Abstract:
There is disclosed an apparatus comprising a housing, a phyto material receptacle, a heating element, a heating element switch and a controller. The housing is adapted to be handheld. The phyto material receptacle includes a plurality of cavities. Each cavity is adapted to hold a phyto material unit. The phyto material receptacle is removable from the housing. The heating element is disposed within the housing and proximate one of the plurality of cavities. The heating element switch is adapted to activate the heating element. The controller is adapted to control transfer of energy to the heating element, identify a quantity of unused phyto material units held by the phyto material receptacle, and control the heating element switch.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/629,508, filed Nov. 18, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention relates to inhaling devices.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     Herbs and botanicals have been used for thousands of years by both ancient and modern civilizations. Aromatherapy, herbology, and phyto-inhalation products are popular among many people.  
         [0007]     At least a billion people worldwide smoke tobacco and other phyto materials. However, because of health considerations or various laws and regulations, smoking is now prohibited in many airplanes, restaurants and other public places.  
         [0008]     Products are now being introduced to deliver the pleasures of smoking without polluting the environment. Examples of such products include nicotine chewing gum and patches.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the sliding mouthpiece.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the rotating mouthpiece.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of four AA batteries.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a four AA battery pack.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a 9-Volt battery.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of a proprietary battery pack.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a constituent disk.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a constituent disk with pattern identification.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of a constituent disk with electrical identification.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4D  is a perspective view of a constituent disk with integrated heating elements.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the heating chamber and exhaust chamber.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8C  is a section view of the fourth embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the present invention.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B , the first embodiment of a volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  comprises a frame  110 , a control panel  112 , a mouthpiece  114 , a sanitary disposable sleeve  116 , an air inlet  118 , a heating chamber  120 , a heating element  122 , an exhaust chamber  124 , a battery pack  126 , a power switch  128 , and a consumable disk  130  further comprising a constituent  132  to be volatized or vaporized for inhalation.  
         [0029]     The frame  110  further comprises a handle  134  and a lid  136 . The frame  110  may be made from injection molded plastic, formed sheet metal, carbon fiber composites, or any similar material and processes known to one skilled in the art of making hand held devices. The handle  134  is shaped to provide a comfortable and ergonomic grip. The handle  134  may have finger grips or may be smooth. The shape may be cylindrical, oval, or custom contoured to fit many different sized hands as well as left and right hands. The lid  136  opens to provide access to the heating chamber  120  and heating element  122 . The lid  136  may open in a rotational manner via a hinge  138  or in a sliding motion (not shown).  
         [0030]     The control panel  112  comprises a temperature setting  140  to control the temperature of the heating element  122 . The temperature setting  140  could be in the form of a variety of options. It could be a constant setting or it could have the ability to vary. The temperature setting  140  could be a dial, which is manually turned to increase or decrease the temperature of the heating element  122 , it could be a digital gauge with buttons to increase or decrease the temperature, or it could be automatically controlled via internal circuitry embedded in the frame  110  which reads a constituent identification  176  located on the, disk  130 . The control panel  112  may further comprise a digital readout  142  for communicating information to the individuals or patients. The digital readout  142  may comprise indicators including, but not limited to, a battery life indicator  144 , a number of uses remaining on the disk  146 , a date and time indicator  148 , and a constituent type indicator  150 , which may be manually set or may automatically update by reading the constituent identification  176  located on the disk. The digital readout  142  may further comprise a power on indicator  151  in the form of a small light or LED. The power on indicator may also be located in the frame  110  or the lid  136 . The digital readout  142  may further comprise a date and time last used indicator  152  and an alarm for next use indicator  154  for the purpose of dispensing time sensitive medicines to the individuals or patients. The control panel  112  may further comprise a heating timer  156  to control amount of time the heating element  122  is energized. The heating timer  156  could be in the form of a variety of options. It could be a constant setting or it could have the ability to vary. The heating timer  156  could be a dial, which is manually turned to increase or decrease the duration of time the heating element  122  is energized, it could be a digital gauge with buttons to increase or decrease the time, or it could be automatically controlled via internal circuitry embedded in the frame  110  which reads a constituent identification  176  located on the disk  130 . The control panel  112  further comprises an electrical power port  158  for recharging the battery pack  126  or for operating without battery power. The electrical power port may also be located on the handle  134  or the frame  110 .  
         [0031]     The power switch  128  may be a rocker switch, a momentary rocker switch, a push button switch, a momentary push button switch. The power switch may be located on the control panel  112 , the frame  110  (not shown), or the handle  134  (not shown). Alternatively, the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  may be powered on by sliding or opening the mouthpiece  114 . When the power switch  128  is activated, the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  is put into a “powered on” state, whereby it is ready to be function as described. When the power switch  128  is deactivated, the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  is put into a “powered off’ state. With any of the aforementioned on-off switch  158  configurations, the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  may have a power save mode whereby the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  may power down after a predetermined time of inactivity.  
         [0032]     The frame  110  further comprises heater switch  160 . The heater switch  160  may be a rocker switch, a momentary rocker switch, a push button switch, a momentary push button switch, or a momentary trigger switch similar to gun. Alternatively, the heater switch  160  may be internal to the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100 , which is activated when the individual or patient applies suction to the mouthpiece  114  by inhaling on the mouthpiece  114 . With any of the aforementioned momentary heater switch  160  configurations, the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  may have a power save mode whereby the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100  may sustain energy to the heating element  122  for a predetermined time or automatically sustain energy to the heating element  122  for a time related to the constituent identification  176 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B , the mouthpiece  114  may be made from injection molded plastic, formed sheet metal, carbon fiber composites, or any similar material and processes known to one skilled in the art of making mouthpieces. The mouthpiece  114  comprises a mouthpiece inlet  162 , an internal passageway  164 , and a mouthpiece exit  166 . An optional sanitary disposable sleeve  116  may be placed on the exit of the mouthpiece  114  to allow multiple individuals or patients to use the device without communicating germs or saliva. The mouthpiece  114  may slide open and closed along sliding path  115  or may rotate open or closed along rotating path  117 .  
         [0034]     Referring to FIGS.  3 A-D, the battery pack  126  may be a proprietary shape to ensure proper installation, it may also be rechargeable type of nickel metal hydride, known as Ni-mh, or lithium ion, know as Li-ion, or other types known to one of ordinary skill in the art of rechargeable batteries. The battery pack  126  may be interchangeable with one or more disposable alkaline batteries including, but not limited to, AA, 9-volt, C-Cell, or rechargeable batteries with the aforementioned form factor.  
         [0035]     Referring to FIGS.  4 A-D, the disk  130  may be formed of a metal mesh, porous, or air permeable, material such as ceramic or sintered metal, or any other material which is heat resistant and portions of which will allow air, gas, or liquid fluids to pass through. The disk  130  may comprise a top surface or layer  168 , a bottom surface or layer  170 . The bottom layer may have dimples or cups  172  formed to hold a constituent  132  to be exposed to heat. The dimples or cups  172  may further comprise small holes or openings (not shown), which will allow air, gas or liquid fluids to pass through. The disk  130  may further comprise ratchet teeth  174  on the exterior of the disk or the interior (not shown) for the purpose of rotating and locating the dimples or cups  172  with respect to the heating chamber  120 . Referring again to FIGS.  4 A-D, the ratchet teeth  174  are shown with varying shapes to illustrate several options for rotating and locating the dimples or cups  172  with respect to the heating chamber  120 . The ratchet teeth  174  shown are no way intended to limit the shape to the options illustrated, but include all equivalent shapes, which may be used for rotating the disk  130 . The disk may comprise a constituent identification  176  in the form of holes in a pattern or via resistance shown with an inner trace  177  and an outer trace  179  with an identification resistor  181  connecting the traces. The constituent identification  176  may be read by the volatization or vaporization unit  100  for the purposes of controlling the temperature and time heat is applied to the constituent  132 . The disk may further comprise a key feature  178  in the center for locating and rotating the disk. The dimples or cups  172  may further comprise air permeable integrated heating elements  122  used for applying heat to the constituent  132 . The integrated heating elements  122  may comprise of an electrical resistive material including, but not limited to an aluminum alloy, a ferrous alloy, carbon filament yarns, and equivalents thereof. The integrated heating elements  122  may be designed to provide specific temperatures to the constituent  132  depending on the type of constituent  132  in the disk. When the heater switch  160  is activated, electrical energy is applied to the outer trace and inner trace of the integrated heating element  122  causing the integrated heating element  122  to reach a temperature sufficient to volatize or vaporize the constituent  132  within the dimple or cup of the disk.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the heating chamber  120  and exhaust chamber  124  may be made from a heat resistant material with insulating properties. The material may be ceramic, sintered metal, or a composite of heat resistant material such as metal coated with an insulating material or fabric. The heating chamber  120  comprises a heating inlet  182  and a heating exit  184 . The exhaust chamber  124  comprises an exhaust inlet  186  and an exhaust exit  188 . The heating inlet  182  of the heating chamber  120  allows ambient air to be drawn into the heating chamber  120  to be heated. The dimple or cup  172  of the disk  130  is located in sufficient proximity to the heating element  122  in order to be heated to the point of volatization or vaporization of the constituent  132  within the dimple or cup. The heating exit  184  of the heating chamber  120  is in close proximity or in direct contact the dimple or cup  172  on the bottom surface or layer  170  side of the disk  130  to focus the heat from the heating element  122  to the constituent  132  within the dimple or cup. The exhaust inlet  186  of the exhaust chamber  124  is in close proximity or in direct contact of the top surface or layer  169  of the disk  130  opposite from the dimple or cup. The exhaust chamber  124  exhaust exit  188  is positioned to create a seal with the mouthpiece inlet  162 . During operation the individual or patient initiates the heating of the heating element  122  by pressing or activating the heater switch  160  while applying suction at the mouthpiece exit  166  of the mouthpiece  114  by inhaling slightly. The suction from inhaling draws ambient air into the heating inlet  182  into the heating chamber  120 , through the dimple or cup  172  in the disk  130 , whereby the air mixes with the volatized or vaporized constituent  132  and is drawn through the exhaust inlet  186 , out the exhaust exit  188  of the exhaust chamber  124 , into the mouthpiece inlet  162  of the mouthpiece  114 , through the mouthpiece exit  166  and into the individual&#39;s or patient&#39;s lungs. Alternatively, the heater switch may be activated by an on demand vacuum or suction operated switching mechanism (not shown), whereby when the individual or patient applies suction at the mouthpiece exit  166 , the heater switch  160  is activated initiating the delivery of the volatized or vaporized constituent  132  into the lungs. The mouthpiece  114  may also be an integrated mouthpiece  114  and exhaust chamber  124  (not shown). The heating element  122  may be made of a resistive electrical heating element  122  similar to an electrocautery surgical tool or an electric stove heating element  122 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a second embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit  200  comprises a frame  110 , a control panel  112 , a mouthpiece  114 , a sanitary disposable sleeve  116 , an air inlet  118 , a heating chamber  120 , a heating element  122 , an exhaust chamber  124 , a battery pack  126 , a power switch  128 , a heater switch  160 , a consumable disk  130  containing a constituent  132  to be volatized or vaporized for inhalation, and a side opening. The disk  130  is inserted and removed via a side opening. The disk  130  rotates as described hereinabove.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a third embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit  300  comprises a frame  110 , a control panel  112 , a mouthpiece  114 , a sanitary disposable sleeve  116 , an air inlet  118 , a heating chamber  120 , a heating element  122 , an exhaust chamber  124 , a battery pack  126 , a heater switch  160 , a consumable disk  130  containing a constituent  132  to be volatized or vaporized for inhalation, and a side opening. The disk  130  is inserted and removed via a side opening. The disk  130  is inserted and removed via a side opening, whereby the disk  130  is positioned horizontal or perpendicular to the position of the first and second embodiments. The disk  130  rotates as described hereinabove.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 8A &amp; 8B , a fourth embodiment of the volatizing or vaporizing unit  400  comprises a frame  110 , a mouthpiece  114 , a sliding door  410 , a consumable disk  130  containing a constituent  132  to be volatized or vaporized for inhalation, a heater switch  160 , and several features not shown including an air inlet  118 , a heating chamber  120 , a heating element  122 , an exhaust chamber  124 , a battery pack  126 , a power switch  128 , and a side opening. The disk  130  is inserted and removed via a side opening. The disk  130  is inserted and removed via a side opening, whereby the disk  130  is positioned horizontal or perpendicular to the position of the first and second embodiments. The disk  130  rotates as described hereinabove.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 8A , the fourth embodiment the volatizing or vaporizing unit  400  is shown in the closed position whereby the sliding door  410  covers the end of the mouthpiece  114 . Referring to  FIG. 8B , the fourth embodiment  400  is shown in the open position whereby the sliding door  410  is moved toward the heater switch  160  allowing the mouthpiece  114  to slide into the open position as shown. When the sliding door  410  is in the open position it may activate the power to the volatizating or vaporizing unit  400 . When the individual or patient pressed the heater switch  160 , the heating element  122  volatizes or vaporizes the constituent  132  allowing the individual or patient to inhale the constituent  132 .  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 8C , the fourth embodiment the volatizing or vaporizing unit  400  is shown with the air inlet  118 , the heating chamber  120 , the heating element  122 , the exhaust chamber  124 , the battery pack  126 , the disk  130 , the constituent  132  located in the dimples or cups  172 , and the internal passageway  164  in dashed lines. As described hereinabove, during operation the individual or patient initiates the heating of the heating element  122  by pressing or activating the heater switch  160  while applying suction at the mouthpiece exit  166  of the mouthpiece  114  by inhaling slightly. The suction from inhaling draws ambient air into the heating inlet  182  into the heating chamber  120 , through the dimple or cup  172  in the disk  130 , whereby the air mixes with the volatized or vaporized constituent  132  and is drawn through the exhaust inlet  186 , out the exhaust exit  188  of the exhaust chamber  124 , into the mouthpiece inlet  162  of the mouthpiece  114 , through the mouthpiece exit  166  and into the individual&#39;s or patient&#39;s lungs. Alternatively, the heater switch may be activated by an on demand vacuum or suction operated switching mechanism (not shown), whereby when the individual or patient applies suction at the mouthpiece exit  166 , the heater switch  160  is activated initiating the delivery of the volatized or vaporized constituent  132  into the lungs.  
         [0042]     For any of the embodiments of the volatizing or vaporizing unit  100 ,  200 ,  300  or  400  described hereinabove, the disk  130  rotates or ratchets a predetermined number of degrees in order to index the dimples or cups  172  to align with the heating chamber  120 . The disk  130  may be automatically rotated via the control panel  112  electronics or manually by the individuals or patients.  
         [0043]     Closing Comments  
         [0044]     The foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes, modifications, and/or alterations may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0045]     Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments.  
         [0046]     For any means-plus-function limitations recited in the claims, the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed herein for performing the recited function, but are intended to cover in scope any means, known now or later developed, for performing the recited function.  
         [0047]     As used herein, “plurality” means two or more.  
         [0048]     As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items.  
         [0049]     As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims.  
         [0050]     Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.  
         [0051]     As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.  
       FIGURE LIST  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
              First embodiment of a volatizing volatizing or vaporizing unit  100   
              Frame  110   
              Control panel  112   
              Mouthpiece  114   
              Sliding path  115   
              Sanitary disposable sleeve  116   
              Rotating path  117   
              Air inlet  118   
              Heating chamber  120   
              Heating element  122   
              Exhaust chamber  124   
              Battery pack  126   
              Power switch  128   
              Disk  130   
              Constituent  132   
              Handle  134   
              Lid  136   
              Hinge  138   
              Temperature setting  140   
              Digital readout  142   
              Battery life indicator  144   
              Number of uses remaining on the disk  146   
              Date and time indicator  148   
              Constituent type indicator  150   
              Power on indicator  151   
              Date and time last used indicator  152   
              Alarm for next use indicator  154   
              Heating timer  156   
              Electrical power port  158   
              Heater switch  160   
              Mouthpiece inlet  162   
              Internal passageway  164   
              Mouthpiece exit  166   
              Top surface or layer  168   
              Bottom surface or layer  170   
              Dimples or cups  172   
              Ratchet teeth  174   
              Constituent identification  176   
              Inner trace  177   
              Key feature  178   
              Outer trace  179   
              Integrated heating elements  180   
              Identification resistor  181   
              Heating inlet  182   
              Heating exit  184   
              Exhaust inlet  186   
              Exhaust exit  188   
              Second embodiment of a volatizing volatizing or vaporizing unit  200   
              Third embodiment of a volatizing volatizing or vaporizing unit  300   
              Fourth embodiment of a volatizing volatizing or vaporizing unit  400   
              Sliding door  410