Abstract:
A vaporization device has a vaporizing chamber attached to a stem. A conduit running through the stem places the chamber in fluid communication with a device attached to the abutment of the stem. A lip within the vaporization chamber prevents unvaporized materials from entering the conduit. A heat sink on the stem prevents heat from traveling down the stem from the chamber to the abutment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/726,622 filed Nov. 15, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of Endeavor 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to a device for vaporizing materials. Specifically, the invention provides a solid state vaporizer with no moving parts that efficiently vaporizes a material without transferring substantial heat beyond the vaporizing chamber. 
         [0006]    2. Background Information 
         [0007]    There are a great many organic substances from which an essential oil can be extracted. If the essential oil is heated sufficiently, the essential oil will experience a change of state from a liquid into a gaseous state (i.e., a vapor) and will do so without combustion. The vaporized essential oil can then be inhaled to provide a great variety of benefits without inhaling the toxic components that would be present if combustion occurred. 
         [0008]    Discovering the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of inhaled vaporized essential oils is likely to become a leading-edge technology. There are enormous varieties of plants from which an essential oil can be extracted, vaporized, and then inhaled. The benefits of but a few of them are only partially understood, at best. With the passage of time it is almost for certain that many benefits, some moderate and some profound, will be discovered appertaining to the inhalation of various types of vaporized essential oils. If benefit is possible through pulmonary entry (i.e., the lungs), the instant invention applies. 
         [0009]    A known prior art device exists that is profoundly limited and is comprised essentially of a glass tube that is open at a first end and which includes an enlarged bulb at an opposite second end. A user inhales from the first end. A single small opening is provided at the top of the enlarged bulb. An essential oil is added through the opening at the top of the bulb and allowed to settle in the bottom of the bulb which is then heated to vaporize the oil for inhalation. 
         [0010]    The inhalation of a vaporized essential oil may also be useful in avoiding exposure of the beneficial components (i.e., compounds) thereof to enzymes that are present in the stomach. Certain stomach enzymes may destroy or diminish the efficacy of certain compounds that are taken orally. Inhalation provides an alternative path for the entry of these compounds or active ingredients into the bloodstream that averts contact with stomach enzymes. 
         [0011]    Accordingly there exists today a need for an essential oil vaporizer that is easy to use and which adequately mixes the vapor with the inhalation stream and which is versatile. 
         [0012]    One vaporizer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,524 to Stortz and in a series of related German patents. This “Volcano” vaporizes active plant substances by pumping air through a heated aluminum block, similar to an oven with aeration ducts, and by then delivering vapors to a balloon through which the user inhales the vapors. Water is not employed in the process, so the apparatus does not operate in the manner of a Narghile or “hookah” water pipe. 
         [0013]    Another available vaporizer product is the VaporBrothers.™ vaporizer, viewable at http://www.vaporbrothers.com/pages/homepage.html. This is a vaporizing product, but does not employ any significant form of water filtration technology. Limitations of this product also include, but are not limited to restricted draw, narrow airflow, and the absence of water filtration so vapor is neither cooled, nor filtered of dust and metal oxides from a heating element. 
         [0014]    As described on http://www.vaposcience.com/and on http://www.aromed.com/en/aromed.html, another commercially available vaporizer product is the “AroMed” Vaporizer, which does employ water filtration. This vaporizer uses a light bulb to generate a hot air source. However, this device suffers from structural limitations that effect performance. The product has restricted vapor yield, is primarily stationary and must sit on a table. 
         [0015]    None of the above patents or disclosures describe a device that may be retrofit to a plurality of existing devices designed for smoking. It is therefore desirable to provide such a device. 
         [0016]    It is also desirable to provide that allows the vaporization part of the device to obtain the high temperatures necessary for vaporization while not exposing other devices or objects to excess heat. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a low heat capacity base, a floor, a rim and a lip. The vaporizing device also includes a stem having an abutment and a conduit that extends from the lip of the vaporizing chamber to the end of the conduit, one or more coupling flanges and a heat sink on the stem proximal to the vaporizing chamber. 
         [0018]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a unitary vaporizing device having a heat sink proximal to the vaporizing chamber. 
         [0019]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of a vaporizer in use in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a vaporizer  10  having an integral thermal buffer in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Vaporizer  10  may include a chamber  12  at one end of a stem  14 . In this embodiment, chamber  12  may be substantially cylindrical with a hemispherical or inverted frustoconical base  32  where it may merge with the stem  14 . However, Chamber  12  may have any shape but may preferably be radially symmetrical. For example, the chamber may have a pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal vertical cross section. Such symmetries generally simplify use and manufacture, but asymmetrical chambers may also be suitable or preferred for aesthetic reasons. Similarly, stem  14  may be substantially cylindrical but have have any of a variety of cross sections and may be straight or have a nonlinear configuration. 
         [0039]    Stem  14  may have a abutment  16  that may be substantially frustoconical in shape. Stem  14  may also include one or more annular coupling flanges  18 , each having a different diameter. The base  14  and coupling flanges  18  may be used to hermetically engage the vaporizer  10  with tubes, pipes or other devices to which it may be attached and which may apply an air pressure differential to the vaporizer  10 . Coupling flanges  18  may include rims, shoulders, cusps, cuffs, collars or the like to adjoin and facilitate hermetic sealing with a corresponding coupling mechanism of a device. Stem  14  also may include a heat sink  20  formed by a series of annular cooling fins  22 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional or cut-away view of the vaporizer  10 . The interior of the chamber  12  may include an annular floor  24  that may surround annular lip  26  and may be defined by chamber wall  28 . Floor  24  is the interior side of chamber base  32 . Base  32  may be thicker and/or more massive than other parts of the vaporizer and may preferably be comprised of a material having a low heat capacity such that it may be capable of storing and retaining heat and/or emanating heat at a constant rate. 
         [0041]    The vaporizer  10  may be comprised entirely of a single material and comprise a unitary body, which may facilitate efficient manufacturing. Alternatively, the chamber  12  may be comprised of a separate material and/or the base  32  may be wholly or partially formed of a separate material. 
         [0042]    Lips  25  may extend around the entrance to conduit  30 . Conduit  30  may extend the entire longitndinal length of stem  14  and may be in fluid communication with the interior of chamber  12  and may provide fluid communication through the abutment  16  with any device attached to the stem  14  by means of the abutment  16  or any of the one or more coupling flanges  18 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows the vaporizer  10  engaged with a suction device  40  that may provide a negative air pressure through the conduit  30 , thereby causing air flow through in direction  42 . The chamber  12  is heated using a propane torch or other means. Optionally a heating mechanism may be incorporated into the chamber  12  itself. Upon heating, the base  32  may retain a substantial amount of heat energy over a short period. Such that the temperature may remain constant and high for a suitable period of time. 
         [0044]    When an essential oil  44  or other material is added to the chamber  12 , it sublimates or otherwise may change physical states and become a vapor  50 , which may also be partly a colloidal suspension. The negative air differential  42  caused by device  40  causes air flow  48  over the rim  46  of the chamber  12 . The air flow  48  may capture the vapor  50  and cause it to flow through conduit  30  and into device  40 . Device  40  may provide suction by any suitable means, including inhalation by a person. 
         [0045]    The heat generated in the chamber  12  may have a tendency to emanate throughout the vaporizer, including down the stem  14 . Device  40  may be comprised of a heat sensitive material, such as for example, glass. An extreme heat gradient can damage or break such heat sensitive materials. When heat travels from the chamber  12  down the stem  14 , a substantial portion of the heat is dispersed by the heat sink  20 . In this embodiment, the heat sink comprises a plurality of annular fins having a high heat capacity. The heat sink draws thermal energy out of the stem and provides a high surface area allowing the heat to dissipate in the air. Thus, only a relatively small amount of heat is conducted down the stem below the heat sink. A solid state heat sink is shown in the drawings, but other heat sinks may be used such as for example a cooling coil, a fan or other cooling systems used for cooling hot metal. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  show an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention and which incorporates a thermal buffer, such as a heat sink, as well as mechanisms for connecting to various vaporizer devices. The vaporizer  50  includes a chamber  52  attached to the top of a stem  60 . Chamber  52  includes an outer wall  54 , a base  56  and is also defined by lips  58  that protrude upward from the opening into conduit  70 . The base  56  may be relatively thick compared to other components of the vaporizer  50  and may therefore be capable of retaining heat that may be applied to the vaporizer  50 . The heat absorbed by base  56  may be transferred to liquid placed within the chamber  52 . 
         [0047]    Directly beneath the chamber  52  is a heat sink  64 . In this embodiment, heatsink  64  may be comprised of a plurality of annular fins  65  that extend outwardly from stem  60 . Fins  65  may optionally be radially symmetric, and may be comprised of material that may have a high heat capacity and be a very poor insulator. The heatsink  64 , whether comprised of fins  65  or another mechanism, may dissipate heat which enters it as wasted heat from the chamber  52 . The heatsink  54  dissipates any such heat into the ambient air, so that it does not travel further down the stem  60 . 
         [0048]    Directly beneath the heatsink  64 , an annular flange  62  may extend about the stem  60 . The annular flange  62  may be utilized to secure the vaporizer  50  to a vaporizing device that provides an air differential, or suction, to the bottom of the stem  60  in order to draw vapor through conduit  70  from chamber  52 . The stem  60  may include an enlarged shoulder region  68 . The annular flange  62  may include an annular socket  63  formed in part by the shoulder region  68 . Socket  63  may provide an ideal means by which a tube, pipe or other device may firmly engage the vaporizer  50 . Shoulder region  68  may also provide an added benefit of further dissipating any remaining heat due to its greater mass. Optionally, shoulder region  68  may be comprised of a sleeve or cuff that is slid over the bottom of stem  60 . It may be comprised of a separate material, further insulating any device to which it is attached from any heat. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  show an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention, and which also incorporates a heatsink as well as mechanisms for connecting to various vaporizer devices. The vaporizer  80  may include a chamber  82  defined by an outer wall,  84 , a base  86  and lips  88  protruding outward from the opening into a conduit  98 . The base  86 , as with other embodiment shown, may be relatively thick in order to retain heat applied to the chamber  82  so that it may then be transferred to oils deposited within the chamber. In this embodiment, lips  88  extend upward through the chamber such that they are level with the Rams of outer walls  84 . It may be desirable to have lips extend further outward. In order to prevent oils from entering conduit  98 . Oils entering conduit  98  may clog the conduit or damage devices to which the vaporizer  80  has been. 
         [0050]    Below chamber  82  is heatsink  94 , which may be comprised of two annular fins  95 . In this embodiment, heatsink  94 , has fewer fins and other embodiments. Depending on the amount of heat applied to the chamber  82  and what materials. The vaporizer  80  is comprised of, fewer fins may adequately dissipate any heat traveling down the stem  90 . The use of fewer fins may also facilitate airflow about the fins in order to aid dissipation of heat. 
         [0051]    Below heatsink  94  is an annular skirt  92  that may form an annular socket  93  between it and stem  90 . In this embodiment, skirt  94  is slightly frustoconical in shape. As a result, the socket  93  is slightly frustoconical in shape also. This may aid in forming a snug fit between the vaporizer  80  and a device to which it may be attached. Optionally, an O-ring or other device may be Incorporated into the socket  93 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  show an alternative embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention, which incorporates a heatsink and mechanisms for connecting to other devices. In this embodiment, a chamber  102  may be formed from an outer wall  104 , a base  106  and an inner lip  108  protruding from the entrance point of the conduit  117 . 
         [0053]    In this embodiment, the heatsink  110  is comprised of a plurality of annular fins extending outwardly from the stem  114 . An annular flange  112  may be used to create a seal with a device to which the lower part of the stem  114  is connected. A 2nd annular flange  111  may also be included about the stem  114  for the same purpose. Annular flanges  111  and  112  may also serve as ancillary heatsink fins. At the base of the stem  114 , an annular cuff  115  may encircle the stem  114 . This may also optionally be used to form a seal would connecting the vaporizer  100  to another device. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show another vaporizer  120  in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this embodiment, a chamber  122  includes an outer wall  121 , a base  126  and and her lips  128  that circle the entrance to the conduit  136 . The base. The chamber may be relatively thick and order to retain heat that may be transferred to the contents of the chamber. In this embodiment, the lips  128  extend upward to an extent equal to the top of the outer wall  121 . A heatsink  130 , comprised of a plurality of fins  131 . A be located below the chamber  122 . An annular flange  132  may extend outward annularly about the stem  134  and form an annular socket  135  with the shoulder region  133 . The socket  135  may be utilized to form a seal between the vaporizer  120  and a device to which it is attached. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show another embodiment of a vaporizer in accordance with the principles of the invention. Vaporizer  140  may have a chamber  142 . At the top of a stem  144 . The chamber may be formed by an outer wall  150 , a base  146  and inner lips  148  to protrude from the entrance to conduit  160 . To heat dissipating fins  152  may be located below the chamber. An annular skirt  154  may form a socket  155  between it and the stem  144 . Each of the many embodiment, shown here in include a chamber, a type of heatsink and a means for attaching to another device in descending order along the length of a stem. 
         [0056]    Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. 
         [0057]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.