Vaporization device system and method

Abstract

To provide a system and a method for generating an inhalable vapor in an electronic vaporization device.SOLUTION: A vaporization device may generate a vapor with one or more defined characteristics. In some cases, the vapor may have a predetermined aerosol number density and / or a predetermined average aerosol diameter. The vaporization device may generate a vapor from a vaporizable material. In some cases, the vaporizable material may be a liquid material housed in a cartridge 30. The vaporization device may comprise a rechargeable power storage device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 920,225, filed Dec. 23, 2013; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 936,593, filed Feb. 6, 2014; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 937,755, filed Feb. 10, 2014, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to an electronically inhalable aerosol device, or electronic vaping devices, and more particularly to an electronic aerosol device that utilizes a vaporizable material that is vaporized to create an aerosol vapor capable of delivering an active ingredient to a user.

[0003] Summary of the Invention In some aspects of the invention, the device includes an inhalable aerosol and the device comprises: an oven including an oven chamber and a heater for heating a vapor forming medium in the oven chamber to generate vapor; a condenser including a condensation chamber in which at least a portion of the vapor condenses to form an inhalable aerosol; an air inlet originating from a first airflow path including the oven chamber; and a vent originating from a second airflow path, the second airflow path connecting air from the vent to the first airflow path that is in front of or in the condensation chamber and downstream from the oven chamber, thereby forming a connection path, wherein the connection path is configured to deliver to the user an inhalable aerosol formed in the condensation chamber.

[0004] In some aspects of the present invention, the oven is within the main body of the device. The device may further include a mouthpiece that includes at least one of an air inlet, a vent, and a capacitor. The mouthpiece may be separable from the oven. The mouthpiece may be integrated with the main body of the device, and the main body includes the oven. The device may further include a main body that includes the oven, a capacitor, an air inlet, and a vent. The mouthpiece may be separable from the main body.

[0005] In some aspects of the present invention, the oven chamber may include an oven chamber inlet and an oven chamber outlet, and the oven may further include a first valve at the oven chamber inlet and a second valve at the oven chamber outlet. The vent may include a third valve. The first valve or the second valve may be selected from the group consisting of a check valve, a flapper valve, a non-return valve, and a one-way valve. The third valve may be selected from the group consisting of a check valve, a flapper valve, a non-return valve, and a one-way valve. The first or second valve may be mechanically actuated. The first or second valve may be electrically actuated. The first valve or the second valve may be manually actuated. The third valve may be mechanically actuated. The third valve may be mechanically actuated. The third valve may be electrically actuated. The third valve may be manually actuated.

[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, the device may include a body including at least one of a power source, a printed circuit board, a switch, and a temperature regulator. The device may further include a temperature regulator in communication with a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be a heater. The power source may be rechargeable. The power source may be removable. The oven may further include an access lid. The vapor-forming medium may include tobacco. The vapor-forming medium may include a botanical drug. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the vapor-forming medium may include a wetting agent to generate vapor, and the vapor includes a vapor-phase wetting agent. The vapor may be mixed with air from a vent in a condensation chamber to produce an inhalable aerosol having an average particle size of about 1 micron. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the above is mixed with air from a vent in a condensation chamber to produce an inhalable aerosol having an average particle size of about 0.9 microns or less. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the above is mixed with air from a vent in a condensation chamber to produce an inhalable aerosol having an average particle size of about 0.8 microns or less. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the above is mixed with air from a vent in a condensation chamber to produce an inhalable aerosol having an average particle size of about 0.7 microns or less. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the above is mixed with air from a vent in a condensation chamber to produce an inhalable aerosol having an average particle size of about 0.6 microns or less. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the above is mixed with air from a vent in a condensation chamber to produce an inhalable aerosol having an average particle size of about 0.5 microns or less.

[0007] In some aspects of the present invention, the wetting agent may include glycerol as a vapor-forming medium. The wetting agent may include vegetable glycerol. The wetting agent may include propylene glycol. The wetting agent may include the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 100:0. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 90:10. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 80:20. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 70:30. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 60:40. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 50:50. The wetting agent may include flavoring materials. The vapor-forming medium may be heated to its thermal decomposition temperature. The vapor-forming medium may be heated to a maximum of 200°C. The vapor-forming medium may be heated to a maximum of 160°C. The inhalable aerosol may be cooled to a temperature of up to 50°C - 70°C before exiting the aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0008] In an aspect of the present invention, the method includes a method for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method including the step of providing a device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the device comprising: an oven including an oven chamber and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein; a condenser including a condensation chamber in which the vapor forms an inhalable aerosol; an air inlet starting from a first air flow path including the oven chamber; and a vent starting from a second air flow path, the second air flow path connecting air from the vent to the first air flow path that is in front of or in the condensation chamber and downstream from the oven chamber, thereby forming a connection path, wherein the connection path is configured to deliver to the user the inhalable aerosol formed in the condensation chamber.

[0009] In some aspects of the present invention, the oven is within the body of the device. The device may further include a mouthpiece that includes at least one of an air inlet, a vent, and a capacitor. The mouthpiece may be detachable from the oven. The mouthpiece may be integrated with the body of the device, which includes the oven. The method may further include a body that includes an oven, a capacitor, an air inlet, and a vent. The mouthpiece may be detachable from the body.

[0010] In some aspects of the present invention, the oven chamber may include an oven chamber inlet and an oven chamber outlet, and the oven may further include a first valve at the oven chamber inlet and a second valve at the oven chamber outlet.

[0011] The vapor-forming medium may include tobacco. The vapor-forming medium may include a botanical drug. The vapor-forming medium may be heated in the oven chamber, where the vapor-forming medium may include a wetting agent to produce vapor, and the vapor includes a vapor-phase wetting agent. The vapor may include an average mass particle size of about 1 micron. The vapor may include an average mass particle size of about 0.9 micron. The vapor may include an average mass particle size of about 0.8 micron. The vapor may include an average mass particle size of about 0.7 micron. The vapor may include an average mass particle size of about 0.6 micron. The vapor may include an average mass particle size of about 0.5 micron.

[0012] In some aspects of the present invention, the wetting agent may include glycerol as a vapor-forming medium. The wetting agent may include vegetable glycerol. The wetting agent may include propylene glycol. The wetting agent may include the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 100:0. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 90:10. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 80:20. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 70:30. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 60:40. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 50:50. The wetting agent may include a flavoring material. The vapor-forming medium may be heated to its thermal decomposition temperature. The vapor-forming medium may be heated to a maximum of 200 °C. The vapor-forming medium may be heated to a maximum of 160 °C. The inhalable aerosol may be cooled to a temperature of up to 50 °C - 70 °C before exiting the aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0013] In an aspect of the present invention, the device may be convenient for the user. The device is not convenient for the user.

[0014] In an aspect of the present invention, a method for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method comprising the step of providing a vaporizer device that generates a vapor having an average mass particle size of about 1 micron or less, the vapor being formed by heating the vapor-forming medium to a first temperature lower than the thermal decomposition temperature of the vapor-forming medium in an oven chamber before exiting the aerosol outlet of the device, the device further comprising the step of cooling the vapor to a second temperature lower than the first temperature in a condensation chamber.

[0015] In an aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method comprising the step of providing the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a mouthpiece having an aerosol outlet at a first end of the apparatus; an oven comprising an oven chamber and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein; a condenser comprising a condensation chamber for forming an inhalable aerosol from the vapor; an air inlet starting from a first air flow path including the oven chamber and the condensation chamber; and a vent starting from a second air flow path, the second air flow path leading to the first air flow path before or in the condensation chamber after vapor is formed in the oven chamber, wherein the combined first and second air flow paths are configured to deliver an inhalable aerosol formed in the condensation chamber to a user through the aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0016] The method may further comprise the step of providing an apparatus including a power source or battery, a printed circuit board, a temperature regulator, or an operating switch.

[0017] In an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol comprises: a mouthpiece including an aerosol outlet at a first end of the apparatus and an air inlet starting from a first air flow path; an oven including an oven chamber in the first air flow path and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein; a condenser including a condensation chamber for forming an inhalable aerosol from the vapor; and a vent starting from a second air flow path, the second air flow path connecting air from the vent to the first air flow path before or in the condensation chamber and downstream from the oven chamber, thereby forming a connection path, wherein the connection path is configured to deliver an inhalable aerosol formed in the condensation chamber to a user through the aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a mouthpiece that includes an aerosol outlet at a first end of the apparatus, an air inlet starting from a first air flow path, and a vent starting from a second air flow path, where the second air flow path enables connecting air from the vent to the first air flow path; the apparatus further includes an oven that includes an oven chamber in the first air flow path and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein; and a condenser that includes a condensation chamber in which an inhalable aerosol is formed by the vapor, where air from the vent is in or in front of the condensation chamber and is connected to the first air flow path downstream from the oven chamber, thereby forming a connection path, and where the connection path is configured to deliver the inhalable aerosol to a user through the aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes an apparatus body that includes a cartridge receptacle; a cartridge that includes a fluid reservoir and a channel integrated with an outer surface of the cartridge, where the apparatus further includes an air inlet passage formed by the channel and an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle; where the channel forms a first side portion of the air inlet passage and the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle forms a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0020] In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes an apparatus body that includes a cartridge receptacle; a cartridge that includes a fluid reservoir and a channel integrated with an outer surface of the cartridge, where the apparatus further includes an air inlet passage formed by the channel and an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle; where the channel forms a first side portion of the air inlet passage and the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle forms a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0021] In some aspects of the present invention, the channel may include at least one of a groove, a valley, a depression, a dent, a furrow, a trench, a crease, and a side groove. The integrated channel may include a wall that is recessed in the surface or protrudes from the surface being formed. The inner sidewall of the channel may form an additional side of the air inlet passage. The cartridge may further include a second air passage that is in fluid communication with the air inlet passage to the fluid storage chamber, and the second air passage is formed through the material of the cartridge. The cartridge may further include a heater. The heater may be attached to the first end of the cartridge.

[0022] In an aspect of the invention, the heater may include a heater chamber, a first pair of heater contacts, a fluid core, and a resistive heating element in contact with the fluid core, where the first pair of heater contacts includes thin plates attached around the sides of the heater chamber and the fluid core and the resistive heating element are suspended therebetween. The first pair of heater contacts may further include a tab having a flexible spring valve extending from the heater to include a shaped form to complete a circuit with a body. The first pair of heater contacts may be a heat sink that absorbs and dissipates excess heat generated by the resistive heating element. The first pair of heater contacts may be a heat shield that protects the heater chamber from excess heat generated by the resistive heating element. The first pair of heater contacts may be press-fitted into a mounting feature on the outer wall of the first end of the cartridge. The heater may surround the first end of the cartridge and the first end of the fluid reservoir chamber. The heater may include a first condensation chamber. The heater may include more than one first condensation chamber. The first condensation chamber may be formed along the outer wall of the cartridge. The cartridge may further include a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be attached to the second end of the cartridge. The mouthpiece may include a second condensation chamber. The mouthpiece may include more than one second condensation chamber. The second condensation chamber may be formed along the outer wall of the cartridge.

[0023] In an aspect of the invention, the cartridge may include a first condensation chamber and a second condensation chamber. The first condensation chamber and the second condensation chamber may be in fluid communication. The mouthpiece may include an aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the second condensation chamber. The mouthpiece may include more than one aerosol outlet in fluid communication with more than one second condensation chamber. The mouthpiece may surround the second end of the cartridge and the second end of the fluid reservoir chamber.

[0024] In an aspect of the present invention, the device may include an air flow path including an air inlet passage, a second air passage, a heater chamber, a first condensation chamber, a second condensation chamber, and an aerosol outlet. The air flow path may include more than one air inlet passage, a heater chamber, more than one first condensation chamber, more than one second condensation chamber, and more than one aerosol outlet. The heater may be in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir may be capable of holding the condensed aerosol fluid. The condensed aerosol fluid may include a nicotine formulation. The condensed aerosol fluid may include a wetting agent. The wetting agent may include propylene glycol. The wetting agent may include vegetable glycerin.

[0025] In an aspect of the present invention, the cartridge may be separable. In an aspect of the present invention, the cartridge is a receptacle, and the separable cartridge forms a separable connection. The separable connection may include a friction assembly, a snap fit assembly, or a magnetic assembly. The cartridge may include a fluid reservoir, a heater attached to a first end by a snap fit connection, and a mouthpiece attached to a second end by a snap fit connection.

[0026] In an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge; wherein when a cartridge including a channel integrated on an outer surface is inserted into the cartridge receptacle, an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle forms a first side portion of an air inlet passage, and the channel forms a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0027] In an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge; wherein the cartridge receptacle includes a channel integrated on an inner surface and forms a first side portion of an air inlet passage when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle, and an outer surface of the cartridge forms a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0028] In an aspect of the present invention, a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a fluid reservoir; a channel integrated on an outer surface, the channel forming a first side portion of an air inlet passage; and wherein when the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge receptacle, an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle in the apparatus forms a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0029] In an aspect of the present invention, a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a fluid reservoir, wherein an outer surface of the cartridge forms a first side portion of an air inlet channel when inserted into an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle, and the cartridge receptacle further includes a channel integrated on an inner surface, the channel forming a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0030] The cartridge may further include a second air passage in fluid communication with the channel, the second air passage being formed through the material of the cartridge from an outer surface of the cartridge to the fluid reservoir.

[0031] The cartridge may include at least one of a groove, a valley, a depression, a recess, a rib, a deep groove, a fold, and a side groove. The integrated channel may include a wall that is recessed on a surface or protrudes from a surface on which it is formed. An inner side wall of the channel may form an additional side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0032] In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a fluid reservoir; a heater attached to a first end, the heater including a first heater contact portion and a resistive heating element attached to the first heater contact portion; the apparatus further includes an apparatus body, the apparatus body comprising: a cartridge receptacle for receiving the cartridge; a second heater contact portion suitable for receiving the first heater contact portion and completing a circuit; a power source connected to the second heater contact portion; and a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the power source and the second heater contact portion; wherein the PCB is configured to detect a fluid shortage based on the measured resistance of the resistive heating element and stop the apparatus.

[0033] The printed circuit board (PCB) includes a microcontroller; a switch; a circuit including a reference register; and an algorithm including logic for control parameters; wherein the microcontroller circulates the switch at regular intervals to measure the resistance of the resistive heating element with respect to the reference register and applies algorithm control parameters to control the temperature of the resistive heating element.

[0034] The microcontroller may instruct the apparatus to stop when the resistance exceeds a threshold of control parameters indicating that the resistive heating element is dry.

[0035] In an aspect of the present invention, a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a fluid reservoir and a heater attached to a first end, the heater comprising: a heater chamber; a first pair of heater contact portions; a fluid core, and a resistive heating element in contact with the fluid core; wherein the first pair of heater contact portions includes thin plates attached around the sides of the heater chamber, and the fluid core and the resistive heating element are suspended therebetween.

[0036] The first pair of heaters may include a shaped form including tabs having flexible spring valves extending from the heater for connecting to complete a circuit with a body. The heater contacts may be configured to connect with a second pair of heater contacts in a cartridge receptacle of the device body to complete the circuit. The first pair of heater contacts may also be a heat sink that absorbs and dissipates excess heat generated by the resistive heating element. The first pair of heater contacts may be a thermal shield that protects the heater chamber from excess heat generated by the resistive heating element.

[0037] In an aspect of the invention, a cartridge for a device for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a heater, the heater including: a heater chamber; a pair of thin plate heater contacts in the heater chamber; a fluid core located between the heater contacts; and a resistive heating element in contact with the fluid core; wherein each of the heater contacts includes a fixed site and the resistive heating element is tensioned therebetween.

[0038] In an aspect of the invention, a cartridge for a device for generating an inhalable aerosol may include a heater attached to a first end of the cartridge.

[0039] The heater may surround a first end of the cartridge and a first end of the fluid reservoir. The heater may include more than one first condensation chamber. The heater may include a first condensation chamber. The condensation chamber may be formed along an outer wall of the cartridge.

[0040] In an aspect of the invention, a cartridge for a device for generating an inhalable aerosol may include a fluid reservoir; and a mouthpiece attached to a second end of the cartridge.

[0041] The mouthpiece may surround the second end of the cartridge and the second end of the fluid reservoir. The mouthpiece may include a second condensation chamber. The mouthpiece may include more than one second condensation chamber. The second condensation chamber may be formed along the outer wall of the cartridge.

[0042] In an aspect of the invention, a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a fluid reservoir; a heater attached to a first end; and a mouthpiece attached to a second end; wherein the heater includes a first condensation chamber and the mouthpiece includes a second condensation chamber.

[0043] The heater may include more than one first condensation chamber and the mouthpiece may include more than one second condensation chamber. The first condensation chamber and the second condensation chamber may be in fluid communication. The mouthpiece may include an aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the second condensation chamber. The mouthpiece may include two or more aerosol outlets. The cartridge may meet ISO recycling standards. The cartridge may meet ISO recycling standards for plastic waste.

[0044] In an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle; and a removable cartridge; wherein the cartridge separable from the cartridge receptacle forms a separable coupling, and the separable coupling includes a friction assembly, a snap-fit assembly, or a magnetic assembly.

[0045] In an aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes providing an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle; and providing a removable cartridge; wherein the cartridge separable from the cartridge receptacle forms a separable coupling including a friction assembly, a snap-fit assembly, or a magnetic assembly.

[0046] In an aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes the steps of providing a fluid reservoir chamber; attaching a heater to a first end by a snap-fit connection; and attaching a mouthpiece to a second end by a snap-fit connection.

[0047] In an aspect of the present invention, a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol having an airflow path includes a channel, the channel being part of an air inlet passage; a second air passage in fluid communication with the channel; a heater chamber in fluid communication with the second air passage; a first condensation chamber in fluid communication with the heater chamber; a second condensation chamber in fluid communication with the first condensation chamber; and an aerosol outlet in fluid communication with the second condensation chamber.

[0048] In an aspect of the present invention, a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol includes a fluid reservoir chamber; a heater attached to a first end; and a mouthpiece attached to a second end, wherein the mouthpiece includes two or more aerosol outlets.

[0049] In an aspect of the present invention, a system for supplying power to an electronic device for generating an inhalable vapor includes a rechargeable power storage device housed within the electronic device for generating an inhalable vapor; two or more charging pins accessible from the outer surface of the electronic device for generating an inhalable vapor, the charging pins being in electrical communication with the rechargeable power storage device; and a charging station including two or more charging contacts configured to supply power to the rechargeable storage device, wherein the charging pins of the device are charged at the charging station such that the device can be charged by a first charging pin on the device in contact with a first charging contact on the charging station and a second charging pin on the device in contact with a second charging contact on the charging station, and vice versa, by a first charging pin on the device in contact with the second charging contact on the charging station and a second charging pin on the device in contact with the first charging contact on the charging station.

[0050] The charging pins may be visible on the housing outside the device. The user may permanently disable the device by opening the housing. The user may permanently invalidate the device by opening the housing.

[0051] Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, where only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects all without departing from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

[0052] <Incorporation by reference> All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0053] The novel features of the invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth specific examples in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings below.

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0054] This specification provides a system and method for generating vapor from a material. The vapor may be delivered for inhalation by a user. The material may be a solid, liquid, powder, solution, paste, gel, or any material with other physical consistency. The vapor may be delivered to the user for inhalation by a vaporization device. The vaporization device may be a portable vaporization device. The vaporization device may be held by the user with one hand.

[0055] The vaporization device includes more than one heating element, and the heating element may be a resistive heating element. The heating element may heat the material so that the temperature of the material rises. The vapor may be generated as a result of heating the material. Energy is required to operate the heating element, and the energy may originate from a battery that is in electrical communication with the heating element. Alternatively, a chemical reaction (e.g., combustion or other exothermic reaction) may provide energy to the heating element.

[0056] One or more aspects of the vaporization device may be designed and / or controlled to deliver vapor having one or more specified characteristics to the user. For example, aspects of the vaporization device designed and / or controlled to deliver vapor having specified characteristics may include heating temperature, heating mechanism, air inlet of the device, internal volume of the device, and / or composition of the material.

[0057] In some cases, the vaporizer may have an "atomizer" or "cartomizer" configured to heat an aerosol-forming solution (e.g., a vaporizable material). The aerosol-forming solution may include glycerin and / or propylene glycol. The vaporizable material may be heated to a temperature sufficient to evaporate.

[0058] The atomizer may be a device or system configured to generate an aerosol. The atomizer may include a small heating element configured to heat and / or evaporate at least a portion of the vaporizable material, and a wicking material that draws the liquid vaporizable material into the atomizer. The wicking material may include silica fiber, cotton, ceramic, hemp, stainless steel mesh, and / or rope cable. The wicking material may be configured to draw the liquid vaporizable material into an atomizer without a pump or other mechanical moving parts. The resistance wire may be wrapped around the wicking material and may be connected to the anode and cathode of a power source (e.g., an energy source). The resistance wire may be a coil. When the resistance wire is activated, the temperature of the resistance wire (or coil) may increase as a result of an electric current flowing through the resistance wire to generate heat. The heat may be transferred to at least a portion of the vaporizable material through conductive, transmissive, and / or radiative heat transfer so that at least a portion of the vaporizable material evaporates.

[0059] Alternatively, or in addition to the atomizer, the vaporizer may include a "cartomizer" to generate an aerosol from a vaporizable material for inhalation by a user. The cartomizer may include a cartridge and an atomizer. The cartomizer may include a heating element surrounded by a liquid-soaked poly-foam that acts as a holder for the vaporizable material (e.g., a liquid). The cartomizer may be reusable, reconstructable, refillable, and / or disposable. The cartomizer may include a tank for additional storage of the vaporizable material.

[0060] Air may be drawn into the vaporizer to carry out the aerosol vaporized from the heating element, and then the air is cooled and condensed to form liquid particles floating in the air, which may later be drawn out from the mouthpiece by the user.

[0061] Vaporization of at least a portion of the vaporizable material may occur in the vaporizer at a lower temperature compared to the temperature required to produce inhalable vapor in a cigarette. A cigarette may be a device that burns a material suitable for smoking to produce inhalable vapor. The lower temperature of the vaporizer results in less decomposition and / or reaction of the vaporized material, and thus may produce an aerosol with fewer chemical components compared to a cigarette. In some cases, the vaporizer may produce an aerosol with fewer chemical components harmful to human health compared to a cigarette. Additionally, the aerosol particles of the vaporizer may undergo substantially complete evaporation in the heating process, and the substantially complete evaporation may result in an average particle size (e.g., diameter) value smaller than the average particle size in tobacco or plant-based effluents.

[0062] The vaporizer may be a device configured to extract more than one active ingredient from a plant-based material, tobacco, and / or plant-based medicine, or other herbs, or a mixture for inhalation. The vaporizer may be used with pure chemicals and / or wetting agents, with or without being mixed with the plant-based material. Vaporization may be an alternative to combustion (or smoking) that avoids inhalation of many irritating and / or toxic carcinogenic by-products resulting from the pyrolysis process of burning tobacco or plant-based products at temperatures above 300°C. The vaporizer may operate at a temperature of 300°C or less.

[0063] The vaporizer (e.g., vaporization device) may be without an atomizer or cartomizer. Instead, the device may include an oven. The oven may be at least partially enclosed. The oven may have an opening that can be opened and closed. The oven may be covered with a heating element, or alternatively, the heating element may be in thermal communication with the oven through another mechanism. The vaporizable material may be disposed directly in the oven or a cartridge adapted to the oven. The heating element in thermal communication with the oven may heat a mass of the vaporizable material to create a vapor phase vapor. The heating element may heat the vaporizable material through conductive, convective, and / or radiative heat transfer. The vapor may be released into a vaporization chamber where the vapor phase vapor condenses to form an aerosol having typical liquid vapor particles with particles having an average mass diameter of about 1 micron or greater. In some cases, the average mass diameter may be about 0.1 - 1 micron.

[0064] As used herein, the term "vapor" generally may refer to a substance in the gas phase at a temperature below its critical point. The vapor may be condensed into a liquid or solid by increasing its pressure without lowering its temperature.

[0065] As used herein, the term "aerosol" generally may refer to a colloid of tiny solid particles or droplets in air or another gas. Examples of aerosols may include things that are cloud-like, smoke, and fumes, including smoke from tobacco or botanical products. The liquid or solid microparticles in an aerosol can range from monodisperse aerosols that are producible in a laboratory and contain particles of a uniform size, to polydisperse colloidal systems that exhibit a variety of particle sizes, and may have different diameters of average mass. As the size of these particles gets larger, the sedimentation rate of the particles increases, which causes the particles to sediment out of the aerosol more quickly, making the appearance of the aerosol less dense and shortening the time the aerosol remains in the air. Interestingly, aerosols with smaller particles appear denser or more concentrated because they have more particles. The number of particles has a much greater effect on light scattering (at least for the range of particle sizes considered) than the particle size, thereby enabling a vapor cloud with many smaller particles to appear denser than a cloud-like thing with fewer but larger particles.

[0066] As used herein, the term "humectant" generally may refer to a substance used to keep things moist. A humectant may be one that draws in and holds moisture from the air by absorption, enabling water to be used by other substances. Humectants are also commonly used in many tobacco or botanical drugs and e-vapor products that keep the product moist, and as a vapor-forming medium. Examples include sugar polyols such as propylene glycol, glycerol, glycerin, and honey.

[0067] <Rapid ventilation> In some cases, the vaporizer may be configured to deliver an aerosol with a high particle density. The particle density of the aerosol may refer to the number of aerosol droplets relative to the volume of air (or other dry gas) between the droplets of the aerosol. The dense aerosol may be easily visible to the user. In some cases, the user may inhale the aerosol and at least a portion of the aerosol particles may act on the user's lungs and / or mouth. The user may exhale the remaining aerosol after inhaling the aerosol. If the aerosol is dense, the remaining aerosol may have a particle density sufficient for the exhaled aerosol to be visible to the user. In some cases, the user may prefer a dense aerosol that has a visual effect and / or a good mouthfeel.

[0068] The vaporizer may include a vaporizable material. The vaporizable material may be contained in a cartridge or, alternatively, the vaporizable material may be loosely disposed in one or more cavities of the vaporizer. A heating element may be provided in the device to raise the temperature of the vaporizable material so that at least a portion of the vaporizable material forms vapor. The heating element may heat the vaporizable material by conductive heat transfer, convective heat transfer, and / or radiative heat transfer. The heating element may heat a cartridge and / or cavity in which the vaporizable material is stored.

[0069] The vapor formed after heating the vaporizable material may be delivered to the user. The vapor may be conveyed through the device from a first position in the device to a second position in the device. In some cases, the first position may be the position where at least a portion of the vapor is generated, for example, the cartridge or cavity, or a region adjacent to the cartridge or cavity. The second position may be a mouthpiece. The user may suck on the mouthpiece to inhale the vapor.

[0070] At least a portion of the vapor may condense after the vapor is generated and before it is inhaled by the user. The vapor may condense in a condensation chamber. The condensation chamber may be part of the device through which the vapor passes prior to delivery to the user. In some cases, the device may include at least one vent disposed in the condensation chamber of the vaporizer. The vent may be configured to introduce ambient air (or other gas) into the vaporization chamber. The temperature of the air introduced into the vaporization chamber may be lower than the temperature of the gas and / or gas / vapor mixture in the condensation chamber. Introduction of a relatively lower temperature gas into the vaporization chamber may result in quenching of the heated gas and vapor mixture produced by heating the vaporizable material. Quenching of the gas and vapor mixture may produce a dense aerosol containing high concentration droplets having a smaller diameter and / or a smaller average mass compared to an aerosol not quenched prior to inhalation by the user.

[0071] An aerosol containing high concentration droplets having a smaller diameter and / or a smaller average mass compared to an aerosol not quenched prior to inhalation by the user may be formed in a two-step process. The first step may be performed in an oven chamber where a vaporizable material (e.g., a mixture of tobacco and / or botanical drug and a wetting agent) is heated to a high temperature. Evaporation at a high temperature may occur faster than at room temperature, and the oven chamber may be filled with the vapor phase of the wetting agent. The wetting agent may continue to evaporate until the partial pressure of the wetting agent equals the saturation pressure. At this point, the gas is said to have a saturation of 1(S = P partial / P sat ).

[0072] In the second step, the gas (e.g., steam and air) may exit the oven, enter a condenser or a condensation chamber, and begin to be cooled. As the vapor in the gas phase cools, the saturation pressure may decrease. As the saturation pressure decreases, the degree of saturation increases, and the vapor may begin to condense to form droplets. In some devices, without additional cooling ventilation, the cooling is relatively slower, such that a high saturation pressure is not reached, and the droplets formed in a device without additional cooling ventilation may be relatively larger and fewer in number. When cooler air is introduced, a temperature gradient may occur between the cooler air and the relatively warmer gas in the device. Mixing between the cooler air and the relatively warmer gas in the limited space inside the vaporizer may lead to quenching. Quenching may generate a high degree of saturation, small particles, and a high concentration of smaller particles, and may form a denser and more concentrated vapor cloud compared to the particles generated in a device without vents.

[0073] For the purposes of this disclosure, when referring to the ratio of a wetting agent such as vegetable glycerol or propylene glycol, "about" means a variation of 5%, 10%, 20%, or 25% depending on the embodiment.

[0074] For the purposes of this disclosure, when referring to the diameter of the mean mass in the particle size, "about" means a variation of 5%, 10%, 20%, or 25% depending on the embodiment.

[0075] A vaporizer configured to quench steam includes a mouthpiece having an aerosol outlet at a first end of the device; an oven including an oven chamber and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein; a condenser including a condensation chamber for forming an inhalable aerosol; an air inlet starting from a first air flow path including the oven chamber and the condensation chamber; and a vent including a second air flow path starting from the second air flow path, where the second air flow path is connected to the first air flow path before or in the condensation chamber after vapor is formed in the oven chamber, and where the connected first air flow path and the second air flow path are configured to deliver the inhalable aerosol formed in the condensation chamber to a user through the aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0076] In some embodiments, the oven is within the body of the device. The oven chamber may include an oven chamber inlet and an oven chamber outlet. The oven may further include a first valve at the oven chamber inlet and a second valve at the oven chamber outlet.

[0077] The oven may be contained within the housing of the device. In some cases, the body of the device may include a vent and / or a condenser. The body of the device may include one or more air inlets. The body of the device may include a housing that holds and / or at least partially contains one or more elements of the device.

[0078] The mouthpiece may be connected to the body. The mouthpiece may be connected to the oven. The mouthpiece may be connected to a housing that at least partially surrounds the oven. In some cases, the mouthpiece may be separable from the oven, the body, and / or a housing that at least partially surrounds the oven. The mouthpiece may include at least one of an air inlet, a vent, and a condenser. The mouthpiece may be integrated with the body of the device. The body of the device may include the oven.

[0079] In some cases, one or more vents may include a valve. The valve may regulate the flow rate of air entering the device through the vent. The valve may be controlled via a mechanical and / or electrical control system.

[0080] A vaporization device configured to quench vapor may include a body, a mouthpiece, an aerosol outlet, a condenser with a condensation chamber, a heater, an oven with an oven chamber, a first air inlet, and at least one vent provided downstream of the body and the oven and upstream of the mouthpiece.

[0081] Figure 1 shows an example of a vaporization device configured to quench vapor. The device (100) may include a body (101). The body may house and / or integrate one or more components of the device. The body may house and / or integrate a mouthpiece (102). The mouthpiece (102) may have an aerosol outlet (122). A user may inhale an aerosol generated via the aerosol outlet (122) on the mouthpiece (102). The body may house and / or integrate an oven portion (104). The oven portion (104) may include an oven chamber in which a vapor-forming medium (106) is disposed. The vapor-forming medium may include tobacco and / or botanical agents, with or without a second wetting agent. In some cases, the vapor-forming medium may be included in a removable and / or refillable cartridge.

[0082] Air may be drawn into the device through a first air inlet (121). The first air inlet (121) may be on an end of the device (100) opposite the mouthpiece (102). Alternatively, the first air inlet (121) may be adjacent to the mouthpiece (102). In some cases, the pressure drop sufficient to draw air into the device through the first air inlet (121) may be due to a user blowing on the mouthpiece (102).

[0083] A vapor-forming medium (e.g., a vaporizable material) may be heated in an oven chamber by a heater (105) to produce a hot gas phase (vapor) of tobacco or botanical and a wetting agent / vapor-forming component. The heater (105) may transfer heat to the vapor-forming medium via conductive, convective, and / or radiative heat transfer. The vapor produced is drawn from the oven portion to the condensation chamber (103a) of the condenser (103), where the vapor begins to cool and condenses into fine particles or droplets that float in the air, thereby effecting an initial formation of an aerosol before being drawn through the aerosol outlet (122) from the mouthpiece.

[0084] In some cases, relatively cooler air is introduced through the vent (107) into the condensation chamber (103a), whereby the vapor condenses more rapidly compared to the vapor in an apparatus without the vent (107). The rapid cooling of the vapor may produce a denser aerosol cloud having particles with an average mass diameter of about 1 micron or less, and depending on the mixing ratio of the vapor-forming wetting agent, particles with an average mass diameter of about 0.5 micron or less.

[0085] In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the apparatus including a body having a mouthpiece at one end, a body attached to the other end including a condensation chamber, a heater, an oven (wherein the oven includes a first valve in an air flow path at a first air inlet of the oven chamber and a second valve at an outlet end of the oven chamber), and at least one vent provided downstream of the oven, and upstream of the mouthpiece, in the body.

[0086] Figure 2 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a vaporizer (200). The vaporizer may have a body (201). The body (201) may integrate and / or enclose one or more components of the apparatus. The body may integrate or be connected to a mouthpiece (202).

[0087] The body includes an oven part (204), and the oven chamber (204a) may have a first constriction valve (208) at a first air inlet of the oven chamber and a second constriction valve (209) at an oven chamber outlet. The oven chamber (204a) may be sealed therein with tobacco or botanical drug and / or a wetting agent / vapor-forming medium (206). The sealing may be an airtight and / or liquidtight seal. The heater may be provided in the oven chamber equipped with a heater (205). The heater (205) is in thermal communication with the oven. For example, the heater may surround the oven chamber during the vaporization process. The heater may be in contact with the oven. The heater may be covered around the oven. Before inhalation and before air is drawn through the first air inlet (221), the pressure may be increased in the sealed oven chamber so that heat is continuously applied. The pressure may be increased by a phase change of the vaporizable material. The high-temperature gas phase (vapor) of the tobacco or botanical drug and the wetting agent / vapor-forming component may be achieved by frequently applying heat to the oven. When valves (208) and (209) are opened during inhalation, this heated pressurization process may result in a higher saturation. The higher saturation may result in a relatively high particle concentration of the gas-phase wetting agent in the resulting aerosol. When the vapor is drawn from the oven part to the condensation chamber (203a) of the condenser (203), for example, by inhalation by the user, the vapor of the gas-phase wetting agent is exposed to additional air through the vent (207), and the vapor may begin to cool and condense into small droplets floating in the air. As described above, the aerosol may be drawn by the user through the mouthpiece (222). This condensation process may be refined by adding an additional valve (210) to the vent (207) to further control the mixing process of air and vapor.

[0088] Figure 2 also shows an exemplary embodiment of additional components found in a vaporizing device, which includes a power source or battery (211), a printed circuit board (212), a temperature regulator (213), and an operation switch (214), which are housed within an internal electronic housing (214) to isolate them from the harmful effects of moisture in the vapor and / or aerosol. Additional components may be found in the vaporizing device, including or not including vents as described above.

[0089] In some embodiments of the vaporizing device, the components of the device are user-friendly, such as a power source or battery. These components may be replaceable or rechargeable.

[0090] In another aspect, the present invention provides a device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the device including a first body, a mouthpiece having an aerosol outlet, a condensation chamber in a condenser, an air flow inlet, and a channel, and an attached second body including an oven with a heater and an oven chamber, where the air flow channel is upstream of the oven and the mouthpiece outlet to direct an air flow through the device, over the oven, and to the condensation chamber where an auxiliary vent is provided.

[0091] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the vaporizer (300). The device (300) may include a body (301). The body may be connected to and / or integrated with a mouthpiece (302) at one end. The mouthpiece may include a condensation chamber (303a) in a condenser portion (303), an air inlet (321), and an air channel (323). The device body may include an oven (304) positioned adjacent thereto, which includes an oven chamber (304a). The oven chamber may be within the body of the device. A vapor-forming medium (306) (e.g., a vaporizable material) including tobacco or a botanical and a wetting agent vapor-forming medium may be disposed in the oven. The vapor-forming medium may be in direct contact with the air channel (323) from the mouthpiece. The tobacco or botanical is drawn through the first air inlet (321) by a user puffing on the mouthpiece, over the oven, and into the condensation chamber (303a) of the condenser portion (303) to generate tobacco or a botanical and a wetting agent / vapor-forming component, and air, and may be heated by a heater (305) surrounding the oven chamber. Once additional air enters through the vent (307) in the compression chamber where the vapor of the gas-phase wetting agent begins to cool and condenses into droplets floating in the air, thus generating a denser aerosol cloud having particles with an average mass diameter less than that of a typical vaporizer without the added vent before being withdrawn again through the aerosol outlet (322) from the mouthpiece.

[0092] In some aspects of the present invention, the apparatus includes a mouthpiece having a spray outlet at a first end of the apparatus and an air inlet starting from a first airflow path; an oven including an oven chamber in the first airflow path and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein; a condenser including a condensation chamber for forming an aerosol that can be inhaled; and a vent starting from a second airflow path, the second airflow path connecting air from the vent to the first airflow path that is in front of or in the condensation chamber and downstream from the oven chamber, thereby forming a connection path, where the connection path is configured to deliver an inhalable aerosol formed in the condensation chamber to a user through an aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0093] In some aspects of the present invention, the apparatus includes a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece including an aerosol outlet at a first end of the apparatus, an air inlet starting from a first airflow path, and a vent starting from a second airflow path, the second airflow path enabling connection of air from the vent to the first airflow path; the apparatus further includes an oven including an oven chamber in the first airflow path and a heater for heating a vapor-forming medium in the oven chamber and forming vapor therein, the apparatus further including a condenser including a condensation chamber for forming an aerosol that can be inhaled, where air from the vent connects to the first airflow path that is in front of or in the condensation chamber and downstream from the oven chamber, thereby forming a connection path, where the connection path is configured to deliver an inhalable aerosol, as shown in exemplary FIG. 3, to a user through an aerosol outlet of the mouthpiece.

[0094] In some aspects of the present invention, the apparatus may include a body having one or more separable components. For example, the mouthpiece may be detachably attached to a body including a condensation chamber, a heater, and an oven, as shown in exemplary FIGS. 1 or 2.

[0095] In some aspects of the present invention, the device may include a body with one or more separable components. For example, the mouthpiece may be detachably attached to the body. The mouthpiece may include a condensation chamber and may be attached to or directly adjacent to the oven, as shown in exemplary FIG. 3, and is separable from the body including the heater and the oven.

[0096] In other aspects of the present invention, at least one vent may be positioned in the condensation chamber of the condenser, as shown in exemplary FIGS. 1, 2, or 3. At least one vent may include a third valve in the airflow path of at least one vent, as shown in exemplary FIG. 2. The first, second, and third valves are check valves, flapper valves, non-return valves, or one-way valves. In any of the foregoing aspects of the present invention, the first, second, or third valve may be mechanically actuated, electrically actuated, or manually actuated. Those skilled in the art will recognize that after reading this disclosure, any one or each of these openings or vents may be configured with different combinations or variations of the mechanisms described to control the airflow, pressure, and temperature of the vapor and aerosol being generated by the configuration of these devices, including manually operated openings or vents with or without valves.

[0097] In some embodiments of the present invention, the device may further include at least one of a power source, a printed circuit board, a switch, and a temperature regulator. Alternatively, those skilled in the art will recognize that each of the foregoing components may also be housed within the body, including the power source (battery), switch, printed circuit board, or temperature regulator.

[0098] In some embodiments of the present invention, when the supply of the pre-packaged aerosol-forming medium is exhausted, the device may be disposable. Alternatively, the device may be rechargeable such that the battery is rechargeable or replaceable and / or the aerosol-forming medium is refillable by the user / operator of the device. Still further, in other embodiments of the present invention, the device may be rechargeable such that the battery is rechargeable or replaceable and / or the operator may additionally add or refill tobacco or botanical components in addition to the refillable or replaceable aerosol-forming medium of the device.

[0099] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, or 3, in some embodiments of the present invention, the vaporizer includes tobacco or botanical material that is heated within the oven chamber, where the tobacco or botanical material further includes a humectant to generate an aerosol that also includes the humectant and the vapor-phase components of the tobacco or botanical material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the vapor-phase humectant and the vapor of the tobacco or botanical material generated by the heated aerosol-forming medium (106)(206)(306) further exit the oven portion (104)(204)(304) and enter the condensation chamber (103a)(203a)(303a) to be cooled and mixed with air from a special vent (107)(207)(307) to generate a fairly dense and concentrated aerosol having more particles than that generated without excessive cold air and having an average mass diameter of about 1 micron or less after condensing the vapor-phase vapor.

[0100] For example, in other embodiments of the present invention, the composition of the aerosol generated by mixing the vapor-phase vapor with cold air may each include, for example, different ranges of particles having an average mass diameter of about 0.9 microns or less; about 0.8 microns or less; about 0.7 microns or less; about 0.6 microns or less, and even an aerosol including an average mass particle size of about 0.5 microns or less.

[0101] The possible variations and ranges of aerosol density are large in that there are a large number of possible combinations of temperature, pressure, choice of tobacco or botanicals, and choice of humectant. However, by eliminating the choice of tobacco or botanicals and restricting the temperature range and the ratio of humectants to those described herein, the inventor has demonstrated that this device produces a fairly dense and more concentrated aerosol containing more particles with an average mass diameter of less than about 1 micron and without excessive cold air than is produced without.

[0102] In some embodiments of the invention, the humectant includes glycerol or vegetable glycerol as a vapor-forming medium.

[0103] In still other embodiments of the invention, the humectant includes propylene glycol as a vapor-forming medium.

[0104] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the humectant may include the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol as a vapor-forming medium. The range of said ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may vary between a ratio of about 100:0 and about 50:50. The difference in the preferred ratio within the above range varies by only 1, for example, the said ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 99:1. However, more generally, the said ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol varies in increments of about 5, for example about 95:5; or about 85:15; or about 55:45.

[0105] In a preferred embodiment, the said ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol for the vapor-forming medium is in the range of about 80:20 to about 60:40.

[0106] In the most preferred embodiment, the said ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol for the vapor-forming medium is about 70:30.

[0107] In any of the preferred embodiments, the wetting agent may further include a flavor product. These flavorings may include, by way of just a few examples, cocoa solids, licorice, tobacco, or plant extracts.

[0108] In some embodiments, the tobacco or phytochemical is heated in an oven to its thermal decomposition temperature, which is most commonly measured in the range of 300 - 1000 °C as described above.

[0109] In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco or phytochemical is heated to a maximum of about 300 °C. In other preferred embodiments, the tobacco or phytochemical is heated to a maximum of about 200 °C. In still other preferred embodiments, the tobacco or phytochemical is heated to a maximum of about 160 °C. In these low temperature ranges (<300 °C), thermal decomposition of the tobacco or phytochemical typically does not occur, but vapor formation of the tobacco or phytochemical components and the flavor product does occur. Additionally, vapor formation of the components of the wetting agent mixed in various ratios also occurs, and as a result, due to the boiling point of propylene glycol being about 180 °C - 190 °C and the boiling point of vegetable glycerol being about 280 °C - 290 °C, almost complete vaporization is brought about depending on the temperature.

[0110] In still other preferred embodiments, the aerosol produced by the heated tobacco or phytochemical and the wetting agent is mixed with the air provided through the vent.

[0111] In still other preferred embodiments, when the heated aerosol produced by the tobacco or phytochemical and the wetting agent is mixed with air, it is cooled to a maximum of about 50 °C - 70 °C and at least 35 °C before exiting the mouthpiece, depending on the temperature of the air mixed in the condensation chamber. In some embodiments, the temperature may be cooled to a maximum of about 35 °C - 55 °C and have a variation range of ± about 10 °C or more within the overall range of more about 35 °C - 70 °C.

[0112] In another aspect, the present invention provides a vaporizer for generating an inhalable aerosol, comprising a unique oven configuration, wherein the oven includes an access lid and an auxiliary vent located within an air flow channel immediately downstream of the oven and in front of a ventilation chamber. In this configuration, the user may access the oven directly by removing the access lid, thereby enabling the user to refill the device with vaporizing material.

[0113] In addition, the presence of an additional vent in the air flow channel immediately behind the oven and in front of the vaporization chamber provides the user with additional control over the amount of air entering downstream of the ventilation chamber and the rate of cooling of the aerosol prior to entering the ventilation chamber.

[0114] Referring to FIGS. 4A - 4C, the device (400) may include a body (401) having an air inlet (421) that enables an initial air heating process to the oven portion (404). After heating tobacco or botanical drug, and a wetting agent (the heater is not shown), the generated vapor of the vaporized wetting agent may move down the air flow channel (423) and pass through an additional vent (407), where the user may selectively increase the air flow to the heated vapor. The user may selectively increase and / or decrease the air flow to the heated vapor by controlling a valve in communication with the vent (407). In some cases, the device may not have a vent. The air flow to the heated vapor through the vent may lower the temperature of the vapor before it exits the air flow channel at the outlet (422), and reduce the diameter of the vapor particles within the ventilation chamber (not shown), thus increasing the condensation rate and vapor density by producing a denser and more concentrated vapor compared to the vapor produced by a ventless device. The user may also access the oven chamber (404a) to replenish or refill the device (400) via an access lid (430) provided therein. The access lid may be provided in a device with or without a vent.

[0115] This specification provides a method for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method including the step of providing a vaporizer, where the apparatus generates a vapor having an average mass particle size of about 1 micron or less, the vapor being formed by heating a vapor-forming medium in an oven chamber of the apparatus to a first temperature below the thermal decomposition temperature of the vapor-forming medium and by cooling the vapor in a condensation chamber to a temperature below the first temperature before it exits the aerosol outlet of the apparatus.

[0116] In some embodiments, the vapor is cooled by mixing relatively cold air with the vapor in the condensation chamber during the condensation phase after it exits the oven, where the condensation of the gas-phase wetting agent occurs more rapidly due to a higher degree of saturation achieved at the moment of ventilation than that which normally occurs in a standard vaporizer or aerosol-generating device, producing a higher concentration of smaller particles with fewer by-products in a denser aerosol.

[0117] In some embodiments, the formation of the inhalable aerosol is a two-step process. The first step is carried out in an oven where a mixture of tobacco or botanical drug and a wetting agent is heated to a high temperature. Evaporation at a high temperature occurs more rapidly than at room temperature, and the oven chamber is filled with the gas phase of the wetting agent. The wetting agent will continue to evaporate until the partial pressure of the wetting agent equals the saturation pressure. At this point, the gas is said to have a saturation of 1(S = P partial / P sat ).

[0118] In the second step, the gas exits the oven chamber, passes through the condensation chamber in the condenser, and begins to cool. As the gas-phase vapor cools, the saturation pressure also decreases, thereby increasing the degree of saturation, causing the vapor to condense and form droplets. When cold air is introduced, the large temperature gradient between the two fluids mixing in a closed space leads to very rapid cooling, thereby producing a high degree of saturation, small particles, and a high concentration of smaller particles, forming a denser and more concentrated vapor cloud.

[0119] This specification provides a method for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method including: a body having a mouthpiece at one end and a vaporizer attached to the other end, the vaporizer including a condenser having a condensation chamber, a heater, an oven having an oven chamber, and at least one vent provided in the body, downstream of the oven, and upstream of the mouthpiece, wherein tobacco or a botanical drug containing a wetting agent is heated in the oven chamber to generate a vapor containing a vapor-phase wetting agent.

[0120] As described above, a vaporizer having an auxiliary vent positioned in a condensation chamber capable of supplying cold air to the vapor-phase vapor and tobacco or botanical drug components exiting the oven portion (with respect to the heated gas element) may be used to provide a method for generating a fairly dense and concentrated aerosol containing more particles than generated without excessive cold air, having an average mass diameter of about 1 micron or less.

[0121] In another aspect, this specification provides a method for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method including: a body having a mouthpiece at one end and a vaporizer attached to the other end, the vaporizer including a condenser having a condensation chamber, a heater, an oven having an oven chamber (wherein the oven further includes a first valve in the air flow path at the inlet end of the oven chamber and a second valve at the outlet end of the oven chamber), and at least one vent provided in the body, downstream of the oven, and upstream of the mouthpiece, wherein tobacco or a botanical drug containing a wetting agent is heated in the oven chamber to generate a vapor containing a vapor-phase wetting agent.

[0122] As shown in the exemplary FIG. 2, prior to inhalation and prior to air being drawn through the first air inlet (221), during the vaporization phase, the oven chamber (204a) is sealed with a vapor-forming medium (206) of tobacco or botanical drug and a wetting agent, and heat is applied by the heater (205), so that the vapor-forming components of the tobacco or botanical drug and the wetting agent generate a higher-temperature gas-phase wetting agent (vapor). As heat is continuously applied by the electronic heating circuit generated through the combination of the battery (211), the printed circuit board (212), the temperature regulator (213), and a switch (not shown) controlled by the operator, the pressure will increase inside the oven chamber. This heated and pressurized process generates a higher saturation when the valves (208)(209) are opened during inhalation, resulting in a higher concentration of particles in the resulting aerosol. When the vapor is drawn from the oven portion to the condensation chamber (203a), before the aerosol is drawn through the mouthpiece (222), as described above, they are further exposed to additional air through the vent (207), and the vapor begins to cool and condenses into droplets floating in the air. The inventor also notes that this condensation process may be refined by adding an additional valve (210) to the vent (207) to further control the mixing process of air and vapor.

[0123] In some embodiments of any one of the inventive methods, the first, second, and / or third valve is a one-way valve, a check valve, a flapper valve, or a non-return valve. The first, second, and / or third valve may be mechanically actuated. The first, second, and / or third valve may be electrically actuated. The first, second, and / or third valve may be automatically actuated. The first, second, and / or third valve may be manually actuated either directly by the user or indirectly in response to an input command from the user to a control system that actuates the first, second, and / or third valve.

[0124] In another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes at least one of a power source, a printed circuit board, or a temperature regulator.

[0125] In any of the foregoing aspects of the inventive method, one of ordinary skill in the art, after reading this disclosure, will recognize that any one or each of these openings or vents, whether provided with or without a valve, may be manually operated openings or vents, and that the method may be modified to include different combinations or variations of the mechanisms or electronics described herein to control the airflow, pressure, and temperature of the vapor and aerosol being generated by the configuration of these devices.

[0126] The possible variations and ranges of aerosol density are large in that there are many choices of temperature, pressure, tobacco or botanical drug, and wetting agent, and the number of possible combinations. However, by excluding the choice of tobacco or botanical drug and limiting the temperature to the ranges described herein and the ratio of wetting agent, the inventor has demonstrated a method of producing a fairly dense and more concentrated aerosol that contains more particles with an average mass diameter of less than 1 micron and is produced without excessive cold air.

[0127] In some embodiments of the inventive method, the wetting agent includes the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol as a vapor-forming medium. The range of the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol will vary between a ratio of about 100:0 and about 50:50. The difference in the preferred ratio within the above range varies by only 1, for example, the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be about 99:1. However, more generally, the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol varies in 5 increments, for example about 95:5; or about 85:15; or about 55:45.

[0128] Vegetable glycerol is less volatile than propylene glycol and will therefore reconcentrate in a greater proportion. Humectants with a higher concentration of glycerol will produce a denser aerosol. The addition of propylene glycol results in an aerosol with a reduced concentration of condensed-phase particles and an increased concentration of the gas-phase effluent. When the aerosol is inhaled, this gas-phase effluent is frequently perceived as throat tickle or unpleasant. For some consumers, it may be desirable to vary the degree of this sensation. The ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol may be manipulated to maintain the balance of the aerosol concentration at the exact amount of "throat tickle".

[0129] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol for the vapor-forming medium is between about 80:20 and about 60:40.

[0130] In the most preferred embodiment of the method, the ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol for the vapor-forming medium is about 70:30. Those skilled in the art will envision that there are mixtures with different ratios for consumers with different preferences.

[0131] In any of the preferred embodiments of the method, the humectant further comprises a flavor product. These flavorings include enhancers such as cocoa solids, licorice, tobacco, or plant extracts, to name a few.

[0132] In some embodiments of the method, the tobacco or botanical drug is heated to its pyrolysis temperature.

[0133] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the tobacco or botanical drug is heated to a maximum of about 300°C.

[0134] In other preferred embodiments of the method, the tobacco or botanical drug is heated to a maximum of about 200 °C. In still other embodiments of the method, the tobacco or botanical drug is heated to a maximum of about 160 °C.

[0135] As described above, at such low temperatures (<300 °C), thermal decomposition of the tobacco or botanical drug typically does not occur, but vapor formation of the tobacco or botanical components and flavorant products does occur. As can be inferred from the data provided by Baker et al., the aerosols produced at these temperatures also have little or less than at least 70% of the Hoffman analytes of typical tobacco or botanical tobacco, and are scored as significantly superior to the substances produced by burning typical tobacco in the Ames test. In addition, vapor formation of the components of the humectant mixed in various ratios also occurs, and as a result, since the boiling point of propylene glycol is about 180 °C - 190 °C and the boiling point of vegetable glycerol is about 280 °C - 290 °C, almost complete vaporization is brought about depending on the temperature.

[0136] In any one of the methods described above, the inhalable aerosol produced by the tobacco or botanical drug containing the humectant and heated in the oven produces an aerosol containing a vapor-phase humectant, which is further mixed with the air provided through the vent.

[0137] In any one of the methods described above, the aerosol produced by the heated tobacco or botanical drug and the humectant, which is mixed with air, is cooled to a temperature of about 50 °C - 70 °C and at least 35 °C before exiting the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the temperature may be cooled to a maximum of about 35 °C - 55 °C and have a variation range of ± about 10 °C or more within the overall range of more about 35 °C - 70 °C.

[0138] In some embodiments of the method, the vapor containing the vapor-phase humectant may be mixed with air to produce an aerosol having an average mass particle size of about 1 micron or less.

[0139] In other embodiments of the method, the compositions of the aerosols produced by mixing the vapor phase vapor with cold air may each include, for example, different ranges of particles having an average mass diameter of about 0.9 microns or less; about 0.8 microns or less; about 0.7 microns or less; about 0.6 microns or less, and even aerosols including particles having an average mass particle size of about 0.5 microns or less.

[0140] In some cases, the vaporizer may be configured to produce an inhalable aerosol. The device may be a self - contained vaporizer. The device may include a rectangular body that functions to complement a separable and reusable cartridge having an air inlet channel, a ventilation passage, a plurality of condensation chambers, a flexible heater contact, and a plurality of aerosol outlets. Further, the cartridge may be configured to facilitate manufacturing and assembly.

[0141] A vaporizer for producing an inhalable aerosol is provided herein. The vaporizer may include a device body, a separable cartridge assembly further including a heater, at least one condensation chamber, and a mouthpiece. The vaporizer provides for a compact assembly and disassembly of components using removable couplings; overheat protection for the resistive heating element; an air inlet passage (closed - type channel) formed by the assembly of the device body and the separable cartridge; at least one condensation chamber within the separable cartridge assembly; a heater contact; and one or more refillable, reusable, and / or recyclable components.

[0142] An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol is provided herein, the apparatus comprising: an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle; a cartridge comprising a storage chamber and a channel integral with an outer surface of the cartridge, and an air inlet passage formed by the channel and an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle, the cartridge being formed of metal, plastic, ceramic, and / or composite materials. The storage chamber may hold a vaporizable material. FIG. 7A shows an example of a cartridge (30) used in the apparatus. The vaporizable material may be a liquid at or near room temperature. In some cases, the vaporizable material may be a liquid below room temperature. As illustrated in various non-limiting aspects of FIGS. 5-6D, 7C, 8A, 8B, and 10A, the channel may form a first side portion of the air inlet passage and the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle may form a second side portion of the air inlet passage.

[0143] An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol is provided herein. The apparatus may comprise a body that houses, includes, and / or is integrated with one or more components of the apparatus. The apparatus body may comprise a cartridge receptacle. The cartridge receptacle may comprise a channel integral with the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle; and an air inlet passage formed by the channel and the outer surface of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle. The cartridge may be loaded and / or inserted into the cartridge receptacle. The cartridge may have a fluid reservoir. The channel may form a first side of the air inlet passage, and the outer surface of the cartridge may form a second side of the air inlet passage. The channel may comprise at least one of the following: a groove; a valley; a track; a depression; a recess; a rib; a deep groove; a fold; and a side groove. The integral channel may include a wall that is recessed in the surface or protrudes from the surface in which it is formed. The inner sidewall of the channel may form an additional side of the air inlet passage. The channel may have a cross-section that is circular, oval, square, rectangular, or other shape. The channel may have a closed cross-section. The channel may have a width of about 0.1 cm, 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 2 cm, or 5 cm. The channel may have a depth of about 0.1 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, or 5 mm. The channel may have a length of about 0.1 cm, 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 2 cm, or 5 cm. There may be at least one channel.

[0144] In some embodiments, the cartridge includes a second air passage in fluid communication with the air inlet passage to the fluid reservoir, and the second air passage is formed by the material of the cartridge.

[0145] Figures 5-7C show various views of a compact electronic device assembly (10) for generating an inhalable aerosol. The compact electronic device (10) may include a device body (20) having a cartridge receptacle (21) for receiving a cartridge (30). The device body may have a square or rectangular cross-section. Alternatively, the cross-section of the body may be other regular or irregular shapes. The cartridge receptacle may be shaped to accommodate an open cartridge (30a) or "pod". The cartridge may be opened when a protective cap is removed from the surface of the cartridge. In some cases, the cartridge may also be opened when a hole or opening is formed in the surface of the cartridge. The pod (30a) may be inserted into the open end of the cartridge receptacle (21) such that an exposed first heater contact chip (33a) on a heater contact portion (33) of the pod contacts a second heater contact portion (22) of the device body, thereby forming the device assembly (10).

[0146] Referring to FIG. 14, it is apparent in the plan view that when the pod (30a) is inserted into the notched body of the cartridge receptacle (21), the air inlet (50) of the channel remains exposed. The size of the air inlet (50) of the channel may be changed by altering the arrangement of the notches in the cartridge receptacle (21).

[0147] The device body further includes a rechargeable battery, a printed circuit board (PCB) (24) with a microcontroller that provides the device's operating logic and software instructions, a pressure switch (27) for detecting a user's breath-cutting action to activate the heater circuit, an indicator light (26), charging contacts (not shown), and optionally a charging magnet or magnetic contacts (not shown). The cartridge may further include a heater (36). The heater may be powered by a rechargeable battery. The temperature of the heater may be controlled by the microcontroller. The heater may be attached to the first end of the cartridge.

[0148] In some embodiments, the heater may include a heater chamber (37), a first pair of heater contacts (33)(33’), a fluid core (34), and a resistive heating element (35) in contact with the core. The first pair of heater contacts may include thin plates attached around the sides of the heater chamber. The fluid core and the resistive heating element may be suspended between the heater contacts.

[0149] In some embodiments, there may be two or more resistive heating elements (35), (35’) and two or more cores (34), (34’). In some embodiments, the heater contact (33) may be a flat plate; a male contact; a female receptacle, or both; a flexible contact and / or made of a copper alloy or another conductive material. The first pair of heater contacts may further include a shaped form having a tab (e.g., a flange) with a flexible spring valve extending from the heater to complete a circuit with the device body. The first pair of heater contacts may be a heat sink that absorbs and dissipates excessive heat generated by the resistive heating element. Alternatively, the first pair of heater contacts may be a heat shield that protects the heater chamber from excessive heat generated by the resistive heating element. The first pair of heater contacts may be press-fitted onto a mounting mechanism on the outer wall of the first end of the cartridge. The heater may surround the first end of the cartridge and the first end of the fluid storage chamber.

[0150] As illustrated in the exploded assembly view of FIG. 7B, the heater enclosure may include two or more heater contact portions (33), each of which includes a flat plate machined or possibly punched from a copper alloy or similar conductive material. The flexibility of the chip is provided by a gap mechanism (33b) with a portion cut out below a male contact tip (33a) that makes full use of the inherent spring performance of the material of the metal sheet or plate. Another advantage and improvement of this type of contact portion is that space requirements are reduced, the construction of the spring contact points (versus pogo pins) is simplified, and assembly is easy. The heater may include a first condensation chamber. The heater may include more than one additional condensation chamber in addition to the first condensation chamber. The first condensation chamber may be formed along the outer wall of the cartridge.

[0151] In some cases, the cartridge (e.g., a pod) is configured to facilitate manufacturing and assembly. The cartridge may include an enclosure. The enclosure may be a tank. The tank may include an internal fluid reservoir chamber (32). The internal fluid reservoir chamber (32) is open at one or both ends and includes raised rails on side ends (45b) and (46b). The cartridge may be formed from plastic, metal, composite, and / or ceramic materials. The cartridge may be rigid or may have flexibility.

[0152] The tank may further include a set of first heater contact plates (33) formed of a copper alloy or another conductive material, having a cutout thinner than the contact tip (33a) that is attached to the side of the first end of the tank and spans the open end (53) of the tank. The plates may be attached to pins or posts, as shown in FIGS. 7B or 5, or may be attached by other common means such as compression directly beneath the enclosure (36). A fluid core (34) around which a resistive heating element (35) is wound is placed between and attached to the first heater contact plates (33). A heater (36) including a raised inner edge on an inner end (not shown), a thin mixing region (not shown), and a main condensation channel cover (45a) that slides on a rail (45b) on the side of the tank in the first half of the tank forms the main condensation channel / chamber (45). Additionally, a small male snap mechanism (39b) at the end of the channel cover is configured to fit into a female snap mechanism (39a), is placed in the central body of the side of the tank, and makes a snap-fit assembly.

[0153] As further clarified below, the combination of the open side end (53), the protruding tip (33a) of the contact plate (33), the fluid core (34) having a resistive heating element (35) surrounded at the open end of the fluid storage tank, and beneath the heater (36) with a thin mixing region inside creates an efficient heater system. Additionally, the main condensation channel cover (45a) that slides on the rail (45b) on the side of the tank creates an integral and easily assembled main condensation chamber (45), all within the heater at the first end of the cartridge (30) or pod (30a).

[0154] In some embodiments of the device, as shown in FIG. 9, the heater may surround at least the first end of the cartridge. The enclosed first end of the cartridge may include the heater and an internal fluid storage chamber. In some embodiments, the heater further includes at least one first condensation chamber (45).

[0155] FIG. 9 shows the illustrated steps that may be performed to assemble the cartomizer and / or the mouthpiece. In A - B, the fluid reservoir (32a) may be oriented such that the heater inlet (53) faces upward. The heater contact portion (33) may be inserted into the fluid reservoir. The flexible tab (33a) may be inserted into the heater contact portion (33). In step D, the resistive heating element (35) may be wound around the core (34). In step E, the core (34) and the heater (35) may be placed in the fluid reservoir. One or more free ends of the heater may be located outside the heater contact portion. The one or more free ends may be soldered in place, placed in a groove, or snap - fitted in a suitable position. At least a portion of the one or more free ends may communicate with the heater contact portion (33). In step F, the heater enclosure (36) may be snap - fitted in place. The heater enclosure (36) may be attached to the fluid reservoir. Step G shows the heater enclosure (36) in place on the fluid reservoir. In step H, the fluid reservoir may be turned over. In step I, the mouthpiece (31) may be attached to the fluid reservoir. Step J shows the mouthpiece (31) in place on the fluid reservoir. In step K, the end (49) may be attached to the fluid reservoir on the opposite side of the mouthpiece. Step L shows the fully assembled cartridge (30). FIG. 7B shows an exploded view of the assembled cartridge (30).

[0156] Depending on the size of the heater and / or the heater chamber, the heater may have more than one core (34) and resistive heating element (35).

[0157] In some embodiments, the first pair of heater contact portions (33) further has a shaped form including a tab (33a) having a flexible spring valve extending from the heater. In some embodiments, the cartridge (30) includes a heater (33) that is inserted into a cartridge receptacle (21) of the device body (20), and the flexible tab (33a) is inserted into a second pair of heater contact portions (22) to complete a circuit with the device body. The first pair of heater contact portions (33) may be a heat sink that absorbs and dissipates excessive heat generated by the resistive heating element (35). The first pair of heater contact portions (33) may be a thermal shield that protects the heater chamber from excessive heat generated by the resistive heating element (35). The first pair of heater contact portions may be press-fitted into a mounting mechanism on the outer wall of the first end of the cartridge. The heater (36) may surround the first end of the cartridge and the first end of the fluid storage chamber (32a). The heater may include a first condensation chamber (45). The heater may include at least one additional condensation chamber (45), (45’), (45’’), etc. The first condensation chamber may be formed along the outer wall of the cartridge.

[0158] In yet another embodiment of the device, the cartridge may further include a mouthpiece (31), and the mouthpiece includes at least one aerosol outlet channel / second condensation chamber (46); and at least one aerosol outlet (47). The mouthpiece may be attached to the second end of the cartridge. The second end of the cartridge with the mouthpiece may be exposed from the end when the cartridge is inserted into the device. The mouthpiece may include more than one second condensation chamber (46), (46’), (46’’), etc. The second condensation chamber may be formed along the outer wall of the cartridge.

[0159] The mouthpiece (31) may surround the cartridge and the second end of the internal fluid reservoir. The partially assembled (e.g., with the mouthpiece removed) unit may be inverted and filled with vaporizable fluid through the remaining (second) open end on the opposite side. Once filled, a snap-on mouthpiece (31) that closes and seals the second end of the tank is inserted at the end. The mouthpiece further comprises an aerosol outlet channel cover (46a) that slides over a raised internal edge (not shown) and a rail (46b) placed on the side of the rear half of the tank, forming an aerosol outlet channel / the second condensation chamber (46). The aerosol outlet channel / the second condensation chamber (46) slides over the end of the main condensation chamber (45) in the transition region (57) to create a confluence point for the vapor exiting the main chamber and proceeds through the aerosol outlet (47) at the end of the aerosol outlet channel (46) and the user end of the mouthpiece (31).

[0160] The cartridge may include a first condensation chamber and second condensation chambers (45), (46). The cartridge may comprise more than one first condensation chamber and more than one second condensation chambers (45), (46), (45’), (46’), etc.

[0161] In some embodiments of the device, the first condensation chamber (45) may be formed along the outside of the cartridge fluid reservoir (31). In some embodiments of the device, the aerosol outlet (47) is present at the end of the aerosol outlet chamber (46). In some embodiments of the device, the first and second condensation chambers (45)(46) may be formed along the outside of one side of the cartridge fluid reservoir (31). In some embodiments, the second condensation chamber may be the aerosol outlet chamber. In some embodiments, another pair of first and / or second condensation chambers (45’), (46’) are formed along the outside of the cartridge fluid reservoir (31) on the other side of the device. In some embodiments, another aerosol outlet (47’) is also present at the end of the second pair of condensation chambers (45’)(46’).

[0162] In any one of the embodiments, the first condensation chamber and the second condensation chamber may be in fluid communication as shown in FIG. 10C.

[0163] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece may include an aerosol outlet (47) in fluid communication with the second condensation chamber (46). The mouthpiece may include more than one aerosol outlet (47)(47’) in fluid communication with more than one second condensation chamber (46),(46’). The mouthpiece may surround the second end of the cartridge and the second end of the fluid reservoir.

[0164] In each of the embodiments described herein, the cartridge may include an air flow path that includes: an air inlet passage; a heater; at least a first condensation chamber; an aerosol outlet chamber, and an outlet port. In some of the embodiments described herein, the cartridge may include an air flow path that includes an air inlet passage; a heater; a first condensation chamber; a second condensation chamber; and an outlet port.

[0165] In yet another embodiment described herein, the cartridge may include an air flow path that includes at least one air inlet passage; a heater; at least a first condensation chamber; at least one second condensation chamber; and at least one outlet port.

[0166] As illustrated in FIGS. 10A through 10C, when the user creates suction (e.g., a puff) by fitting the mouthpiece (31), an air flow path is created such that air is drawn essentially through the air inlet opening (50) of the channel, through the air inlet passage (51), through the second air passage (tank air inlet hole) (41) of the air inlet (52) of the tank to the heater chamber (37), and then to the heater inlet (53). At this point, the pressure sensor senses the user's puff and activates the circuit to the resistive heater (35), which in turn begins to generate vapor from the vapor fluid (e-juice). When air enters the heater inlet (53), the air begins to mix and circulate within the narrow chamber above and around the wick (34) and between the heater contact portions (33), generating heat and a thick concentrated vapor as it mixes within the air flow path (54) created by the sealing structural obstruction (44). FIG. 8A shows a detailed view of the sealing structural obstruction (44). Finally, the vapor may be drawn from the heater along the air passage (55) near the shoulder of the heater into the main condensation chamber (45) where the vapor begins to diffuse and cool. As the diffusing vapor moves along the air flow path, the above transitions from the main chamber through the transition region (57), creating a confluence point for the vapor exiting the main condensation chamber (45), entering the second vapor chamber (46), proceeding through the aerosol outlet (47), and reaching the user at the end of the mouthpiece (31) for the user.

[0167] As illustrated in FIGS. 10A through 10C, the device may have a dual set of air inlet passages (50 - 53), a dual first condensation chamber (55 / 45), a dual second condensation chamber and ventilation channels (57 / 46), and / or a dual aerosol outlet vent holes (47).

[0168] Alternatively, the device may have an air flow path that includes an air inlet passage (50)(51); a second air passage (41); a heater chamber (37); a first condensation chamber (45); a second condensation chamber (46); and / or an aerosol outlet (47).

[0169] In some cases, the device may have an air flow path, which includes more than one air inlet passage; more than one second air passage; a heater chamber; more than one first condensation chamber; more than one second condensation chamber; and more than one aerosol outlet as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10C.

[0170] In any one of the embodiments described herein, the heater (36) may be in fluid communication with an internal fluid reservoir (32a).

[0171] In each of the embodiments described herein, the fluid reservoir (32) is in fluid communication with a heater chamber (37), and the fluid reservoir can hold the aggregated aerosol fluid as illustrated in FIGS. 10A, 10C, and 14.

[0172] In some embodiments of the device, the aggregated aerosol fluid may contain a nicotine formulation. In some embodiments, the aggregated aerosol fluid may contain a wetting agent. In some embodiments, the wetting agent may contain propylene glycol. In some embodiments, the wetting agent may contain vegetable glycerin.

[0173] In some cases, the cartridge may be removable from the device body. In some embodiments, the removable cartridge and the cartridge receptacle may form a separable joint. In some embodiments, the separable joint may include a friction assembly. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 14, the device may have a press fit (friction type) assembly between a cartridge pod (30a) and the receptacle of the device. Further, a depression / friction capture such as 43 may be used to capture the pod (30a) in the device receptacle or to hold a protective cap (38) on the pod as illustrated in FIG. 8B.

[0174] In other embodiments, the separable coupling may include a snap fit or snap lock assembly. In yet another embodiment, the separable coupling may include a magnetic assembly.

[0175] In any one of the embodiments described herein, the cartridge component may include a snap fit or snap lock assembly as shown in FIG. 5. In any one of the embodiments, the cartridge component may be reusable, refillable, and / or recyclable. Such a design of the cartridge component serves to use reusable plastic materials such as polypropylene for most of the components.

[0176] In some embodiments of the device (10), the cartridge (30) may include: a fluid reservoir (32); a heater (36) attached to the first end by snap fit couplings (39a), (39b); and a mouthpiece (31) attached to the second end by snap fit couplings (39c), (39d) (not shown but similar to 39a and 39b). The heater (36) may be in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir (32). The fluid reservoir may be capable of holding an aggregated aerosol fluid. The aggregated aerosol fluid may include a nicotine formulation. The aggregated aerosol fluid may include a wetting agent. The wetting agent may include propylene glycol and / or vegetable glycerin.

[0177] A device for generating an inhalable aerosol is provided herein, the device comprising a device body (20) including a cartridge receptacle (21) for receiving a cartridge (30), wherein when a cartridge including an integral channel (40) on the outer surface is inserted into the cartridge receptacle (21), the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle forms a first side of an air inlet passage (51), and the channel forms a second side of the air inlet passage (51).

[0178] An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol is provided herein, the apparatus comprising: an apparatus body (20) including a cartridge receptacle (21) for receiving a cartridge (30), the cartridge receptacle including an integral channel on an inner surface, which forms a first side portion of an air inlet passage when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle, and an outer surface of the cartridge forming a second side portion of the air inlet passage (51).

[0179] A cartridge (30) for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol (10) is provided herein, the cartridge comprising: a fluid reservoir chamber (32); an integral channel (40) on an outer surface, the channel forming a first side portion of an air inlet passage (51), and when the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge receptacle (21) in the apparatus, an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle (21) in the apparatus forms a second side portion of the air inlet passage (51).

[0180] A cartridge (30) for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol (10) is provided herein, the cartridge comprising a fluid reservoir chamber (32), an outer surface of the cartridge forming a first side portion of an air inlet channel (51) when inserted into an apparatus body (10) including a cartridge receptacle (21), and the cartridge receptacle further including an integral channel on an inner surface, the channel forming a second side portion of the air inlet passage (51).

[0181] In some embodiments, the cartridge further comprises a second air passage (41) in fluid communication with the channel (40), the second air passage (41) being formed by the material of the cartridge (32) from an outer surface of the cartridge to an internal fluid reservoir chamber (32a).

[0182] In some embodiments of the cartridge receptacle (21) of the apparatus body or the cartridge (30), the integral channel (40) includes at least one of the following: a groove; a valley; a depression; a recess; a rib; a deep groove; a fold; and a side groove.

[0183] In some embodiments of the cartridge receptacle (21) or cartridge (30) of the device body, the integral channel (40) may include a wall that is recessed in the surface or protrudes from the surface in which it is formed.

[0184] In some embodiments of the cartridge receptacle (21) or cartridge (30) of the device body, the inner sidewall of the channel (40) forms a further side portion of the air inlet passage (51).

[0185] An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol is provided herein, the apparatus comprising: a fluid reservoir; a cartridge including a first heater contact and a heater attached to a first end including a resistive heating element attached to the first heater contact; a device body including a cartridge receptacle for receiving the cartridge; a second heater contact for receiving the first heater contact and suitable for completing a circuit; a power source connected to the second heater contact; and a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the power source and the second heater contact, the PCB configured to detect the absence of fluid based on the measured resistance of the resistive heating element and to turn off the power of the apparatus.

[0186] Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, in some embodiments, the device body further includes at least one second heater contact (22) (specifically shown in FIG. 6C); a battery (23); a printed circuit board (24); a pressure sensor (27); and an indicator light (26).

[0187] In some embodiments, the printed circuit board (PCB) further includes a microcontroller; a switch; a circuit configuration including a reference register; and an algorithm including logic for control parameters, wherein the microcontroller circulates the switch at regular intervals to measure the resistance of the resistive heating element relative to the reference register and applies algorithm control parameters to control the temperature of the resistive heating element.

[0188] As shown in the basic block diagram of FIG. 17A, the apparatus utilizes a proportional-integral-derivative controller or PID control law. The PID controller calculates a value of "error" as the difference between the measured process variable and the desired setpoint. When PID control is enabled, the power to the coil is monitored to determine if acceptable vaporization is occurring. Using the given air flow over the coil, if the apparatus is generating vapor (heat is removed from the coil to form vapor), more power is required to maintain the coil at the given temperature. If the power required to maintain the coil at the adjusted temperature drops below a threshold, the apparatus indicates that it is currently unable to generate vapor. Under normal operating conditions, this indicates that there is insufficient liquid in the fluid core to cause normal vaporization.

[0189] In some embodiments, the microcontroller instructs the apparatus to shut itself down if a threshold of a control parameter indicating that the resistive heater is dry is exceeded by the resistance.

[0190] In yet other embodiments, the printed circuit board further includes logic capable of detecting the presence of condensed aerosol fluid in the fluid reservoir and can stop the power to the heating contact if no condensed aerosol fluid is detected. When the microcontroller is executing a PID temperature control algorithm (70), the difference (error) between the setpoint and the coil temperature is used to control the power to the coil so that the coil quickly reaches the setpoint temperature [between 200°C and 400°C]. When an over-temperature algorithm is used, the power is constant until the coil reaches a threshold of over-temperature [between 200°C and 400°C]. (FIG. 17A applies where the setpoint temperature is the over-temperature threshold and the power is constant until the error reaches 0.)

[0191] The essential components of the device used to control the coil temperature of the resistive heater are further shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 17B. Here, BATT(23) is a battery; MCU(72) is a microcontroller; Q1(76) and Q2(77) are P-channel MOSFETs (switches); R_COIL(74) is the resistance of the coil. R_REF(75) is a fixed reference register used to measure R_COIL(74) via a voltage divider(73).

[0192] The battery supplies power to the microcontroller. The microcontroller turns Q2 on for 1 ms every 100 ms so that the voltage between R_REF and R_COIL (the voltage divider) is measured by the MCU at V_MEAS. When Q2 is off, the control law controls Q1 by PWM (pulse width modulation) to supply power to the coil (battery discharge by Q1 and R_COIL when Q1 is on).

[0193] In some embodiments of the device, the device body further includes at least one second heater contact; a power switch; a pressure sensor; and an indicator light.

[0194] In some embodiments of the device body, the second heater contact(22) may include a female receptacle; or a male contact, or both, a flexible contact; or a copper alloy or another conductive material.

[0195] In some embodiments of the device body, the battery supplies power to the second heater contact, the pressure sensor, the indicator light, and the printed circuit board. In some embodiments, the battery is rechargeable. In some embodiments, the indicator light(26) indicates the state of the device and / or the battery, or both.

[0196] In some embodiments of the device, the first heater contact and the second heater contact achieve a circuit that allows current to flow through the heating contact when a removable cartridge is assembled with the device body, and it can be controlled by turning the switch on / off. Alternatively, the device can be turned on and off by a puff sensor. The puff sensor may include a capacitive membrane. The capacitive membrane may be similar to the capacitive membrane used in a microphone.

[0197] In some embodiments of the device, the device body also has an auxiliary charging unit for recharging the battery (23). As shown in FIGS. 16A - 16C, the charging unit (60) may include a plug (63) for power supply and a protective cap (64), and a USB device with a base (61) for capturing the device body (20) (with or without the cartridge installed). The base may further include a magnet or magnetic contact (62) for safely holding the device body in place during charging. As shown in FIG. 6B, the device body further includes a mating charging contact (28) and a magnet or magnetic contact (29) for the auxiliary charging unit. FIG. 16C is an exemplary example of the device (20) being charged by a power source (65) (laptop computer or tablet).

[0198] In some cases, the microcontroller on the PCB may be configured to monitor the temperature of the heater so that the vaporizable material is heated to a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature may be an input provided by the user. The temperature sensor may be in communication with the microcontroller to provide the input temperature to the microcontroller for temperature regulation. The temperature sensor may be a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermometer, or other temperature sensors. In some cases, the heating element may function simultaneously as both the heater and the temperature sensor. The heating element may be different from the thermistor by having a resistance with a relatively low dependence on temperature. The heating element may include a resistance temperature detector.

[0199] The resistance of the heating element may be an input to the microcontroller. In some cases, the resistance may be measured by the microcontroller based on measurements from a circuit (e.g., a Wheatstone bridge) having a register with at least one known resistance. Alternatively, the resistance of the heating element may be measured by a resistive voltage divider in contact with the heating element and a register having a known and sufficiently constant resistance. The measurement of the resistance of the heating element may be amplified by an amplifier. The amplifier may be a standard op-amp or an instrumentation amplifier. The amplified signal may contain little noise. In some cases, the charging time of a voltage divider between the heating element and a capacitor may be measured to calculate the resistance of the heating element. In some cases, the microcontroller must stop the operation of the heating element during the resistance measurement. The resistance of the heating element may be directly proportional to the temperature of the heating element such that the temperature is directly measured from the resistance measurement. By measuring the temperature directly from the resistance measurement of the heating element rather than an additional temperature sensor, more accurate measurements may be made as the thermal resistance of the unknown contact between the temperature sensor and the heating element is eliminated. Additionally, the temperature measurement may be directly measured, thus being faster and eliminating the time lag associated with achieving an equilibrium state between the heating element and the temperature sensor in contact with the heating element.

[0200] There is provided an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the apparatus comprising: a cartridge including a first heater contact; an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle for receiving the cartridge; a second heater contact adapted to receive the first heater contact and complete a circuit; a power source connected to the second heater contact; a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the power source and the second heater contact; and including a single button interface; wherein the PCB is configured with a circuit configuration and an algorithm including logic for a safety function for children.

[0201] In some embodiments, the algorithm requires code provided by the user to start the device. In some embodiments, the code is input by a user having a one-button interface. In yet further embodiments, the one-button interface is also a power switch.

[0202] There is provided herein a cartridge (30) for a device (10) for generating an inhalable aerosol, the cartridge comprising: a fluid reservoir (32); a heater (36) attached to a first end, the heater comprising: a heater chamber (37); a first pair of heater contacts (33); a fluid wick (34), and a resistive heating element (35) in contact with the fluid wick; wherein the first pair of heater contacts (33) comprises a thin plate attached around the side of the heater chamber (37), and the fluid wick (34) and the resistive heating element (35) are suspended therebetween.

[0203] Depending on the size of the heater or heater chamber, the heater may have more than one fluid wick (34)(34’) and resistive heating element (35)(35’).

[0204] In some embodiments, the first pair of heaters further comprises a tab (33a) having a flexible spring valve extending from the heater (36) for connecting to complete a turn with the device body (20), including a shaped shape.

[0205] In some embodiments, the heater contacts (33) are configured to connect with a second pair of heater contacts (22) in the cartridge receptacle (21) of the device body (20) to complete a circuit.

[0206] In some embodiments, the first pair of heater contacts is also a heat sink for absorbing and dissipating excess heat generated by the resistive heating element.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first pair of heater contact portions are thermal shields that protect the heater chamber from excess heat generated by the resistive heating element.

[0208] This specification provides a cartridge (30) for an apparatus (10) that generates an inhalable aerosol, the cartridge comprising: a heater (36) including a heater chamber (37); a pair of thin plate heater contact portions (33); a fluid core (34) located between the heater contact portions (33); and a resistive heating element (35) in contact with the fluid core, wherein each heater contact portion (33) includes a fixed portion and the resistive heating element (35) is tensioned therebetween.

[0209] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art after examining the assembly method shown in FIG. 9, the heater contact portions (33) simply hold or are located above locator pins on both sides of the air inlet (53) above the first end of the fluid storage chamber inside the cartridge, creating a spacious vaporization chamber that includes at least one fluid core (34) and at least one heating element (35).

[0210] This specification provides a cartridge (30) for an apparatus (10) that generates an inhalable aerosol, the cartridge including a heater (36) attached to a first end of the cartridge.

[0211] In some embodiments, the heater surrounds the first end of the cartridge and the first end (32)(32a) of the fluid storage chamber.

[0212] In some embodiments, the heater includes a first condensation chamber (45).

[0213] In some embodiments, the heater includes more than one first condensation chamber (45)(45’).

[0214] In some embodiments, the condensation chamber is formed along the outer wall of the cartridge (45b).

[0215] As described above and as shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, the airflow path through the heater and the heater chamber generates vapor within the heater circulating airpath (54), which later exits the heater outlet (55) and goes to the first condensation chamber (45). The first condensation chamber (45) is formed by components of the tank body including the rails (45b) of the first condensation channel / chamber and the cover (45a) of the first condensation channel (the outer wall of the heater enclosure).

[0216] Provided herein is a cartridge (30) for an apparatus (10) that generates an inhalable aerosol, including a fluid reservoir (32) and a mouthpiece (31). The mouthpiece is attached to the second end of the cartridge and further includes at least one aerosol outlet (47).

[0217] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece (31) surrounds the second end of the cartridge (30) and the second end of the fluid reservoir (32) (32a).

[0218] In addition, as clearly shown in FIG. 10C, in some embodiments, the mouthpiece also includes a second condensation chamber (46) in front of the aerosol outlet (47), which is formed by components of the tank body (32) including the rails (46b) of the second condensation channel / chamber and the cover (46a) of the second condensation channel (the outer wall of the mouthpiece). Furthermore, the mouthpiece may include another aerosol outlet (47’) and another (second) condensation chamber (46’) on another side of the cartridge, in front of the aerosol outlet.

[0219] In other embodiments, the mouthpiece includes more than one second condensation chamber (46)(46’).

[0220] In some preferred embodiments, the second condensation chamber is formed along the outer wall of the cartridge (46b).

[0221] In each of the embodiments described herein, the cartridge (30) includes an air flow path that includes an air inlet channel and passages (40)(41)(42); a heater chamber (37); at least a first condensation chamber (45); and an outlet port (47). In some of the embodiments described herein, the cartridge (30) includes an air flow path that includes an air inlet channel and passages (40)(41)(42); a heater chamber (37); a first condensation chamber (45); a second condensation chamber (46); and an outlet port (47).

[0222] In still other embodiments described herein, the cartridge includes an air flow path that includes at least one air inlet channel and passages (40)(41)(42); a heater chamber (37); at least one first condensation chamber (45); at least one second condensation chamber (46); and at least one outlet port (47).

[0223] In each of the embodiments described herein, the fluid reservoir (32) is in fluid communication with the heater (36), where the fluid reservoir is capable of holding the condensed aerosol fluid.

[0224] In some embodiments of the device, the condensed aerosol fluid includes a nicotine formulation. In some embodiments, the condensed aerosol fluid includes a wetting agent. In some embodiments, the wetting agent includes propylene glycol. In some embodiments, the wetting agent includes vegetable glycerin.

[0225] Provided herein is a cartridge (30) for a device (10) that generates an inhalable aerosol, the cartridge including: a fluid reservoir (32); a heater (36) attached to a first end; and a mouthpiece (31) attached to a second end; where the heater includes a first condensation chamber (45) and the mouthpiece includes a second condensation chamber (46).

[0226] In some embodiments, the heater includes more than one first condensation chamber (45)(45’), and the mouthpiece includes more than one second condensation chamber (46)(46’).

[0227] In some embodiments, the first condensation chamber and the second condensation chamber are in fluid communication. As shown in Figure 10C, the first and second condensation chambers have a common transition region (57)(57’) for fluid communication.

[0228] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece includes an aerosol outlet (47) that is in fluid communication with the second condensation chamber (46).

[0229] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece includes two or more aerosol outlets (47)(47’).

[0230] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece includes aerosol outlets (47)(47’) that are in fluid communication with two or more second condensation chambers (46)(46’).

[0231] In any one of the embodiments, the cartridge meets the ISO recycling standards.

[0232] In any one of the embodiments, the cartridge meets the ISO recycling standards for plastic waste.

[0233] And in still other embodiments, the plastic components of the cartridge are composed of polylactic acid (PLA), where the PLA components are compostable and / or decomposable.

[0234] This specification provides an apparatus (10) for generating an inhalable aerosol, the apparatus including an apparatus body (20), the apparatus body (20) including a cartridge receptacle (21) and a removable cartridge (30); wherein the cartridge receptacle and the removable cartridge form a separable coupling, the separable coupling including a friction assembly, a snap-fit assembly, or a magnetic assembly.

[0235] In other embodiments of the apparatus, the cartridge is a removable assembly. In any one of the embodiments described herein, the cartridge components may include a snap-lock assembly, such as that indicated by snap mechanisms (39a) and (39b). In any one of the embodiments, the cartridge components are recyclable.

[0236] This specification provides a method of manufacturing an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method including: providing an apparatus body including a cartridge receptacle; and providing a removable cartridge; wherein the cartridge receptacle and the removable cartridge form a separable coupling including a friction assembly, a snap-fit assembly, or a magnetic assembly when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.

[0237] This specification provides a method for creating an apparatus (10) for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method comprising: providing a cartridge receptacle (21) in the apparatus body (20) that includes one or more internal coupling surfaces (21a)(21b)(21c)...; and further providing a cartridge (30), the cartridge (30) including one or more external coupling surfaces (36a)(36b)(36c)..., a second end, and a first end; a tank (32) including an internal fluid reservoir (32a); at least one channel (40) on at least one external coupling surface, where the at least one channel forms one side of at least one air inlet passage (51), and at least one inner wall of the cartridge receptacle forms at least one side of at least one air inlet passage (51) when a separable cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.

[0238] Figure 9 provides an exemplary example of a method of assembling such an apparatus.

[0239] In some embodiments of the method, the cartridge (30) is assembled with a removable cap (38) [for protection] to protect an exposed heater contact tab (33a) that protrudes from a heater (36).

[0240] This specification provides a method for manufacturing a cartridge for an apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the method comprising: providing a fluid reservoir; attaching a heater to a first end by a snap-fit coupling; and attaching a mouthpiece to a second end by a snap-fit coupling.

[0241] This specification provides a cartridge (30) for an apparatus (10) that generates an inhalable aerosol, the cartridge comprising: a channel (50) that includes a portion of an air inlet passage (51); a second air passage (41) in fluid communication with the channel; a heater chamber (37) in fluid communication with the second air passage; a first condensation chamber (45) in fluid communication with the heater chamber; a second condensation chamber (46) in fluid communication with the first condensation chamber; and an aerosol outlet (47) in fluid communication with the second condensation chamber.

[0242] This specification provides an apparatus (10) for generating an inhalable aerosol adapted to receive a removable cartridge (30), the cartridge including a fluid reservoir [or tank] (32), an air inlet (41), a heater (36), a removable cap (38) [for protection], and a mouthpiece (31).

[0243] <Charging> In some cases, the vaporizer may include a power source. The power source may be configured to supply power to a control system, one or more heating elements, one or more sensors, one or more lights, one or more indicators, and / or any other system of an electronic cigarette that requires power. The power source may be an energy storage device. The power source may be a battery or a capacitor. In some embodiments, the power source may be a rechargeable battery.

[0244] The battery may be contained within the housing of the apparatus. In some cases, the battery may be removed from the housing for charging. Alternatively, the battery may remain in the housing while being charged. Two or more charging contacts may be provided on the outer surface of the housing of the apparatus. The two or more charging contacts may be in electrical communication with the battery such that the battery can be charged by applying a charging source to the two or more charging contacts without removing the battery from the housing.

[0245] FIG. 18 shows an apparatus (1800) having a charging contact portion (1801). The charging contact portion (1801) may be accessible from the outer surface of the housing (1802) of the apparatus. The charging contact portion (1801) may be in electrical communication with an energy storage device (e.g., a battery) inside the housing (1802) of the apparatus. In some cases, the housing of the apparatus may not include an opening for a user to access components within the housing of the apparatus. The user may not be able to remove the battery and / or other energy storage devices from the housing. To open the housing of the apparatus, the user may have to disable or permanently release the charging contact portion. In some cases, after the user opens the housing, the apparatus may not function.

[0246] FIG. 19 shows an exploded view of a charging assembly (1900) in an electronic vaporization device. The housing (not shown) has been removed from the exploded view of FIG. 19. The charging connection pin (1901) may be visible outside the housing. The charging connection pin (1901) may be in electrical communication with a power storage device of the electronic vaporization device. When the device is connected to a power source (e.g., during charging of the device), the charging pin may facilitate electrical communication between a power storage device inside the electronic vaporization device and a power source outside the housing of the vaporization device. The charging connection pin (1901) may be held in place by a retaining bezel (1902). The charging connection pin (1901) may be in electrical communication with a charger flex (1903). The charging pin may contact the charger flex such that there is no need to rigidly couple the charging pin to an electrical connection portion that is in electrical communication with the power source. The charger flex may be rigidly coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB). The charger flex may be in electrical communication with the power storage device via the PCB. The charger flex may be held in place by a curved spring retainer (1904).

[0247] Figure 20 shows a bent spring retainer in an initial position (2001) and a deflected position (2002). The bent spring retainer may hold the retaining bezel in a fixed position. When the charging assembly is surrounded by the housing of the electronic vaporization device, the bent spring retainer may deflect in only one direction.

[0248] Figure 21 shows the position of the charging pin (2101) when the electronic vaporization device is fully assembled with the charging pin (2101) in contact with the charging flex (2102). When the device is fully assembled, at least a portion of the retaining bezel may fit into a recess (2103) inside the housing (2104). In some cases, the bezel is rendered ineffective upon disassembly of the electronic vaporization device, such that the device cannot be reassembled after disassembly.

[0249] The user may place the electronic smoking device within the charging stand. The charging stand may be a holder having a charging contact configured to connect or couple with a charging pin on the electronic smoking device to provide charging from a power source (e.g., a wall outlet, a generator, and / or an external power storage device) to an energy storage device within the electronic vaping device. FIG. 22 shows a device (2302) within a charging stand (2301). The charging cable may be connected to a wall outlet, USB, or other power source. A charging pin (not shown) on the device (2302) may be connected to a charging contact (not shown) on the charging stand (2301). When the device is placed on the stand for charging, the first charging pin on the device may contact the first charging contact on the charging stand, and the second charging pin on the device may contact the second charging contact on the charging stand, or the first charging pin on the device may contact the second charging contact on the charging stand, and the second charging pin on the device may contact the first charging contact on the charging stand. The device may be configured such that the charging pins on the device and the charging contacts on the stand contact in any orientation. The charging pins on the device and the charging contacts on the stand may be agnostic as to whether they are an inlet or outlet of current. Each of the charging pins on the device and the charging contacts on the stand may be a cathode or an anode. The charging pins on the device may be reversed.

[0250] FIG. 23 shows a circuit (2400) that allows reversing the charging pins on the device. The circuit (2400) may be provided on a printed circuit board (PCB) that is in electrical communication with the charging pins. The circuit (2400) may include an H-bridge of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). The H-bridge of MOSFETs rectifies the change in voltage across the charging pins when the charging pins are reversed from a first configuration to a second configuration, where in the first configuration, the device is arranged on the dock for charging by a first charging pin on the device in contact with a first charging contact on the charging dock to a second charging pin on the device in contact with a second charging contact on the charging dock, and in the second configuration, the first charging pin on the device is in contact with the second charging contact on the charging dock and the second charging pin on the device is in contact with the first charging contact on the charging dock. The H-bridge of MOSFETs may rectify the change in voltage by an effective current path.

[0251] As shown in FIG. 23, the H-bridge of the MOSFET may include two or more n-channel MOSFETs and two or more p-channel MOSFETs. The n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs may be arranged in the H-bridge. The sources of the p-channel MOSFETs (Q1 and Q3) may be electrically connected. Similarly, the sources of the n-channel FETs (Q2 and Q4) may also be electrically connected. The drains of the pairs of n-type and p-type MOSFETs (Q1 with Q2 and Q3 with Q4) may be electrically connected. The common drain from the n and p pair may be electrically connected to one or more gates of the other n and p pairs, and / or vice versa. The charging contacts (CH1 and CH2) may be separately electrically connected to the common drain. The common power supply of the n-type MOSFET may be electrically connected to the PCB ground (GND). The common power supply of the p-type MOSFET may be electrically connected to the charging controller input voltage (CH+) of the PCB. When the CH1 voltage is greater than the CH2 voltage by the MOSFET gate threshold voltage, Q1 and Q4 are in the "on" state, connecting CH1 to CH+ and CH2 to GND. When the CH2 voltage is greater than the CH1 voltage by the FET gate threshold voltage, Q2 and Q3 are in the "on" state, connecting CH1 to GND and CH2 to CH+. For example, whether there is 9V or not from CH1 to CH2, CH+ is 9V higher than GND. Alternatively, a diode bridge may be used, but the MOSFET bridge may be more effective compared to the diode bridge.

[0252] In some cases, the charging dock may be configured to be a high-performance charger. The high-performance charger may connect the device's battery in series with the USB input to charge the device with a higher current compared to a typical charging current. In some cases, the device may be charged at rates up to about 2 amperes (A), 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 10A, or 15A. In some cases, the high-performance charger may include a battery, and the power from the battery may be used to charge the device's battery. If the battery in the high-performance charger has a charge below a predetermined threshold charge, the high-performance charger may charge the battery therein and the battery in the device simultaneously.

[0253] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions are presently contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the present invention described herein may be utilized in practicing the present invention. The following claims define the scope of the present invention, and it is intended that methods and configurations within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be embraced thereby.

Claims

1. A device for generating inhalable aerosols, The device body includes a cartridge receptacle, A detachable cartridge configured to be inserted into the cartridge receptacle, Airflow path and Includes, The aforementioned airflow path is A channel including a portion of an air inlet passage, wherein when the separable cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle, the channel air inlet remains exposed, allowing air to flow into the air inlet passage. A second air passage that is in fluid communication with the channel, A heater chamber that is in fluid communication with the second air passage, The heater chamber and at least one condensation chamber that is in fluid communication with the heater chamber, The aerosol outlet having fluid communication with at least one condensation chamber, Includes, The air inlet passage is formed between the inner surface of the device body and the outer surface of the separable cartridge. Device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second air passage is formed through the material of the cartridge and extends from the outer surface of the cartridge to the heater chamber.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer surface of the cartridge forms a first side of the air inlet passage when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle, and the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle forms a second side of the air inlet passage when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the channel is integrated with the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle.

5. The channel is integrated into the outer surface of the cartridge. The apparatus according to claim 3.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the channel includes at least one of a groove, valley, depression, recess, groove, deep groove, fold, and side groove.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the channel includes a wall recessed in or protruding from the surface on which the channel is formed.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece including the aerosol outlet.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one condensation chamber includes a first condensation chamber and a second condensation chamber, and the mouthpiece includes the second condensation chamber.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cartridge further includes a heater.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the heater is located at the first end of the cartridge and includes the heater chamber, and the mouthpiece is located at the second end of the cartridge.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge further includes a fluid storage chamber, the heater is located at a first end of the fluid storage chamber, and the mouthpiece is located at a second end of the fluid storage chamber.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the heater surrounds the first end of the fluid storage chamber.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the heater is attached to the first end of the fluid storage chamber by a snap-fit ​​joint.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the mouthpiece surrounds the second end of the fluid storage chamber.

16. The apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the second end of the cartridge having the mouthpiece is exposed when the first end of the cartridge having the heater is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.

17. The aforementioned heater, A pair of heater contact parts, The core, A resistance heating element in contact with the aforementioned core, This further includes, The resistive heating element is attached to the pair of heater contacts, and the pair of heater contacts is configured to pair with a second pair of heater contacts in the cartridge receptacle of the device body in order to complete the circuit. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the cartridge is inserted into the open end of the cartridge receptacle such that the exposed first heater contact portion of the cartridge is in contact with the second heater contact portion of the apparatus body, thereby forming the apparatus.

19. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the cartridge is separable, the cartridge receptacle and the separable cartridge form a separable coupling, and the separable coupling includes one of a friction assembly, a snap-fit ​​assembly, a snap-lock assembly, and a magnetic assembly.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a body with a notch.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the channel air inlet remains exposed when the cartridge is inserted into the body of the cartridge receptacle having the notch.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the main body provided with the notch has a notch, and the size of the channel air inlet is defined by the structure of the notch.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the notch is located at the end of the cartridge receptacle.

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