are provided, permitting the user to preload and/or interchange multiple baskets with tobacco or dry herb without cleaning the heating chamber of the vaporizing device. The system offers the user a convenient method to remove a basket with partially vaporized contents and replace with another basket without wasting material or needing additional storage for partially spent material. The present invention may be configured for use with a variety of vaporizing devices, for example, in one embodiment, it may be used with a PAX® vaporizing device (produced by Ploom) as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/837,438. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present system provides a basket  10  having a vented compartment  12  for holding tobacco or dry herb, lateral rails  14 , and outer lid  30  having a track  32  for slidably receiving the rails of the basket. The lateral rails of the basket are sized to fit within the track of the outer lid, allowing the basket to be slidably attached to the outer lid. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the outer lid and basket assembly is configured to attach to a vaporizing device such that the vented compartment of the basket is proximate to, or in contact with, the heating chamber of the vaporizing device, thus providing adequate heat transfer for vaporization of the tobacco or dry herb that is loaded in the vented compartment. Alternatively, the vented compartment may contain a heating element and fit within the storage chamber of the vaporizing device. The vented compartment may be constructed with a vented material such as a metal mesh or alternatively, may be constructed of a solid material and comprise vents under a bottom plate within the basket, or may alternatively have other venting holes or pipes within the basket. 
     The outer lid is constructed to be attached to the vaporizing device in a manner similar to that of the vaporizing device&#39;s original lid. In certain embodiments the outer lid comprises two or more magnets, capable of removably attaching the outer lid to the vaporizing device. In alternative embodiments, the outer lid may utilize snap or screw closures for attachment to the vaporizing device. 
     In certain embodiments the basket comprises a basket lid. For example, in certain embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , the basket  10  further comprises a removable basket lid  16  with two or more closures  18  for removably attaching the basket lid to the basket. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 5-6 , in other embodiments, the basket  10  has a hinged basket lid  20  with a snap closure  18 . A variety of closures are well known in the industry and may include, but not be limited to, one or more of a variety of snaps, hooks, clasps, or clips. 
     In certain embodiments, the outer lid of the system further comprises a handle. In one preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the present system has an outer lid with a recessed handle  22 , permitting the device to be placed upright on a flat surface. 
     In certain embodiments, the basket contains am electronic heating element. The heating element may comprise a printed heater circuit board. 
     In certain embodiments, the system may be packaged as part of kit, wherein a single outer lid is packaged with two or more interchangeable baskets. In certain embodiments, the interchangeable baskets may further comprise a removable or hinged basket lid, such that multiple baskets can serve to store pre-loaded or partially spent tobacco or dry herb.