Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/189,032, titled VAPORIZING DEVICE WITH POWER COMPONENT, filed on Jul. 6, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates generally to vaporizing devices and components thereof, e.g., batteries and tanks for containing e-liquid for vaporization and, more particularly, to a vaporizing device that may be portable with a generally compact configuration, e.g., to allow a user to comfortably hold the device in the palm of the hand. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many current vaporizing devices have a wand- or pen-like shape. Often these devices are intended to be carried in a case, which may be bulky and too big to carry in a pocket. Or the device itself may be too bulky to be conveniently carried. In addition, some devices must be taken apart for transport between uses, e.g., in a cigarette case. 
         [0004]    The present application addresses these problems encountered in prior art vaporizing devices and provides other, related advantages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, a vaporizing device is disclosed. The vaporizing device comprises, in combination: a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user&#39;s mouth; and a power component comprising: a frame, wherein a portion of the frame defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position; a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and coupled to the frame; wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present application, a vaporizing device is disclosed. The vaporizing device comprises, in combination: a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user&#39;s mouth; and a power component comprising: a frame, wherein a portion of the frame having a tapered surface defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, wherein a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank; an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be connected to the tank; a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and coupled to the frame; wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot. 
         [0007]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present application, a vaporizing device is disclosed. The vaporizing device comprises, in combination: a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user&#39;s mouth; and a power component having a generally ergonomic shape configured to fit in a palm of the user&#39;s hand comprising: a frame, wherein an upper portion of the frame having a tapered surface defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, wherein a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank, and wherein a portion of the tank from the mouthpiece to a lower area of the tank is visible when the tank is disposed in the slot; an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be connected to the tank; a base portion having a charging port; a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and removably coupled to the frame; wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The novel features believed to be characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures can be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The application itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vaporizing device, consistent with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a vaporizing device, consistent with an embodiment of the present application, being held in a palm of a user; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate various views of a vaporizing device, consistent with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a power component of the vaporizing device of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , consistent with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the power component of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the power component of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A-7E  illustrate various views of a vaporizing device and exemplary dimensions of a power component thereof, consistent with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the vaporizing device of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the vaporizing device of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , illustrating a micro-USB cable connected thereto, consistent with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a prior art vape pen; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the vaporizing device of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the power component of  FIG. 4 , with a shroud thereof removed; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  illustrates a plurality of vaporizing devices, consistent with embodiments of the present application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a vaporizing device  10  is shown, consistent with an embodiment of the present application. Devices according to the present application may include a tank  30  and a power component  50 , e.g., battery component. The tank  30  may be configured to fit within a slot  54  of the power component  50  such that at least a portion of the tank  30  is adjacent to the power component  50  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ). The power component  50  may have a generally ergonomic shape for fitting in the palm of a user&#39;s hand (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). The vaporizing device  10  may have dimensions that allow a user to carry the device in a pocket of a piece of clothing. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4-6  show different views of an exemplary vaporizing device  20  according to the present disclosure, which may be substantially similar to the vaporizing devices  10  shown  FIGS. 1 and/or 2 . As shown, the tank  30  may fit into a slot  54  of the power component  50  in an upright position. The dimensions and shape of the slot  54  may generally correspond to the dimensions of the tank  30 , e.g., both the slot  54  and the tank  30  may be generally cylindrical in shape. When the tank  30  is secured in the slot  54 , the power component  50  may provide power to an atomizer of the tank  30  to generate vapor. The mouthpiece  32  of the tank  30  may extend above the top surface  58  of the power component  50  for access by a user. While  FIGS. 1 and 3A-3B  each show the portion of the tank  30  within the respective slots  54  as entirely surrounded, in some embodiments the slot  54  of the power component  50  may only partially surround the tank  30 , e.g., wherein the slot  54  has an opening along the side, such as a slit extending along the entire length or part of the length of the slot  54 . At least a portion of the tank  30  may be at least partially or completely transparent to allow the user to view the liquid contents therein. In some embodiments, the slot  54  may be configured to allow a user to monitor the level of liquid in the tank  30 . For example, the portion of the frame  52  that defines the top of the slot  54  may have a curved or tapered surface  56 , such that the top of the slot  54  may be tapered to expose all or a portion of the length of the tank  30  (e.g., exposing all or a portion of a reservoir inside the tank, wherein the reservoir contains the liquid to be vaporized). In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, a portion of the tank  30  from the mouthpiece  32  to a middle or lower area  36  of the tank  30  may be visible when the tank  30  is disposed in the slot  54 . The portion of the frame  52  that defines the slot  54  additionally or alternatively may be at least partially or completely transparent so that all or most of the tank  30  can be viewed. The tank  30  may be secured to (e.g., locked into) and electrically connected to the power component  50  by any suitable connection(s). For example, the power component  50  may include threads complementary to threads of the tank  30  for connecting the tank  30  to a battery or other power source within the power component  50 . In some embodiments, the tank  30  may include a 510 threaded portion, a CE-4 type of threaded connection, or a CE-5 type of threaded connection, and the power component may include complementary threaded portions or types of threaded portions. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the tank  30  may include a threaded portion that screws into the slot  54  of the power component  50 . For example, the slot  54  of the power component  50  may have a closed bottom to limit displacement of the tank  30  in the slot  54 . The wall  62  at the closed bottom of the slot  54  may include an electrical connector  64  to couple with a connector of the tank  30 , e.g., for supplying power from the battery to the tank  30  (e.g., to the atomizer of the tank).  FIG. 4  shows a top view of the power component of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , wherein the bottom wall  62  of the slot includes a standard 510 threaded connector  64  for receiving a tank  30  with a complementary 510 threaded portion. In other embodiments, a side of the tank  30  may have threads complementary to threads in an adjacent surface of the power component  50 . For example, the power component  50  may have a threaded portion along a side surface thereof. 
         [0025]    Tanks suitable for the present disclosure include prefilled tanks and refillable tanks. Exemplary tanks may be about 13 mm or about 14 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the vaporizer device  10  or  20  may include an adapter fixedly or detachably coupled to a surface of the slot  54  for connecting the tank  30  to the power component  50 . 
         [0026]    The power component  50  may include a battery  76  (as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 ), e.g., a rechargeable battery. In some embodiments, for example, the power component  50  may include a lithium-ion battery, e.g., a 1100 mAh or 2200 mAh Li-ion battery.  FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the power component  50  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , including a frame  52 , a battery/battery cell  76  (hereinafter battery  76 ), and a cover or shroud  78  (hereinafter shroud  78 ). The battery  76  may be removable or non-removable. For example, the battery  76  may be fixedly attached to the frame  52  such that the battery  76  may not be removed from the power component  50 . In some embodiments, the frame  52  may completely surround the battery  76 , e.g., such that a user may not be able to access the battery  76 . The frame  52  may contain various electronic components of the device, such as e.g., microprocessors, LEDs, sensors, etc. The shroud  78  also may be removable or non-removable. For example, the shroud  78  may be fixedly attached to the battery  76  and/or frame  52 . In some embodiments, the shroud  78  may be removable, e.g., allowing a user to exchange shrouds  78  of different colors or designs (see, e.g.,  FIG. 12  and discussion below). 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the battery  76  may provide a voltage ranging from about 1.5 V to about 5.0 V, such as about 3.7 V. In some embodiments, the battery  76  may have a 3.7 V output that may be increased to 4.2 V, e.g., with a booster circuit, providing 13.6 W. The vaporizer device  10  or  20  may be configured to power an atomizer in the tank  30  down to about 1.0Ω. 
         [0028]    The power component  50  may include a power button, e.g., for activating the battery. For example, the frame  52  may include a power button operably coupled to the battery  76 , such that pressing the power button causes the battery  76  to supply voltage for vaporizing liquid in the tank  30 , e.g., via a heating element in an atomizer of the tank  30 . Additionally or alternatively, the power component  50  may be configured such that pressing one or more portions of the shroud  78  radially inward activates the battery  76  (e.g., similar to clicking a computer mouse). Thus, for example, a user may squeeze one or both sides of the shroud  78  while holding the vaporizing device  10  or  20  in his/her hand in order to generate vapor. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the power component  50  may include a port  80  for connection to an external power supply for recharging the battery  76 . For example, the power component  50  may include a USB or micro-USB charging port  80 , e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5 . The port  80  may have any suitable location along the power component  50 , such as, e.g., the bottom surface  68 , the top surface  58 , the side surface (opposite the slot  54  for receiving the tank  30 ), the front surface, or the back surface.  FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the power component  50  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , wherein a base portion  66  of the power component  50 , below the slot  54  for the tank  30 , includes a micro-USB connector  82 . A micro-USB cable  84  may be connected to the connector  82 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The power component  50  may include multiple charging ports  80 . Vaporizing devices  10  or  20  according to the present disclosure may be configured to stably sit on a desktop or other generally flat surface. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the power component  50  may include one or more LEDs, e.g., as indicator lights. When the battery power is at or above a threshold level, the LED(s) may be one color (e.g., white), and when the battery power drops below the threshold, the LED(s) may change to a different color (e.g., red). The LEDs may be lit when the vaporizing device  10  or  20  is activated or may only be lit when the power component  50  is connected to a power supply (e.g., via a USB or micro-USB cord). Additionally or alternatively, the LEDs may be configured to flash. For example, the LEDs may briefly or continuously flash when the vaporizing device  10  or  20  is turned on or off. The base portion  66  of the power component  50  may be at least partially transparent to a user to see light from LEDs within (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 7C, 7D, 7E and 9 ). 
         [0031]    The power component  50  and/or tank  30  may be made of any suitable materials or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, glass, metal, plastics and other polymers and thermopolymers. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the power component  50  may include a cover or shroud  78 , which may be removable/replaceable from the power component  50  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). For example, the shroud  78  may be configured to snap onto the power component  50  (e.g., snap onto a frame  52  or housing of the power component  50 ), and may be removed by pulling the shroud  78  away from the power component  50 . Any other suitable connections for securing the shroud  78  to the power component  50  may be used. The shroud  78  may allow for the power component  50  to have different colors and/or designs, according to the user&#39;s preferences. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 7A-7E and 8-12  illustrate additional features and characteristics encompassed by the present disclosure.  FIGS. 7A and 7C , for example, shows exemplary dimensions of a power component  50  (75 mm+38 mm+20 mm). The power component  50  may have any other suitable dimensions. Referring to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a comparison of a wand-like vape pen  100  to a vaporizing device  20  of the present disclosure is shown, e.g., illustrating that embodiments of the present disclosure may have relatively more compact dimensions. 
         [0033]    The following provides some exemplary features of power components  50  and vaporizing devices  10  or  20  according to the present disclosure. Power components  50  and vaporizing devices  10  or  20  according to the present disclosure may include at least one, some, or all of the features listed below. It is understood that additional embodiments and combinations of features are encompassed by the disclosure herein. 
       Exemplary Features 
       [0034]    2,200 mAh Li-ion cell 
         [0035]    Compact size, fits in the palm of your hand and is easily pocketable—no more wands 
         [0036]    Micro-USB charging port—port is on the side so the unit can be recharged in the upright position 
         [0037]    510 threads, accepts PFT and most CE-4 and CE-5 tanks 
         [0038]    3.7 V output—could be increased to 4.2 V (with booster circuit) providing 13.6 W when used with a prefilled tank (PFT) (13 TPM) 
         [0039]    Capable of powering atomizers down to 1.0Ω 
         [0040]    Stable standing on your desktop 
         [0041]    Replaceable cover—different colors are available (see, e.g.,  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0042]    The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

Technology Category: 5