Inductive Thermal Store Vaporizer for Disposable Cigarette Mimicry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vapor provision systems, such as electronic cigarettes, are complex and costly, making them unsuitable for low-cost, disposable options that mimic the size and convenience of combustible cigarettes.
Innovation Solution
A vapor provision system comprising an inhaler component with a thermal store and a base unit that heats the thermal store inductively, allowing heat to vaporize vapor precursor material for inhalation, eliminating the need for a standalone device with a battery and control electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional vapor provision systems include battery, control circuitry, and vaporizer components, then functionality and operating features are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply and control circuitry from the handheld vaporizer device and relocates them to a separate base unit. The handheld device retains only the essential vaporization components (heating element, vapor precursor material, and airflow path), thereby reducing its complexity while preserving core functionality. The base unit handles power management and control operations, enabling the handheld device to be simpler and potentially disposable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into two distinct segments: a handheld inhaler component and a base unit. The handheld component contains only the vaporization elements, while the base unit contains the battery and control circuitry. This segmentation allows the handheld device to be minimized in size and complexity, addressing the contradiction between functionality and device complexity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If vapor provision systems include rechargeable battery and control electronics, then operating capacity and features are improved, but device size and portability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The battery and control electronics are extracted from the handheld device and placed in the stationary base unit. This extraction eliminates the weight and volume constraints that would otherwise limit the handheld device size, allowing it to be made compact and cigarette-sized while the base unit provides unlimited power and control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments power-providing components from power-consuming components. The base unit (stationary) houses the battery, while the handheld device (mobile) houses only the vaporization elements. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the mobile portion to be lightweight and small, while the stationary portion provides extensive operating capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vapor provision systems use modular cartridge design, then ease of replacement and variety are improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld inhaler component is designed as a disposable unit that can be manufactured at low cost using simple processes. By eliminating complex electronics and battery components from the handheld device, the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity are significantly reduced, while still providing ease of replacement and variety through different vapor precursor material formulations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a cost-effective, disposable vapor delivery system that mimics conventional cigarette size and convenience, allowing users to inhale vapor without carrying a bulky device, with the base unit serving as a public or portable heating source for the inhaler component.
Implementation Method 1
a source of energy for heating the thermal store in the inhaler component when the inhaler component is located in the receiving zone
Implementation Method 2
heat from the heated thermal store is used (e.g. by conduction or radiation) to vaporize at least a portion of the vapor precursor material
Implementation Method 3
heat from the heated thermal store is used (e.g. by conduction or radiation) to vaporize at least a portion of the vapor precursor material
Data Source
AI summary
A vapor provision system includes an inhaler component and a base unit, wherein the inhaler component includes a thermal store; and the base unit includes a receiving zone for receiving the inhaler component; and a source of energy for heating the thermal store in the inhaler component when the inhaler component is located in the receiving zone such that heat from the heated thermal store is used to vaporize at least a portion of a vapor precursor material to form a vapor for inhalation by a user when the inhaler component is removed from the receiving zone.