Vape cartridge with automatic heat mobilization

Abstract

A cartridge for use in a vaporizer device is provided. The cartridge is provided with a reservoir which holds dry flower and / or other non-aqueous forms of cannabis. The non-aqueous product is heated via a coil or heating element enabled to travel longitudinally within the reservoir. The coil or heating element is biased by at least one spring provided within the reservoir.

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical Field

[0001] This invention relates generally to a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization, and more particularly to a cartridge for non-aqueous forms of cannabis with automatic heat mobilization.State of the Art

[0002] “Vape” devices and heat-not-burn (HNB) devices (collectively, “vaporizer devices”) present an alternative to smoking and work by vaporizing a consumable vaporizable product, e.g., liquid or extract, by heating the vaporizable product at a lower temperature than an open flame so that a user can inhale the vaporizable product in vapor form, rather than smoke.

[0003] There is a large demand for cartridges used in vaporizer devices. These cartridges are typically filled with derivatives of cannabis in liquid forms, such as oils, distillates, extracts, glycerin, glycols, or other aqueous substances that have been processed from and / or mixed with cannabis. These cartridges offer the user a streamlined, convenient way to consume cannabis in liquid forms.

[0004] There is also high demand for cannabis in non-aqueous or dry flower form. Users enjoy the bodily effects, taste, aroma, and purity of the dry flower form of cannabis. Accordingly, what is needed is a cartridge for consuming non-aqueous and / or dry flower forms of cannabis.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization. The cartridge is suitable for use with non-aqueous products, particularly dry flower, and / or other non- aqueous forms of cannabis, such as, but not limited to, thick extracts, hash, and / or wax.

[0006] An embodiment includes a cartridge for use in a vaporizer device, comprising: a housing having a wall portion defining a reservoir; a mouthpiece provided on a top portion of the housing, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an airway passage; at least one airway conduit member provided within the reservoir defined by the wall portion; a shell member provided within the reservoir and supported by at least one coil spring member; a heating element provided within the shell member and supported by a core member within the shell member; and an adapter and electrical connector provided on a bottom portion of the housing and supporting the at least one coil spring member.

[0007] The at least one airway conduit member may be extended longitudinally along an inner surface of the wall portion of the housing, and wherein a plurality of apertures may be extended along the at least one airway conduit member. The shell member may be provided with a cylindrical wall portion which extends to a tapered upper end portion having a tip portion. The core member may be provided with an annular recessed portion to receive the heating clement therein, and wherein an upper end portion may be provided on the core member which abuts an inner wall surface of the shell member. The least one coil spring member may be a pair of inner and outer coil spring members, and wherein an upper end portion of the inner coil spring member may directly support a lower end portion of the core member. An upper end portion of the outer coil spring member may support an outwardly extending annular flange portion provided about a lower end portion of the core member. An outwardly tapered flange portion may be provided about a periphery of a lower portion of the shell member, and wherein the outwardly tapered flange portion sits atop of the outwardly extending annular flange portion of the core member. A flexible electrical conductor may be provided within the at least one coil spring member. The flexible electrical conductor may be provided with an upper end portion configured to be secured to the core member and a lower end portion configured to be secured within the adapter and electrical connector. The reservoir defined by the wall portion of the housing may be configured to hold non-aqueous product, and wherein the at least one coil spring member has a spring force less than about a resistive force of the non-aqueous product while at about room temperature and greater than about the resistive force of the non-aqueous product when heated.

[0008] Another embodiment includes a method of assembly of a cartridge for use in a vaporizer device, comprising: providing a housing having a wall portion defining a reservoir; providing a mouthpiece on a top portion of the housing, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an airway passage; providing at least one airway conduit member within the reservoir defined by the wall portion; providing a shell member within the reservoir and supported by at least one coil spring member; providing a heating element within the shell member and supported by a core member within the shell member; and providing an adapter and electrical connector on a bottom portion of the housing and supporting the at least one coil spring member.

[0009] The method may further comprise extending longitudinally the at least one airway conduit member along an inner surface of the wall portion of the housing, wherein a plurality of apertures may extend along the at least one airway conduit member. The method may further comprise providing the shell member with a cylindrical wall portion which extends to a tapered upper end portion having a tip portion. The method may further comprise providing the core member with an annular recessed portion to receive the heating element therein, wherein an upper end portion on the core member may abut an inner wall surface of the shell member. The method may further comprise providing the at least one coil spring member as a pair of inner and outer coil spring members and directly supporting a lower end portion of the core member with an upper end portion of the inner coil spring member. The method may further comprise supporting an outwardly extending annular flange portion provided about a lower end portion of the core member with an upper end portion of the outer coil spring member. The method may further comprise providing an outwardly tapered flange portion about a periphery of a lower portion of the shell member, wherein the outwardly tapered flange portion sits atop of the outwardly extending annular flange portion of the core member. The method may further comprise providing a flexible electrical conductor within the at least one coil spring member. The method may further comprise providing the flexible electrical conductor with an upper end portion configured to be secured to the core member and a lower end portion configured to be secured within the adapter and electrical connector. The method may further comprise filling the reservoir defined by the wall portion of the housing with non-aqueous product, wherein the at least one coil spring member has a spring force less than about a resistive force of the non-aqueous product while at about room temperature and greater than about the resistive force of the non-aqueous product when heated.

[0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 2A is frontal perspective view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 2B is frontal perspective view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side, cross sectional view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view of a flexible conductor of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment; and

[0021] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method of assembly of a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a cartridge with automatic heat mobilization. The cartridge is suitable for use with non-aqueous products, particularly dry flower, and / or other non-aqueous forms of cannabis, such as, but not limited to, thick extracts, hash, and / or wax. The non-aqueous product is heated via a heating element. The heating element is biased by at least one spring in order to be driven through the non-aqueous product, gradually and evenly distributing the heat. The heating is localized to where the heating element resides.

[0023] Generally, dry flower and / or other non-aqueous forms of cannabis are more viscous, thicker, and more stable prior to heating. In the present invention, at least one coil spring member pushes a spearhead or shell member which contains the heating element through the dry flower and / or other non-aqueous forms of cannabis in a reservoir as the cannabis heats. The spring force is less than about the resistive force of the dry flower and / or other non-aqueous forms of cannabis while at about room temperature and greater than about the resistance force when heated.

[0024] The present invention offers an automatic way to mobilize a heat source throughout dry flower and / or other non-aqueous cannabis and does not require any additional user steps or manual operation to vape. One of the advantages of the present invention is continuous heating of new, unheated cannabis throughout the life of the cartridge, as opposed to heating the same localized area of the cartridge or having to heat the entirety of the cannabis within the cartridge at one time, shortening the life of the cartridge.

[0025] The cartridge allows for easy filling of the non-aqueous product, such as dry flower, as well as the opportunity to pack and / or compress the dry flower in the reservoir. The reservoir may be opened before filling, and then the cartridge assembly may be completed after filling.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a cartridge 10 is provided with a housing 12 having a wall portion 14 defining a reservoir 16. Wall portion 14 may be a cylindrical wall portion. A mouthpiece 18 is provided on a top portion 19 of the housing 12. The mouthpiece 18 is provided with an airway passage 20 which communicates with at least one airway conduit member 21, such as one, two, three or more airway conduit members 21. Each one of the at least one airway conduit member 21 is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 extending longitudinally there along. The at least one airway conduit member 21 may comprise a unitary sleeve member 21a (See FIG. 2B) with channels or recesses 68a extending along the length and within the reservoir 16 to act as airways defined by the wall portion 14 of the housing 12. A plurality of apertures 22a may extend longitudinally along the unitary sleeve member 21a provided within and along the reservoir 16 defined by the wall portion 14 of the housing 12. The housing 12 is further provided with a bottom portion 23.

[0027] Spearhead or shell member 24 is supported by at least one coil spring member, such as a pair of inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32. A coil or heating element 26, such as a resistive heating element, is provided within the spearhead or shell member 24 (See FIG. 5). The coil or heating element 26 is supported by a core member 28 within the spearhead or shell member 24. An adapter and electrical connector 34 is provided on the bottom portion 23 of the housing 12.

[0028] In FIG. 5, a first upper end portion 36 of the inner coil spring member 30 directly supports a lower end portion 38 of the core member 28. A second upper end portion 40 of the outer coil spring member 32 supports an outwardly extending annular flange portion 39 provided about the lower end portion 38 of the core member 28. An outwardly extending tapered flange portion 42 is provided about a periphery of a lower portion 44 of the spearhead or shell member 24. The outwardly extending tapered flange portion 42 is positioned to sit atop of the outwardly extending annular flange portion 39 of the core member 28. The inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32 bias the spearhead or shell member 24 having the coil or heating element 26 and the core member 28 within the reservoir 16.

[0029] The spearhead or shell member 24 is provided with a cylindrical wall portion 46 which extends to a tapered upper end portion 48 having a tip portion 50. The tip portion 50 may be a blunt-shaped tip portion or a pointed-shaped tip portion or any other shaped tip portion. The coil or heating element 26 is received within an annular recessed portion 52 provided about the core member 28. An upper end portion 54 is provided on the core member 28 and abuts an inner wall surface 55 of the spearhead or shell member 24. Both the inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32 are supported at their respective first and second lower end portions 58 and 60 within the adapter and electrical connector 34.

[0030] The at least one airway conduit member 21 may be provided with a bridging member 62 (See FIGS. 1 and 2A) which positions the at least one airway conduit member 21 on diametrically opposite surface portions 61 of the reservoir 16. A top portion 63 of the bridging member 62 is provided a plurality of upwardly extending protrusions 64. The plurality of upwardly extending protrusions 64 are received within a corresponding plurality of recesses 66 provided within the mouthpiece 18 about the airway passage 20. An elongated recess 68 extends from the top portion 63 of the bridging member 62 downwardly along each one of the at least one airway conduit member 21 to respective end portions 70 thereof. Each respective end portion 70 engages a respective top portion 72 of a pair of prong members 74 that extend upwardly from a guide bushing or annular base member 76 received within the adapter and electrical connector 34 provided on the bottom portion 23 of the housing 12.

[0031] The guide bushing or annular base member 76 guides the at least one coil spring member (inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32) in a linear fashion as the at least one coil spring member (inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32) extends upwardly through the housing 12. The pair of prong members 74 are respectively provided with snap hooks or inwardly projecting detent portions 72a (See FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) which engage the outwardly extending tapered flange portion 42 during assembly which keeps the at least one coil spring member (inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32) compressed. The snap hooks or inwardly projecting detent portions 72a become disengaged from the outwardly extending tapered flange portion 42 when the pair of prong members 74 are engaged by the at least one airway conduit member 21, thereby releasing the at least one coil spring member (inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32).

[0032] The plurality of apertures 22 are provided longitudinally along each one of the at least one airway conduit member 21 positioned within the reservoir 16 defined by the wall portion 14 of the housing 12. As the spearhead or shell member 24 having coil or heating element 26 travels through the reservoir 16 under the bias of the at least one coil spring member (inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32) and through the non-aqueous product contained within reservoir 16, such as dry flower, the non-aqueous product is vaporized through heating by the coil or heating element 26 contained within the spearhead or shell member 24. The vapor is sequentially drawn through the plurality of apertures 22 provided in each of the at least one airway conduit member 21 by the user drawing vapor through the airway passage 20 of the mouthpiece 18.

[0033] In the present invention, the coil or heating element 26 is controlled electrically by an electrical circuit (not shown) that connects to an external power source (not shown). The temperature of the coil or heating element 26 depends on the power delivered. Generally, the temperature is in the range of from about 200° F. to about 600° F., wherein the temperature range includes light vaporization to full on burning of the cannabis.

[0034] The at least one coil spring member, which may be the inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32, may also act as electrical conductors, wherein the inner and outer coil spring members 30 and 32 are used to complete the circuit. In one embodiment (See FIGS. 7A and 7B), the inner coil spring member 30 may be replaced with a flexible electrical conductor 76. The flexible electrical conductor 76 has an upper end portion 78 which may be secured to the core member 28 and a lower end portion 80 which may be secured within the adapter and electrical connector 34. The flexible electrical conductor 76 is provided with an inner electrically conductive portion 82 and an outer insulative portion 84 which may be an insulating material 86 that is either wrapped or formed around the inner electrical conductive portion 82. The insulating material 86 may be a rubber jacket or any other type of insulative material. The insulating material 86 prevents the inner electrically conductive portion 82 from unintentionally contacting the outer coil spring member 32 and causing a short.

[0035] In one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may be provided with threads of a universally accepted thread size that can interface with threads of a power supply (not shown). In one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may also be provided with a magnetic connector (not shown) on the bottom portion 23 of the housing 12 which may be used to mate with a power supply (not shown).

[0036] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of steps of a method 100 of assembling a cartridge for use in a vaporizer device. Method 100 comprises: providing a housing having a wall portion defining a reservoir (Step 110); providing a mouthpiece on a top portion of the housing, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an airway passage (Step 120); providing at least one airway conduit member within the reservoir defined by the wall portion (Step 130); providing a shell member within the reservoir and supported by at least one coil spring member (Step 140); providing a heating element within the shell member and supported by a core member within the shell member (Step 150); and providing an adapter and electrical connector on a bottom portion of the housing and supporting the at least one coil spring member (Step 160).

[0037] The method further comprises extending longitudinally the at least one airway conduit member along an inner surface of the wall portion of the housing, wherein a plurality of apertures extends along the at least one airway conduit member; providing the shell member with a cylindrical wall portion which extends to a tapered upper end portion having a tip portion; providing the core member with an annular recessed portion to receive the heating element therein, wherein an upper end portion on the core member abuts an inner wall surface of the shell member; providing the at least one coil spring member as a pair of inner and outer coil spring members and directly supporting a lower end portion of the core member with an upper end portion of the inner coil spring member; supporting an outwardly extending annular flange portion provided about a lower end portion of the core member with an upper end portion of the outer coil spring member; providing an outwardly tapered flange portion about a periphery of a lower portion of the shell member, wherein the outwardly tapered flange portion sits atop of the outwardly extending annular flange portion of the core member; providing a flexible electrical conductor within the at least one coil spring member; providing the flexible electrical conductor with an upper end portion configured to be secured to the core member and a lower end portion configured to be secured within the adapter and electrical connector; and filling the reservoir defined by the wall portion of the housing with non-aqueous product, wherein the at least one coil spring member has a spring force less than about a resistive force of the non-aqueous product while at about room temperature and greater than about the resistive force of the non- aqueous product when heated.

[0038] The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.

Claims

1. A cartridge for use in a vaporizer device, comprising:a housing having a wall portion defining a reservoir;a mouthpiece provided on a top portion of the housing, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an airway passage;at least one airway conduit member provided within the reservoir defined by the wall portion;a shell member provided within the reservoir and supported by at least one coil spring member;a heating element provided within the shell member and supported by a core member within the shell member; andan adapter and electrical connector provided on a bottom portion of the housing and supporting the at least one coil spring member.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the at least one airway conduit member extends longitudinally along an inner surface of the wall portion of the housing, and wherein a plurality of apertures extend along the at least one airway conduit member.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the shell member is provided with a cylindrical wall portion which extends to a tapered upper end portion having a tip portion.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the core member is provided with an annular recessed portion to receive the heating element therein, and wherein an upper end portion is provided on the core member which abuts an inner wall surface of the shell member.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the least one coil spring member is a pair of inner and outer coil spring members, and wherein an upper end portion of the inner coil spring member directly supports a lower end portion of the core member.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein an upper end portion of the outer coil spring member supports an outwardly extending annular flange portion provided about a lower end portion of the core member.

7. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein an outwardly tapered flange portion is provided about a periphery of a lower portion of the shell member, and wherein the outwardly tapered flange portion sits atop of the outwardly extending annular flange portion of the core member.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a flexible electrical conductor is provided within the at least one coil spring member.

9. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the flexible electrical conductor is provided with an upper end portion configured to be secured to the core member and a lower end portion configured to be secured within the adapter and electrical connector.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the reservoir defined by the wall portion of the housing is configured to hold non-aqueous product, and wherein the at least one coil spring member has a spring force less than about a resistive force of the non-aqueous product while at about room temperature and greater than about the resistive force of the non-aqueous product when heated.

11. A method of assembly of a cartridge for use in a vaporizer device, comprising:providing a housing having a wall portion defining a reservoir;providing a mouthpiece on a top portion of the housing, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with an airway passage;providing at least one airway conduit member within the reservoir defined by the wall portion;providing a shell member within the reservoir and supported by at least one coil spring member;providing a heating element within the shell member and supported by a core member within the shell member; andproviding an adapter and electrical connector on a bottom portion of the housing and supporting the at least one coil spring member.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising extending longitudinally the at least one airway conduit member along an inner surface of the wall portion of the housing, wherein a plurality of apertures extends along the at least one airway conduit member.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the shell member with a cylindrical wall portion which extends to a tapered upper end portion having a tip portion.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the core member with an annular recessed portion to receive the heating element therein, wherein an upper end portion on the core member abuts an inner wall surface of the shell member.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the at least one coil spring member as a pair of inner and outer coil spring members and directly supporting a lower end portion of the core member with an upper end portion of the inner coil spring member.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising supporting an outwardly extending annular flange portion provided about a lower end portion of the core member with an upper end portion of the outer coil spring member.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing an outwardly tapered flange portion about a periphery of a lower portion of the shell member, wherein the outwardly tapered flange portion sits atop of the outwardly extending annular flange portion of the core member.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a flexible electrical conductor within the at least one coil spring member.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the flexible electrical conductor with an upper end portion configured to be secured to the core member and a lower end portion configured to be secured within the adapter and electrical connector.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising filling the reservoir defined by the wall portion of the housing with non-aqueous product, wherein the at least one coil spring member has a spring force less than about a resistive force of the non-aqueous product while at about room temperature and greater than about the resistive force of the non-aqueous product when heated.

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