Patent ID: 12219995

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The vaporizer cartridge represented in the drawing as well as the inhaler serve the purpose of inhalation of vapour enriched with active ingredients, e.g. nicotine, and/or aerosols from liquids and are correspondingly described in conjunction with an E-cigarette. The vaporizer cartridge and the inhaler can be used in the same manner to inhale vapour enriched with medical active ingredients from pharmaceutical products and/or food supplements.

The represented vaporizer cartridge10comprises a hollow body15with a continuous flow channel16as well as a storage tank17for storing liquid, wherein the storage tank17has at least one access opening18to the flow channel16and a vaporizer unit19extending over the entire access opening18is arranged in the region of each access opening18, which vaporizer unit19has a wick member20and a heating member21, wherein the vaporizer unit19is formed to be liquid-permeable in such a manner that liquid can be conveyed at least initially in a capillary manner from the storage tank17through the vaporizer unit19in the direction of the flow channel16.

The hollow body15with its at least one flow channel16forms a suction channel/vent. The form of the hollow body15just like the profile of each flow channel16can be almost as desired. It is vital that entry side ESof each flow channel16is open to the surroundings, in order e.g. to be able to take in air, and that exit side ASis open in order to be able e.g. to apply a vacuum, in particular by the suction of a consuming person. Open means in this context that entry side ESand exit side ASare air-permeable. Two or more flow channels16with corresponding entry sides ESand exit sides AScan also be provided. In the region of the access opening18between the storage tank17and the flow channel16, the vaporizer unit19forms a type of liquid stop means which prevents liquid flowing directly out of the storage tank17and as liquid into the flow channel16. Irrespective of the form and formation of the storage tank17, two or more storage tanks17can also be provided, and of the hollow body15and the arrangement/positioning of the storage tank17to the hollow body15, the vaporizer unit19ensures that liquid is necessarily conducted out of the storage tank17in the direction of the flow channel16and at the latest when exiting from the vaporizer unit19is output as vapour into the or each flow channel16.

This vaporizer cartridge10is characterised according to the invention in that the wick member20is formed from a plurality of granular grains24which, as a result of their fill and/or formation, form microchannels23which extend, for the establishment of a fluid connection between the storage tank17and the flow channel16, continuously from an entry side EDof the wick member20to an exit side ADof the wick member20, wherein an additional securing means25is provided which is configured and adapted to hold the granular wick member20in position in the region of the access opening18in a manner which maintains the fluid connection.

The grains24form on the one hand (micro-)cavities with adjacent grains24. On the other hand, the grains24themselves can have (micro-)cavities, what are known as pores. As a result of the linking and the interaction of all the micro-cavities in the and/or between the grains24, the microchannels23are formed which ensure an at least initially capillary conveyance and are formed continuously and have a non-linear profile. When passing through the vaporizer unit19comprising the wick member20and the heating member21, during operation of the vaporizer cartridge10, vapour and/or aerosol are formed from the liquid of the storage tank17towards the flow channel16, wherein the porous structure of the wick member20on one hand forms a storage medium for liquid and on the other hand represents a flow resistance. The direction of flow of the liquid occurs from the storage tank17through the vaporizer unit19in the direction of the flow channel16.

Additional “securing means”25describes initially in a general manner anything which can hold the grains24, at least for the purpose of mounting, i.e. during the introduction of the wick member20into the region of the access opening18, preferably, however, also in the mounted state of the vaporizer cartridge10, as the wick member20in position, therefore, among other things, mechanical, physical, chemical, magnetic or electrostatic securing options or combinations thereof.

The vaporizer cartridge10according to the invention can as a single-use article be a structural unit which contains the components hollow body15, storage tank17and vaporizer unit19. The vaporizer cartridge10can, however, also be formed in multiple parts, wherein components of the vaporizer cartridge10are distributed to the single-use article and the multi-use article in such a manner that e.g. the storage tank17is a single-use article, which only leads to the structural unit of the vaporizer cartridge10upon combination with a cartridge carrier13that can be a multi-use article and can also comprise, in addition to an electronic control unit11and an energy source12, components of the vaporizer cartridge10, such as e.g. the hollow body15and the vaporizer unit19. The vaporizer cartridge10is correspondingly defined via its components, namely hollow body15with flow channel16, storage tank17and vaporizer unit19, and not via the constructive/structural assignment of the components to the multi-use article or single-use article.

The features and further developments described below represent preferred embodiments as seen on their own or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features which are summarised in the claims and/or the description and/or the drawing or are described in a joint embodiment can also functionally independently further develop the vaporizer cartridge10described further above.

The vaporizer cartridge10is preferably configured and adapted for mechanical and electrical connection to the cartridge carrier13comprising at least the electronic control unit11and the energy source12for the formation of an inhaler14, wherein the vaporizer unit19comprises electrical contacts22for electrical contact with the energy source12. The inhaler14can be activated e.g. by an inhaling person, for example, as an E-cigarette, or e.g. by a pump, e.g. as a medical instrument in the event that the person himself or herself can no longer suck or not to an adequate extent.

In one preferred embodiment, the securing means25is of a mechanical type such that a receiving chamber26enclosed on all sides with an opening27for the introduction of the granular wick member20is formed from components of the vaporizer cartridge10or parts thereof and the opening27is closed with a cover element28, wherein the receiving chamber26is formed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. With the receiving chamber26, a volume or a type of cage is formed into which the wick member20can be introduced and can be held in position by the cover element28. The wick member20can be filled as a loose fill of the grains24into the open receiving chamber26or used as composite grains in the open receiving chamber26, wherein the wick member20in the mounted state of the vaporizer cartridge10is held in position by the cover element28, and indeed in the access opening18between the storage tank17and the flow channel16. The securing means25of a mechanical type fully encloses the wick member20and simultaneously ensures a fluid connection to the storage tank17on the one hand and in the direction of the flow channel16on the other hand. The mechanical securing means25is a retaining element which can be in engagement with at least a part of the grains of the wick member20.

The vaporizer cartridge10preferably comprises a carrier element29which forms the hollow body15and on the one hand has a through-opening30for forming the flow channel16and on the other hand has a recess31for receiving the vaporizer unit19, wherein the recess31forms side walls32of the receiving chamber26and the recess31towards the storage tank17and towards the flow channel16is delimited in each case by a liquid-permeable structure. The vaporizer unit19can be formed solely by the wick member20which simultaneously represents the heating member21in the event that the grains24are formed to be at least partially electrically conductive. In order to hold the wick member20in position, i.e. in the recess31, e.g. a structure, e.g. a grid structure, is then necessary. The vaporizer unit19is, however, preferably formed in two pieces in such a manner that the wick member20and the heating member21are separate elements. In the latter case, e.g. the heating member21forms the liquid-permeable structure towards the flow channel16.

The carrier element29is preferably a tubular body. The carrier element29can, however, also have different forms. The recess31in which the vaporizer unit19is arranged is formed in the circumferential wall of the body. The unit32formed from carrier element29and vaporizer unit19is preferably arranged within a housing33which forms the storage tank17, wherein the inner volume of the storage tank17is formed between a housing wall34of the housing33and the carrier element29. The carrier element29can extend only partially through the housing33. In other embodiments, the carrier element29can also extend completely (see e.g.FIG.2) through the housing33.

In another embodiment, the grains24of the granular wick member20are held in position by a sieve in such a manner that the sieve, together with the side walls32delimiting the receiving chamber26and a heating member21formed separately from the wick member20, encloses the volume of the wick member20. In simple terms, the receiving chamber26is delimited to the sides and at the bottom by the side walls32and the heating member21in order to bring, fill or otherwise insert the wick member20—preferably in an automated manner—from above into the receiving chamber26through the opening27. The receiving chamber26filled out by the wick member20is closed by means of the sieve. The heating member21through liquid-permeable passages and the sieve through its grid-like and/or porous structure represent the fluid connection between the storage tank17and the flow channel16.

The cover element28serves quasi as a lid35, wherein the lid35is optionally a solid or soft lid35. The lid35is attached detachably or non-detachably above the opening27such that the granular material, i.e. loose grains24or grains24connected to one another, is held reliably in position. The lid35covers at least the opening27. In other embodiments, the lid35surrounds, however, the entire hollow body15or the carrier element29including the opening27of the receiving chamber26, wherein the lid35is liquid-permeable at least in sections, i.e. is formed by a perforation. The lid35is not restricted to a classic lid form, but rather can have any desired forms. As mentioned, the lid35can also be composed of different materials and material combinations.

A solid lid35composed e.g. of plastic can be inferred fromFIGS.6and7. In this embodiment, the carrier element29is formed to be tubular with the through-opening30. Two chambers36,37connected to one another are formed within the through-opening30. One chamber36serves as mouthpiece38. An insert39which bears the vaporizer unit19with the heating member21and the wick member20is arranged in the second chamber37. The insert39has the recess31by which the side walls32are formed in order to define the receiving chamber26. The vaporizer unit19and thus also the wick member20are held in position by the insert39and the inside of a wall40of the carrier element29. The wall40of the carrier element29thus forms the hard lid35. The insert39furthermore has a through-opening42which is operatively connected to the first chamber36in order to form the flow channel16. The carrier element29has, in the wall40in the region against which the wick member20abuts on the inside of the wall40of the tubular carrier element29, a perforation41which ensures a liquid coupling to the storage tank17. The storage tank17is correspondingly formed between the housing wall34of the housing33and the wall40of the carrier element29.

The lids35can be formed in various ways. In addition to the described variants, it is, for example, possible to form the lids35from a precipitation-hardened material ply, e.g. a precipitation-hardened grid, or from a (polyetheretherketone) PEEK sieve which is welded to the carrier element29in order to close the opening27of the receiving chamber26.

A soft lid35is represented by way of example inFIGS.3to5. The lid35is a sleeve43which is displaceable in a longitudinally axial or rotational manner with respect to the hollow body15which is preferably formed to be cylindrical as the carrier element29and which is formed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. In other words, the sleeve43for covering the wick member20and holding it in position can be rotated about the longitudinal axis or displaced along it. The hollow body15can, however, also have other forms and be formed e.g. to be oval. The sleeve43, which can also be composed of a hard material, is preferably formed to be flexible and can form a plastic or silicon ring with liquid-permeable portions which can form a perforation41. For example,FIG.3represents a tubular carrier element29with a continuous through-opening30which, in the recess31, bears the two-part vaporizer unit19. Precisely one elastic sleeve43can be adapted to various forms/contours of the hollow body15.

The vaporizer unit19is held in the recess31by the elastic sleeve43which is formed to be liquid-permeable at least in the region of the wick member20.FIGS.4and5represent in each case a tubular carrier element29, in the case of which the vaporizer unit19is likewise held in position by an elastic sleeve43. InFIG.4, the sleeve43covers the wick member20. The sleeve43has, however, a slit44which opens by pulling (see arrow Z) on the sleeve43to a window45(seeFIG.5) in order to release the wick member20. Instead of the slit44, in principle, the window45can be provided which can be moved by rotation (see arrow D) or pushing of the sleeve43out of a position in which the sleeve43covers the wick member20into a position in which the window45lies above the wick member20. The sleeve43, which can also be a tube, is preferably formed from silicon. In other embodiments, the lid35has a wound fleece strip or is formed from a wound fleece strip. The lid35can furthermore also be a plaster, a grid, a shrink hose or the like.

The lid35, i.e. the element, which holds granular wick member20, formed e.g. from sand and/or graphite, in position can also be formed from an annular foam disc with a through-bore. Such a “foam donut” can be put in place from above with the through-bore via a tubular carrier element29such that the opening27of the receiving chamber26surrounding the vaporizer unit19and thus the wick member20is covered in the carrier element29by the foam ring so that the wick member20is held in its position. An open-pored nature of the foam ring provides the fluid connection to the storage tank17.

FIGS.8to11show further embodiments of possible vaporizer cartridges10. In the case of these embodiments, a cylindrical housing33which can also have any other form is provided to form an inner space46in which a continuous vent is provided as flow channel16. The carrier element29extends over a part of the flow channel16. The recess31in which the heating member21is arranged is formed in the carrier element29. In the variant ofFIGS.8and9, a structure47, preferably a grid structure, divides the inner space46into two regions48,49, wherein one region48serves as storage tank17for the liquid and a region49serves to receive the granular wick member20which is only indicated inFIGS.8and10for the sake of improved clarity and is not explicitly represented inFIGS.9and11. In other words, the region49is entirely filled out with the granular grains24of the wick member20, e.g. with sand. The region49can, however, e.g. also be filled out with the foam ring described above. The structure47is arranged below the carrier element29in such a manner that the wick member20entirely surrounds the carrier element29and correspondingly also covers the heating member21. The securing means25of a mechanical type is correspondingly formed by the housing wall34of the housing33, the carrier element29, the heating member21as well as the structure47which jointly hold the wick member20, here e.g. grains of sand, in position in front of the heating member21. The structure47ensures the fluid connection to the storage tank17.

In the variant ofFIGS.10and11, two structures50and51, preferably grid structures, are provided which divide the inner space46into three regions52,53,54. The two structures50,51are arranged above and below the recess31with the heating member21in such a manner that the centre region53which serves to receive the wick member20(only indicated or not explicitly represented) covers the carrier element29at least in the region of the heating member21. Liquid can be stored in other regions52,54. The securing means25of a mechanical type is formed by the housing wall34of the housing33, the carrier element29, the heating member21as well as the structures50,51which jointly hold the granular wick member20, here e.g. grains of sand, in position in front of the heating member21. The structures50,51ensure the fluid connection to the storage tank17. Instead of grains of sand or other granular materials, e.g. an open-pored foam can also be arranged between the structures50,51.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the securing means25can be of a physical and/or chemical type such that the grains24are held in position by melting and/or hardening processes. The grains24can be fused e.g. with the hollow body15or the carrier element29or parts thereof. A type of cage in which loose grains24of the wick member20are held in position can be formed from grains24fused with one another of the wick member20in particular in combination with the heating member21. Grains24can optionally also be fused with one another to form a lid35. Instead of the grains24, to form a receiving chamber26and/or a retaining element, expandable foam material can be used which is hardened in the position in which it surrounds or covers the vaporizer unit19in order to create a lid35with which the wick member20is held in position.

In further embodiments, not represented explicitly, the securing means25for the granular wick member20is alternatively or cumulatively of a magnetic type such that the grains24are formed to be at least partially magnetic and magnets which are arranged in the region of the wick member20hold the grains24in position. Optionally, the securing means25is alternatively or cumulatively of an electrostatic type such that the grains24are at least partially electrically charged and electric fields which are present in the region of the wick member20hold the grains in position.

The securing means25are configured and adapted entirely or partially optionally for permanent or temporary securing. Parts of the securing means25are preferably configured and adapted for permanent securing, for example, by constructive components in the form of the side walls32, the heating member21, the cover elements28/lids35or the like which hold the wick member20in position in the mounted state up to the end of the service life of the vaporizer cartridge10. Other parts of the securing means25, which facilitate in particular the introduction of the wick member20, are intrinsic to the wick member20itself, for example, shock-frozen liquid/granulate pastes which hold in position or hold together the wick member20up until final installation in the vaporizer cartridge10.

The mode of operation of the inhaler14according to the invention is described by way of example on the basis of an E-cigarette as an inhaler14in particular in relation toFIG.1. The inhaler14is configured and adapted for the inhalation of vapour enriched with active ingredients and comprises a cartridge carrier13at least comprising an electronic control unit11and an energy source12as well as a vaporizer cartridge10which is characterised according to the invention described herein.

A consuming person sucks e.g. on a mouthpiece38of the inhaler14which is formed from the cartridge carrier13and the vaporizer cartridge10, wherein a liquid which contains, for example, glycerine, propylene glycol and possibly further active ingredients and/or flavourings is located in the storage tank17of the vaporizer cartridge10. As a result of suction, a vacuum is generated in the flow channel16, which vacuum itself activates the control unit11e.g. via a sensor, not represented. The control unit11controls the heating member21which is supplied with energy by the energy source12. Liquid from the storage tank17is transported by means of the wick member20at least initially in a capillary manner through the microchannels23out of the storage tank17in the direction of the heating member21. At or in the heated heating member16, the liquid is converted into vapour, wherein the heating member16transports the liquid or the vapour formed therefrom as a result of the liquid- and vapour-permeable structure in the direction of the flow channel16and discharged to it. The vapour mixes in the flow channel16with the air flow and is sucked in and inhaled by the consuming person.