U.S. patent application number 13/972639 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-27 for herbal retention device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Vaporfection International, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Vaporfection International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Herbert F. Postma.
Application Number | 20140053832 13/972639 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50146904 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140053832 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Postma; Herbert F. |
February 27, 2014 |
HERBAL RETENTION DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention provides a novel herbal retention device
for use with a vaporizing unit. More specifically, the present
invention provides a high-temperature resistant permeable herbal
container body defining an herbal retention area, a selectively
openable aperture at an upper portion, the upper portion further
defining a first set of apertures sized to permit vapor to exit the
herbal retention area, and a lower portion, the lower portion
defining a second set of apertures sized to permit hot air to enter
but no herbal residue to exit the herbal retention area.
Inventors: |
Postma; Herbert F.; (Boca
Raton, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Vaporfection International, Inc. |
Boca Raton |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Vaporfection International,
Inc.
Boca Raton
FL
|
Family ID: |
50146904 |
Appl. No.: |
13/972639 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61691626 |
Aug 21, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/202.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 47/004
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/202.21 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Claims
1. An herbal vaporization container comprising: an upper portion
defining a selectively openable main aperture, a plurality of vapor
exhaust apertures, and a container retention portion further
defining a plurality of interlocking grooves; and a lower portion
defining an herbal retention area and a plurality of air intake
apertures sized to permit hot air enter but no herbal residue to
exit the herbal retention area.
2. The herbal vaporization container of claim 1, wherein: the
container is of a high temperature resistant material.
3. The herbal vaporization container of claim 1, wherein: the
plurality of air intake apertures, the herbal retention area, and
the plurality of vapor exhaust apertures are in fluid communication
with one another so that hot air may enter the plurality of air
intake apertures to vaporize the contents within the herbal
retention area and exit the plurality of vapor exhaust
apertures.
4. The herbal vaporization container of claim 1, further
comprising: a high temperature resistant cap: having a plurality of
protrusions extending outwardly therefrom; and being demountably
couplable with the selective openable main aperture at the upper
portion by at least the plurality of protrusions.
5. The herbal vaporization container of claim 4, wherein: the high
temperature resistant cap defines a plurality of apertures.
6. The herbal vaporization container of claim 1, further
comprising: a container-insert demountably disposed within the
herbal retention area.
7. The herbal vaporization container of claim 6, wherein: the
container-insert is shaped to stackably mate with a second
container insert.
8. The herbal vaporization container of claim 6, further
comprising: a high temperature resistant cap selectively mateable
with the upper portion of the container that prevents removal of
herbs from the container when mated.
9. The herbal vaporization container of claim 1, wherein: the upper
portion is shaped to demountable couplable to a vaporizer
machine.
10. An herbal vaporization container comprising: a high temperature
resistant body defining an herbal retention area including: a lower
portion defining a plurality of air intake apertures sized to
permit hot air to enter and prevent removal of herbal residue from
the herbal retention area; and an upper portion defining a
selectively openable aperture and a container retention portion;
and a high temperature cap demountably couplable with the
selectively openable aperture, the high temperature cap having a
first plurality of vapor exhaust apertures around the circumference
of a vertical area of the cap and a second plurality of vapor
exhaust apertures on a horizontal area of the cap.
11. The herbal vaporization container of claim 10, wherein: the
plurality of air intake apertures, the herbal retention area, the
first plurality of vapor exhaust apertures, and the second
plurality of vapor exhaust apertures are in fluid communication
with one another so that hot air may enter the plurality of air
intake apertures to vaporize the contents within the herbal
retention area and exit the first and second plurality of vapor
exhaust apertures.
12. The herbal vaporization container of claim 10, wherein: a
container-insert demountably disposed within the herbal retention
area.
13. The herbal vaporization container of claim 12, wherein: the
container-insert is shaped to stackably mate with a second
container insert.
14. The herbal vaporization container of claim 12, wherein: the
high temperature resistant cap prevents removal of herbs from the
container when mated to the selectively openable aperture.
15. A method of vaporizing and transporting herbs, the method
comprising: providing an herbal vaporization container with: an
upper portion defining a selectively openable main aperture, a
plurality of vapor exhaust apertures, and a container retention
portion further defining a plurality of interlocking grooves; and a
lower portion defining an herbal retention area and a plurality of
air intake apertures sized to permit hot air enter but no herbal
residue to exit the herbal retention area. pulling hot air into the
plurality of air intake apertures and into the herbal retention
area; causing the hot air to vaporize herbs in the herbal retention
area; and pulling the vapor from the herbal retention area and
through the plurality of vapor exhaust apertures.
16. The herbal vaporization container of claim 15, further
comprising, a container-insert demountably disposed within the
herbal retention area.
17. The herbal vaporization container of claim 15, wherein, the
container-insert is shaped to stackably mate with a second
container insert.
18. The herbal vaporization container of claim 15, wherein, a
high-temperature resistant cap selectively mateable with the upper
portion of the container that prevents removal of herbs from the
container when mated.
19. The herbal vaporization container of claim 15, wherein, the
upper portion is shaped to demountable couplable to a vaporizer
machine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional
patent application No. 61/691,626, filed Aug. 21, 2012, and claims
priority thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention provides a novel herbal retention
device for use with a vaporizing unit. More specifically, the
present invention provides a permeable herbal container utilized in
combination with a convection-based vaporizing unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A vaporizer is a device used to extract the active
ingredients of plant material, e.g., cannabis, tobacco, or other
herbs or blends, for inhalation by a human. Vaporization involves
heating a material so that its active compounds boil off into a
vapor. As opposed to smoking, i.e., burning, vaporization avoids
the production of irritating, toxic, and carcinogenic by-products.
In fact, no combustion occurs, so no smoke or taste of smoke is
present. Studies show that vapor contains substantially zero
particulate matter or tar, and, in comparison to smoking,
significantly lower concentrations of noxious gases such as carbon
monoxide. It has also been shown that, in comparison to other drug
delivery methods, such as ingestion, vaporization has a more rapid
onset of pharmacological effect, direct delivery into the
bloodstream (via the lungs), and more precise titration such that
the desired level is reached and not exceeded, enabling consistent
and appropriate dosage.
[0004] Herbal vaporizers have made advances as they have gained
popularity over the past few years. They have gone from crude
devices with simple heating elements to microchip-controlled units
that allow you to "tune" the temperature precisely.
[0005] Most vaporizer units today use containers where the herb
material is placed for convection heating. Convection heating is
the process by which air is heated to a certain point; the heated
air is then transferred to another substance over a certain amount
of time. Subsequently, these container units (with the herb inside)
are heated by the air then drawn through the herb material to begin
the vaporization process. Current containers are made out of either
a metallic mesh or a metal tray. Once the herb is vaporized, the
waste material, a sticky substance, is hard to remove from a mesh
or tray. Since the mesh material becomes non-reusable, most
vaporizer units require continuous changing of the herb container
between uses.
[0006] One of the disadvantages of changing the herb container
every time is that herbs can give out essence many times over,
hence wasting a lot of herb. Other problems with current containers
are that the herbs can spill over during transportation. Therefore,
a user is more inclined to leave the vaporizer unit fixed at one
location. Yet another issue is storage; current herb containers do
not include a lid or cap that allows the herbs to be stored between
uses.
[0007] Many users would like to use different herbs for
simultaneous vaporization without contamination of the containers.
Multiple stacks of different herbs are not permissible with current
vaporizer containers without contamination. Other users use one
type of herb on the weekend and another during the week, having to
waste a lot of containers with every change.
[0008] Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the
prior art as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention provides an herbal retention device that
overcomes the herein afore-mentioned disadvantages of the
heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type.
[0010] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, an herbal vaporization
container having an upper portion that defines a selectively
openable main apertures, a plurality of vapor exhaust apertures,
and a container retention portion further defining a plurality of
interlocking grooves. The container further includes a lower
portion defining an herbal retention area and a plurality of air
intake apertures sized to permit hot air to enter but no herbal
residue to exit the herbal retention area.
[0011] In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the
present invention includes a container that is of a high
temperature-resistant material. In accordance with a further
feature of the present invention, the herbal vaporization container
includes a plurality of air intake apertures, the herbal retention
area, and the plurality of vapor exhaust apertures are in fluid
communication with one another so that hot air may enter the
plurality of air intake apertures to vaporize the contents within
the herbal retention area and exit the plurality of vapor exhaust
apertures.
[0012] In accordance with a further feature of the present
invention, a high-temperature resistant body defines an herbal
retention area. The herbal retention area includes a lower portion
defining a plurality of air intake apertures sized to permit hot
air to enter and to prevent removal of herbal residue from the
herbal retention area; and an upper portion defining a selectively
openable aperture and a container retention portion.
[0013] In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the
present invention also includes a high-temperature cap demountably
couplable with the selectively openable aperture, the
high-temperature cap having a first plurality of vapor exhaust
apertures around the circumference of a vertical area of the cap
and a second plurality of vapor exhaust apertures on a horizontal
area of the cap.
[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a method for
vaporizing and transporting herbs is disclosed by following the
steps of: providing an herbal vaporization container with an upper
portion defining a selectively openable main aperture, a plurality
of vapor exhaust apertures, and a container retention portion
further defining a plurality of interlocking grooves; and a lower
portion defining an herbal retention area and a plurality of air
intake apertures sized to permit hot air to enter but no herbal
residue to exit the herbal retention area; pulling hot air into the
plurality of air intake apertures and into the herbal retention
area; causing the hot air to vaporize herbs in the herbal retention
area; and pulling the vapor from the herbal retention area and
through the plurality of vapor exhaust apertures.
[0015] In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the
present invention includes a high-temperature resistant cap
selectively mateable with the upper portion of the container that
prevents removal of herbs from the container when mated.
[0016] In accordance with a further feature of the present
invention, a container-insert is demountably disposed within the
herbal retention area and the container insert is shaped to
stackably mate with a second container insert.
[0017] Although the invention is illustrated and described as
embodied in an herbal retention device, it is, nevertheless, not
intended to be limited to the details shown because various
modifications and structural changes may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and
range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known
elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be
described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the
relevant details of the invention.
[0018] Other features that are considered as characteristic for the
invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required,
detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;
however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are
merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various
forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details
disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely
as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for
teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the
present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not
intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable
description of the invention. While the specification concludes
with claims defining the features of the invention that are
regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better
understood from a consideration of the following description in
conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference
numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not
drawn to scale.
[0019] Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it
is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the
purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not
intended to be limiting. The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are
defined as one or more than one. The term "plurality," as used
herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term "another," as
used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms
"including" and/or "having," as used herein, are defined as
comprising (i.e., open language). The term "coupled" or "couplable"
as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily
directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
[0020] As used herein, the terms "about" or "approximately" apply
to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These
terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in
the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e.,
having the same function or result). In many instances these terms
may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant
figure.
[0021] As used in the specification and in the claims, the term
"demountably couplable" refers to the ability to be repeatedly
removed and reattached multiple times. One non-limiting example of
a demountably couplable relationship is a screw cap on a soda
bottle. Demountably couplable may include the use of multiple types
of mechanical couplings, magnetic coupling, locks, glues, and many
more.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views and which together with the detailed description
below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve
to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various
principles and advantages all in accordance with the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a downward-looking perspective view of the herbal
holding container showing an herbal retention area that allows hot
air to enter through the lower portion and vapor to exit through
the upper portion;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a is an elevational side view of the herbal
holding container of FIG. 1 and shows hot air entering a first set
of apertures on the lower portion and vapor exiting a second set of
apertures on the upper portion;
[0025] FIG. 3 is an elevational partial side view of the herbal
holding container of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing an interlocking groove
in the upper portion of the container body at the container
retention portion;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a is an elevational side view of the herbal
holding container of FIG. 1 and shows a cap without apertures in
the upper portion of the container locked in the container
retention portion;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevational side view of the
herbal holding container of FIG. 4 and depicts stackable inserts
inside with different herbs and a cap without apertures in the
upper portion of the container locked in the container retention
portion by using interlocking grooves and protrusions;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a top inside view of a stackable insert previously
shown in FIG. 5 outside of the herbal holding container body,
showing a plurality of apertures;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a downward-looking perspective view of the inside
of the container cap, showing a first set of cap-apertures on its
horizontal area and a second set of cap-apertures around its
circumferential vertical area;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a downward-looking perspective view of an
embodiment of the container cap of FIG. 7 turned upside-down,
showing a first set of apertures on its horizontal area and a
second set of apertures around it circumferential vertical
area;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a top view inward of the container cap of FIG. 7
showing a first set of apertures on its horizontal area and
protrusions to lock the cap in place;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the container cap
of FIG. 9 showing a first set of apertures on its horizontal area,
and a second set of apertures around its circumferential vertical
area, and protrusions to lock the cap in place;
[0033] FIG. 11 is side view of another exemplary embodiment of an
herbal holding container with a cap locked into place, showing a
first set of apertures on its horizontal area (hidden lines), and a
second set of apertures around its circumferential vertical area
and protrusions; and
[0034] FIG. 12 an elevational, partially cross-sectional, front
view of a portable hand-held vaporizer assembly in accordance with
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] While the specification concludes with claims defining the
features of the invention regarded as novel, it is believed that
the invention will be better understood with the following
description with the drawing figures, in which like reference
numerals are carried forward. The disclosed embodiments are merely
exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various
forms.
[0036] The present invention provides a novel and efficient
permeable herbal holding container, which can include a cap to seal
the herbs inside. Embodiments of the invention also provide several
container-inserts. Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated in a downward-looking perspective
view. FIG. 1 shows several advantageous features of the present
invention, but the invention can be provided in several shapes,
sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers
and functions of the components.
[0037] The first example of a permeable herbal holding container
100, as shown in FIG. 1, is an herbal holding container 100 that
includes an herbal retention area 111, a container retention
portion 117, a lower portion 105, and an upper portion 109. On the
upper portion 109 is a selective openable aperture 113 the size of
the container radius, and a first set of apertures 115 along the
circumference of the container body 107. In this embodiment of the
herbal holding container 100, hot air 101 may enter through a
plurality of apertures 103 at the lower portion 105 of the
container body 107 and exit to the upper portion 109 of the
container. Separating the upper portion 109 and lower portion 105
is an herbal retention area 111, wherein the herbs (not shown) are
stored. Usually herbal container 100 is mounted on a vaporizing
unit (not shown) using container retention portion 117 at the upper
portion 109 of the container. As an alternative, the container
retention portion 117 can also secure a cap (not shown).
[0038] A more detailed view of the functionality of the herbal
holding container 100 is depicted in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a side view
of the permeable herbal holding container 100. As previously seen
in FIG. 1, at the upper portion 109 of the container body 107 the
container retention portion 117 is located. The retention portion
117 may include one or more interlocking grooves 207 sized to
receive and demountably couple with a portion of the vaporizing
unit. In FIG. 1, the container retention portion 117, if removed
from the vaporizing unit, can also be demountably coupled with a
cap for transporting the herbs with no spillage.
[0039] The herbal holding container 100 should be usually used in
connection with a vaporizing device for the vaporization of plant
leaves or herbs 201 for medicinal or recreational uses. During
vaporization, the air 101 is elevated to a sufficiently high
temperature (such as between about 350 and 400.degree. F.), to flow
through apertures 103 at the lower portion 105 of the herbal
retention area 111. A user would load herbs 201 into the herbal
retention area 111 for vaporization. When the air 101 comes in
contact with the herbs 201, the water plus the active ingredients
inside the herb's 201 foliage is boiled off into a vapor 203. The
vapor 203 then flows through the second set of apertures 115 at the
upper portion 109 of the container body 107. Successively, the
vaporized herb ingredients may then pass to a user for inhalation.
Vaporization as used in the specification and in the claims is the
conversion of any liquid into its gaseous state.
[0040] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the apertures 103 at the lower
portion 105 of the container body 107 are sized to allow fluid such
as air to enter, but small enough to prevent herbal
particulate-waste, that has accrued because of the vaporization
process, from exiting. Vaporization 203 happens at lower
temperatures than the boiling point through the surface phenomenon
known as evaporation, and as the temperature of the liquid
increases so does its vapor pressure. Even in the plant leaves of
herbs 201, vaporization happens at its highest, at the boiling
point. The boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor
pressure of the liquid equals the pressure of the atmosphere on the
liquid. At the boiling point, most of the molecular bonds that hold
the molecular structure together are broken and the particles move
freely and apart as vapor 203. The temperature of a liquid in
plants such as herbs 201 for vaporization will not exceed its
boiling point.
[0041] Most herbs 201 such as those depicted in FIG. 2, are made of
water or substances with water-like qualities. The herbal
vaporization temperatures range from 212.degree. F. (100.degree.
C.) to 392.degree. F. (200.degree. C.). Temperatures higher than
392.degree. F. (200.degree. C.) are not recommended because that is
approximately when tars (particulates) and carcinogens such as
benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, napthalene, toluene,
etc., are released. A liquid's normal boiling point is the
temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to the standard
sea-level atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg=760 mm [29.92 inches] of
mercury). The normal boiling point of water is 100.degree. C.
(212.degree. F.). At higher altitudes, the temperature of the
boiling point is lower, and, at lower altitudes, it is higher.
[0042] Since thermal fluctuations are an issue as the hot and cool
air enters the herbal holding container 100 several times over, the
herbal holding container 100 should be made with a material having
a thermal expansion coefficient sufficient to maintain its
structural integrity. To sustain the temperature fluctuations, in
one embodiment the herbal holding container 100 may be made from
metals, such as aluminum or steel. In other embodiments, the
container may be made with polymers (such as TEFLON), composites,
or other similar materials. TEFLON polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that has a high
melting point of 600 K (327.degree. C.; 620.degree. F.). Another
material that could be used in an herbal holding container 100 is
silicone, a material able to withstand temperatures up to
260.degree. C. (500.degree. F.); there have been several advances
in the art to form silicone into cups and other complex shapes.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a detailed partial side view of the retention
portion 117, as it includes one or more interlocking grooves 207
sized to receive a portion of the vaporizing unit or a cap (shown
in FIG. 4 as 400) along the selective openable aperture 113 (shown
previously in FIG. 1). The retention portion 117 is utilized for
locking the container within a vaporizing unit or cap. Here, the
interlocking grooves 207 were made as female grooves, i.e. able to
be coupled with male protrusions (not shown). In other embodiments,
the container may include the male-locking protrusions and the
vaporizing unit may have the female-locking grooves, forming a
male-female attachment. Other male-female interlocking mechanisms
can be envisioned without affecting the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0044] One of the many advantageous features of the herbal holding
container 100 is that it allows the herb foliage to be stored in a
compact and easily transportable container body 107 without having
to transport the herb by itself As shown in FIG. 4, the container
body 107 couples with a cap 400 on the upper portion 109 by using
the container retention portion 117. The herbal holding container
100 is designed to be effectively and efficiently inserted into a
vaporizing unit for use by unlocking the cap 401 and using the same
interlocking grooves 207 of FIG. 3 to demountably couple the
vaporizing machine.
[0045] FIG. 5 is the cross-sectional section side view of FIG. 4,
showing the inside contents of the herb container 100 as a portable
container within several stacked container inserts 500 inside.
After evaporation of water inside the leaves, the particulate waste
residue left behind is a thin film of green or dark brown slush.
The reason the residue sticks to the walls of the container, or
mesh, is because it is mostly composed of cuticle. Cuticle is a
waxy layer covering the leaf surface just above the upper dermis.
The cuticle is a complex matrix of materials that includes fibers
and waxes such as cutin and pectin. To prevent leaf particulate
waxes from sticking to the inside of container body 107, container
inserts such as 500A and 500B are used. Container inserts such as
500A or 500B fit within the volume of the container body 107 and
are stackable, or placed one of top of the other allowing the herbs
inside to be separated as the vaporization takes place and never
touch the inside of the container body 107.
[0046] FIG. 5 also shows how the herbal retention area 111 meets
the container retention portion 117 at the upper portion 109 and
the cap 400 demountably couples and seals the selective openable
aperture 113. Here multiple stackable container-inserts 500A-B
prevent contamination from different herbs comingling with each
other. A top view of a container insert 500A-B is shown in FIG. 6,
as it depicts several apertures 501 on the bottom of the insert
500A-B. Apertures 501 are sized to permit hot air to enter but no
herbal residue to exit the individual container inserts 500A-B. As
the hot air flows from the bottom portion 105 to the upper portion
109 of the container body 107, vaporization occurs at each
individual container-insert such as 500A and 500B.
[0047] There are several advantages to stackable container-inserts
500A-n (hereinafter multiple container-inserts as 500) inside of
the herbal retention area 111, as best illustrated in FIG. 5.
First, the waxy particulate residue will stick to a container
insert 500 designated for that particular herb and not to the
container body 107. Also, after consumption, the container-inserts
500 are easily removable for a refill of more herbs. A user will
use a single type of herb 509, or a mixture of herbs, herb 201 and
herb 509, inside the herbal retention area 111 without
cross-contamination. In FIG. 5, herb 201 is disposed in the
container-insert 500A and herb 509 is disposed into
container-insert 500B. In this embodiment, up to four
containers-inserts, such as 500, would fit stacked inside container
body 107. Several embodiments can be envisioned to stack over four
container-inserts 500 at one time. As the hot air comes through the
first set of apertures 103 at the lower portion 105 of the herbal
retention area 111, it further moves into the apertures at the
bottom container-inserts 500. In each container-insert 500 hot air
is allow to vaporize its content and then move to the next
container-insert, until exiting the second set of apertures 115 at
the upper portion 109 of the container body 107.
[0048] Another advantage of the stackable inserts 500A-B as seen
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is that a user can carry and transport multiple
herbs in a single sealed herbal holding container 100. The
container cap 401 is made to cover the selectively openable
aperture 113 to prevent any herb from spilling during
transportation. Cap 400 in this view is locked into place at
container retention portion 117 by interlocking grooves 207 and
solid protrusions 503. In this embodiment, cap 400 contains no
apertures and is a solid cap. Here a variety of herbs can be
transported in its separate container-inserts such as 500A and
500B, before or after use. The container-inserts such as 500A and
500B can also be removed and swapped for filled ones.
[0049] FIGS. 7-9 depict an embodiment of the cap 400 of FIGS. 4-5.
FIG. 7 is a downward-looking perspective view of a cap 700. FIG. 8
is an upside-down view of the cap 700 of FIG. 7. Here, a first set
of cap-apertures 701 are shown covering the horizontal area 705 of
the cap 700 and a second set of cap-apertures 702 along its
circumference vertical area 707. Both cap-apertures 701 and 702 are
sized to permit vapor, but not herbal residue, to exit the cap 700.
In this embodiment, protrusions 703 are thru-hole or open as
compared to closed-protrusions. Open-protrusions such as the ones
depicted with reference number 703 are outward stretching
structures that reassemble a nipple, a mound, or a volcano with a
thru-hole going through its center portion. The open-protrusion 703
allows more vapor to exit the cap 700 when placed on top of a
container body 107 (not shown). As shown previously in FIG. 5 and
FIG. 1, as the hot air flows from the bottom portion 105 to the
upper portion 109, vapor will exit both open-protrusions 703 and
cap-apertures 702 on cap 700.
[0050] FIG. 10 should be viewed in conjunction with FIG. 9; cap 700
of FIG. 10 is cross-section of FIG. 9 that shows the inside of cap
700. Here, three protrusions 703 are placed around the
circumference of cap 700. More than three protrusions 703 can be
placed, preferably, in asymmetrical locations around the
circumference of cap 700.
[0051] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the cap 700 of
FIG. 9. A cross-section of open-protrusions 703 can be seen with
area cap-apertures 701 and circumference cap-apertures 702. The cap
700 can be made out of the same temperature-resistant materials
described above.
[0052] Both the container body and the cap are expected to
experience temperature extremes (from room temperature to the
evaporation temperature of water), typically at relatively high
rates of change. It is desirable for the cap and the herb container
body to be made out of the same materials, since temperature
fluctuations will cause stresses that ultimately lead to defects by
inducing failure through thermal fatigue.
[0053] In another embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 11, the
container body 1101 is formed with no apertures on the upper
portion 109 of the container. In this embodiment, the hot air flows
from a bottom portion 105, though an herbal retention area 1105 to
an upper portion 109 of the container, and then through exit area
cap-apertures 701, the second set of cap-apertures 702, and
open-protrusions 703. In this embodiment, there is no need for the
container body 1101 to have apertures in the upper portion 109
since the cap 700 provide for the vaporized herb to exit.
[0054] A portable herb container with a cap has been disclosed in
several embodiments. Within the portable herb container, several
stacked container-inserts have also been disclosed. The foregoing
description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the
general nature of the invention that others can, by applying
knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt
for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue
experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the
present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications
are within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed
embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein.
The phraseology or terminology is for description and not of
limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present
specification is interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the
teachings and guidance. The breadth and scope of the present
invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary
embodiments, but should be defined only under the following claims
and their equivalents.
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