U.S. patent application number 13/639402 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-29 for portable handheld vaporising device.
This patent application is currently assigned to OGLESBY & BUTLER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Alfred Peter Oglesby, John Paul Oglesby, John Joseph Storey. Invention is credited to Alfred Peter Oglesby, John Paul Oglesby, John Joseph Storey.
Application Number | 20130220316 13/639402 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49001497 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130220316 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oglesby; Alfred Peter ; et
al. |
August 29, 2013 |
PORTABLE HANDHELD VAPORISING DEVICE
Abstract
A portable handheld vaporising device (1) comprises a housing
(2) within which a vaporising chamber (7) is formed, wherein a
liquid in a container (11) is vaporised to form an aerosol. A
heatable element (21) having a dished abutment surface (22) is
located in the vaporising chamber (7), and is heated by a gas
powered heater (20) located in a main chamber (8) of the housing
(2). A wick (18) extending through a port (17) of the container
(11) is located spaced apart from the heatable element (21) when
the container (11) is in a first state illustrated in FIG. 3. The
container (11) is depressable into the housing (2) into a second
state for engaging the wick (18) with the abutment surface (22) of
the heatable element (21) for evaporating liquid which is wicked
through the wick (18) from the container (11). A draw pipe (27)
terminating in a mouthpiece (29) draws an aerosol of the vapour
evaporated from the liquid for inhaling thereof. Inlet ports (28)
accommodate air into the vaporising chamber (7) for forming the
aerosol during drawing on the draw pipe (27).
Inventors: |
Oglesby; Alfred Peter;
(Carlingford, IE) ; Oglesby; John Paul; (Shrule,
IE) ; Storey; John Joseph; (Portlaoise, IE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oglesby; Alfred Peter
Oglesby; John Paul
Storey; John Joseph |
Carlingford
Shrule
Portlaoise |
|
IE
IE
IE |
|
|
Assignee: |
OGLESBY & BUTLER RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
Carlow
IE
|
Family ID: |
49001497 |
Appl. No.: |
13/639402 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
April 6, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IE2011/000021 |
371 Date: |
May 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/202.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 47/006 20130101;
A24F 47/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/202.21 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 6, 2010 |
IE |
S2010/0199 |
Claims
1-62. (canceled)
63. A portable handheld vaporising device comprising a housing
defining a vaporising device comprising a vaporising chamber, a
heatable element located in the vaporising chamber, a container
defining a hollow interior region for a liquid, an applicator means
for applying liquid from the container to the heatable element for
evaporation thereof, one of the applicator means and the heatable
element being adapted for selectively applying liquid from the
container to the heatable element, an outlet port from the
vaporising chamber for accommodating one of a vapour and an aerosol
of the vapour from the vaporising chamber, and a heating means for
heating the heatable element.
64. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the one of
the applicator means and the heatable element is moveable relative
to the other of the applicator means and the heatable element for
applying liquid from the container to the heatable element.
65. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the
applicator means comprises a wick extending outwardly from the
container and communicating with the hollow interior region of the
container.
66. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 65 in which the one of
the wick and the heatable element is moveable between a first state
with the wick and the heatable element spaced apart from each
other, and a second state with the wick and the heatable element in
engagement with each other for applying liquid from the container
to the heatable element, and preferably, the wick is moveable
relative to the heatable element between the first state and the
second state, and advantageously, the container is mounted in the
housing, and is moveable with the wick between the first state and
the second state.
67. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 66 in which the
container is slideably mounted in the main housing, and is
slideable between the first state and the second state, and
preferably, the container is slideable into the vaporising chamber
from the first state to the second state, and advantageously, the
container is manually slideable from the first state to the second
state, and preferably, a portion of the container extends outwardly
through the housing, and terminates in a finger accommodating
button for engagement by a thumb or a finger of a person for manual
urging the container from the first state to the second state.
68. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 66 in which an urging
means is provided for urging the container in a direction from the
second state to the first state, and preferably, the urging means
comprises a resilient element, and advantageously, the resilient
element is located to act between the container and the housing,
and preferably, the urging means comprises a spring.
69. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 65 in which the wick
extends outwardly from the container in a direction towards the
heatable element, and preferably, a portion of the wick extending
from the container terminates in a distal end, and the distal end
of the wick is engageable with the heatable element when the
moveable one of the wick and the heatable element is in the second
state, and advantageously, the wick is of a heat resistant
material, and preferably, the heat resistant material of the wick
is heat resistant at least up to a temperature corresponding to the
temperature of vaporisation of the liquid in the container, and
advantageously, the wick is of an absorbent material, and
preferably, the wick extends into the hollow interior region of the
container.
70. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the
container is refillable, and preferably, the container comprises a
filling opening located in the container externally of the housing,
and advantageously, a closure cap engageable with the container
closes the filling opening, and preferably, the finger
accommodating button is formed on the closure cap.
71. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which an inlet
port is provided to the vaporising chamber for accommodating air
into the vaporising chamber to produce an aerosol of the vapour
therein, and preferably, the outlet port from the vaporising
chamber is adapted to receive a draw pipe, and preferably, the
vaporising device comprises the draw pipe, and the draw pipe
terminates at a distal end thereof in a mouthpiece, and
advantageously, the heatable element defines an abutment surface
for receiving liquid from the applicator means.
72. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 71 in which the
abutment surface is of slightly dished shape.
73. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the
heatable element is of a heat conductive material, and preferably,
the heating means is in heat transfer relationship with the
heatable element, and advantageously, the heating means is adapted
to produce a heat output which is matched to the thermal mass of
the heatable element so that the heatable element and the heating
means are thermally balanced, and the temperature of the heatable
element is maintained at a temperature suitable for evaporating
liquid from the container.
74. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the housing
defines a heater accommodating chamber for accommodating the
heating means, and preferably, the heater accommodating chamber is
sealably isolated from the vaporising chamber.
75. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the heating
means comprises a gas powered heating means, and preferably, the
heating means comprises a body member defining a combustion
chamber, and preferably, a gas catalytic combustion element is
located in the combustion chamber for converting fuel gas to heat,
and advantageously, the body member is of heat conducting material,
and preferably, an ignition means is provided for igniting the fuel
gas to initially burn with a flame for raising the temperature of
the gas catalytic combustion element to its ignition temperature,
and advantageously, the gas catalytic combustion element is located
so that on the gas catalytic combustion element being raised to its
ignition temperature, the flame of the initial flame combustion is
starved of fuel gas and is extinguished.
76. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 75 in which a
thermostatic control means is provided for controlling the
temperature of the heatable element, and preferably, the
thermostatic control means is adapted for controlling the
temperature of the heatable element by controlling flow of fuel gas
to the combustion chamber, and advantageously, a thermal mass is
located in heat conducting engagement with the gas catalytic
combustion element for maintaining a portion of the gas catalytic
combustion element adjacent the thermal mass at a temperature at or
above the ignition temperature of the gas catalytic combustion
element during short time periods during which the gas catalytic
combustion element is isolated from the fuel gas by the
thermostatic control means.
77. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 75 in which the body
member of the heating means is in heat conducting engagement with
the heatable element, and preferably, a fuel gas reservoir is
provided for storing fuel gas, the fuel gas reservoir being coupled
to the heating means, and preferably, the fuel gas reservoir is
refillable, and advantageously, a reservoir chamber is located in
the housing for accommodating the fuel gas reservoir.
78. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the heating
means comprises an electrically powered heating means.
79. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 78 in which the
electrically powered heating means comprises one of the following:
an electrically powered heating element, a resistive heating
element, a positive temperature coefficient device, a ceramic
device, and a carbon element.
80. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 78 in which the
electrically powered heating means is battery powered.
81. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the
heatable element is of a specific thermal mass, and preferably, the
heatable element is connected to the heating means by a heat
transfer means for controlling heat transfer from the heating means
to the heatable element.
82. A vaporising device as claimed in claim 63 in which the housing
is formed by a pair of shells, which when joined together form the
vaporising chamber, and preferably, the shells when joined together
define the heater accommodating chamber, and advantageously, the
pair of shells when joined together to form the housing define the
reservoir accommodating chamber, and preferably, a partition wall
extending between the shells when joined together to form the
housing isolates the vaporising chamber from the heater
accommodating chamber, and advantageously, the housing is of a
plastics material, and preferably, the housing is of a heat
resistant plastics material.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable handheld
vaporising device for vaporising a liquid to produce a vapour
thereof, and in particular, though not limited to a portable
handheld vaporising device to produce an aerosol of such a
vapour.
[0002] Portable handheld vaporising devices are known for
vaporising liquids to form an aerosol, which can then be inhaled.
Such vaporising devices typically are provided for vaporising a
liquid which carries a medicinal drug, nicotine or any other
chemical, be it naturally occurring or a synthesised chemical for
inhaling thereof. Where such portable handheld vaporising devices
are provided for vaporising a liquid which includes nicotine, they
are commonly referred to as "E cigarettes".
[0003] In general, vaporising devices of the type commonly referred
to as E cigarettes comprise a housing within which a vaporising
chamber is located, and a container for a nicotine carrying liquid
is located adjacent the vaporising chamber. An absorbent pad of
spongy material into which the nicotine carrying liquid is absorbed
is located in the container, and a portion of the absorbent pad is
exposed and is in continuous contact with a hot plate which is
located in the vaporising chamber, and which is heated to evaporate
the nicotine carrying liquid absorbed in the absorbent pad adjacent
the hot plate. A battery powered electrical heater is provided to
heat the hot plate for evaporating the nicotine carrying liquid. In
order to conserve power in the battery, the heater is only powered
up when a person wishes to draw a puff of an aerosol containing the
vaporised nicotine carrying liquid from the vaporising chamber.
[0004] A pressure sensor is suitably located to detect a drop in
pressure resulting from a person commencing to draw a puff of the
aerosol. The electrically powered heater is activated in response
to a drop in pressure being detected by the pressure sensor, and
commences to heat the hot plate. However, this results in a delay
before an aerosol of the nicotine carrying liquid is available,
since it takes some time for the hot plate to be raised to a
temperature sufficient to evaporate the nicotine carrying liquid in
the absorbent pad adjacent the hot plate. Indeed, in many cases it
can take between two and three seconds, and in some cases up to
five seconds for the hot plate to be brought up to a suitable
temperature by the electrically powered heater in order to
evaporate the nicotine carrying liquid to form the aerosol. This is
undesirable.
[0005] Indeed, a further problem with such devices is that in
general it is necessary to maintain the draw on the vaporising
chamber while the hot plate is being brought up to temperature by
the heater, otherwise, in the absence of a pressure drop being
detected by the pressure sensor, the heater is deactivated. This is
likewise undesirable, since some people may not have sufficient
drawing power to continuously draw on the vaporising chamber until
the aerosol becomes available.
[0006] A further problem with such devices is that by virtue of the
fact that the absorbent pad in which the nicotine carrying liquid
is absorbed in the container is in continuous contact with the hot
plate, the absorbent pad rapidly deteriorates due to the heat
applied to the pad by the hot plate, to the extent that its wicking
capacity is significantly reduced, and in particular, is
significantly reduced adjacent the hot plate. Thereby the capacity
of the absorbent pad to wick the nicotine carrying liquid to the
hot plate for evaporation thereof is compromised.
[0007] A further problem with such devices is that in general, in
order to activate the heater, a relatively high pressure drop is
required to be detected by the pressure sensor. This is also
undesirable, and can cause discomfort to a person using the
device.
[0008] Other such vaporising devices which are adapted for
vaporising a liquid, which carries other constituents besides
nicotine, to produce an inhalable aerosol are known, and in
general, such devices suffer from all or some of the problems
discussed above.
[0009] The present invention is directed towards addressing at
least some of the problems of known portable handheld vaporising
devices.
[0010] According to the invention there is provided a portable
handheld vaporising device comprising a housing defining a
vaporising device comprising a vaporising chamber, a heatable
element located in the vaporising chamber, a container defining a
hollow interior region for a liquid, an applicator means for
applying liquid from the container to the heatable element for
evaporation thereof, one of the applicator means and the heatable
element being adapted for selectively applying liquid from the
container to the heatable element, an outlet port from the
vaporising chamber for accommodating one of a vapour and an aerosol
of the vapour from the vaporising chamber, and a heating means for
heating the heatable element.
[0011] In one embodiment of the invention the one of the applicator
means and the heatable element is moveable relative to the other of
the applicator means and the heatable element for applying liquid
from the container to the heatable element.
[0012] In another embodiment of the invention the applicator means
comprises a wick extending outwardly from the container and
communicating with the hollow interior region of the container.
Preferably, the one of the wick and the heatable element is
moveable between a first state with the wick and the heatable
element spaced apart from each other, and a second state with the
wick and the heatable element in engagement with each other for
applying liquid from the container to the heatable element.
Advantageously, the wick is moveable relative to the heatable
element between the first state and the second state.
[0013] In another embodiment of the invention the container is
mounted in the housing, and is moveable with the wick between the
first state and the second state. Preferably, the container is
slideably mounted in the main housing, and is slideable between the
first state and the second state. Advantageously, the container is
slideable into the vaporising chamber from the first state to the
second state. Ideally, the container is manually slideable from the
first state to the second state.
[0014] In one aspect of the invention a portion of the container
extends outwardly through the housing, and terminates in a finger
accommodating button for engagement by a thumb or a finger of a
person for manual urging the container from the first state to the
second state.
[0015] In another aspect of the invention an urging means is
provided for urging the container in a direction from the second
state to the first state. Preferably, the urging means comprises a
resilient element. Advantageously, the resilient element is located
to act between the container and the housing. Ideally, the urging
means comprises a spring.
[0016] In another aspect of the invention the wick extends
outwardly from the container in a direction towards the heatable
element. Preferably, a portion of the wick extending from the
container terminates in a distal end, and the distal end of the
wick is engageable with the heatable element when the moveable one
of the wick and the heatable element is in the second state.
[0017] In another aspect of the invention the wick is of a heat
resistant material. Preferably, the heat resistant material of the
wick is heat resistant at least up to a temperature corresponding
to the temperature of vaporisation of the liquid in the container.
Advantageously, the wick is of an absorbent material. Preferably,
the wick extends into the hollow interior region of the
container.
[0018] In a further aspect of the invention the container is
refillable. Preferably, the container comprises a filling opening
located in the container externally of the housing. Advantageously,
a closure cap engageable with the container closes the filling
opening. Advantageously, the finger accommodating button is formed
on the closure cap.
[0019] In one embodiment of the invention an inlet port is provided
to the vaporising chamber for accommodating air into the vaporising
chamber to produce an aerosol of the vapour therein.
[0020] In another embodiment of the invention the outlet port from
the vaporising chamber is adapted to receive a draw pipe.
[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention the vaporising
device comprises the draw pipe, and the draw pipe terminates at a
distal end thereof in a mouthpiece.
[0022] In one aspect of the invention the heatable element defines
an abutment surface for receiving liquid from the applicator means.
Preferably, the abutment surface is of slightly dished shape.
Advantageously, the heatable element is of a heat conductive
material.
[0023] In one aspect of the invention the heating means is in heat
transfer relationship with the heatable element.
[0024] In one embodiment of the invention the heating means is
adapted to produce a heat output which is matched to the thermal
mass of the heatable element so that the heatable element and the
heating means are thermally balanced, and the temperature of the
heatable element is maintained at a temperature suitable for
evaporating liquid from the container.
[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention the housing defines
a heater accommodating chamber for accommodating the heating means.
Preferably, the heater accommodating chamber is sealably isolated
from the vaporising chamber.
[0026] In one embodiment of the invention the heating means
comprises a gas powered heating means.
[0027] In another embodiment of the invention the heating means
comprises a body member defining a combustion chamber.
[0028] In one aspect of the invention a gas catalytic combustion
element is located in the combustion chamber for converting fuel
gas to heat.
[0029] Preferably, the body member is of heat conducting
material.
[0030] In another aspect of the invention an ignition means is
provided for igniting the fuel gas to initially burn with a flame
for raising the temperature of the gas catalytic combustion element
to its ignition temperature. Preferably, the gas catalytic
combustion element is located so that on the gas catalytic
combustion element being raised to its ignition temperature, the
flame of the initial flame combustion is starved of fuel gas and is
extinguished.
[0031] In another embodiment of the invention a thermostatic
control means is provided for controlling the temperature of the
heatable element. Preferably, the thermostatic control means is
adapted for controlling the temperature of the heatable element by
controlling flow of fuel gas to the combustion chamber.
[0032] In another embodiment of the invention a thermal mass is
located in heat conducting engagement with the gas catalytic
combustion element for maintaining a portion of the gas catalytic
combustion element adjacent the thermal mass at a temperature at or
above the ignition temperature of the gas catalytic combustion
element during short time periods during which the gas catalytic
combustion element is isolated from the fuel gas by the
thermostatic control means.
[0033] Ideally, the body member of the heating means is in heat
conducting engagement with the heatable element.
[0034] In another embodiment of the invention a fuel gas reservoir
is provided for storing fuel gas, the fuel gas reservoir being
coupled to the heating means. Preferably, the fuel gas reservoir is
refillable.
[0035] In another embodiment of the invention a reservoir chamber
is located in the housing for accommodating the fuel gas
reservoir.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the heating
means comprises an electrically powered heating means.
[0037] In one aspect of the invention the heating means comprises
an electrically powered heating element.
[0038] In another aspect of the invention the electrically powered
heating element comprises a resistive heating element.
[0039] In one aspect of the invention the electrically powered
heating element comprises a positive temperature coefficient
device.
[0040] In another aspect of the invention the electrically powered
heating element comprises a ceramic device.
[0041] In a further aspect of the invention the electrically
powered heating element comprises a carbon element.
[0042] Preferably, the electrically powered heating means is
battery powered.
[0043] In another embodiment of the invention the heatable element
is of a specific thermal mass, and preferably, the heatable element
is connected to the heating means by a heat transfer means for
controlling heat transfer from the heating means to the heatable
element.
[0044] In another aspect of the invention the housing is formed by
a pair of shells, which when joined together form the vaporising
chamber. Preferably, the shells when joined together define the
heater accommodating chamber. Advantageously, the pair of shells
when joined together to form the housing define the reservoir
accommodating chamber.
[0045] In one aspect of the invention a partition wall extending
between the shells when joined together to form the housing
isolates the vaporising chamber from the heater accommodating
chamber.
[0046] In another aspect of the invention the housing is of a
plastics material.
[0047] In a further aspect of the invention the housing is of a
heat resistant plastics material.
[0048] The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly
important advantage of the invention is that there is no delay
between drawing on the draw pipe and an aerosol of the vaporised
liquid being available. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that
the heating means is maintained active while the vaporising device
is in use, and thus, once the one of the applicator means and the
heatable element is urged from the first state to the second state
for depositing liquid onto the heatable element, liquid applied to
the heatable element is immediately evaporated to form a vapour
which in turn forms the aerosol, as air is being drawn through the
vaporising chamber. Thus, once the moveable one of the applicator
means and the heatable element is moved for bringing the moveable
one of the applicator means and the heatable element into
engagement with the other one of the application means and the
heatable element either just prior to or simultaneously with the
commencement of drawing of the aerosol from the vaporising chamber,
the aerosol will be immediately available and will be drawn from
the vaporising chamber.
[0049] By providing the applicator means in the form of a wick, the
liquid is readily easily wicked from the container and applied to
the heatable element, without any leakage or loss of liquid.
[0050] A further advantage of the invention is that the quantity of
liquid to be applied to the heatable element can be readily
controlled. This advantage is achieved in particular when the
applicator means is provided by a wick. The provision of the wick
provides a relatively constant rate of transfer of the liquid
therethrough, and thus, the quantity of the liquid to be evaporated
applied to the heatable element is determined by the length of time
the wick is brought into engagement with the heatable element. A
further and particularly important advantage of the invention is
achieved by virtue of the fact that when the applicator means is
provided by a wick, the wick is only brought into engagement with
the heatable element when it is desired to apply the liquid to the
heatable element. Thus, the wick is only in contact with the
heatable element for relatively short time periods, and thus,
little or no deterioration of the wick or its wicking capacity
occurs. Indeed, by virtue of the fact that the wick is only in
engagement with the heatable element for such relatively short
periods of time, the wick will be sufficiently wetted by the liquid
to avoid virtually any deterioration of the wick.
[0051] The invention will be more clearly understood from the
following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is
given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0052] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a vaporising device
according to the invention,
[0053] FIG. 2 is a front end elevational view of the vaporising
device of FIG. 1,
[0054] FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view
of the vaporising device of FIG. 1 on the line of FIG. 2, and
[0055] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view
of a portion of the vaporising device of FIG. 1.
[0056] Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a portable
handheld vaporising device according to the invention, indicated
generally by the reference numeral 1, for vaporising a liquid to
produce an inhalable aerosol. The liquid may be any suitable
vaporisable liquid. Typical liquids would include a mixture of
propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine along with flavourings
and/or pure nicotine or other optional additive. The vaporising
device 1 comprises a housing 2 of injection moulded plastics
material formed in two half shells 4, which when joined together
along a seam 5 define a vaporising chamber 7 within which the
liquid is vaporised, and a main chamber 8 which will be described
below. The vaporising chamber 7 is sealably isolated from the main
chamber 8 by a partition wall 10 which is integrally formed in two
parts with the shells 4, so that when the shells 4 are joined
together along the seam 5 to form the housing 2, the partition wall
10 sealably isolates the vaporising chamber 7 from the main chamber
8.
[0057] A container 11 for the liquid to be vaporised is located in
a bore 12 of circular transverse cross-section in the housing 2,
and defines a hollow interior region 14 for the liquid. The
container 11 is refillable with liquid to be vaporised through a
filling opening 15, which is sealably closed by a closure cap 16
which is sealably engageable in the filling opening 15. The
container 11 is of cylindrical shape and tapers towards an outlet
port 17. A flange 19 extends around and inwardly into the bore 12,
and slideably accommodates the container 11 in the bore 12 for a
purpose to be described below. An applicator means comprising a
heat resistant absorbent wick 18 extends through the outlet port 17
from the container 11, and extends into the hollow interior region
14 of the container 11 for absorbing the liquid therein and for
dispensing the liquid from the hollow interior region 14 by a
capillary wicking action.
[0058] A heatable element 21 extends from the main chamber 8 of the
housing 2 into the vaporising chamber 7, and co-operates with a
distal end 26 of the wick 18 for selectively evaporating liquid
from the container 11, as will be described below. The heatable
element 21 is of heat conductive material, namely, aluminium, and
defines a slightly dished shape abutment surface 22 for engaging
the distal end 26 of the wick 18. A heating means, in this
embodiment of the invention comprising a gas powered heater 20,
which is described below, is located in the main chamber 8 of the
housing 2, and is in heat conducting engagement with the heatable
element 21 for heating thereof.
[0059] The container 11, as mentioned above, is slideably mounted
in the bore 12, and is manually urgeable in the direction of the
arrow A from a first state illustrated in FIG. 3 with the distal
end 26 of the wick 18 spaced apart from the heatable element 21 to
a second state illustrated in FIG. 4 with the distal end 26 of the
wick 18 abutting the abutment surface 22 of the heatable element 21
for selectively applying the liquid from the container 11 to the
abutment surface 22 of the heatable element 21 for vaporising the
liquid. An urging means comprising a compression spring 23 located
in the bore 12 and appropriately acting between the housing 2 and
the container 11 resiliently urges the container 11 in the
direction of the arrow B outwardly of the vaporising chamber 7 into
the first state, and retains the container 11 in the first state
with the distal end 26 of the wick 18 spaced apart from the
abutment surface 22 of the heatable element 21. The closure cap 16
forms a finger accommodating push button 24 engageable by a finger
or thumb of a person using the vaporising device 1 for manually
urging the container 11 in the direction of the arrow A from the
first state to the second state to thereby selectively apply liquid
from the container 11 to the abutment surface 22 of the heatable
element 21 for vaporising the liquid.
[0060] An outlet port 25 through the housing 2 from the vaporising
chamber 7 engages and accommodates a hollow tubular draw pipe 27
from the vaporising chamber 7 for accommodating an aerosol of the
evaporated liquid therefrom. The draw pipe 27 terminates at its
distal end in a mouthpiece 29 for facilitating drawing on the draw
pipe 27 for drawing the aerosol from the vaporising chamber 7 for
inhaling thereof.
[0061] Air inlet ports 28 through the housing 2 to the vaporising
chamber 7 accommodate air into the vaporising chamber 7 as the
aerosol is being drawn from the vaporising chamber 7 through the
draw pipe 27. Vapour evaporated by the surface 22 of the heatable
member 21 is entrained in the air as it is being drawn through the
vaporising chamber 7 to form the aerosol, which is then drawn
through the draw pipe 27.
[0062] Turning now to the gas powered heater 20, the gas powered
heater 20 is substantially similar to a gas powered heater which is
disclosed in PCT published Application Specification No. WO
2006/082571, and comprises a body member 30 which is constructed
from a number of components all of heat conducting material, which
in this embodiment of the invention is aluminium, and which are in
heat conducting engagement with each other. The body member 30
defines a combustion chamber 32 within which a gas catalytic
combustion element 33 is located for converting fuel gas to heat.
In this embodiment of the invention the gas catalytic combustion
element comprises a perforated metal substrate coated with a
precious metal. A venture mixer 34 formed in the body member 30
mixes air with the fuel gas which is delivered into the venture
mixer 34 by a jet orifice 35, and the gas/air mixture is delivered
from the venture mixer 34 into the combustion chamber 32 through a
diffuser 36.
[0063] A fuel gas reservoir 38 is located in the main chamber 8 for
storing the fuel gas in liquid form. The fuel gas is delivered from
the fuel gas reservoir 38 to the venturi mixer 34 through a fuel
supply pipe 39 and a thermostatic control means, namely, a
thermostatic control valve 40, which is located in the body member
30. The thermostatic control valve 40 controls the temperature of
the body member 30, and in turn the heatable element 21 by
controlling the flow of fuel gas to the venturi mixer 34. A filler
valve 41 is provided for facilitating refilling of the fuel gas
reservoir 38.
[0064] A piezoelectric igniter 42 is located in the main chamber 8
for generating a high voltage which is applied to an electrode 44
which extends into the combustion chamber 32. The electrode 44 is
located adjacent an end 45 of the combustion chamber 32 which
defines a flame combustion chamber 47. The electrode 44 is located
within the flame combustion chamber 47 spaced apart from the
portion of the body member 30 which forms the flame combustion
chamber 47, so that when the high voltage is applied to the
electrode 44 by the piezoelectric igniter 42, a spark arcs from the
electrode 44 to the body member 30 within the flame combustion
chamber 47 for initially igniting the fuel gas to burn in a flame
in the flame combustion chamber 47.
[0065] The gas catalytic combustion element 33 is located relative
to the flame combustion chamber 47 so that the root of the flame
commences to raise the temperature of the gas catalytic combustion
element 33 to its ignition temperature. On being raised to its
ignition temperature, the gas catalytic combustion element 33
commences to convert the fuel gas to heat by catalytic conversion.
In due course the flame is starved of fuel gas and is
extinguished.
[0066] An on/off switch (not shown) in the housing 2 controls an
isolating valve (also not shown) in the fuel supply pipe 39 for
selectively controlling the supply of fuel gas from the reservoir
to the thermostatic control valve 40. A linkage (not shown) in the
housing 2 connects the on/off switch (not shown) to the
piezoelectric igniter 42 for activating the piezoelectric igniter
42 for activating the piezoelectric igniter 42 to apply the high
voltage to the electrode 44 after the isolating valve (not shown)
has been operated into the open state by the on/off switch (not
shown) to ignite the fuel gas/air mixture in the flame combustion
chamber 47 to burn with a flame.
[0067] A thermal mass 48 is secured to a portion of the gas
catalytic combustion element 33. The thermal mass 48 is of heat
conducting material and is sized in order to maintain the portion
of the gas catalytic combustion element 33 adjacent the thermal
mass 48 at its ignition temperature during relatively short periods
while the supply of fuel gas to the combustion chamber 32 is
interrupted by the thermostatic control valve 40 as the temperature
of the body member 30 is being controlled. Thus when fuel gas is
reinstated to the gas catalytic combustion element 33, the portion
of the gas catalytic combustion element 33 adjacent the thermal
mass 48 commences to convert fuel gas to heat. Thereafter, the
remainder of the gas catalytic combustion element 33 rapidly rises
to its ignition temperature.
[0068] These aspects of the gas powered heater 20 and its
operation, as well as the thermostatic control valve 40 and the
thermal mass 48 are described in PCT published Application
Specification No. WO 2006/082571.
[0069] Primary exhaust gas ports 50 extend through the body member
30 from the combustion chamber 32 for accommodating exhaust gases
from the combustion chamber 32 into the main compartment 8. A
plurality of secondary exhaust gas ports 51 extend through the
housing 2 from the main chamber 8 for exhausting the exhaust gases
to atmosphere.
[0070] A portion 54 of the body member 30 extends into a bore 55 in
the heatable element 21 and engages the bore 55 with heat
conducting engagement for transferring heat from the body member 30
to the heatable element 21, and for maintaining the heatable
element 21 at the appropriate temperature for vaporising the liquid
when it is applied to the abutment surface 22 thereof by the wick
18.
[0071] Partition walls 57 located in the main chamber 8 divide the
main chamber 8 into a heater accommodating chamber 58 for
accommodating the heater 20, and a reservoir accommodating chamber
59 for accommodating the fuel gas reservoir 38. Fuel gas from the
combustion chamber 32 is exhausted into the heater accommodating
chamber 58 from where it is in turn exhausted to atmosphere through
the secondary exhaust ports 51. The partition walls 57 sealably
isolate the reservoir chamber 59 from the heater accommodating
chamber 58. The partition wall 10 sealably isolates the vaporising
chamber 7 from the heater accommodating chamber 58 to avoid any
danger of exhaust gases in the heater accommodating chamber 58
entering the vaporising chamber 7. An opening 60 in the partition
wall 10 accommodates the heatable element 21 into the vaporising
chamber 7, and the heatable element 21 is sealably located in the
opening 60, in order to avoid any danger of exhaust gases in the
heater accommodating chamber 58 migrating into the vaporising
chamber 7.
[0072] In use, with the fuel gas reservoir 38 charged with liquid
fuel gas and the container 11 charged with the liquid to be
vaporised, the vaporising device 1 is ready for use. The on/off
switch (not shown) is operated for delivering fuel gas from the
fuel gas reservoir 38 to the combustion chamber 32. Operation of
the on/off switch (not shown) also activates the piezoelectric
igniter 42 to apply the high voltage to the electrode 44, to in
turn produce a spark in the flame combustion chamber 47 which
causes the fuel gas/air mixture from the venture mixer 34 to burn
in a flame in the flame combustion chamber 47. The gas catalytic
combustion element 33 is rapidly raised to its ignition temperature
by the root of the flame burning in the flame combustion chamber
47, and then commences to convert the fuel gas to heat by a
catalytic reaction. Thereafter the flame is quickly starved of fuel
gas and is extinguished. The gas powered heater 20 continues to
operate with the gas catalytic combustion element 33 converting the
fuel gas/air mixture to heat. Heat is conducted from the combustion
chamber 32 through the body member 30 of the heater 20 to the
heatable element 21, which is rapidly raised to an appropriate
temperature by the gas powered heater 20 for evaporating the
liquid.
[0073] When it is desired to inhale an aerosol of vapour of the
liquid, the push button 24 is depressed in the direction of the
arrow A into the housing 2 for urging the container 11 through the
bore 12 from the first state to the second state with the distal
end 26 of the wick 18 engaging the abutment surface 22 of the
heatable element 21, thereby applying liquid from the distal end 26
of the wick 18 from the container 11 to the abutment surface 22 of
the heatable element 21. The liquid is evaporated on coming into
contact with the abutment surface 22 of the heatable element 21. By
drawing on the mouthpiece 29, air is drawn into the vaporising
chamber 7 through the air inlet ports 28 where it entrains the
vapour of the liquid evaporated by the heatable element 21 to form
an aerosol, which is then drawn through the draw pipe 27. On
release of the push button 24, the spring 23 returns the container
11 in the direction of the arrow B to the first state with the
distal end 26 of the wick 18 spaced apart from the heatable element
21.
[0074] The fuel gas supply from the fuel gas reservoir 38 to the
heater 20 is maintained during a session of use of the vaporising
device 1. At the end of a session, the on/off switch (not shown) is
operated into an off state in order to operate the isolating valve
(not shown) in the fuel gas supply pipe 39 into an isolating state
for isolating the heater 20 from the fuel gas reservoir 18. The
thermostatic control valve 40 controls the supply of fuel gas to
the combustion chamber 32 for maintaining the heatable element 21
at the appropriate temperature to vaporise the liquid, both during
periods when the wick 18 is engaged with the heatable element 21
and when the wick 18 is disengaged from the heatable element
21.
[0075] When the container 11 requires to be recharged, the closure
cap 16 is removed from the filling opening 15, and the hollow
interior region 14 of the container 11 is charged with a fresh
supply of the liquid. The closure cap 16 is then sealably engaged
in the filling opening 15.
[0076] Thereafter operation of the vaporising device continues, and
each time a draw of the aerosol is required, the push button 24 is
depressed towards the housing 2 for urging the container 11 from
the first state to the second state for engaging the distal end 26
of the wick 18 with the abutment surface 22 of the heatable element
21 to vaporise the liquid.
[0077] While the liquid to be evaporated may be any suitable
liquid, and may be a mixture of propylene glycol and/or vegetable
glycerine along with one or more flavourings and/or pure nicotine,
in this particular embodiment of the invention the vaporising
device is particularly suitable for vaporising nicotine in a liquid
carrier. Typically, it is envisaged that the nicotine will be
concentrated nicotine in liquid form, and will be carried in a
liquid propylene glycol carrier liquid. Typically, a liquid
flavouring concentrate will also be included in the liquid carrier,
which typically would provide a tobacco flavour, and the tobacco
flavour could be a specific tobacco flavour specific to a
particular type of tobacco plant or a blend of tobacco leaves.
Alternatively, or additionally, a peppermint or other such
flavouring concentrate which would similarly be in liquid form
could be included in the liquid carrier along with the concentrated
liquid nicotine and the liquid tobacco flavouring concentrate, or
instead of the liquid tobacco flavouring concentrate.
[0078] While the means for selectively applying the liquid to be
vaporised to the surface of the heatable element has been described
as being provided by locating the container 11 to be moveable into
and out of the vaporising chamber 7, any other suitable means for
selectively applying the liquid to the heatable element may be
used. For example, in certain cases, the gas powered heater 20 may
be moveable relative to the container for bringing the heatable
element into engagement with the wick.
[0079] It is also envisaged that instead of providing a wick for
applying the liquid from the container 11 to the surface of the
heatable element, any other suitable means for selectively applying
the liquid from the container 11 to the heatable element may be
provided. For example, in certain cases, it is envisaged that a
valve may be provided in the outlet port 17 of the container 11
which would be selectively operable for selective drip feeding of
the liquid in the container 11 onto the abutment surface of the
heatable element. In which case, the container 11 would be fixed
relative to the housing 2, and could be formed as an integral part
of the housing 2. It is also envisaged that a precision drip feed
mechanism may be provided in the outlet port 17 of the container 11
which would be adapted to dispense a specific predefined volume of
the liquid on each activation.
[0080] While the heating means has been described as comprising a
gas powered heater, any other suitable heating means may be
provided. While the gas powered heater has been described as
comprising a gas catalytic combustion element for converting the
fuel gas to heat by a catalytic reaction, it is envisaged in
certain cases that the gas powered heater may be of the type which
converts fuel gas to heat by flame combustion only. It is also
envisaged that the heating means may be provided by an electrical
heating means, for example, an electrically powered heating element
or the like, and in which case, it is envisaged that the
electrically powered heating element may comprise an electrical
resistive heating element, a positive temperature coefficient
element, an electrically powered ceramic heater element, a carbon
heater element, an infrared heater, or heat emitted from a halogen
light bulb.
[0081] While the body member 30 of the heater 20 has been described
as being of aluminium, the body member may be of any other suitable
heat conductive material, for example, brass, copper, or an alloy
or any other suitable material. Additionally, it is envisaged that
the heatable element may be of any other suitable heat conductive
material, for example, brass, copper, or an alloy of any other
suitable material. Further, it is envisaged that the heatable
element may be of a ceramics material, as could the body member of
the heater be of a ceramics material.
[0082] It is also envisaged that instead of providing the heater 20
with a thermostatic control valve, the heater 20 may be provided
without any thermostatic control means, and in which case, it is
envisaged that the heater and the heatable element would be
thermally balanced. This would be achieved by providing the body
member and the heatable element to be of a thermal mass which would
be matched to the heat output produced by the gas catalytic
combustion element, so that the temperature of the heatable element
would be maintained at a substantially constant temperature, which
would be selected to be an appropriate temperature for vaporising
the liquid. Furthermore, where a thermostatic control means is
provided for controlling the flow of fuel gas to the heater, or
where the body member of the heater and the heatable element are
selected to be of a thermal mass to match the heat output of the
gas catalytic combustion element, it will be appreciated that the
thermostatic control means will be set, and the heat output from
the gas catalytic combustion element will be such that the heatable
element will be maintained at a substantially constant temperature,
which will be suitable for evaporating the constituent to be
evaporated from the liquid.
[0083] It is also envisaged that the heatable element may have a
specific thermal capacity, and heat transfer from the heater to the
heatable element would be controlled so that a quantity of heat
corresponding to the thermal capacity of the heatable element would
be transferred from the heater to the heatable element in a
predefined time period. Where the heater is provided as a gas
powered heater with a heat conductive body member, the body member
of the heater would be connected to the heatable element by a heat
transfer means, such as a heat conductive connector which would be
connected to the heater and the heatable element with heat
conducting engagement, and would be sized in order to control the
heat transfer from the heater to the heatable element.
[0084] Needless to say, it is envisaged that the vaporising device
may be adapted for vaporising any liquid, and it will of course be
appreciated that where a thermostatic control means is provided for
controlling the flow of fuel gas to the gas catalytic combustion
element, or where the thermal mass of the body member of the heater
and the heatable element are matched to the heat output from the
gas catalytic combustion element, or where the heatable element is
provided to have a specific thermal mass, it is envisaged that the
temperature at which the heatable element is being maintained will
be a temperature suitable for evaporating the liquid, and in
particular, the constituent carried in the liquid for producing a
vapour thereof in order to form the aerosol.
[0085] While the container for the liquid to be evaporated has been
described as being of cylindrical shape and tapering towards the
outlet port, it will be appreciated that the container for the
liquid to be evaporated may be of any other suitable shape or
construction. Indeed, in certain cases, it is envisaged that the
container may be of square transverse cross-section, rectangular
transverse cross-section, triangular transverse cross-section or
any other polygonal transverse cross-section, oval transverse
cross-section or the like.
[0086] It is also envisaged that the heater may be operated to be
powered up each time a puff of the aerosol is to be drawn from the
vaporising chamber, and on completion of drawing of the puff of the
aerosol, the heater would be deactivated. The heater could be
powered up in response to urging of the applicator means into
engagement with the heatable element, and could be deactivated
after a predefined time period had been timed out after powering
up.
* * * * *