Cartridges for evaporator units

Abstract

A cartridge for an evaporator device is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the cartridge may include a hopper housing, an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing, and a folded mesh disposed within the airflow tube and including a plurality of folds. The airflow tube defines a passage extending through it, and at least a portion of the airflow tube is permeable to the vaporizable material, wherein the permeable portion of the airflow tube is configured to draw the vaporizable material from the hopper housing into the airflow tube for vaporization. The folded mesh is configured to change from an inactive state to an active state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the active state, the folded mesh is configured to generate a sufficient amount of heat to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material extracted from the hopper housing. An evaporator device is also provided.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 755,924, filed on November 5, 2018, entitled “CARTRIDGE FOR AN EVAPORATOR DEVICE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent permitted. Technical Field

[0003] The subject matter described herein relates to an evaporator apparatus including an evaporator cartridge. Background Art

[0004] A vaporizer device, which may also be referred to as a vaporizer, electronic vaporizer device, or e-vaporizer device, can be used to deliver an aerosol (e.g., a gas and / or condensed phase material suspended in a stationary or moving mass of air (or some other gaseous carrier)) containing one or more active ingredients, wherein delivery is achieved by inhalation of the aerosol by a user of the vaporizer device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a class of battery-powered vaporizer devices that can be used to simulate the experience of smoking, but without burning tobacco or other substances. Vaporizer devices are becoming increasingly popular for both prescription medical uses to deliver medications and for the consumption of tobacco, nicotine, and other plant-based materials. Vaporizer devices can be portable, self-contained, and / or convenient to use.

[0005] When using a vaporizer device, a user inhales an aerosol, colloquially referred to as "vapor," which may be generated by a heating element that vaporizes (e.g., converts a liquid or solid at least partially into a vapor phase) a vaporizable material, which may be a liquid, solution, solid, paste, wax, and / or any other form that is compatible with a particular vaporizer device. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer device may be disposed within a cartridge (e.g., a detachable component of a vaporizer device that contains the vaporizable material), which includes an outlet (e.g., a mouthpiece) for the user to inhale the aerosol.

[0006] To receive the inhalable aerosol generated by the vaporizer device, in some examples, the user may activate the vaporizer device by inhaling, pressing a button, and / or by some other method. Inhaling, as used herein, may refer to the user causing a volume of air to be drawn into the vaporizer device in a manner such that the vaporized vaporizable material combines with the volume of air to generate the inhalable aerosol.

[0007] The vaporizer device may be controlled by one or more controllers, electronic circuits (eg, sensors, heating elements), and / or the like on the vaporizer device. The vaporizer device may also wirelessly communicate with an external controller (eg, a computing device such as a smartphone).

[0008] The vaporizing device usually uses an atomizer to heat the vaporizable material and delivers an inhalable aerosol instead of smoke. The atomizer may include a wicking element, which delivers a certain amount of vaporizable material (along its length) to the part of the atomizer including a heating element. In certain embodiments, the atomizer includes a mesh that can be used as a wicking element, which draws the vaporizable material into the atomizer, or can be used as a heating element for evaporating the vaporizable material. Therefore, the use of the mesh requires the atomizer to include additional elements to draw the vaporizable material into the atomizer or to heat the vaporizable material according to the use mode of the mesh. For example, in the case where the mesh is used as a wicking element, an additional heater is required because the resistance of the mesh is generally low. In other cases, if a mesh is used as a heating element, an additional wicking element, such as cotton (cotton) is required. Therefore, it is necessary to improve or overcome these problems with an improved vaporizer device and / or vaporizer cartridge. Summary of the invention

[0009] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to evaporator devices and cartridges for evaporator devices.

[0010] In some variations, one or more of the following features may optionally be included in any feasible combination.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, a cartridge is provided, the cartridge comprising a hopper housing configured to hold a vaporizable material, an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing, and a folded mesh disposed within the airflow tube and comprising a plurality of folds. The airflow tube defines a passage extending through it, and at least a portion of the airflow tube is permeable to the vaporizable material, wherein the permeable portion of the airflow tube is configured to draw the vaporizable material from the hopper housing into the airflow tube for vaporization. The folded mesh is configured to change from an inactive state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the activated state, the folded mesh is configured to generate a sufficient amount of heat to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material extracted from the hopper housing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the permeable portion of the airflow tube may include a plurality of holes.

[0013] The folded mesh can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the folded mesh can extend a mesh length from the first end to the second end, wherein the mesh length of the folded mesh can be less than a predetermined length of the folded mesh in an unfolded state. The width of the folded mesh can be greater than the radius of the airflow tube.

[0014] The airflow tube can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the airflow tube can have a tube length extending from a first end to a second end. The tube length can be greater than the mesh length.

[0015] In some embodiments, when the folded web is in the deactivated state, a pressure balance may be created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passageway.

[0016] In certain embodiments, when the folded mesh is in an activated state, a pressure differential can be generated on the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passage. When the folded mesh is in an activated state, a pressure differential is generated in response to the evaporation of at least a portion of the evaporable material. In certain embodiments, when the pressure differential is generated, the evaporable material can flow from the hopper housing into the airflow tube through the permeable portion of the airflow tube.

[0017] In some embodiments, a portion of the vaporizable material may be within the airflow tube when the folded web is in the inactive state.

[0018] In another exemplary embodiment, an evaporator device is provided, which includes an evaporator body and a cartridge selectively coupled to the evaporator body and removable therefrom. The cartridge includes a hopper housing configured to accommodate a vaporizable material, an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing, and a folded mesh disposed within the airflow tube and including a plurality of folds. The airflow tube defines a passage extending through it, and at least a portion of the airflow tube is permeable to the vaporizable material, wherein the permeable portion of the airflow tube is configured to draw the vaporizable material from the hopper housing into the airflow tube for vaporization. The folded mesh is configured to change from an inactive state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the activated state, the folded mesh is configured to generate a sufficient amount of heat to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material extracted from the hopper housing.

[0019] The evaporator body can have a variety of configurations.In some embodiments, the evaporator body can include a power source.

[0020] In some embodiments, the permeable portion of the airflow tube may include a plurality of holes.

[0021] The folded mesh can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the folded mesh can extend a mesh length from the first end to the second end, wherein the mesh length of the folded mesh can be less than a predetermined length of the folded mesh in an unfolded state. The width of the folded mesh can be greater than the radius of the airflow tube.

[0022] In some embodiments, when the folded web is in the deactivated state, a pressure balance may be established across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passageway.

[0023] In certain embodiments, when the folded mesh is in an activated state, a pressure differential can be generated at a permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passage. When the folded mesh is in an activated state, a pressure differential can be generated in response to the evaporation of at least a portion of the evaporable material. In certain embodiments, when the pressure differential is generated, the evaporable material can flow from the hopper housing into the airflow tube through the permeable portion of the airflow tube.

[0024] In some embodiments, a portion of the vaporizable material may be within the airflow tube when the folded web is in the inactive state.

[0025] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become more apparent from the specification and drawings, as well as from the claims. The claims appended to the present invention are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some principles associated with the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1A is a block diagram of an evaporator device;

[0028] Figure 1B is a top view of an embodiment of an evaporator device showing an evaporator cartridge separated from a body of the evaporator device;

[0029] Figure 1C yes Figure 1B A top view of an evaporator device showing an evaporator cartridge coupled to an evaporator device body;

[0030] Figure 1D yes Figure 1C A perspective view of an evaporator device;

[0031] Figure 1E yes Figure 1B A perspective view of an evaporator barrel;

[0032] Figure 1F yes Figure 1E Another perspective view of the evaporator barrel; and

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an evaporator cartridge is shown.

[0034] Where practical, similar reference numerals indicate similar structures, features, or elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Embodiments of the current subject matter include methods, devices, articles, and systems related to vaporizing one or more materials for inhalation by a user. Exemplary embodiments include vaporizer devices and systems including vaporizer devices. The term "vaporizer device" used in the following description and claims refers to a stand-alone device, a device including two or more detachable components (e.g., a vaporizer body including a battery and other hardware, and a cartridge including vaporizable materials), and / or the like. A "vaporizer system" as used herein may include one or more components, such as a vaporizer device. Examples of vaporizer devices consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and / or the like. Generally speaking, such vaporizer devices are handheld devices that heat (e.g., by convection, conduction, radiation, and / or some combination thereof) vaporizable materials to provide an inhalable dose of material.

[0036] The vaporizable material for use with the vaporizer device may be provided in a cartridge (e.g., a component of the vaporizer device containing the vaporizable material in a reservoir or other container) that can be refilled after being empty, or disposable so that a new cartridge containing additional vaporizable material of the same or different type can be used. The vaporizer device may be a cartridge-using vaporizer device, a cartridge-free vaporizer device, or a multi-use vaporizer device that can be used with or without a cartridge. For example, the vaporizer device may include a heating chamber (e.g., an oven or other area that heats the material via a heating element), configured to receive the vaporizable material directly into the heating chamber, and / or a reservoir for containing the vaporizable material, etc.

[0037] In some embodiments, the vaporizer device can be configured for use with a liquid vaporizable material (e.g., a carrier solution in which active and / or inactive ingredients are suspended or held in solution, or the vaporizable material itself in liquid form). The liquid vaporizable material can be capable of being completely vaporized. Alternatively, at least a portion of the liquid vaporizable material can remain after all of the material suitable for inhalation has been vaporized.

[0038] refer to Figure 1A , the vaporizer device 100 may include a power source 112 (e.g., a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery) and a controller 104 (e.g., a processor capable of executing logic, circuitry, etc.), the controller being used to control heat transfer to the atomizer 141 to convert the vaporizable material 102 from a condensed form (e.g., a liquid, a solution, a suspension, a portion of at least partially unprocessed plant material, etc.) to a vapor phase. The controller 104 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) consistent with certain embodiments of the current subject matter.

[0039] After converting the vaporizable material 102 to the vapor phase, at least some of the vaporizable material 102 in the vapor phase may condense to form particulate matter that at least partially locally equilibrates with the vapor phase as part of the aerosol, which may form part or all of the inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer device 100 during inhalation by a user or inhalation on the vaporizer device 100. It should be understood that the interaction between the vapor phase and the condensed phase in the aerosol produced by the vaporizer device 100 may be complex and dynamic due to factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemistry, flow conditions in the airflow path (inside the vaporizer device and in the airway of a human or other animal), and / or mixing of the vaporizable material 102 in the vapor or aerosol phase with other airflows, which may affect one or more physical parameters of the aerosol. In some vaporizer devices, particularly for vaporizer devices used to deliver volatile vaporizable materials, the inhalable dose is primarily present in the vapor phase (e.g., the formation of condensed phase particles may be very limited).

[0040] The atomizer 141 in the vaporizer device 100 may be configured to vaporize the vaporizable material 102. The vaporizable material 102 may be a liquid. Examples of vaporizable material 102 include pure liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures, etc. The atomizer 141 may include a wicking element (i.e., a wick) configured to deliver a certain amount of vaporizable material 102 to a portion of the atomizer 141 that includes a heating element ( Figure 1A not shown).

[0041] For example, the wicking element can be configured to draw vaporizable material 102 from a reservoir 140 configured to hold vaporizable material 102 so that the vaporizable material 102 can be vaporized by heat delivered from the heating element. The wicking element can also optionally allow air to enter the reservoir 140 and replace a volume of vaporizable material 102 that is removed. In some embodiments of the current subject matter, capillary action can pull the vaporizable material 102 into the wick for vaporization by the heating element, and air can be returned to the reservoir 140 through the wick to at least partially equalize the pressure in the reservoir 140. Other methods of allowing air to return to the reservoir 140 to equalize pressure are also within the scope of the current subject matter.

[0042] As used herein, the term "wick" or "wicking element" includes any material capable of inducing the movement of a fluid by capillary pressure.

[0043] The heating element may include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and / or a convection heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which may include a material (e.g., a metal or alloy such as a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) that is constructed to dissipate electrical energy in the form of heat when an electric current passes through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. In some embodiments of the current subject matter, the atomizer 141 may include a heating element, which includes a resistive coil or other heating element, which is wound around the wicking element, positioned within the wicking element, integrated into the main shape of the wicking element, pressed into the wicking element in thermal contact with it, or otherwise arranged to transfer heat to the wicking element, so that the vaporizable material 102 drawn from the reservoir 140 by the wicking element is evaporated for subsequent inhalation by the user in a gas phase and / or condensed phase (e.g., aerosol particles or droplets). Other wicking element, heating element, and / or atomizer assembly configurations are also possible.

[0044] As the user inhales (i.e., draws, inhales, etc.) on the mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer device 100, causing air to flow from the air inlet along an airflow path through the atomizer 141 (i.e., wicking element and heating element), the heating element can be activated. Optionally, air can flow from the air inlet to the air outlet in the mouthpiece 130 via one or more condensation areas or chambers. The incoming air moving along the airflow path passes over or through the atomizer 141, where the vaporizable material 102 in the vapor phase is entrained into the air. The heating element can be activated by a controller 104, which can optionally be part of the vaporizer body 110 discussed herein, so that current is passed from the power supply 112 through a circuit including a resistive heating element, which can optionally be part of the vaporizer cartridge 120 discussed herein. As described herein, entrained vapor-phase vaporizable material 102 may condense as it passes through the remaining airflow path, such that a respirable dose of vaporizable material 102 in aerosol form may be delivered from an air outlet (eg, mouthpiece 130) for inhalation by a user.

[0045] The heating element may be activated by automatically detecting an inhalation based on one or more signals generated by one or more sensors 113. The sensors 113 and the signals generated by the sensors 113 may include one or more of: one or more pressure sensors arranged to detect pressure relative to ambient pressure along the airflow path (or alternatively measure changes in absolute pressure), one or more motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers) of the vaporizer device 100, one or more flow sensors of the vaporizer device 100, a capacitive lip sensor of the vaporizer device 100, detecting user interaction with the vaporizer device 100 via one or more input devices 116 (e.g., buttons or other tactile controls of the vaporizer device 100), receiving signals from a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100, and / or determining via other methods that an inhalation is occurring or is about to occur.

[0046] As discussed herein, a vaporizer device 100 consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter can be configured to connect (e.g., wirelessly or via a wired connection) to a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) that communicates with the vaporizer device 100. To this end, the controller 104 can include communication hardware 105. The controller 104 can also include memory 108. The communication hardware 105 can include firmware and / or can be software controlled to execute one or more encryption protocols for communication.

[0047] The computing device may be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes the vaporizer device 100 and may include its own hardware for communication that may establish a wireless communication channel with the communication hardware 105 of the vaporizer device 100. For example, a computing device used as part of a vaporizer system may include a general-purpose computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, some other portable device such as a smart watch, etc.) that executes software to generate a user interface that enables a user to interact with the vaporizer device 100. In other embodiments of the current subject matter, such a device used as part of a vaporizer system may be a dedicated hardware, such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device with one or more physical or soft (i.e., configurable on a screen or other display device and selectable by a user interacting with a touch screen or some other input device, such as a mouse, a pointer, a trackball, a cursor button, etc.) interface controls. The vaporizer device 100 may also include one or more outputs 117 or devices for providing information to a user. For example, the output 117 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide feedback to a user based on the state and / or operating mode of the vaporizer device 100.

[0048] In examples where the computing device provides a signal related to activation of the resistive heating element, or in other examples where the computing device is coupled to the vaporizer device 100 to implement various control or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions to provide a user interface and underlying data processing. In one example, detection of user interaction with one or more user interface elements by the computing device may result in the computing device sending a signal to the vaporizer device 100 to activate the heating element to reach an operating temperature for generating an inhalable dose of vapor / aerosol. Other functions of the vaporizer device 100 may be controlled by user interaction with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100.

[0049] The temperature of the resistive heating element of the vaporizer device 100 can depend on a number of factors, including the amount of electrical power delivered to the resistive heating element and / or the duty cycle of the delivered electrical power, conductive heat transfer to other portions of the electronic vaporizer device 100 and / or to the environment, latent heat losses due to vaporization of the vaporizable material 102 from the wicking element and / or the atomizer 141 as a whole, and convective heat losses due to airflow (i.e., air as a whole passes through the heating element or atomizer 141 when a user inhales on the vaporizer device 100). As described herein, in order to reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to a desired temperature, in some embodiments of the current subject matter, the vaporizer device 100 can utilize a signal from a sensor 113 (e.g., a pressure sensor) to determine when a user is inhaling. The sensor 113 can be located in and / or can be connected (e.g., via a channel or other pathway) to an airflow path that includes an inlet through which air enters the vaporizer device 100 and an outlet through which a user inhales the generated vapor and / or aerosol, such that the sensor 113 experiences a change (e.g., a pressure change) while the air passes through the vaporizer device 100 from the inlet to the outlet. In some embodiments of the current subject matter, the heating element can be activated in association with an inhalation by the user, such as by automatically detecting an inhalation, or by the sensor 113 detecting a change in the airflow path (e.g., a pressure change).

[0050] The sensor 113 can be positioned on or coupled to the controller 104 (i.e., electrically or electronically connected via a physical or wireless connection) in order to accurately perform measurements and maintain the durability of the evaporator device 100, it is beneficial to provide a sufficiently resilient seal 127 to separate the airflow path from other portions of the evaporator device 100. The seal 127 can be a gasket that can be configured to at least partially surround the sensor 113 so that the connection of the sensor 113 to the internal circuit of the evaporator device 100 is separated from the portion of the sensor 113 that is exposed to the airflow path. In the example of a cartridge-based evaporator device, the seal 127 can also separate portions of one or more electrical connections between the evaporator body 110 and the evaporator cartridge 120. Such an arrangement of the seal 127 in the evaporator device 100 may help mitigate potentially damaging effects on evaporator components due to interactions with environmental factors (e.g., moisture in the vapor or liquid phase, other fluids such as the vaporizable material 102, etc.), and / or reduce the escape of air from a designated airflow path in the evaporator device 100. Unwanted air, liquid, or other fluid passing through and / or contacting the evaporator device 100 may cause various adverse consequences, such as altering pressure readings, and / or may cause unwanted materials (e.g., moisture, excess vaporizable material 102, etc.) to accumulate in components of the evaporator device 100, whereby a poor pressure signal may result, degradation of the sensor 113 or other components, and / or a shortened life of the evaporator device 100. Leakage of the seal 127 may also result in a user inhaling air that passes through components of the evaporator device 100 that contain or consist of materials that are not desirable to inhale.

[0051] In some embodiments, the vaporizer body 110 includes a controller 104, a power source 112 (e.g., a battery), one or more sensors 113, charging contacts (e.g., contacts for charging the power source 112), a seal 127, and a cartridge container 118, which is configured to receive a vaporizer cartridge 120 for connection to the vaporizer body 110 through one or more of a variety of attachment structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120 includes a reservoir 140 for containing vaporizable material 102, and the mouthpiece 130 has an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The vaporizer cartridge 120 may include an atomizer 141 having a wicking element and a heating element. Alternatively, one or both of the wicking element and the heating element may be part of the vaporizer body 110. In embodiments where any portion of the atomizer 141 (i.e., the heating element and / or the wicking element) is part of the evaporator body 110, the evaporator device 100 can be configured to supply vaporizable material 102 from a reservoir 140 in the evaporator cartridge 120 to one or more portions of the atomizer 141 included in the evaporator body 110.

[0052] In one embodiment of the vaporizer device 100, where the power source 112 is part of the vaporizer body 110 and the heating element is disposed in the vaporizer cartridge 120 and configured to couple with the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may include electrical connection features (e.g., means for completing an electrical circuit) for completing an electrical circuit including the controller 104 (e.g., a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, etc.), the power source 112, and the heating element (e.g., a heating element within the atomizer 141). These features may include one or more contacts (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124a and 124b) located on the bottom surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and at least two contacts (referred to herein as container contacts 125a and 125b) disposed near the base of the cartridge container 118 of the vaporizer device 100, such that the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the container contacts 125a and 125b are electrically connected when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into and coupled with the cartridge container 118. The circuit completed by these electrical connections can deliver current to the heating element and can be further used for additional functions, such as measuring the resistance of the heating element to determine and / or control the temperature of the heating element based on the resistivity thermal coefficient of the heating element.

[0053] In some embodiments of the current subject matter, the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the container contacts 125a and 125b can be configured to be electrically connected in any of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more circuits required to operate the vaporizer device 100 can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge container 118 in a first rotational orientation (about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge container 118 of the vaporizer body 110) so that the cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the container contact 125a and the cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the container contact 125b. In addition, one or more circuits required to operate the vaporizer device 100 can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge container 118 in a second rotational orientation so that the cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the container contact 125b and the cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the container contact 125a.

[0054] For example, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, may be symmetrical when rotated 180° about an axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge container 118. In this configuration, the circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 may support the same operation regardless of which symmetrical orientation the vaporizer cartridge 120 appears in.

[0055] In one example of an attachment structure for coupling the evaporator cartridge 120 to the evaporator body 110, the evaporator body 110 includes one or more stoppers (e.g., depressions, protrusions, etc.) protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the cartridge container 118, additional material (e.g., metal, plastic, etc.) formed to include a portion extending into the cartridge container 118, etc. One or more outer surfaces of the evaporator cartridge 120 may include corresponding recesses ( Figure 1A 10 ), the recess may fit and / or otherwise snap onto such a stop or protrusion when the evaporator cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118 on the evaporator body 110. When the evaporator cartridge 120 and the evaporator body 110 are coupled (e.g., by inserting the evaporator cartridge 120 into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the evaporator body 110), the stop or protrusion of the evaporator body 110 may fit into and / or otherwise be retained within the recess of the evaporator cartridge 120 to secure the evaporator cartridge 120 in place during assembly. Such an assembly can provide sufficient support to hold the evaporator cartridge 120 in place to ensure good contact between the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the container contacts 125a and 125b, while allowing the evaporator cartridge 120 to be released from the evaporator body 110 when the user pulls the evaporator cartridge 120 with appropriate force to separate the evaporator cartridge 120 from the cartridge container 118.

[0056] In some embodiments, the evaporator cartridge 120, or at least the insertable end 122 of the evaporator cartridge 120 configured to be inserted into the cartridge container 118, can have a non-circular cross-section that is transverse to the axis along which the evaporator cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge container 118. For example, the non-circular cross-section can be approximately rectangular, approximately elliptical (i.e., having an approximately oval shape), non-rectangular but having two sets of parallel or approximately parallel opposing sides (i.e., having a parallelogram shape), or other shapes having at least second-order rotational symmetry. In this case, the approximate shape indicates that the basic similarity to the shape being described is obvious, but the sides of the shape in question do not have to be completely linear and the vertices do not have to be completely sharp. In any description of a non-circular cross-section mentioned herein, it is expected that two or any one of the sides or vertices of the cross-sectional shape are rounded shapes.

[0057] The cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the container contacts 125a and 125b can take various forms. For example, one or both sets of contacts can include conductive pins, tabs, posts, receiving holes for the pins or posts, etc. Some types of contacts can include springs or other features to promote better physical and electrical contact between the contacts on the evaporator cartridge 120 and the evaporator body 110. The electrical contacts can optionally be gold plated and / or include other materials.

[0058] Figure 1B-1D One embodiment of an evaporator body 110 is illustrated having a cartridge receptacle 118 into which an evaporator cartridge 120 may be releasably inserted. Figure 1B and 1C A top view of the evaporator device 100 is shown, showing the evaporator cartridge 120 positioned for insertion and inserted into the evaporator body 110, respectively. Figure 1D The reservoir 140 of the evaporator cartridge 120 is shown to be formed in whole or in part of a translucent material, such that the level of the vaporizable material 102 can be seen from a window 132 (e.g., translucent material) along the evaporator cartridge 120. The evaporator cartridge 120 can be configured such that the window 132 can be seen when it is insertably received by the evaporator cartridge receptacle 118 of the evaporator body 110. For example, in one exemplary configuration, when the evaporator cartridge 120 is coupled to the cartridge receptacle 118, the window 132 can be disposed between the bottom edge of the nozzle 130 and the top edge of the evaporator body 110.

[0059] Figure 1E An example airflow path 134 is shown that is created during a user's inhalation of air on the evaporator device 100. The airflow path 134 can direct air to the evaporation chamber 150 contained in the wick housing (see Figure 1F ), where the air is combined with the inhalable aerosol to be delivered to the user via the mouthpiece 130, which can also be part of the vaporizer cartridge 120. For example, when the user inhales on the vaporizer device 100, the air can be on the outer surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., Figure 1D 132) and the inner surface of the cartridge container 118 on the vaporizer body 110. Air can then be drawn into the insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, through the vaporization chamber 150 including or containing the heating element and the wick, and out through the outlet 136 of the mouthpiece 130 to deliver the inhalable aerosol to the user.

[0060] like Figure 1E As shown, this structure causes air to flow downward around the insertable end 122 of the evaporator cartridge 120, enter the cartridge container 118, and then flow back in the opposite direction after passing around the insertable end 122 of the evaporator cartridge 120 (e.g., the end opposite to the end including the nozzle 130) as it enters the cartridge body toward the evaporation chamber 150. The airflow path 134 then passes through the interior of the evaporator cartridge 120, such as via one or more tubes or internal passages (e.g., Figure 1F128) and passes through one or more outlets (e.g., outlet 136) formed in the suction nozzle 130. The suction nozzle 130 can be a separable component of the vaporizer cartridge 120, or can be integrally formed with one or more other components of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., to form a unitary structure with the hopper 140 and / or the like).

[0061] Figure 1F Additional features that may be included in an evaporator cartridge 120 consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are shown. For example, the evaporator cartridge 120 may include a plurality of cartridge contacts (e.g., cartridge contacts 124a, 124b) arranged on the insertable end 122. The cartridge contacts 124a, 124b may optionally each be part of a single metal sheet that forms a conductive structure (e.g., conductive structure 126) connected to one of the two ends of the resistive heating element. The conductive structure may optionally form an opposite side of the heating chamber and may act as a thermal barrier and / or heat sink to reduce heat transfer to the outer wall of the evaporator cartridge 120. Figure 1F Also shown is a sleeve 128 within the vaporizer cartridge 120 that defines a portion of an airflow path 134 between the heating chamber formed between the conductive structure 126 and the nozzle 130 .

[0062] As described above, existing vaporizer devices may include an atomizer that includes a separate wicking element and a heating element that ultimately vaporizes the vaporizable material to form the vaporized material. The wicking element draws the vaporizable material through its length. Therefore, the wicking distance depends on the length of the wicking element itself, among other possible factors. In addition, the wicking distance can affect the ability of the vaporizer device to vaporize a desired amount of vaporizable material, such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device.

[0063] In the case where the atomizer includes a mesh, the mesh can be used as a wicking element or a heating element. Since the electrical resistance of the mesh is generally low, when used as a heating element, a large amount of mesh (along its length) is required to provide sufficient resistance for heating, such as ohmic heating. In this case, the mesh will not be suitable for acting as a wicking element at the same time because the length of the mesh will provide an excessively long wicking distance for the evaporation stroke of the vaporizable material. In contrast, if the length of the mesh is customized according to the appropriate wicking distance, the resulting mesh will not have a sufficient amount of resistance for heating, such as ohmic heating. Therefore, since the electrical path and capillary path of the mesh are not independent of each other, these meshes cannot be used as a wicking heating combination element of the atomizer. Various features and devices that improve or overcome these problems are described below.

[0064] The evaporator cartridge described herein uses a wicking heating combination element, thereby no longer requiring two separate components to achieve the suction and evaporation of the vaporizable material. The wicking heating combination element is a mesh, the size of which is sufficient to provide a length suitable for wicking and heating. As described in more detail below, the mesh is in a folded structure and is located in an airflow tube extending through a hopper housing, in which the vaporizable material is provided. The mesh is configured to reduce the wicking distance while maintaining sufficient heating length. In other words, the mesh described herein has a separate electrical path and a capillary path, so that the mesh can be used as a wicking element and a heating element at the same time.

[0065] The cartridge generally includes an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing and a folded mesh arranged in the airflow tube. At least a portion of the airflow tube may be permeable to the evaporable material, wherein the permeable portion of the airflow tube is configured to suck the evaporable material from the hopper housing into the airflow tube for evaporation. The permeable portion of the airflow tube may include a plurality of holes. The folded mesh may include a plurality of folds. The folded mesh may be configured to change from an inactive state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current. When in the activated state, the folded mesh may be configured to generate a sufficient amount of heat to evaporate at least a portion of the evaporable material drawn from the hopper housing. As used herein, "hopper housing" is used synonymously with "hopper".

[0066] Figure 2 An exemplary evaporator cartridge 200 is shown that is selectively coupleable to and removable from an evaporator body, such as Figures 1A-1D The evaporator body 110 is shown. More specifically, the cartridge 200 includes a hopper housing 202, an airflow tube 216 extending through the hopper housing 202, and a folded mesh 228 disposed within the airflow tube 216. For simplicity, certain components of the cartridge 200 are not shown.

[0067] Although the hopper housing 202 can have a variety of shapes and sizes, Figure 2 The hopper housing 202 is shown as being substantially rectangular in shape. The hopper housing 202 is configured to contain a vaporizable material 204. As shown, a gasket 206 is disposed within the hopper housing 202 and is configured to substantially control the vaporizable material 204 within the hopper housing 202. In addition, a head space 208 exists between the gasket 206 and the top wall 202a of the hopper housing 202. Thus, the gasket 206 separates the vaporizable material 204 from the head space 208. The gasket can have a variety of configurations, such as a substantially rectangular shape that is sized to fit within the hopper housing 202 and allow an airflow tube to pass therethrough, such as Figure 2 In other embodiments, the spacer 206 may be omitted.

[0068] In some embodiments, the hopper housing 202 may include one or more vents, such as Figure 2 The vents 210 shown are configured to substantially allow air from the environment to enter the hopper housing 202, thereby substantially maintaining the internal pressure of the hopper housing 202 (e.g., an internal pressure substantially equal to the ambient pressure). Thus, one or more vents can act as a one-way valve and can be used to reduce or eliminate the negative pressure generated when the vaporizable material 204 flows out of the hopper housing 202.

[0069] Alternatively or additionally, the hopper housing 202 may include a valve 214 configured to allow air flow into the hopper housing 202, such as Figure 2 As shown. Valve 214 can also be configured to substantially prevent airflow from flowing out of the hopper housing 202. Therefore, valve 214 can be configured as a one-way valve. The valve 214 can be a passive valve or an active valve. The valve 214 can be controlled mechanically and / or electronically. Various configurations of valve 214 are contemplated herein.

[0070] like Figure 2 Shown, airflow tube 216 extends through hopper housing 202. Although airflow tube 216 is shown as roughly centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the center of mass that passes hopper housing 202, such position is not necessary.Therefore, this paper also considers other positions of airflow tube 216 in hopper housing 202.In addition, this paper also considers other airflow configurations by hopper housing 202.

[0071] The airflow tube 216 can have a variety of configurations. Figure 2 As shown, the airflow tube 216 extends from the first end 216a to the second end 216b by a length (L T ), and is defined by curved sidewalls 218a and bottom wall 218b. The length of the airflow tube 216 is also referred to herein as the tube length. In addition, the airflow tube 216 defines a channel 220 extending therein. The airflow channel 220 is configured to guide air (as indicated by arrow 222) through the airflow tube 216 so that the air 222 will mix with the vaporized material to form an aerosol, as indicated by arrow 223. The airflow channel 220 further guides the aerosol 223 through the first end 216 (e.g., outlet) of the airflow tube 216, thereby entering the suction nozzle 232 connected to the vaporizer cartridge 200 for inhalation by the user. Although Figure 2 A suction nozzle 232 is shown, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the suction nozzle 232 may be omitted and a user may blow directly onto the cartridge 200 at the outlet (eg, the first end 216 of the airflow tube 216 ).

[0072] As shown, when the user inhales into the nozzle 232, the air 222 enters the airflow tube 216 through the bottom wall 218b. Therefore, the bottom wall 218b is configured to allow airflow to easily pass through and enter the airflow tube 216. Although the bottom wall 218b can have a variety of configurations, for example, Figure 2 The bottom wall 218b is shown as being perforated. The perforations may have any suitable size to allow air to pass through the bottom wall 218b. In certain embodiments, the size of the perforations may substantially prevent any vaporizable material 204 and / or aerosol 223 present in the airflow tube 216 from passing through the bottom wall 218b. In this manner, undesirable leakage to an evaporator body, such as a vaporizer body, coupled to the evaporator cartridge 200 may be inhibited. Figures 1A-1D The bottom wall 218b may include any suitable number of perforations, so the number of perforations is not limited to Figure 2 Alternatively or additionally, the bottom wall 218b can be formed of a gas permeable material. Therefore, the bottom wall 218b serves as an air inlet for the air flow tube 216.

[0073] The gas flow tube 216 may also include a valve 224, such as Figure 2 As shown, it is configured to allow airflow to enter the airflow tube 216 through the bottom wall 218b. The valve 224 can also be configured to substantially prevent the vaporizable material 204 in the airflow tube 216 from leaking through the bottom wall 218b. Alternatively or additionally, the valve 224 can be configured to prevent the air 222 and / or aerosol 223 in the airflow tube 216 from passing through the bottom wall 218b. Therefore, the valve 224 can be configured as a one-way valve. The valve 224 can be controlled mechanically and / or electronically. Various configurations of the valve 224 are contemplated herein.

[0074] In addition, at least a portion of the curved side wall 218a of the gas flow tube 216 is permeable to the vaporizable material 204. Although the permeable portion of the curved side wall 218a can have a variety of configurations, in the illustrated embodiment, the permeable portion of the curved side wall 218a is preferably a plurality of configurations. Figure 2 As shown, the permeable portion includes a plurality of holes 226 extending through the curved sidewall 218a. These plurality of holes 226 can be configured to draw the vaporizable material 204 from the hopper housing 202 into the airflow tube 216, and thus into its channel 220, for vaporization through the folded mesh 228, as discussed in more detail below. For example, Figure 2As shown, a plurality of holes 226 form a flow channel that extends through the curved sidewall 218a of the gas flow tube 216, thereby between the hopper housing 202 and the channel 220 defined by the gas flow tube 216. A plurality of holes 226 can also have a variety of diameters that substantially allow the vaporizable material 204 to flow from the hopper housing 202 into the gas flow tube 216 until pressure balance is reached (e.g., when the internal pressure of the hopper housing 202 is substantially equal to the ambient pressure outside the hopper housing 202). Alternatively, the curved sidewall 218a of the gas flow tube 216 can be formed of a permeable material.

[0075] The plurality of holes 226 may be positioned along any portion of the curved sidewall 218a. Figure 2 As shown, the plurality of holes 226 are located proximate to the bottom wall 218b of the airflow tube 216. Although the plurality of holes 226 are shown as being equidistant from one another, in other embodiments, the plurality of holes 226 may be spaced at different distances relative to one another and / or relative to the bottom wall 218b of the airflow tube 216.

[0076] As described above, the folded mesh 228 is arranged in the airflow tube 216. The folded mesh 228 can be configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current. In addition, when in the activated state, the folded mesh 228 can be configured to generate heat, which is sufficient to evaporate at least a portion of the vaporizable material 204 drawn from the hopper housing 202 and entering the airflow tube 216 through the plurality of holes 226.

[0077] The folded mesh 228 can have a variety of configurations. For example, as shown, the folded mesh 228 includes a plurality of folds 230. Thus, the folded mesh 228 is formed by an unfolded mesh having a predetermined length that has a sufficient amount of resistance suitable for heating (e.g., ohmic heating). The folding reduces the length of the unfolded mesh but increases the width of the unfolded mesh to form the folded mesh 228. By increasing the width, a capillary path can be formed along the width of the folded mesh 228. As a result, the folded mesh 228 has an electrical path extending along its length and a capillary path extending along its width. The folded mesh 228 has a length (L) extending from a first end 228a to an opposite second end 228b. M ) and the width extending between adjacent folds (W M ). The folded mesh 228 may be formed of any suitable material capable of conducting an electric current. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include stainless steel, etc. In one embodiment, the folded mesh 228 is an accordion-shaped stainless steel mesh.

[0078] The folded web 228 may be located within any portion of the airflow tube 216. For example, Figure 2As shown, the folded web 228 is approximately centered relative to the longitudinal axis (L) extending through the center of mass of the cross-sectional area of ​​the airflow tube 216. In other embodiments, the folded web 228 can be offset from the center of mass. In some embodiments, for example, Figure 2 As shown, the width (W M ) is greater than the radius (R) of the airflow tube 216.

[0079] In addition, the folded web 228 extends along at least a portion of the length of the airflow tube 216. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the folded web 228 extends along at least a portion of the airflow tube 216 having the plurality of holes 226. In some embodiments, the length of the folded web 228 may be less than the length of the airflow tube 216. In other embodiments, the length of the folded web 228 may be equal to the length of the airflow tube 216.

[0080] In some embodiments, the evaporator cartridge 200 includes two or more cartridge contacts, for example, a first cartridge contact 229a and a second cartridge contact 229b. The two or more cartridge contacts may be configured, for example, to couple with the container contacts 125a and 125b so as to form one or more electrical connections with the evaporator body 110. The circuit completed by these electrical connections may allow current to be delivered to the folded mesh 228. The circuit may also be used for additional functions, for example, to measure the resistance of the folded mesh 228 so as to determine and / or control the temperature of the folded mesh 228 based on the thermal coefficient of resistivity of the folded mesh 228.

[0081] In use, when the folded mesh 228 is in the inactive state, a pressure balance can be established on at least a portion of the multiple holes 226 between the hopper housing 202 and the passage 220 of the airflow tube 216. Therefore, when the folded mesh 228 is in the inactive state, a portion of the vaporizable material 204 can be in the airflow tube 216. The folded mesh 228 is activated (changed to an activated state from the inactive state) in response to the current applied via a power supply (not shown). Once activated, the folded mesh 228 generates heat, which evaporates at least a portion of the vaporizable material 204 in contact with it or in some cases close to it, evaporating it into vaporized material. The vaporized material is subsequently mixed with the air 222 of the passage 220 through the airflow tube 216, and therefore between the multiple folds 230 of the folded mesh 228, and forms an aerosol 223. Alternatively or additionally, the air 222 can pass through the folded mesh 228 itself.

[0082] When the folded mesh 228 is in an activated state (e.g., in response to evaporation of at least a portion of the vaporizable material 204 in the airflow tube 216 when the folded mesh 228 is in an activated state), a pressure differential is generated over at least a portion of the plurality of holes 226 between the hopper housing 202 and the passage 220 of the airflow tube 216. It should be noted that the pressure differential can exist regardless of whether the folded mesh 228 is in an activated state or an inactive state. When a pressure differential is generated, the vaporizable material 204 can flow from the hopper housing 202 into the airflow tube 216 via the plurality of holes 226.

[0083] the term

[0084] For the purposes of describing and defining the present teachings, it should be noted that unless otherwise specified, the term "substantially" is used herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty attributable to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term "substantially" is also used herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

[0085] When a feature or element is referred to as being "on" another feature or another element in this article, it can be directly on another feature or element, or there can also be intermediate features and / or elements. On the contrary, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly on" another feature or element, there are no intermediate features or elements. It should also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected", "attached" or "coupled" to another feature or element, the feature or element can be directly connected, attached or coupled to another feature or element, or there can be intermediate features or elements. On the contrary, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly connected", "directly attached" or "directly coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intermediate features or elements.

[0086] Although described or shown for one embodiment, the features and elements described or shown in this way may apply to other embodiments. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that references to structures or features arranged "adjacent" another feature may have portions overlapping or located under the adjacent feature.

[0087] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and implementations only and are not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0088] In the above description and claims, phrases such as "at least one of" or "one or more of" may appear after the conjunction list of an element or feature. The term "and / or" may also appear in the enumeration of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradictory to the context used, the phrase means any of the listed elements or features individually, or any combination of the listed elements or features with other recorded elements or features. For example, the phrases "at least one of A and B", "one or more of A and B", "A and / or B" mean "A alone", "B alone" or "A and B together" respectively. There is also a similar explanation for the enumeration of three or more items. For example, the phrases "at least one of A, B and C", "one or more of A, B and C", "A, B and / or C" each mean "A alone", "B alone", "C alone", "A and B together", "A and C together", "B and C together", or "A and B and C together". The term "based on" used above and in the claims means "based at least in part on", so that unrecorded features or elements are also allowed.

[0089] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "forward", "backward", "under ...", "below ...", "below", "above ...", "on", etc. may be used here to describe the relationship between an element or feature and another element or feature as shown in the figure. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure is inverted, the elements described as being under or below other elements or features will be oriented to be above other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "under ..." may include the orientations of "above ..." and "below ...". The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein may be interpreted accordingly. Similarly, unless otherwise specifically indicated, the terms "upward", "downward", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. are used herein only for the purpose of explanation.

[0090] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various features / elements (including steps), these features / elements are not limited by these terms unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature / element from another feature / element. Therefore, without departing from the teachings provided herein, the first feature / element discussed below may be referred to as the second feature / element, and similarly, the second feature / element discussed below may be referred to as the first feature / element.

[0091] As used in this specification and claims, including as used in the examples, and unless otherwise expressly indicated, all numbers can be understood as words preceded by "about" or "approximately", even if the term does not appear explicitly. When describing a numerical value and / or position, the phrase "about" or "approximately" can be used to indicate that the numerical value and / or position described are within the reasonable expected range of the numerical value and / or position. For example, a numerical value may have a value (or range of values) of + / -0.1% of the stated value, a value (or range of values) of + / -1% of the stated value, a value (or range of values) of + / -2% of the stated value, a value (or range of values) of + / -5% of the stated value, a value (or range of values) of + / -10% of the stated value, etc. Any numerical value given herein should also be understood to include about the value or about the value, unless otherwise indicated by the context. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range listed herein is intended to include all subranges contained in the numerical range. It is also understood that when a value is disclosed, "less than or equal to" the value, "greater than or equal to" the value, and possible ranges between the values ​​are also disclosed, as appropriately understood by those skilled in the art. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" (e.g., in the case where X is a numerical value) are also disclosed. It is also understood that throughout this application, data is provided in a variety of different forms, and the data represents endpoints and starting points and ranges for any combination of data points. For example, if a specific data point "10" and a specific data point "15" are disclosed, it is understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15 are also considered disclosed, as well as between 10 and 15. It is also understood that each unit between two specific units is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

[0092] Although different illustrated embodiments are described above, any number of changes may be made to the different embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are implemented may often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped entirely. Optional features in different device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in other embodiments. Therefore, the above description is provided primarily for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0093] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be implemented as follows: digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features may include implementations using one or more computer programs that may be executed and / or interpreted on a programmable system that includes at least one programmable processor, at least one input device, and at least one output device, the programmable processor may be dedicated or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from a storage system and to send data and instructions to the storage system. A programmable system or computing system may include a client and a server. The client and server are conventionally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The connection between the client and the server is generated by means of computer programs running on respective computers and having a client-server relationship with each other.

[0094] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as "programs," "software," "software applications," "applications," "components," or "code," include machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in a high-level programming language, an object-oriented programming language, a functional programming language, a logic programming language, and / or an assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to any computer program product, device, and / or apparatus for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, such as, for example, a disk, an optical disk, a memory, and a programmable logic device (PLD), including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. A machine-readable medium may store such machine instructions non-temporarily, such as, for example, a non-temporary solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. A machine-readable medium may alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a temporary manner, such as, for example, a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0095] The examples and descriptions included herein show, by way of illustration and without limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter can be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments may be used, and other embodiments may be derived from the specific embodiments described, so that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the subject matter of the invention may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term "invention", which reference is only for the sake of convenience, and if more than one invention is in fact disclosed, it is not intended to actively limit the scope of the present application to any single invention or inventive concept. Therefore, although specific embodiments are illustrated and described herein, any arrangement structure intended to achieve the same purpose may replace the specific embodiments shown. The present invention is intended to cover any and all modifications or variations of different embodiments. After reading the above description, the combination of the above embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The term "based on" used herein and in the claims means "based at least in part on", so that unrecorded features or elements are also allowed.

[0096] The subject matter described herein may be embodied in systems, devices, methods and / or articles, depending on the desired configuration. The embodiments described in the above description do not represent all embodiments consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are just some examples consistent with the relevant aspects of the subject matter. Although some variations are described in detail herein, other modifications or additions may be made. In particular, in addition to the features and / or changes described herein, further features and / or changes may be provided. For example, the embodiments described herein may point to various combinations and sub-combinations of the features disclosed herein and / or combinations and sub-combinations of several further disclosed features. In addition, the logic flows described in the accompanying drawings and / or described herein do not necessarily require the specific order or sequence shown to obtain the desired results. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A cartridge for an evaporator device, the cartridge comprising: a hopper housing configured to contain a vaporizable material; an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing, the airflow tube defining a passage extending therethrough, at least a portion of the airflow tube being permeable to the vaporizable material, the permeable portion of the airflow tube being configured to draw the vaporizable material from the hopper housing into the airflow tube for vaporization; and a folded mesh disposed within the gas flow tube and comprising a plurality of folds, the folded mesh having a capillary path and an electrical path such that the folded mesh is configured to directly draw vaporizable material from the reservoir housing and vaporize at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material, wherein the folded web is configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electrical current, and when in the activated state, the folded web is configured to generate a sufficient amount of heat to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material drawn from the reservoir housing into vaporized material; as well as Wherein the capillary path extends along a width of the folded web, the width extending between adjacent folds of the plurality of folds, and wherein the electrical path extends along a length of the folded web, the length extending from a first end to an opposite second end of the folded web.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the permeable portion of the gas flow tube comprises a plurality of holes.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a length of the folded web is less than a predetermined length of the folded web in an unfolded state.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the gas flow tube has a tube length extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the tube length is greater than a length of the folded mesh.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the width of the folded web is greater than a radius of the airflow tube.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein: When the folded web is in the deactivated state, a pressure balance is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passageway.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein: When the folded web is in an activated state, a pressure differential is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passageway.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein: When a pressure differential is created, vaporizable material flows from the hopper housing through the permeable portion of the gas flow tube into the gas flow tube.

9. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein: When the folded web is in the activated state, a pressure differential is generated in response to vaporization of at least a portion of the vaporizable material.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a portion of the vaporizable material is within the gas flow tube when the folded web is in the inactive state.

11. An evaporator device comprising: Evaporator body; and A cartridge selectively coupled to and removable from an evaporator body, the cartridge comprising: a hopper housing configured to contain a vaporizable material, an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing, the airflow tube defining a passage extending therethrough, at least a portion of the airflow tube being permeable to the vaporizable material, the permeable portion of the airflow tube being configured to draw the vaporizable material from the hopper housing into the airflow tube for vaporization, and a folded mesh disposed within the gas flow tube and comprising a plurality of folds, the folded mesh having a capillary path and an electrical path such that the folded mesh is configured to directly draw vaporizable material from the reservoir housing and vaporize at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material, wherein the folded web is configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electrical current, and when in the activated state, the folded web is configured to generate a sufficient amount of heat to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material drawn from the reservoir housing into vaporized material; as well as Wherein the capillary path extends along a width of the folded web, the width extending between adjacent folds of the plurality of folds, and wherein the electrical path extends along a length of the folded web, the length extending from a first end to an opposite second end of the folded web.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the evaporator body includes a power source.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the permeable portion of the gas flow tube comprises a plurality of holes.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the length of the folded mesh is less than a predetermined length of the folded mesh in an unfolded state.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the width of the folded mesh is greater than a radius of the airflow tube.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein When the folded web is in the deactivated state, a pressure balance is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passageway.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein when the folded web is in an activated state, a pressure differential is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the hopper housing and the passageway.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein when a pressure differential is created, the vaporizable material flows from the hopper housing into the gas flow tube through the permeable portion of the gas flow tube.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein when the folded web is in an activated state, a pressure differential is generated in response to vaporization of at least a portion of the vaporizable material.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein a portion of the vaporizable material is within the airflow tube when the folded web is in the inactive state.

21. A cartridge for an evaporator device, the cartridge comprising: a hopper housing configured to contain a vaporizable material; an airflow tube extending through the hopper housing, the airflow tube defining a passage extending therethrough; and a wicking heating assembly disposed within the channel passage of the airflow tube, the wicking heating assembly configured to directly draw vaporizable material from the reservoir housing and vaporize at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material; The wicking heating assembly has a capillary path extending along a first dimension of the wicking heating assembly and an electrical path extending along a second dimension of the wicking heating assembly, wherein the first dimension is different from the second dimension.

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