VAPORIZER CARTRIDGE AND INHALER WITH SUCH A VAPORIZER CARTRIDGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vaporizer cartridge as a component of an inhaler, comprising a hollow body with a continuous flow channel and a storage tank for storing liquid, wherein the storage tank has at least one access opening to the flow channel and in the region of each access opening there is arranged an vaporizer unit which extends over the entire access opening and has a wick element and a heating element, wherein the vaporizer unit is designed to be liquid-permeable in such a way that liquid can be conveyed at least initially by capillary action from the storage tank through the vaporizer unit in the direction of the flow channel.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to an inhaler designed and configured for inhaling vapor enriched with active ingredients, comprising a cartridge carrier comprising at least one electronic control unit and an energy source, as well as an evaporator cartridge.

[0003] Such vaporizer cartridges and inhalers are used in the consumer goods industry, particularly in connection with an electronic cigarette, the so-called e-cigarette, as well as in the medical field to inhale liquid consumer goods and / or fluid medical products in vapor form and / or as aerosols. During consumption, a person usually sucks on a mouthpiece of the inhaler, which creates suction pressure in the flow channel that generates an airflow through the flow channel. However, the airflow can also be generated mechanically, e.g. by a pump. In the flow channel, a vaporized liquid produced and provided by the vaporizer unit is added to the airflow as a gas phase and then specifically recondensed when mixed with the airflow in order to administer an aerosol or an aerosol-vapor mixture to the consumer. The liquid is stored on or in the vaporizer cartridge.Different mixtures with different components of the same or different vapor densities are used as the liquid. A typical mixture for use in an e-cigarette, for example, contains components of glycerin and propylene glycol, possibly enriched with nicotine and / or almost any flavoring. For use in medical or therapeutic applications, e.g., for inhaling asthma medications, the mixture can contain appropriate medicinal components and active ingredients.

[0004] The individual components of the vaporizer cartridge, namely the hollow body, the storage tank, and the vaporizer unit, can be combined into a single component. This component is then a disposable item designed for a finite number of inhalations by a user and, together with a cartridge carrier as a reusable, multi-use item comprising at least one electronic control unit and a power source, forms an inhaler. However, the vaporizer cartridge can also be formed by assembling several components, with individual components, namely in particular the hollow body and the vaporizer unit, being arranged in the cartridge carrier as a reusable item, and the storage tank as a separate component forming the disposable item. Ultimately, the inhaler can be used variably by replacing the disposable item, which usually contains the liquid.

[0005] Accordingly, the disposable article and the reusable article are detachably connected to one another. The cartridge carrier as a reusable article usually comprises at least one electronic control unit and a power source. The power source can be, for example, a disposable electrochemical battery or a rechargeable electrochemical accumulator, e.g. a Li-ion battery, by means of which the heating element is supplied with energy via the electrical contacts of the vaporizer unit. The electronic and / or electrical control unit serves to control the vaporizer unit within the vaporizer cartridge. The cartridge carrier can, however, also comprise components of the vaporizer cartridge. The disposable article can be designed as a plug-in part that can be plugged onto the reusable article or as an insert part that can be inserted into the reusable article. Screw connections or other quick connections can also be used instead of a plug-in connection.By combining the disposable and reusable items, a mechanical and electrical connection is created to form a functional inhaler.

[0006] The central component that ultimately determines use (e.g., as an e-cigarette or as a medical inhaler) is the storage tank as part of the vaporizer cartridge. This usually contains the liquid or liquid mixture selected, desired, and / or required by the person (hereinafter also generally referred to as fluid), as well as the hollow body forming the flow channel and the vaporizer unit. The fluid is stored in the storage tank of the vaporizer cartridge. By means of the liquid-permeable vaporizer unit, the fluid is conveyed from the storage tank through the wick element and the heating element, at least initially by capillary transport. The voltage generated by the energy source, which is applied to the heating element, leads to a current flow in the heating element.Due to the heating resistance, preferably the ohmic resistance of the heating element, the current flow leads to a heating of the heating element and ultimately to a vaporization of the fluid in the vaporizer unit. The gas or vapor and / or aerosol produced in this way escapes from the vaporizer unit in the direction of the flow channel and is specifically recondensed into an aerosol by mixing with the air flow. The fluid therefore has a predetermined path with a predetermined flow direction, namely as a fluid through the wick element to and through the heating element and as gas / vapor / mist and / or aerosol from the heating element into the flow channel. In the flow channel, the vaporized fluid is entrained by the air flow when the flow channel is subjected to pressure / negative pressure, e.g. by a consumer sucking on the flow channel or a pump blowing a stream of air through the flow channel.

[0007] To prevent fluid from flowing directly from the storage tank into the flow channel, the vaporizer unit completely covers the access from the storage tank to the flow channel. "Completely covered" in this context means that the liquid is forced through the vaporizer unit, so that the fluid cannot flow directly from the storage tank into the flow channel, but must take a "detour" via the wicking element and the heating element. The wicking element serves, on the one hand, to temporarily store fluid, ensuring sufficient fluid is available for a few puffs on the inhaler, especially when the storage tank is almost empty. The wicking element also serves, in particular, to transport the fluid from the storage tank toward the flow channel and simultaneously acts as a type of backflow protection to prevent the fluid and / or vapor from flowing back toward the storage tank.

[0008] Previously known evaporator cartridges have an evaporator unit with a wick element made of several interwoven / twisted threads / fibers, e.g. made of cotton or glass fibers. This fiber wick has capillary properties which mean that upon initial contact with the fluid, the fiber wick is immersed in the storage tank, the fluid is absorbed in the storage tank and transported towards the heating element. The heating element is usually in the form of a filament. This wound metal wire is made of, for example, stainless steel, copper, copper compounds or nickel. This evaporator unit can usually only be manufactured manually and has limited storage capacity for temporarily storing fluid. A further disadvantage is the low fluid transport rate due to the limited number of microchannels and a system-related inhomogeneous temperature distribution along the length of the wick-filament system.In other words, a consistent and continuous supply of fluid to the heating element is only partially ensured. Furthermore, this solution lacks backflow protection.

[0009] In other known solutions, the evaporator unit therefore includes a one-piece wick block as the wick element. This wick block, usually made of ceramic materials, simplifies the automated production of the evaporator unit and the evaporator cartridge and features multiple microchannels for a higher transport rate than the fiber wick. However, this solution also has several disadvantages. In addition to a continued limited transport rate and buffer capacity, the use of such block-like wick blocks is very inflexible and, above all, difficult to install, since the wick blocks can only be inserted into precisely prefabricated receptacles / holders or the like – within a narrow tolerance range.

[0010] In the case of a one-piece wick body, the wick body itself can serve as a heating element if, for example, the ceramic material of the wick body, which has microchannels, is designed to be electrically conductive. In this case, the wick body has a dual function and forms the evaporator unit. In other cases, a separate component can serve as a heating element in addition to the wick body. In the latter case, the wick body and the separate heating element form the evaporator unit. The heating element can comprise at least one semiconductor material and / or a doped semiconductor material, preferably a p- or n-doped semiconductor material, for example mono- or polycrystalline silicon and / or mono- or polycrystalline p- or n-doped silicon. However, the heating element can also be made of silicon. The heating element is then usually a flat, planar MEMS (microelectromechanical system) component that is designed to be liquid-permeable.In both cases, the wick body is clamped, particularly by clamping it to the hollow body or between the hollow body and other components of the evaporator cartridge. In particular, reproducible attachment of the wick body using a press fit is difficult due to manufacturing tolerances.

[0011] According to the invention, to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, a wick element formed from a plurality of granular and loose grains is to be used as the wick body instead of the fiber wick or the one-piece wick block. Such a granular wick element cannot be easily held in position, especially clamped, using conventional means.

[0012] The invention is defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a vaporizer cartridge with a granular wicking element according to claim 1 that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and is held in position in a simple and secure manner. The object is further to propose a corresponding inhaler.

[0014] This object is achieved by an evaporator cartridge of the type mentioned at the outset in that the wicking element is formed from a plurality of granular grains which, due to their packing and / or formation, form microchannels which extend continuously from an inlet side ED of the wicking element to an outlet side AD of the wicking element in order to establish a fluid connection between the storage tank and the flow channel, wherein an additional fastening means is provided which is designed and configured to hold the granular wicking element in position in the region of the access opening in a manner which maintains the fluid connection. Packing describes both the loose and connected juxtaposition of the grains, which also includes vibrated and / or compacted arrangements of the grains. Formation of the grains describes, for example, that the grains themselves can have microcavities and / or microchannels.The microchannels are formed by the adjacent grains. Thus, a multitude of random microchannels are formed in the evaporator unit between the individual grains and / or by individual grains between the storage tank and the flow channel, ensuring constant and uniform evaporation on the outlet side of the evaporator unit. In other words, the granular wicking element creates an optimal fluid coupling between the inlet side of the evaporator unit and the outlet side of the evaporator unit. The additional "fastening means" initially describes everything that can hold the grains in position as a wicking element, including mechanical, physical, chemical, magnetic, or electrostatic fastening options, or combinations thereof.

[0015] The inventive design of the granular wick element offers a host of advantages over prior art solutions. In addition to the improved transport rate—more and, above all, more evenly conveyed fluid from the storage tank through the evaporator unit—the granular wick element ensures increased intermediate fluid storage capacity due to its granular and thus porous wick structure. Furthermore, a granular wick element improves backflow protection because the microchannels formed exhibit a nonlinear profile. The installation of a granular wick element is particularly advantageous because it can adapt to any contour / geometry of the wick element holder at the respective installation location.Due to its grain structure, the wicking element flexibly adapts to the respective contour / geometry during assembly / filling of the granular material, filling the cavities created by the respective contour / geometry – which do not form microchannels – and preventing gaps from forming between adjacent surfaces. As a result, the granular wicking element ensures consistent and reproducible evaporation conditions. It makes no difference whether the evaporator unit – with the wicking element and / or the heating element as part of the evaporator cartridge – is arranged on or in the cartridge carrier, i.e., on / in the reusable article, or whether the evaporator unit is arranged on / in the disposable article.The additional fastening means enables, on the one hand, an automated assembly / manufacturing of the evaporator cartridge, i.e. in particular the automatic positioning of the wicking element in the area of ​​the access opening, and, on the other hand, the holding of the position of the granular wicking element in the area of ​​the access opening.

[0016] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the fastening means is of a mechanical nature, such that a receiving space enclosed on all sides with an opening for introducing the granular wick element is formed from components of the evaporator cartridge or parts thereof, and the opening is closed with a cover element, wherein the receiving space is designed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. The granular grains fill the receiving space to the maximum extent, preferably without undesirable cavities and / or gaps that do not form microchannels, so that the wick element can be adapted to almost any desired environmental shape, regardless of manufacturing tolerances. The liquid-permeable sections of the receiving space are designed in particular towards the storage tank and towards the flow channel. The opening in the receiving space enables the automated introduction / filling of the wick element into the receiving space.The cover element holds the granular wicking element in its final position. The cover element itself can also be designed to be liquid-permeable.

[0017] Advantageously, the evaporator cartridge comprises a support element that forms the hollow body and has, on the one hand, a through-opening for forming the flow channel and, on the other hand, a recess for receiving the wick element. The recess forms the side walls of the receiving space, and the recess is delimited by a liquid-permeable structure toward the storage tank and the flow channel. The structure, e.g., a grid structure, toward the storage tank is preferably the cover element. Each structure can be made of metal, plastic, fleece, or other flexible and inflexible materials or material mixtures. The support element itself thus forms part of the fastening means, which is complemented by (grid) structures, heating elements, or other liquid-permeable components.The actual retaining element of the wick element, which holds it in the recess, is the cover element connected to the support element. The receiving space, as part of the fastening element, holds the wick element and the heating element together and in position in front of the access opening between the storage tank and the flow channel. This reliably prevents the liquid from flowing directly from the storage tank into the flow channel and, at the same time, guides it evenly and constantly toward the flow channel.

[0018] A useful development is characterized in that the grains of the granular wicking element are held in position by a sieve, such that the sieve, together with the side walls defining the receiving space and a heating element formed separately from the wicking element, encloses the volume of the wicking element. This embodiment enables the simple and automated introduction of the wicking element into the receiving space and the holding of the wicking element in position therein. In particular, the sieve can, as a retaining element, engage with at least some of the grains on the one hand and maintain the fluid connection between the storage tank and the wicking element on the other.

[0019] The cover element is preferably either a rigid or soft lid. A metal sieve, for example, can be used as a rigid lid. A soft lid can be, for example, a liquid-permeable silicone plug or a simple fleece strip.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the lid covers at least the opening, but preferably the lid surrounds the entire hollow body, including the opening of the receiving space, with the lid being designed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. This lid ensures simple and secure positioning and retention of the wicking element in position.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the cover is a sleeve that is longitudinally axially or rotationally displaceable relative to the hollow body and is designed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. The sleeve ensures simple and secure positioning and retention of the wicking element in position.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, the lid comprises a wound nonwoven strip or the lid is formed from a wound nonwoven strip. The nonwoven strip, as a retaining element, is particularly lightweight and holds the wicking element in position while maintaining optimal fluid permeability.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the fastening means is of a physical and / or chemical nature, such that the grains are held in position by melting and / or curing processes. This type of fastening means can be combined with mechanical fastening means or parts thereof. By fusing the grains together and / or with adjacent structures, for example, the support element, a secure retaining means for the wicking element can be formed.

[0024] Advantageously, the grains of the granular wicking organ are directly fused to the hollow body or the support element. This ensures simple and secure fixation of the granular wicking organ.

[0025] A practical further development provides for fused grains of the granular wick organ to form their own closed and, at least in sections, fluid-permeable receiving space. This also ensures simple and secure fixation of the granular wick organ.

[0026] Preferably, at least the covering element is formed from fused grains from at least a portion of the granular wicking member. With this configuration, the wicking member itself or parts thereof form its retaining means for holding the wicking member in position.

[0027] In a further preferred embodiment, the fastening means is of a magnetic nature, such that the grains are at least partially magnetic and magnets arranged in the region of the wick member hold the grains in position.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the fastening means is of an electrostatic nature, such that the grains are at least partially electrically charged and electric fields present in the region of the wicking member hold the grains in position.

[0029] Preferably, the fastening means are designed and configured for either permanent or temporary fastening. An example of a permanent fastening means is a plug-on lid which, when plugged on, prevents loose grains poured into the receiving space from falling out of the receiving space. In other words, the lid holds the grains in position. As an example of a temporary fastening means, the wicking element is formed as a block from a frozen or shock-frozen liquid-granulate paste, at least for assembly purposes of the evaporator cartridge. This frozen or shock-frozen block holds the grains together for the duration of assembly. This block can be automatically introduced into the receiving space. The receiving space can be closed with a lid so that the grains of the wicking element, which become loose after thawing, are held in position.

[0030] The object is also achieved by an inhaler of the type mentioned at the outset in that the vaporizer cartridge is designed and configured according to one or more of claims 1 to 15.

[0031] The resulting advantages have already been described in connection with the evaporator cartridge, which is why, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations.

[0032] Further useful and / or advantageous features and developments of the vaporizer cartridge and the inhaler are set out in the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the vaporizer cartridge and the inhaler are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an inhaler according to the invention with cartridge carrier and vaporizer cartridge in partial section, Fig. 2 an enlarged representation of the vaporizer cartridge according to Figure 1 in partial section, Fig. 3 an enlarged view of a preferred embodiment of a part of an evaporator cartridge in section, Fig. 4 a further embodiment of a part of an evaporator cartridge, Fig. 5 a further embodiment of a part of an evaporator cartridge, Fig. 6 an enlarged view of a further embodiment of a part of an evaporator cartridge, Fig. 7 the evaporator cartridge according to Figure 6 along the section AA, Fig. 8 an enlarged view of another embodiment of an evaporator cartridge in partial section, Fig. 9 the evaporator cartridge according to Figure 8, Fig. 10 an enlarged view of another embodiment of an evaporator cartridge in partial section, and Fig. 11 the evaporator cartridge according to Figure 10 .

[0033] The vaporizer cartridge and inhaler shown in the drawing are used for inhaling vapor enriched with active ingredients, e.g., nicotine, and / or aerosols from liquids, and are described accordingly in the context of an e-cigarette. The vaporizer cartridge and inhaler can be used in the same way for inhaling vapor enriched with medicinal ingredients from pharmaceutical and / or nutritional supplement products.

[0034] The illustrated evaporator cartridge 10 comprises a hollow body 15 with a continuous flow channel 16 and a storage tank 17 for storing liquid, wherein the storage tank 17 has at least one access opening 18 to the flow channel 16 and in the region of each access opening 18 an evaporator unit 19 is arranged which extends over the entire access opening 18 and has a wick element 20 and a heating element 21, wherein the evaporator unit 19 is designed to be liquid-permeable in such a way that the liquid can be conveyed at least initially by capillary action from the storage tank 17 through the evaporator unit 19 in the direction of the flow channel 16.

[0035] The hollow body 15 with its at least one flow channel 16 forms a suction channel / chimney. The shape of the hollow body 15, as well as the course of each flow channel 16, can be almost arbitrary. The decisive factor is that the inlet side Es of each flow channel 16 is open to the environment, in order to be able to suck in air, for example, and that the outlet side As is open in order to be able to create a negative pressure, for example, through the suction of a person consuming the liquid. Open in this context means that the inlet side Es and the outlet side As are permeable to air. Two or more flow channels 16 with corresponding inlet sides Es and outlet sides As can also be provided. In the area of ​​the access opening 18 between the storage tank 17 and the flow channel 16, the evaporator unit 19 forms a type of liquid barrier which prevents liquid from the storage tank 17 from flowing directly and as liquid into the flow channel 16.Regardless of the shape and design of the storage tank 17 (two or more storage tanks 17 may be provided) and of the hollow body 15 as well as the arrangement / positioning of the storage tank 17 relative to the hollow body 15, the evaporator unit 19 ensures that liquid is inevitably guided from the storage tank 17 in the direction of the flow channel 16 and is released as vapor into the or each flow channel 16 at the latest upon exiting the evaporator unit 19.

[0036] This evaporator cartridge 10 is characterized according to the invention in that the wicking element 20 is formed from a plurality of granular grains 24 which, due to their packing and / or configuration, form microchannels 23 which extend continuously from an inlet side ED of the wicking element 20 to an outlet side AD of the wicking element 20 to establish a fluid connection between the storage tank 17 and the flow channel 16, wherein an additional fastening means 25 is provided which is designed and configured to hold the granular wicking element 20 in position in the region of the access opening 18 in a manner which maintains the fluid connection.

[0037] On the one hand, the grains 24 form (micro)cavities with neighboring grains 24. On the other hand, the grains 24 themselves can have (micro)cavities, so-called pores. The connection and interaction of all the microcavities in and / or between the grains 24 form the microchannels 23, which ensure at least initially capillary transport, are continuous, and have a non-linear course. During operation of the evaporator cartridge 10, upon passing through the evaporator unit 19, which comprises the wick element 20 and the heating element 21, vapor and / or aerosol is formed from the liquid in the storage tank 17 toward the flow channel 16, wherein the porous structure of the wick element 20 forms a storage medium for the liquid on the one hand and represents a flow resistance on the other. The flow direction of the liquid is from the storage tank 17 through the evaporator unit 19 in the direction of the flow channel 16.

[0038] The additional "fastening means" 25 initially describes everything that can hold the grains 24 in position as the wick element 20, at least for assembly purposes, i.e. during the introduction of the wick element 20 into the area of ​​the access opening 18, but preferably also in the assembled state of the evaporator cartridge 10, i.e., among other things, mechanical, physical, chemical, magnetic or electrostatic fastening options or combinations thereof.

[0039] The vaporizer cartridge 10 according to the invention can be a disposable article, a structural unit comprising the components hollow body 15, storage tank 17 and vaporizer unit 19. However, the vaporizer cartridge 10 can also be designed in several parts, with components of the vaporizer cartridge 10 being distributed between the disposable article and the reusable article, such that, for example, the storage tank 17 is a disposable article which only leads to the structural unit of the vaporizer cartridge 10 when combined with a cartridge carrier 13, which can be a reusable article and, in addition to an electronic control unit 11 and an energy source 12, can also comprise components of the vaporizer cartridge 10, such as the hollow body 15 and the vaporizer unit 19.The evaporator cartridge 10 is defined accordingly by its components, namely hollow body 15 with flow channel 16, storage tank 17 and evaporator unit 19, and not by the constructive / structural assignment of the components to the reusable article or disposable article.

[0040] The features and developments described below represent preferred embodiments, considered individually or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features which are summarized in the claims and / or the description and / or the drawing or described in a common embodiment can also functionally independently develop the vaporizer cartridge 10 described above.

[0041] Preferably, the vaporizer cartridge 10 is designed and configured for mechanical and electrical connection to the cartridge carrier 13, which comprises at least the electronic control unit 11 and the energy source 12, to form an inhaler 14, wherein the vaporizer unit 19 comprises electrical contacts 22 for electrical contact with the energy source 12. The inhaler 14 can be activated, for example, by an inhaling person, for example as an e-cigarette, or activated, for example, by a pump, for example as a medical instrument in the event that the person can no longer suck or cannot suck sufficiently.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means 25 is of a mechanical nature, such that a receiving space 26 enclosed on all sides with an opening 27 for introducing the granular wick element 20 is formed from components of the evaporator cartridge 10 or parts thereof, and the opening 27 is closed with a cover element 28. The receiving space 26 is designed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. The receiving space 26 forms a volume or a type of cage into which the wick element 20 can be introduced and held in position by the cover element 28. The wicking element 20 can be poured into the open receiving space 26 as a loose bed of grains 24 or inserted into the open receiving space 26 as a grain composite, wherein the wicking element 20 is held in position by the cover element 28 in the assembled state of the evaporator cartridge 10, specifically in the access opening 18 between the storage tank 17 and the flow channel 16.The mechanical fastening means 25 completely encloses the wicking member 20 and simultaneously provides a fluid connection to the storage tank 17 on the one hand and toward the flow channel 16 on the other. The mechanical fastening means 25 is a retaining means that can engage with at least some of the grains of the wicking member 20.

[0043] The evaporator cartridge 10 preferably comprises a carrier element 29, which forms the hollow body 15 and, on the one hand, has a through-opening 30 for forming the flow channel 16, and, on the other hand, has a recess 31 for receiving the evaporator unit 19, wherein the recess 31 forms the side walls 32 of the receiving space 26 and the recess 31 is delimited by a liquid-permeable structure towards the storage tank 17 and towards the flow channel 16. The evaporator unit 19 can be formed solely by the wick element 20, which, if the grains 24 are at least partially electrically conductive, simultaneously represents the heating element 21. In order to hold the wick element 20 in position, i.e., in the recess 31, a structure, e.g., a lattice structure, is then necessary. Preferably, however, the evaporator unit 19 is formed in two parts, such that the wick element 20 and the heating element 21 are separate elements. In the latter case, for example,the heating element 21 directs the liquid-permeable structure towards the flow channel 16.

[0044] The support element 29 is preferably a tubular body. However, the support element 29 can also have other shapes. The recess 31, in which the evaporator unit 19 is arranged, is formed in the peripheral wall of the body. Preferably, the unit formed from the support element 29 and the evaporator unit 19 is arranged within a housing 33 forming the storage tank 17, wherein the internal volume of the storage tank 17 is formed between a housing wall 34 of the housing 33 and the support element 29. The support element 29 can extend only partially through the housing 33. In other embodiments, the support element 29 can also extend completely (see, for example, Figure 2 ) extend through the housing 33.

[0045] In another embodiment, the grains 24 of the granular wicking element 20 are held in position by a sieve such that the sieve, together with the side walls 32 defining the receiving space 26 and a heating element 21 formed separately from the wicking element 20, encloses the volume of the wicking element 20. Simply put, the receiving space 26 is bounded on the sides and bottom by the side walls 32 and the heating element 21, allowing the wicking element 20 to be brought, poured, or otherwise inserted into the receiving space 26 through the opening 27—preferably in an automated manner. The receiving space 26 filled by the wicking element 20 is closed by the sieve. The heating element 21, through liquid-permeable passages, and the sieve, through its grid-like and / or porous structure, establish the fluid connection between the storage tank 17 and the flow channel 16.

[0046] The cover element 28 serves as a lid 35, whereby the lid 35 can be either rigid or flexible. The lid 35 is attached over the opening 27 in such a way that it can be releasably or non-releasably secured in position that the granular material, i.e., loose grains 24 or interconnected grains 24, is reliably held in position. The lid 35 covers at least the opening 27. In other embodiments, however, the lid 35 surrounds the entire hollow body 15 or the carrier element 29, including the opening 27 of the receiving space 26, whereby the lid 35 is at least partially permeable to liquids, e.g., through a perforation. The lid 35 is not limited to a conventional lid shape, but can have any desired shape. As mentioned, the lid 35 can also be made of different materials and material combinations.

[0047] A solid lid 35, e.g. made of plastic, is Figures 6 and 7In this embodiment, the support element 29 is tubular with the through-opening 30. Two interconnected chambers 36, 37 are formed within the through-opening 30. One chamber 36 serves as a mouthpiece 38. An insert 39 is arranged in the second chamber 37, which supports the evaporator unit 19 with the heating element 21 and the wick element 20. The insert 39 has the recess 31 through which the side walls 32 are formed in order to define the receiving space 26. The evaporator unit 19 and thus also the wick element 20 are held in position by the insert 39 and the inside of a wall 40 of the support element 29. The wall 40 of the support element 29 thus forms the hard cover 35. The insert 39 further has a through-opening 42 which is in operative connection with the first chamber 36 to form the flow channel 16.The support element 29 has a perforation 41 in the wall 40 in the area where the wick member 20 abuts the inner side of the wall 40 of the tubular support element 29, which ensures a fluid connection to the storage tank 17. The storage tank 17 is formed accordingly between the housing wall 34 of the housing 33 and the wall 40 of the support element 29.

[0048] The lids 35 can be formed in different ways. In addition to the described variants, it is possible, for example, to form the lids 35 from a curable material layer, e.g., a curable mesh, or from a (polyetheretherketone) PEEK screen that is welded to the support element 29 to close the opening 27 of the receiving space 26.

[0049] A soft lid 35 is exemplary in the Figures 3 to 5The cover 35 is a sleeve 43 which is longitudinally axially or rotationally displaceable relative to the preferably cylindrical hollow body 15 as a support element 29 and which is designed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections. In other words, the sleeve 43 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis or displaced along this axis to cover the wick member 20 and hold it in position. The hollow body 15 can, however, also have other shapes and, for example, be oval. The sleeve 43, which can also be made of a hard material, is preferably flexible and is a plastic or silicone ring with liquid-permeable sections which can form a perforation 41. Figure 3For example, a tubular support element 29 with a continuous through-opening 30 is shown, which supports the two-part evaporator unit 19 in the recess 31. An elastic sleeve 43 can adapt to different shapes / contours of the hollow body 15.

[0050] The evaporator unit 19 is held in the recess 31 by the elastic sleeve 43, which is designed to be liquid-permeable at least in the area of ​​the wick element 20. In the Figures 4 and 5 In each case, a tubular support element 29 is shown, in which the evaporator unit 19 is also held in position by an elastic sleeve 43. In the Figure 4 the sleeve 43 covers the wick member 20. However, the sleeve 43 has a slot 44 which, when pulled (see arrow Z) on the sleeve 43, opens into a window 45 (see Figure 5) opens to release the wick member 20. Instead of the slot 44, the window 45 can in principle be provided, which can be moved by rotating (see arrow D) or sliding the sleeve 43 from a position in which the sleeve 43 covers the wick member 20 to a position in which the window 45 lies above the wick member 20. The sleeve 43, which can also be a tube, is preferably made of silicone. In other embodiments, the cover 35 has a wound nonwoven strip or is formed from a wound nonwoven strip. Furthermore, the cover 35 can also be a plaster, a net, a shrink tube or the like.

[0051] The cover 35, i.e., the element that holds the granular wick element 20, e.g., made of sand and / or graphite, in position, can also be formed from an annular foam disk with a through-hole. Such a so-called "foam donut" can be placed over a tubular support element 29 with the through-hole in such a way that the opening 27 of the receiving space 26 in the support element 29 surrounding the evaporator unit 19 and thus the wick element 20 is covered by the foam ring, so that the wick element 20 is held in position. The open porosity of the foam ring provides the fluid connection to the storage tank 17.

[0052] The Figures 8 to 11show further embodiments of possible vaporizer cartridges 10. In these embodiments, a cylindrical housing 33, which may also have any other shape, is provided to form an interior space 46, in which a continuous chimney is provided as the flow channel 16. The support element 29 extends over a part of the flow channel 16. The recess 31, in which the heating element 21 is arranged, is formed in the support element 29. In the variant of the Figures 8 and 9 a structure 47, preferably a grid structure, divides the interior 46 into two areas 48, 49, wherein an area 48 serves as a storage tank 17 for the liquid and an area 49 serves to accommodate the granular wicking element 20, which for the sake of clarity is shown in the Figures 8 and 10 only hinted at and in the Figures 9 and 11is not explicitly shown. In other words, the area 49 is completely filled with the granular grains 24 of the wick element 20, e.g. with sand. The area 49 can, however, also be filled, for example, with the previously described foam ring. The structure 47 is arranged below the support element 29 in such a way that the wick element 20 completely surrounds the support element 29 and accordingly also covers the heating element 21. The fastening means 25 of a mechanical type is accordingly formed by the housing wall 34 of the housing 33, the support element 29, the heating element 21 and the structure 47, which together hold the wick element 20, here e.g. grains of sand, in position in front of the heating element 21. The structure 47 ensures the fluid connection to the storage tank 17.

[0053] In the variant of the Figures 10 and 11Two structures 50 and 51, preferably grid structures, are provided which divide the interior space 46 into three regions 52, 53, 54. The two structures 50, 51 are arranged above and below the recess 31 with the heating element 21, such that the central region 53, which serves to accommodate the wick element 20 (only indicated or not explicitly shown), covers the support element 29 at least in the region of the heating element 21. Liquid can be stored in the other regions 52, 54. The mechanical fastening means 25 is formed by the housing wall 34 of the housing 33, the support element 29, the heating element 21 and the structures 50, 51, which together hold the granular wick element 20, here e.g. grains of sand, in position in front of the heating element 21. The structures 50, 51 ensure the fluid connection to the storage tank 17. Instead of sand grains or other granular materials, for example,An open-pored foam can also be arranged.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, the fastening means 25 can be physical and / or chemical in nature, such that the grains 24 are held in position by melting and / or curing processes. The grains 24 can, for example, be fused to the hollow body 15 or the support element 29 or parts thereof. A type of cage can be formed from fused grains 24 of the wick element 20, particularly in conjunction with the heating element 21, in which loose grains 24 of the wick element 20 are held in position. Optionally, grains 24 can also be fused together to form a cover 35. Instead of the grains 24, expandable foam material can be used to form a receiving space 26 and / or a retaining element, which is cured in the position in which it surrounds or covers the evaporator unit 19 to create a lid 35 with which the wick member 20 is held in position.

[0055] In further embodiments not explicitly shown, the fastening means 25 for the granular wicking member 20 is alternatively or cumulatively magnetic in nature, such that the grains 24 are at least partially magnetic, and magnets arranged in the region of the wicking member 20 hold the grains 24 in position. Optionally, the fastening means 25 is alternatively or cumulatively electrostatic in nature, such that the grains 24 are at least partially electrically charged, and electric fields present in the region of the wicking member 20 hold the grains in position.

[0056] The fastening means 25 are designed and configured, in whole or in part, for either permanent or temporary fastening. Preferably, parts of the fastening means 25 are designed and configured for permanent fastening, for example, by structural components in the form of side walls 32, heating element 21, cover elements 28 / lids 35, or the like, which hold the wick element 20 in position in the assembled state until the end of the service life of the vaporizer cartridge 10. Other parts of the fastening means 25, which in particular facilitate the insertion of the wick element 20, are inherent in the wick element 20 itself, for example, flash-frozen liquid-granulate pastes, which hold the wick element 20 in position or together until its final installation in the vaporizer cartridge 10.

[0057] The functional principle of the inhaler 14 according to the invention is explained by way of example using an e-cigarette as an inhaler 14, in particular with reference to the Figure 1 described. The inhaler 14 is designed and configured for inhaling vapor enriched with active ingredients and comprises a cartridge carrier 13 comprising at least one electronic control unit 11 and an energy source 12, as well as a vaporizer cartridge 10, which is characterized according to the invention in that it is designed and configured according to one or more of claims 1 to 15.

[0058] A consumer sucks, for example, on a mouthpiece 38 of the inhaler 14, which is formed from the cartridge carrier 13 and the vaporizer cartridge 10, wherein the storage tank 17 of the vaporizer cartridge 10 contains a liquid which contains, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol and optionally other active ingredients and / or flavorings. By sucking, a negative pressure is generated in the flow channel 16, which in turn activates the control unit 11, for example via a sensor (not shown). The control unit 11 controls the heating element 21, which is supplied with energy by the energy source 12. Liquid from the storage tank 17 is transported by means of the wick element 20, at least initially by capillary action, through the microchannels 23 from the storage tank 17 in the direction of the heating element 21. At or in the heated heating element 21, the liquid is converted to vapor, wherein the heating element 21 heats the liquid orThe resulting vapor is transported toward the flow channel 16 due to the liquid- and vapor-permeable structure and released thereto. The vapor mixes with the airflow in the flow channel 16 and is sucked in and inhaled by the consuming person.

Claims

1. Vaporizer cartridge (10) as a component of an inhaler, comprising a hollow body (15) with a continuous flow channel (16) as well as a storage tank (17) for storing liquid, wherein the storage tank (17) has at least one access opening (18) to the flow channel (16) and a vaporizer unit (19) extending over the entire access opening (18) is arranged in the region of each access opening (18), which vaporizer unit (19) has a wick member (20) and a heating member (21), wherein the vaporizer unit (19) is formed to be liquid-permeable in such a manner that liquid can be conveyed at least initially in a capillary manner from the storage tank (17) through the vaporizer unit (19) in the direction of the flow channel (16), characterised in that the wick member (20) is formed from a plurality of granular loose grains (24) which, as a result of their fill and / or formation, form microchannels (23) which extend, for the establishment of a fluid connection between the storage tank (17) and the flow channel (16), continuously from an entry side ED of the wick member (20) to an exit side AD of the wick member (20), wherein an additional securing means (25) is provided which is configured and adapted to hold the granular wick member (20) in position in the region of the access opening (18) in a manner which maintains the fluid connection.

2. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the securing means (25) is of a mechanical type such that a receiving chamber (26) enclosed on all sides with an opening (27) for the introduction of the granular wick member (20) is formed from components of the vaporizer cartridge (10) or parts thereof and the opening (27) is closed with a cover element (28), wherein the receiving chamber (26) is formed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections.

3. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to Claim 2, characterised in that the vaporizer cartridge (10) comprises a carrier element (29) which forms the hollow body (15) and on the one hand has a through-opening (30) for forming the flow channel (16) and on the other hand has a recess (31) for receiving the wick member (20), wherein the recess (31) forms the side walls (32) of the receiving chamber (26) and the recess (31) towards the storage tank (17) and towards the flow channel (16) is delimited in each case by a liquid-permeable structure.

4. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the grains (24) of the granular wick member (20) are held in position by a sieve in such a manner that the sieve, together with the side walls (32) delimiting the receiving chamber (26) and a heating member (21) formed separately from the wick member (20), encloses the volume of the wick member (20).

5. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to one or more of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the cover element (28) is optionally a solid or soft lid (35).

6. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to Claim 5, characterised in that the lid (35) covers at least the opening (27), preferably, however, the entire hollow body (15) including the opening (27) of the receiving chamber (26), wherein the lid (35) is formed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections.

7. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the lid (35) is a sleeve (43) which is displaceable in a longitudinally axial or rotational manner with respect to the hollow body (15) and which is formed to be liquid-permeable at least in sections.

8. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the lid (35) has a wound fleece strip or is formed from a wound fleece strip.

9. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the securing means (25) is of a magnetic type such that the grains (24) are formed to be at least partially magnetic and magnets which are arranged in the region of the wick member (20) hold the grains (24) in position.

10. Vaporizer cartridge (10) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the securing means (25) is of an electrostatic type such that the grains (24) are at least partially electrically charged and electric fields which are present in the region of the wick member (20) hold the grains (24) in position.

11. Inhaler (14), configured and adapted for the inhalation of vapour enriched with active ingredients, comprising a cartridge carrier (13) at least comprising an electronic control unit (11) and an energy source (12) as well as a vaporizer cartridge (10), c h a r act e r is e d in that the vaporizer cartridge (10) is configured and adapted according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10.