Elastic Bladder Rupture for Hermetic Inhaler Cartridge Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional consumable cartridges for inhaler devices, such as e-cigarettes, are not hermetically sealed, leading to e-liquid deterioration over time and require replacement of both the e-liquid reservoir and vaporizing unit, which complicates refilling and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A consumable cartridge design featuring a casing with a pierceable and perforated region, where an elastic bladder is fixedly connected and configured to rupture upon piercing, creating a larger opening for liquid flow, preventing refilling and ensuring a satisfying vaping experience by maintaining the vaporizing liquid within the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cartridge is hermetically sealed to prevent e-liquid deterioration, then the e-liquid stability is improved, but the piercing mechanism becomes more complex and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is pre-filled and hermetically sealed with the e-liquid before use. The piercing member is pre-positioned in the inhaler device, ready to puncture the seal upon cartridge insertion. This preliminary preparation allows the system to achieve both hermetic sealing for e-liquid stability and a relatively simple piercing mechanism, as no complex activation sequence is needed.
2Productivity
If the bladder ruptures significantly upon piercing to allow liquid flow, then the liquid flow rate is improved, but the risk of accidental rupture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is designed with localized thinning or weakening at a specific pierceable region, while the rest of the bladder maintains its full thickness and strength. This local quality differentiation allows the bladder to rupture easily at the intended location when pierced by the piercing member, ensuring adequate liquid flow rate, while the stronger surrounding areas resist accidental rupture from minor impacts or handling.
3Ease of operation
If the piercing member creates a large opening in the bladder, then the ease of refilling is improved, but the ability to prevent refilling is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing a system that is easy to refill, the invention inverts the approach by creating a system that is deliberately difficult to refill. The piercing member creates an opening that is intentionally larger than the piercing member itself, and the bladder material is designed to deform permanently and irregularly upon piercing. This creates a large initial opening that would seem to facilitate refilling, but the irregular deformation and permanent structural change actually make proper refilling impossible, thereby preventing refilling while maintaining ease of initial liquid transfer.
4Productivity
If the bladder is disconnected from the casing at the pierceable portion, then the liquid flow is improved, but the structural integrity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a sealed portion where the bladder is firmly connected to the casing for structural integrity, and a pierceable portion where the bladder is disconnected or loosely connected to allow free deformation and rupture. This segmentation enables the bladder to maintain strength where needed while allowing unrestricted flow and deformation at the piercing location, resolving the contradiction between liquid flow and structural integrity.
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
The design ensures a consistent vaping experience by preventing e-liquid deterioration and simplifying refilling, as the bladder is designed to rupture significantly upon piercing, allowing liquid to flow into the casing while preventing accidental rupture and refilling, thus maintaining the vaporizing liquid within the device.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic bladder located within the cavity of said casing and enclosing a vaporizing liquid; wherein the bladder is disconnected from the casing in the first region, and wherein the bladder is configured to rupture or to be cut when it is pierced by a piercing member of the inhaler device such that the ruptured or cut area of the bladder creates an opening which is significantly larger than the cross sectional area of the piercing member
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3e
AI summary
The invention relates to a consumable cartridge and an inhaler device 10. The consumable cartridge (1 ) comprises a casing (2) defining a cavity (C), the casing comprising a first region (4) and a second region (6). An elastic bladder is located within the cavity of said casing and encloses a vaporizing liquid (/.). The first region (4) of the casing comprises a pierceable portion (5), and the second region comprises a pre- perforated portion (6a). The bladder is disconnected from the casing in the first region, and is configured to rupture or to be cut when it is pierced by a piercing member of the inhaler device such that the ruptured or cut area of the bladder creates an opening which is significantly larger than the cross sectional area of the piercing