WO2024119032A2 - Double filter vaporizer - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a vaporizer having a body and a plurality of filters. Each filter is configured to be watertight and may include water or other filtering fluid. The vaporizer may be used with the plurality of filters, with a single filter or without any filters at all. A controller is provided to control power to a heater within the body.

Description

DUAL FILTER VAPORIZER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/385,954, filed on December 2, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to accessories for smoking and vaping.

BACKGROUND

[0003] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0004] For hundreds to thousands of years, peoples of the world have smoked or consumed plant based or plant derived materials using various different types of apparatuses and methods. Such materials and other plant based substances have been smoked after the plant material has been placed in a pipe or encased in paper (e.g., rolled in a cigarette). Recently, various different vaporizers have been developed that vaporize plant concentrates and extracts. Each of these different smoking apparatuses heats plant materials or plant derived materials to temperatures that exceed several hundred degrees Fahrenheit (e.g., 400° F). These conventional methods and apparatus provide smoke or vapor to the lungs of a person at temperatures that also approach or exceed 400° F.

[0005] Pipes come in two basic forms, one in which a substance is burned/combusted after which heated smoke passes through a tube into the mouth and lungs of a person as that person inhales. A second form of pipe commonly referred to as a water pipe, a bong, or a hookah may hold water through which heated smoke is passed when a person burns plant matter contained in a bowl as that person inhales the smoke. The first form of pipe causes one to inhale unfiltered heated smoke. [0006] Vaporizers, pipes and other similar materials have included filters for a variety of reasons. For example, liquid such as water or other similar fluid is sometimes used as a filtering material. Liquid filtered inhalant is less harsh on a person’s lungs than unfiltered inhalant. Liquid cools the inhalant and filters out tar and ash.

[0007] However, what is needed are new apparatuses and methods that cool smoke or vapor so that people can inhale desired compounds at lower and more specific temperatures. What is also needed are new apparatuses and methods that remove volatile organic compounds from burnt or vaporized materials before they are inhaled by a person.

SUMMARY

[0008] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0009] An embodiment may be a vaporizer that includes a body and a controller within the body. The body may include a proximal end connection that is configured to connect to a first attachment and a distal end connection that is configured to connect to a second attachment. The controller may be configured to operate the body when only the first attachment is connected, when only the second attachment is connected and when both the first attachment and the second attachment are connected and when neither the first attachment nor the second attachment are connected.

[0010] Variations of the vaporizer may include the controller being configured to prevent operation of the vaporizer when no attachment is connected. The body may comprise silicone. The vaporizer may include a mouthpiece that is configured to connect to the body and/or to the first attachment. The first and/or the second attachment may be a filter chamber. The first attachment may be configured to connect to a proximal end of the body and the second attachment may be configured to connect to a distal end of the body.

[0011] A further embodiment may be a vaporizer that includes a body, a first filter chamber, a second filter chamber, a heater and a controller. The first and second filter chamber may be connected or coupled to the body. The heater may be within the body and may be configured to heat a vaporizable material placed in the heater (e.g., in a bowl receptacle thermally coupled to the heater). The controller may be configured to control an amount of power provided to the heater based on the presence of one or more of the first filter chamber or the second filter chamber.

[0012] Variations of the vaporizer may be those in which the first filter chamber is connected to a proximal end of the body and/or the second filter chamber is connected to a distal end of the body. A concentric tube assembly may be included in the first filter chamber and may be configured to redirect fluid flow entering the first filter chamber before exiting the first filter chamber. A tube assembly may be included in the second filter chamber and may be configured to direct airflow into a fluid within the second filter chamber before the air exits the second filter chamber. A mouthpiece may be connected to the first filter chamber or it may be connected to the body.

[0013] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

[0014] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a vaporizer having a plurality of filter chambers;

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a body of the vaporizer of FIG. 1 without a filter chamber;

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 2;

[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B both illustrate a first filter chamber having different mouthpieces; [0019] FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first filter chamber of FIG. 4B;

[0020] FIG. 5A illustrates a second filter chamber;

[0021] FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second filter chamber of FIG. 5A;

[0022] FIG. 6A illustrates a bowl and heating element of the body of FIG. 3;

[0023] FIG. 6B illustrates an airflow path within the body of FIG. 3 with no filter chamber attached;

[0024] FIG. 6C illustrates an airflow path within the embodiment of the vaporizer of FIG. 1 with both the first filter chamber and the second filter chamber attached;

[0025] FIG. 7A illustrates an end piece for use with the body with a filter chamber attached;

[0026] FIG. 7B illustrates an adapter for use with a filter chamber and a base pad for attaching to a filter chamber; and

[0027] FIG. 7C illustrates relative sizes of the end piece of FIG. 7A, the adapter of FIG. 7B and a filter chamber.

[0028] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. [0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0031] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," “directly engaged to,” "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0033] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0034] Use of a quantitative term or value is not limited to the exact amount recited. For example, presence of the term “about” indicates an intention to convey that the same result can be achieved by using a value that is not exactly that recited. Similarly, if an objective can be achieved by using less than all of a specified amount, it may be so indicated through use of the term “substantial” or “substantially.” For example, fifty percent of a value may be considered substantial when the same result can be achieved as if 100% of a value is used. If an exact amount is required in order to achieve a result, it will be specifically stated.

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a vaporizer 100. The vaporizer 100 may include a body 102, a first filter chamber 104 and a second filter chamber 106. The body 102 may be connectable at a proximal end 108 of the vaporizer 100 to the first filter chamber 104 and the body 102 may be connectable at a distal end 110 of the vaporizer 100 to the second filter chamber 106. A mouthpiece 112 may be attached at the proximal end 108 of the vaporizer 100 to the first filter chamber 104. The first filter chamber 104 and the second filter chamber 106 may be alternatively referred to herein as a first bubbler and a second bubbler, respectively. The mouthpiece 112 may be made at least partially of silicone, plastic, ceramic or metal. [0036] FIG. 2 illustrates the body 102. The body 102 may have an elongate cylindrical configuration. An exterior material 202 of the body 102 may include a plastic or silicone material wrapped around a harder material such as metal, plastic, glass, etc. A display 204 may be embedded in the exterior material 202 of the body 102. The display 204 may include a screen and/or at least one light emitting diode (LED). A button 206 for operating the vaporizer 100 may be embedded in the exterior material 202 next to or at least in proximity to the display 204. The button 206 may be actuated for controlling the vaporizer’s power supply and/or operating the vaporizer 100 in various modes. Electronics for controlling operation of the vaporizer 100 may be housed within the body 102. These electronics are discussed in more detail below.

[0037] The body 102 may be configured as an operable vaporizer without either filter chamber 104 or 106. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, the body 102 may include an inlet 304 at a proximal end region 306 of the body 102. An outlet 308 may also be included at the proximal end region 306 of the body. It is not necessary that the inlet 304 and outlet 308 be included at the proximal end region 306. For example, the outlet 308 is shown in the mouthpiece 112; however, the inlet 304 and the outlet 308 may be positioned on the body anywhere that is conducive to proper airflow.

[0038] The body 102 may also include an endcap 310 at a distal end region 312 of the body 102. The mouthpiece 112 and the endcap 310 may be added when the body is configured as a vaporizer, e.g., without either of the water filter chambers 104 or 106. In this configuration, the body 102 may include an airflow path 302 within the body between the inlet 304 and the outlet 308. The airflow path 302 may be defined by the plastic or silicone material or it may be a tube installed in the body.

[0039] A bowl 314 may be included in the body 102. The bowl may have a shape that enables it to receive and hold a vaporizable material. A battery 316 may provide power to a heater 318 that is in thermal contact with the bowl 314. The heater 318 may provide enough energy to vaporize the vaporizable material in the bowl 314. A controller 320 may be connected to the battery 316 to control the amount of power being directed toward the heater 318.

[0040] The controller 320 may be one or more controllers, microcontrollers, processors or microprocessors. A universal serial bus (USB) port (not shown) may be provided in the body 102 and coupled to the controller 320. Data relating to operation of the vaporizer 102, including operating history, power consumption, GPS data, etc., may be stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) within the body 102 and/or communicated through the USB port via a USB cable (not shown) to an external device such as a personal communication device, a computer, etc. The USB port may be placed on a side of the body 102 opposite the display 204. However, this particular placement is not a requirement as the USB port may be placed anywhere on the body 102 that enables optimum access to the USB port and the display 204.

[0041] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the first filter chamber 104. The first filter chamber 104 may be attached to the proximal end region 306 of the body 102. The first filter chamber 104 may be connected to the proximal end region of the body 102 in a similar manner as the mouthpiece 112. In this configuration, the mouthpiece 112 may be placed at the proximal end 108.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, different mouthpiece attachments are possible. For example, a whistle type mouthpiece 410a may be attached to the vaporizer 100. Alternatively, a planar mouthpiece 410b may be attached to the vaporizer 100. Yet further, the vaporizer 100 may be used with no mouthpiece.

[0043] The first filter chamber 104 may be watertight and may be configured to receive and hold water or another type of filtration fluid. FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first filter chamber 104. The first filter chamber 104 may include a distal plate 402 that defines an inlet 404. The first filter chamber 104 may include a concentric tube arrangement 406.

[0044] The concentric tube arrangement 406 may include inlet tube 406a and redirecting cap 406b. The inlet tube 406a may be connected directly to the distal plate 402 and thereby coupled to the inlet 404. A redirecting cap outlet 408 is provided in the redirecting cap. [0045] The second filter chamber 106 is illustrated in FIG. 5A. The second filter chamber 106 may be attached the proximal end region 306 of the body 102. The second filter chamber 106 may be watertight and may be configured to receive and hold water or another type of filtration fluid. FIG. 5B illustrates a cross- sectional view of the second filter chamber 106. The first filter chamber 104 may include an inlet 502, an outlet 504 and an axial tube 506.

[0046] A base pad 508 may be added to the distal end of the exterior of the second filter chamber 106. The base pad 508 may have material to provide stability to the vaporizer 100 when the vaporizer 100 is stowed between uses. The base pad 508 may be made of a softer (less brittle material) than the second filter chamber 106, which may be made of glass, for example. The base pad 508 may, therefore, guard against breakage of the second filter chamber 106.

[0047] The filter chambers 104 and 106 are not limited to the shapes illustrated in the figures. The shapes may be similar to the body 102 in diameter and length or may differ from the body 102 in diameter and/or length. Similarly, the cross-sectional shape of the vaporizer components 102, 104 and 106 is not limited to circular as illustrated but may be any shape and may vary in size and form along a length thereof.

[0048] In operation and with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, a vaporizable material may be placed in bowl 314 within the body 102 at the distal end region 312. As noted above, the bowl 314 may be heated to vaporize the vaporizable material. A person may then add a mouthpiece 112 to the proximal end region 306 of the body 102 and an endcap 310 to the distal end region 312. In this configuration, the airflow path 602 is completely within the body 102 due to the endcap 310.

[0049] Different configurations of the vaporizer are possible. For example, the vaporizer is operable with only one of the filter chambers attached and with none of the filter chambers attached. A sensor, e.g., a mechanical switch, a magnetic sensor, etc., may be included in the body that communicates to the controller how many filter chambers are attached. The length of the airflow path in different configurations of the vaporizer would be programmed into the memory in advance of use so that the controller can determine how much power to supply to the heating element so that the proper amount of heat is generated to the vapor for drawing from the vaporizer.

[0050] For example, a longer airflow path would be one in which both filter chambers are attached and would, therefore, require more heat. Contrastingly, a configuration in which one or no filter chambers are present would require less heat due to the shorter airflow path. Similarly, the controller is programable to prevent operation of the vaporizer when no signal is received from the sensors indicating that a filter chamber or mouthpiece is attached.

[0051] Alternatively, with further reference to FIG. 6C, the airflow path may extend into the first filter chamber 104 and/or into the second filter chamber 106 when the respective chamber is attached to the body 102. In this configuration, the endcap 310 is removed in favor of the distal end adapter 604. The distal end adapter 604 provides a sealed connection between the body 102 and the second filter chamber 106.

[0052] Negative pressure may be applied at mouthpiece 410 to cause airflow along airflow path 606. Airflow is thereby enabled throughout the vaporizer 100 including the first filter chamber 104 and the second filter chamber 106. Water within each chamber contacts the airflow and changes the temperature of the air circulating within the vaporizer 100.

[0053] FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the relative sizes of the endcap 310 versus the base pad 508, the distal end adapter 604 and the second filter chamber 106. As shown in FIG. 7C, the distal end adapter 604 is smaller than the endcap 310. However, the distal end adapter 604 is nonetheless provided with first and second distal end adapter through holes 702 and 704 to allow air to enter the second filter chamber 106.

[0054] Either filter chamber 104/106 may be attached to the body 102 by a male-female press-fit combination or by a threaded connection. For example, due to the larger volume of the second filter chamber, it may be beneficial to use a threaded connection. [0055] Airflow may be carbureted to enable mixing and control of air with vaporizable material. For example, a reed or flap may be placed in the airflow path. Such an object may be configured to open at variable distance in response to the amount of pressure applied during a puff.

[0056] Moreover, a secondary airflow path may be included in the body 102 for allowing heated vapor to escape the vaporizer 100 to ambient air. The effect of the secondary airflow path is to allow the airflow path 302 to be drained (e.g., evacuated) of spent vaporizable material when the vaporizer is not in use. The secondary airflow path may have a single inlet at any point along the airflow path 302 or may have multiple inlets at various locations along the airflow path 302.

[0057] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A vaporizer comprising: a body including a proximal end connection configured to connect to a first attachment and a distal end connection configured to connect to a second attachment; and a controller in the body between the proximal end connection and the distal end connection, the controller configured to operate the body when only the first attachment is connected, when only the second attachment is connected and/or when both the first attachment and the second attachment are connected.

2. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to enable operation of the vaporizer based on whether at least one of the attachments is connected to the body.

3. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises silicone.

4. The vaporizer of claim 1 further comprising: a mouthpiece configured to connect to the body and to the first attachment.

5. The vaporizer of claim 4, wherein the first and/or the second attachment is a filter chamber.

6. The vaporizer of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment is configured to connect to a proximal end of the body and the second attachment is configured to connect to a distal end of the body.

7. A vaporizer comprising: a body; a first filter chamber connected to the body; a second filter chamber coupled to the body; a heater configured to heat a vaporizable material within the body; and a controller configured to control an amount of power provided to the heater based on the presence of one or more of the first filter chamber or the second filter chamber.

8. The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the first filter chamber is connected to a proximal end of the body.

9. The vaporizer of claim 8, wherein the second filter chamber is connected to a distal end of the body.

10. The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the second filter chamber is connected to a distal end of the body.

11 . The vaporizer of claim 7 further comprising: a concentric tube assembly in the first filter chamber configured to redirect fluid flow entering the first filter chamber before exiting the first filter chamber.

12. The vaporizer of claim 11 further comprising: a tube assembly in the second filter chamber configured to direct fluid flow into a fluid within the second filter chamber before exiting the second filter chamber.

13. The vaporizer of claim 12 further comprising: a tube assembly in the second filter chamber configured to direct fluid flow into a fluid within the second filter chamber before exiting the second filter chamber.

14. The vaporizer of claim 13 further comprising: a mouthpiece connected to the first filter chamber.

15. The vaporizer of claim 7 further comprising: a mouthpiece connected to the body.