Patent Description:
<CIT>, issued as <CIT>, discloses an electronic cigarette tank with a single coil in the center, surrounded by a single oil reservoir. Such tanks are designed for nicotine concentrates and can degrade oil quality if used for cannabis oil, as repeated heat exposure and differential volatilization adversely modify the chemical composition and flavor profile prematurely. Further electronic cigarettes are known e.g. from <CIT> or <CIT>.

Cannabis oil is a complex mixture of many chemical constituents, and may experience chemical fractionation (that is, constituent components begin to differentially separate, evaporate or degrade), which adversely affects the quality of the cannabis oil. Fractionation of oil within a vaporizing device may be caused by a number of factors, including a) chromatographic effects of the wicking material in the vaporizing device, b) the volatility of the oil, and c) exposing the oil to heat.

Conventional cannabis oil vaporizers (COV) comprise a single reservoir of concentrate oil surrounding an atomizer at the core. Most atomizers comprise a metallic coil with cotton wicked through it. The cotton absorbs the oil in the surrounding reservoir and exposes it to the heat which is applied through conduction by the coil. The coil uses basic principles of electricity by running a regulated electrical current (typically from a set of batteries) through a metal wire of a predetermined electrical resistance. The resistance of the wire and the current running though the wire translate to power losses which manifest in the form of heat and light as per the following formula: P = I<NUM>R. Various experiments place the ideal temperature range for vaporizing cannabis oil between <NUM>-<NUM>. As noted above, exposure to heat may cause the fractionation of cannabis oil to accelerate.

Moreover, exposure to UV light and oxygen can increase the rate of degradation of cannabis oil, as UV rays break down organic matter, and may do so almost instantaneously with certain compounds.

Therefore, there is a need for a cannabis oil vaporizer which ameliorates one or more of the above-noted challenges associated with conventional cannabis oil vaporizers.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an apparatus for vaporizing oil, according to claim <NUM>.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of vaporizing oil, according to claim <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an example vaporizing device <NUM>. In some embodiments, vaporizing device <NUM> is configured to vaporize cannabis oil. As depicted, vaporizing device <NUM> has a dual chamber configuration which may allow a user to dispense controlled doses of cannabis oil concentrate for vaporization while enjoying a fairly consistent flavor profile with reduced degradation relative to conventional vaporizing devices.

As depicted, vaporizing device <NUM> includes two chambers: a primary chamber (referred to hereinafter as primary reservoir) <NUM> and a secondary chamber <NUM>. Vaporization occurs within secondary chamber <NUM>, and primary reservoir <NUM> acts primarily as a reservoir for storing the bulk of the cannabis oil <NUM> which is not in the process of being vaporized. The primary reservoir <NUM> and secondary chamber <NUM> are separated by a barrier <NUM>.

The barrier <NUM> has a double-walled configuration of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, or chromium with an air-filled or evacuated interstitial space. The barrier <NUM> provides heat insulation between primary reservoir <NUM> and secondary chamber <NUM>. Chimney <NUM> provides a path for vaporized cannabis oil to exit secondary chamber <NUM> and ultimately exit vaporizing device <NUM> for consumption (i.e. inhalation) by a user via external vent <NUM>. The external vent <NUM> is a mouthpiece configured to allow a user to inhale vapor from chimney <NUM>. Primary reservoir <NUM> may include a main reservoir of oil <NUM> (e.g. cannabis oil) which is at least partially insulated from heat generated in secondary chamber <NUM>.

Secondary chamber <NUM> contains a heating element <NUM>, depicted in <FIG> as a metal coil. It should be noted that other vaporizing mechanisms may be used in other examples not covered by the claims, such as a ceramic vaporizing plate, an ultrasonic vaporizer, or the like. In some embodiments, secondary chamber <NUM> is smaller in volume than primary reservoir <NUM>. In some embodiments, secondary chamber <NUM> holds enough cannabis oil for a limited number of doses. In some embodiments, vaporization of cannabis oil <NUM> occurs in secondary chamber <NUM>, while cannabis oil <NUM> contained in primary reservoir <NUM> is insulated from the heat and differential volatilization that results from direct heating that occurs in secondary chamber <NUM>. This may reduce the degree of fractionation and degradation experienced by the oil <NUM> in primary reservoir <NUM>.

As oil is vaporized in secondary chamber <NUM>, oil from primary reservoir <NUM> may be used to replace or re-fill the oil consumed in secondary chamber <NUM>. The oil flows from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM>. The oil is transported from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM> via one or more valves <NUM>. In some embodiments, valve <NUM> is a one-way valve configured to allow flow of oil from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM>, and preventing flow of oil from secondary chamber <NUM> to primary reservoir <NUM>. In some embodiments, valve <NUM> may be a squeeze bottle valve, a vacuum valve, a gravity valve, or any combination of passive and active mechanism of actuation.

One-way valve <NUM> may allow the oil to flow in one direction, namely into the secondary chamber <NUM> from primary reservoir <NUM> so that the heat-affected oil is unable to contaminate the bulk oil contained within primary reservoir <NUM>. The oil flow through valve <NUM> may also be controlled by adjusting the size of air flow holes <NUM>, using the vacuum created by suction applied to chimney <NUM> (e.g. when a user inhales from a vaporizing device via external vent <NUM>), because the difference in air pressure created by controlling the size of the air flow holes <NUM> causes the oil to be drawn from the primary reservoir <NUM> into the second chamber <NUM> is related to the size of the air flow holes <NUM> selected.

As depicted in <FIG>, secondary chamber <NUM> is contained within primary reservoir <NUM>. However, in some embodiments, secondary chamber <NUM> may be above or below primary reservoir <NUM>. Primary reservoir <NUM> may be constructed from glass, acrylic, aluminum or the like.

As depicted, secondary chamber <NUM> contains a heating element <NUM>. Heating element <NUM> is illustrated as a coil, with electrical current supplied by battery <NUM>. In some embodiments, heating element <NUM> is a metallic coil which is made of one of Kental, NiChrome, stainless steel, Nickel or Titanium with varying resistances. Regulated electrical current travelling through the coil causes heat dissipation, which in turn heats up wicking material <NUM>, and the neighboring cannabis oil in secondary chamber <NUM>. The heat may be sufficient to vaporize the oil in secondary chamber <NUM>, which is then expelled via chimney <NUM> and external vent <NUM>. In some embodiments, heating element <NUM> is situated to expose only the secondary chamber <NUM> to heat, while keeping the primary reservoir <NUM> insulated from said heat via barrier <NUM>.

Wicking material <NUM> is exposed in the secondary chamber <NUM> to draw in the oil near heating element <NUM>. In some embodiments, wicking material <NUM> may be Japanese cotton, cellulose cotton, rayon, hemp, or the like. Some embodiments may incorporate a wickless design, wherein heating element <NUM> is a coil formed as a cylindrical mesh, such as one made of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium or similar, which enhances or maximizes the surface area for heat exposure. The capillary effect, otherwise known as capillary action or wicking, may cause the oil to remain held within the matrix of the mesh. In some embodiments, the openings in the matrix of the mesh are dimensioned so as to promote capillary action.

Chimney <NUM> is an airway which delivers the vaporized oil produced by heating element <NUM> to the user. As depicted in <FIG>, the chimney <NUM> intake is positioned vertically above an end of heating element <NUM>. The chimney <NUM> exhaust protrudes out of primary reservoir <NUM> of the vaporizing device <NUM> to external vent <NUM> (i.e. a mouthpiece) to provide the user with access to draw out the vaporized oil via suction. Air flow holes <NUM> regulate airflow in the vicinity of heating element <NUM> and through chimney <NUM>. The airflow can be controlled by, for example, changing the diameter of the intake holes or the number of intake holes. Changing the diameter of air intake holes may affect parameters such as the temperature of heating element <NUM> temperature, as well as the resulting vapor density. As depicted in <FIG>, vaporizing device may contain a plurality of settings with a different number of air flow holes or a single air flow hole. In some embodiments, the number of open holes in the air flow holes <NUM>, or the aperture of the single intake hole, may be controlled via a circular closure valve that can be rotated to select from among the plurality of settings. For example, if more air intake is desired, the configuration having <NUM> intake holes may be rotated into place. If less air intake is desired, the configuration having <NUM> or <NUM> intake holes may be rotated into place.

In some embodiments, the airflow can be variable diameter or can have a single standard diameter for each air intake hole.

In some embodiments, vaporizing device <NUM> is connected to a power source (e.g. battery <NUM>) using an industry standard "<NUM>" thread screw assembly. In some embodiments, the <NUM> thread screw assembly is <NUM> in diameter and comprises <NUM> threads that are <NUM> apart. In other embodiments, vaporizing device <NUM> can connect to a power source with connector which is assisted by a magnetic force, with the power being delivered to heating element <NUM> via spring-loaded contacts (otherwise known as "pogo pins"). The magnetic force may be from directional programable magnets, where magnetic attraction and repulsion are a function of the planar orientation of the reciprocal magnets. The foregoing are merely two examples of connections - the use of other available power connector types is contemplated.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. As depicted, primary reservoir <NUM> is located vertically above secondary chamber <NUM>, rather than secondary chamber <NUM> being located within primary reservoir <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>. The configuration of <FIG> may allow for oil <NUM> to be transported, with the aid of gravity, from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM> via one or more one-way valves <NUM>. In device <NUM>, the oil flow through valve <NUM> may be controlled primarily by the vaporization of oil via the heating element <NUM>. In some embodiments, secondary chamber <NUM> may remain topped up at all times, as any volume of oil which is vaporized will be replaced by new oil from primary reservoir <NUM>. In some embodiments, one-way valve <NUM> may be replaced by a small opening whose size is calibrated for the viscosity of oil <NUM> to minimize or reduce the communication of fluid between the primary reservoir <NUM> and secondary chamber <NUM> while still allowing fluid to pass from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM>. <FIG>, described further below, depicts an alternative embodiment in which primary reservoir <NUM> is embodied as a detachable pod which may be disposable and/or refillable.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may be particularly well-suited for use with a wide range of different cannabis oil viscosities. In this embodiment, vaporizing device <NUM> includes a primary reservoir <NUM> fluidly coupled to secondary chamber <NUM> via a one-way valve <NUM>. In some embodiments, primary reservoir <NUM> is made of a resilient-elastic or flexible material (e.g. low-density polyethylene), such that the user of device <NUM> can squeeze primary reservoir <NUM> (i.e. apply pressure) to force the oil <NUM> within primary reservoir <NUM> through one-way valve <NUM> and into secondary chamber <NUM>. In some embodiments, the coil may be actuated simultaneously as primary reservoir <NUM> is squeezed to ensure that all oil <NUM> entering secondary chamber <NUM> is vaporized. In some embodiments, one-way valve <NUM> is an electro-mechanical valve, such as a miniature solenoid valve (which are commercially available), to ensure that a metered quantity of oil <NUM> is delivered into secondary chamber <NUM> without causing secondary chamber <NUM> to become oversaturated with oil. One-way valve <NUM> may be closed by default and actuated to the open position when primary reservoir <NUM> is squeezed.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. As depicted, the boundary between primary reservoir <NUM> and secondary chamber <NUM> includes vacuum-triggered valves <NUM> fluidly connected to capillary tubes <NUM>. Vacuum-triggered valves <NUM> may be comprised of ball valves. Capillary tubes are further fluidly connected to chimney <NUM>. In operation, the flow of oil from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM> can be regulated to occur only when there is a negative air pressure in chimney <NUM> by inhaling vapor from external vent <NUM>. This induces negative air pressure in the capillary tubes <NUM> resulting in the opening of vacuum-triggered valves <NUM>. In some embodiments, valves <NUM> may be mechanical or electronic. In embodiments in which valve <NUM> is electronic, a negative air pressure sensor may trigger heating element <NUM> as well as valve <NUM>. In this manner, the vaporizing of oil and refilling of secondary chamber <NUM> may occur automatically as oil is consumed.

The viscosity of a particular blend or type of cannabis oil may have a performance impact on a vaporizing device. For example, the viscosity of a fluid will have an impact on how quickly or slowly that fluid is able to flow. Although cannabis oil is a non-Newtonian fluid, it still holds that in general, as pressure or force applied to cannabis oil is increased, the flow rate will increase. It is important that when a vaporizing device is activated, the cannabis oil begins to vaporize almost simultaneously. As described herein, a vaporizing device may be activated or actuated via inhalation as triggered by a pressure sensor, via a press-button switch, or the like. As the viscosity of cannabis oil increases, certain embodiments may be more suitable to ensure adequate flow rates from primary reservoir to secondary chamber. In particular, embodiments which apply a force or pressure greater than that of gravity alone may be particularly suitable for use with higher viscosity cannabis oils.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may be particularly suitable for use with cannabis oil having a high viscosity (e.g. as high as <NUM>,<NUM> centipoises or even higher). As depicted, primary reservoir <NUM> is a detachable pod which may be any of disposable, reusable, and/or refillable. Primary reservoir <NUM> may be filled with cannabis oil <NUM> and is sealed by way of sealed port <NUM>. In some embodiments, sealed port <NUM> is an opening sealed by, for example, a plastic membrane or the like. The pod housing primary reservoir <NUM> may be seated into the rest of the device <NUM> by inserting a valve (e.g. one-way valve <NUM>) into sealed port <NUM>, thereby puncturing the seal and allowing fluid communication between primary reservoir <NUM> and secondary chamber <NUM> via one-way valve <NUM> (when open).

Primary chamber <NUM> further includes a compression spring <NUM> which pushes on piston <NUM>. Piston <NUM> is fitted to primary chamber <NUM> such that piston <NUM> is always applying downward pressure to oil <NUM> via spring <NUM>. In some embodiments, one-way valve <NUM> is a solenoid or similar electro-mechanical type valve which can be controlled via an electronic signal (e.g. a sensor switch triggered by a negative pressure induced through inhalation, or mechanical switch or button <NUM>). As such, when the user triggers switch <NUM>, the valve <NUM> opens, thereby forcing cannabis oil <NUM> into secondary chamber <NUM>. Simultaneously, triggering switch <NUM> may further cause electric current to activate coil <NUM> in secondary chamber <NUM>. The heating of coil <NUM> may cause the cannabis oil <NUM> forced into secondary chamber to vaporize and be drawn out by a user via vent <NUM>. Device <NUM> may be particularly suitable for high viscosity cannabis oils because the spring <NUM> and piston <NUM> combine to exert a force or pressure on the oil <NUM> in primary reservoir <NUM>, rather than relying only on gravity.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. Device <NUM> is similar to device <NUM> in many respects, including that the primary reservoir <NUM> pod is removable and refillable, with the exception that there is no spring <NUM> or plunger <NUM> within primary reservoir <NUM>. As such, there is no active force being applied to the oil <NUM> to force the oil <NUM> to move to secondary chamber <NUM> when the one-way valve <NUM> is opened. Device <NUM> depicted in <FIG> may be particularly suitable for low viscosity oils, as a low viscosity oil can be expected to more readily flow to secondary chamber <NUM> via the action of gravity, without additional forces. Moreover, because there is no active pressure being applied, device <NUM> may use a simple passive one-way valve <NUM>, rather than an electro-mechanical valve, which may reduce cost and complexity.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may offer enhanced control over the quantity of cannabis oil <NUM> which is dispensed to secondary chamber <NUM> and vaporized by coil <NUM>. Device <NUM> may be particularly effective in precisely controlling the quantity of high viscosity cannabis oil <NUM> which is dispensed for vaporization. Similar to devices <NUM> and <NUM>, primary reservoir <NUM> is embodied as a removable pod with a sealed port <NUM> which can be refilled and seated in one-way valve <NUM> to puncture sealed port <NUM> and initiate a fluid connection with secondary chamber <NUM>.

In device <NUM>, valve <NUM> can be a passive one-way valve, or an electro-mechanical valve. The dispensing mechanism <NUM> described in relation to device <NUM> may be configured to incrementally feed oil <NUM> from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM> rather than applying a more constant back pressure (as may be provided by, for example, spring <NUM>).

As depicted in <FIG>, primary reservoir <NUM> is fitted with a piston <NUM> which is held in place by tapered rim <NUM>. Tapered rim <NUM> may hold piston <NUM> in place to ensure that piston <NUM> cannot fall from the top of primary reservoir <NUM> and cause oil <NUM> to spill. Dispensing mechanism <NUM> includes piston <NUM>, ratcheting press arm <NUM>, and electro-mechanical switch <NUM>. Switch <NUM> may comprise a mechanical portion (e.g. a button which may be pressed by a user to actuate the switch and drive ratcheting press arm <NUM> down by an increment), and an electrical portion. The electrical portion may work in conjunction with the mechanical portion to activate coil <NUM> whenever the switch <NUM> is actuated.

When switch <NUM> is actuated, coil <NUM> will heat up while ratcheting press arm <NUM> pushes down on piston <NUM>, which exerts a pressure or force on oil <NUM>. The pressure exerted on oil <NUM> may be sufficient to overcome the cracking pressure of one-way valve <NUM>, which will result in a specific volume of oil <NUM> being pushed into secondary chamber <NUM>. Once the dispensed oil <NUM> enters secondary chamber <NUM> and comes into contact with heated coil <NUM>, the oil <NUM> is heated to the temperature of vaporization. The user may then apply suction to vent <NUM>, where air drawn flows in through air holes <NUM>, which allows the vapor to be inhaled.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. As depicted, one or more electronic valves <NUM> between primary reservoir <NUM> and secondary chamber <NUM> may be triggered automatically or via a push button <NUM> rather than, for example, by a pressure sensor. In some embodiments, one or more signal wires <NUM> may be connected to a microcontroller for precise control of electronic valves <NUM> and other functionality such as the operation of a force/pressure sensitive resistor for monitoring the amount of oil in the secondary chamber. For example, once secondary chamber <NUM> is sensed to be low on oil, electronic valves <NUM> may be sent a signal to open and allow oil to flow from primary reservoir <NUM> and into secondary chamber <NUM> (for example, via the action of gravity).

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a vaporizing device <NUM>. Although secondary chamber <NUM> is depicted as being located vertically above primary reservoir <NUM>, it is contemplated that in other embodiments, secondary chamber <NUM> may be located below primary reservoir <NUM>. Device <NUM> includes a plunger <NUM> adjacent primary reservoir <NUM> which can be engaged in translational motion up and down the length of primary reservoir <NUM>. When plunger <NUM> is pressed towards secondary chamber <NUM>, oil <NUM> may be forced under pressure to travel from primary reservoir <NUM> to secondary chamber <NUM> via valves <NUM>. As shown, air intake holes <NUM> may be located directly below secondary chamber <NUM> to ensure one continuous air channel to chimney <NUM>.

Embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented using hardware, software or some combination thereof. Based on such understandings, the technical solution may be embodied in the form of a software product. The software product may be stored in a non-volatile or non-transitory storage medium, which can be, for example, a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), USB flash disk, a removable hard disk, flash memory, hard drive, or the like. The software product includes a number of instructions that enable a computing device (computer, server, mainframe, or network device) to execute the methods provided herein.

Program code may be applied to input data to perform the functions described herein and to generate output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices. In some embodiments, the communication interface may be a network communication interface. In embodiments in which elements are combined, the communication interface may be a software communication interface, such as those for inter-process communication. In still other embodiments, there may be a combination of communication interfaces implemented as hardware, software, and/or combination thereof.

Each computer program may be stored on a storage media or a device (e.g., ROM, magnetic disk, optical disc), readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring and operating the computer when the storage media or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described herein. Embodiments of the system may also be considered to be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform the functions described herein.

Furthermore, the systems and methods of the described embodiments are capable of being distributed in a computer program product including a physical, non-transitory computer readable medium that bears computer usable instructions for one or more processors. The medium may be provided in various forms, including one or more diskettes, compact disks, tapes, chips, magnetic and electronic storage media, volatile memory, non-volatile memory and the like. Non-transitory computer-readable media may include all computer-readable media, with the exception being a transitory, propagating signal. The term non-transitory is not intended to exclude computer readable media such as primary memory, volatile memory, RAM and so on, where the data stored thereon may only be temporarily stored. The computer useable instructions may also be in various forms, including compiled and non-compiled code.

The present disclosure may make numerous references to servers, services, interfaces, portals, platforms, or other systems formed from hardware devices. It should be appreciated that the use of such terms is deemed to represent one or more devices having at least one processor configured to execute software instructions stored on a computer readable tangible, non-transitory medium. One should further appreciate the disclosed computer-based algorithms, processes, methods, or other types of instruction sets can be embodied as a computer program product comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer readable media storing the instructions that cause a processor to execute the disclosed steps.

The embodiments described herein may be implemented by physical computer hardware embodiments. The embodiments described herein provide useful physical machines and particularly configured computer hardware arrangements of computing devices, servers, processors, memory, networks, for example. The embodiments described herein, for example, are directed to computer apparatuses, and methods implemented by computers through the processing and transformation of electronic data signals.

The embodiments described herein may involve computing devices, servers, receivers, transmitters, processors, memory(ies), displays, networks particularly configured to implement various acts. The embodiments described herein are directed to electronic machines adapted for processing and transforming electromagnetic signals which represent various types of information. The embodiments described herein pervasively and integrally relate to machines and their uses; the embodiments described herein have no meaning or practical applicability outside their use with computer hardware, machines, a various hardware components.

Substituting the computing devices, servers, receivers, transmitters, processors, memory, display, networks particularly configured to implement various acts for non-physical hardware, using mental steps for example, may substantially affect the way the embodiments work.

Such hardware limitations are clearly essential elements of the embodiments described herein, and they cannot be omitted or substituted for mental means without having a material effect on the operation and structure of the embodiments described herein. The hardware is essential to the embodiments described herein and is not merely used to perform steps expeditiously and in an efficient manner.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, although particular embodiments may be described with references to one-way valves, it will be understood that the use of other types of valves (e.g. ball valves) or other means for fluid communication (e.g. conduits) is contemplated.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for vaporizing oil, the apparatus comprising:
a first chamber (<NUM>) for storing oil to be vaporized;
a second chamber (<NUM>) comprising a heating element (<NUM>) for vaporizing said oil, said second chamber being selectively fluidly coupled to said first chamber via a valve (<NUM>), and said second chamber being thermally insulated from said first chamber; and
a chimney (<NUM>) connecting said second chamber to an external vent (<NUM>), wherein the external vent is a mouthpiece configured to allow a user to inhale vapor from the chimney,
wherein the first and second chambers are separated by a barrier (<NUM>), characterized in that said barrier has a double-walled configuration of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, or chromium with an air-filled or evacuated interstitial space for thermally insulating said first chamber from heat generated in said second chamber.