Vapor dispenser with integrated vapor delivery system

Abstract

A vapor dispenser is provided. The vapor dispenser includes a main body housing having one or more taps. A vapor cartridge and a vapor delivery system including a vaporizer, an electrical source and air delivery mechanism are disposed in the main body housing. Opening the tap activates the electrical source which activates the vaporizer to vaporize the liquid in the vapor cartridge and the air delivery mechanism forces the vapor out of a dispensing nozzle of the tap. The vapor is collected in a vessel which is removed from the dispensing nozzle when the desired amount of vapor is collected in the vessel. The vessel may include a top through which a straw can be placed for a user to extract vapor from the vessel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a vapor dispenser which includes a vapor delivery system and vapor delivery method.BACKGROUND

[0002] Current vape products often come in the form of a vape pen. Vape pens deliver vapor directly to the user through a mouthpiece. Such systems allow a single vapor cartridge to be used at time.

[0003] It may be desirable to have a vapor dispenser that delivers vapor through a single or multiple taps, each with its own vapor cartridge in a single unit. In many applications it would be desirable to provide a portable system with one or more taps used to dispense vapor from a single cartridge, or multiple cartridges. Each cartridge may contain a different liquid with different effects, such as different types of liquid or different flavors.

[0004] It may also be desirable to dispense vapor directly into a vessel, such as a cup from which the vapor can be extracted by a user.

[0005] The vapor dispenser may provide for enhanced user experience by allowing for the enjoyment of multiple users from a single vape cartridge. Further the user experience may be enhanced by the availability of multiple different vape flavors or types in a single vapor dispenser.

[0006] The vapor dispenser may also be beneficial from being portable so that it can be easily transported and used in various settings, such as outdoor events and parties.

[0007] The vapor dispenser may also be used to reduce the need to circulate individual vape cartridges among multiple users.SUMMARY

[0008] In an implementation, there is provided a vapor dispenser comprising a main body housing supporting at least one tap. The vapor dispenser further comprises a vapor cartridge disposed within the main body housing and configured to contain a liquid that can be vaporized. A vapor delivery system is disposed within the main body housing and is coupled with the vapor cartridge. The vapor delivery system is configured to deliver vapor to the tap. The vapor delivery system further includes an air delivery mechanism for moving vapor to the tap. The vapor dispenser further includes a switch moveable between an open position allowing vapor to pass through the tap and a closed position preventing vapor from passing through the tap.

[0009] In an implementation, there is provided a method of dispensing vapor. The method comprises activating a vapor delivery system to vaporize a liquid solution, delivering the vaporized liquid through a tap to a vessel.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an implementation of a vapor dispenser;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an implementation of a vapor dispenser; and

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view partially broken away showing an implementation of a dispenser with a vessel.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] As schematically shown in FIG. 1, there is vapor dispenser generally shown at 10. The vapor dispenser 10 includes a main body housing or cabinet 12. The main body housing 12 defines an interior open space 14. The interior open space 14 houses components of the vapor dispenser 10. The main body housing 12 can comprise any suitable material. In an implementation, the main body housing 12 may constructed of durable and lightweight material. In implementations, the main body housing 12 may comprise steel, aluminum, or plastic material. Further, the main body housing 12 may include a bottom 24 which may be used to support one or more of the components of the vapor dispenser 10. In an implementation, one or more wheels may be secured to the underside of the bottom and outside of the interior open space 14. In this way, the vapor dispenser 10 may be easy to move such that it may be portable.

[0014] The main body housing 12 further supports one or more taps generally indicated at 16. As used herein, taps can comprise any suitable structure such as a lever 18 and a dispensing nozzle 20. In other implementations, the taps 16 may comprise a valve and hose (not shown). It will be appreciated that the taps 16 can take any suitable configuration that allows vapor to be delivered therethrough. Each tap 16 may further includes an activation mechanism 22, such as a switch. The switch 22 is moved between a closed and an open position by the lever 18. When the switch is in the closed position, vapor is prevented from moving through the tap 16. When the switch 22 is in the open position, vapor may pass through the tap 16.

[0015] One or more vapor cartridges 26 may be disposed in the interior open space 14 of the main body housing 12. The vapor cartridges 26 are configured to contain a liquid solution or an e-liquid that is vaporized to produce the vapor that is dispensed through a respective tap 16. The vapor cartridge 26 is coupled with or is in fluid communication with the dispensing nozzle 20. In an implementation, each vapor cartridge 26 is situated in the interior open space 14 in such a was so that it can be easily replaced or refilled. Any suitable liquid solution or e-liquid may be contained in a vapor cartridge 26, and vapor cartridges 26 with different e-liquids can be readily substituted. In an implementation a separate vapor cartridge 26 may be coupled with or in fluid communication with separate dispensing nozzles 20. In an implementation, not shown, separate vapor cartridges 26 may be coupled with or in fluid communication with a dispensing nozzle 20.

[0016] The vapor dispenser 10 further includes one or more vapor delivery systems generally indicated at 28. In an implementation, each vapor delivery system 28 may include a vaporizer or heating element 30 that heats the liquid contained in the respective vapor cartridge 26 and is configured to vaporize the liquid. In an implementation, each vapor delivery system 28 further includes an air delivery mechanism 32, such as an air pump. It will be appreciated, that the air delivery mechanism 32 can comprise any other suitable mechanism used to move the vapor to and through the dispensing nozzle 20, such as by way of non-limiting examples, a compressor or a fan.

[0017] Each vaporizer or heating element 30 may be activated by an electrical source 34, which may comprise a DC power source, such as a battery. In other implementations, the electrical source may be an AC power source. Any suitable electrical source 34 may be used. The electrical source 34 may be used to energize either the vaporizer 30, the air delivery mechanism 32 or both. In other implementations, different electrical sources 34, as best seen in FIG. 1, may be used to energize the vaporizer 30 and the air delivery mechanism 32. The electrical source 34 may be coupled with the switch 22 by suitable wiring 36. Similarly, the air delivery mechanism 32 may be coupled with the switch 22 by the wiring 36.

[0018] The vapor delivery system 28 may further comprise conduit 38 coupling the vaporizer 30 with the dispensing nozzle 20. Any suitable conduit 38 may be used. By way of non-limiting example, the conduit 38 may comprise rigid hose, flexible hose, rigid tubing, flexible tubing, pipes, or a combination of these.

[0019] FIG. 3, shows a vessel 40 for receiving vapor from the vapor dispenser 10. In an implementation, the vessel 40 may be a cup or a glass. The vessel 40 may comprise any suitable material, such as plastic or glass. The vessel 40 may comprise any desired shape. The vessel 40 is configured to retain the vapor dispensed from the vapor dispenser 10 until extracted by a user. In an implementation, the vessel 40 may include a top 42 having an opening 46. The dispensing nozzle 20 is positioned in the opening 46 of the top 42 and the vapor is dispensed through the dispensing nozzle 20 into the vessel 40. A straw 44 may be inserted into the vessel 40 thorough the opening 46 when the vessel 40 is removed from the dispensing nozzle 20. In implementations, a top 42 may not be used in which case, the straw 44 or similar vapor extraction device may be placed directly in the vessel 40. In other implementations, a vapor extraction device my be incorporated directly into the top 42 or the vessel 40.

[0020] In an implementation, a method of dispensing vapor is provided. A user places a vessel 42 adjacent the dispensing nozzle 20. The user toggles the switch 22 by moving the lever 18 of a tap 16 to an open or dispensing position. Toggling the switch 22 activates the vapor delivery system 28. The electrical source 34 energizes the vaporizer 30 and the air delivery mechanism 32. The vaporizer or heating element 30 vaporizes the liquid solution contained in the vapor cartridge 26. The vapor emanating from the vapor cartridge is motivated to flow through the conduit 38 to the dispensing nozzle 20 by the air delivery mechanism 32. The vapor then is delivering through the dispensing nozzle to the vessel 40. Once the vessel 40 is filled with the desired amount of vapor, a user moves the switch 22 to an off position by moving the lever 18 of the tap 16 to an off position. This deenergizes the vaporizer 30 and the air delivery mechanism 32. A user can then remove the vessel 40 from the dispensing nozzle 20 and a straw 44 or similar structure can be placed in the opening 46. The user can then example the vapor contained in the vessel 40 through the straw 44.

[0021] In another implementation, the vapor dispensing system 28 may not need to be in an interior space 14 of a main body housing 12. In some implementations, it may be desirable to support the vapor dispensing system 28 in a more permanent area, such as mounted to a wall or the like.

[0022] In some implementations, as best seen in FIG. 1, the air delivery mechanism 32 is coupled with multiple different taps 16. It will be appreciated, however, that any number of air delivery mechanisms 32 may be coupled with the different taps 16. Further, in some implementations, the vapor cartridge 26 may be another form of vessel which may take any suitable configuration that can hold the liquid solution of the e-liquid.

[0023] It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular implementation(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular implementations and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other implementations and various changes and modifications to the disclosed implementation(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

[0024] As used in this specification and claims, the terms “e.g.,”“for example,”“for instance,”“such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,”“having,”“including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

Claims

1. A vapor dispenser comprising:a main body housing supporting at least one tap;a vapor cartridge disposed within the main body housing and configured to contain a liquid that can be vaporized;a vapor delivery system disposed within the main body housing and coupled with the vapor cartridge and configured to deliver vapor to the tap, the vapor delivery system including an air delivery mechanism for moving vapor to the tap; andand a switch moveable between an open position allowing vapor to pass through the tap and a closed position preventing vapor from passing through the tap.

2. A vapor dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the air delivery mechanism comprises at least one of an air pump, a fan, or a compressor.

3. A vapor dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vapor delivery system further comprises a heating element.

4. A vapor dispenser as set forth in claim 3 further comprising an electrical source coupled with at least one of the heating element or the air delivery mechanism.

5. A vapor dispenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein the tap comprises a lever and a nozzle.

6. A vapor dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein the switch is configured to be moved between the on and off positions by the lever.

7. A vapor dispenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein the dispenser contains a plurality of vapor cartridges, and a plurality of taps, wherein each of the plurality of vapor cartridges is coupled with one of the plurality of taps.

8. A vapor dispenser comprising:a main body housing supporting at least one tap including a switch moveable between an open position allowing vapor to pass through the tap and a closed position preventing vapor from passing through the tap;a vapor cartridge disposed within the main body housing and configured to contain a liquid that can be vaporized;a vapor delivery system comprising a heating element for heating the liquid and an air delivery mechanism comprising at least one of a pump, compressor, or fan, coupled with the vapor cartridge and configured to deliver vapor to the tap.

9. In an implementation, there is provided a method of dispensing vapor. The method comprises activating, by moving a switch between a closed position and an open position, a heating element coupled with a vapor cartridge to vaporize a liquid. The method further comprises activating an air delivery mechanism to move the vaporized liquid to a nozzle, and delivering the vaporized liquid through the nozzle to a vessel.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the air delivery mechanism is at least one of an air pump, a fan, or a compressor.

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