E-cigarette personal vaporizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10015995-B2
Application number	US-201715696476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2017
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A portable, personal storage and carrying case for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV in which the case includes: a refillable PV that is removable from the case; an electrical power source for re-charging a rechargeable battery in the PV; a user-replaceable reservoir for holding e-liquid; and an electrical or electronic pump adapted to transfer e-liquid from the reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the case is configured to automatically fully re-fill the PV with e-liquid and fully charge the PV so that the PV is in a fully re-filled and re-charged state when it is removed from the case.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable, personal storage and carrying case system for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV in which the case system includes:
(a) a case and the e-liquid e-cigarette PV which is a refillable PV that is removable from the case;
(b) an electrical power source for re-charging a rechargeable battery in the PV;
(c) a user-replaceable reservoir for holding e-liquid; and
(d) an electrical or electronic pump adapted to transfer e-liquid from the reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir;
and in which the case is configured to automatically fully re-fill the PV with e-liquid and fully charge the PV so that the PV is in a fully re-filled and re-charged state when it is removed from the case.

2. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case is configured to re-fill the PV with e-liquid when the PV is inserted into the case, without the need to dis-assemble or puncture the PV, maintaining the PV whole and intact.

3. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case displays a visual indication of e-liquid volume remaining in the reservoir.

4. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case includes a hinged compartment for receiving and holding the PV.

5. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case has closed and open positions, and exposes the top of the removable PV when in the open position to enable a user to readily withdraw the PV from the case.

6. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case is configured to lift the PV up to facilitate withdrawal of the PV from the case.

7. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case is lockable to prevent use by unauthorized persons, including under-age persons.

8. The case system of claim 1 , in which the case is lockable remotely from a smartphone app.

9. The case system of claim 1 , in which a smartphone app implements a nicotine reduction or cessation program and controls operation of the case.

10. The case system of claim 1 in which the case automatically locks the PV into a secured re-charging and re-filling position when the case is fully closed for storage and carrying the PV.

11. The case system of claim 1 which includes a locking system to lock the PV securely in a heating position during which time the PV is heating using power from a power source in the case and, after the PV has been sufficiently heated, to release the locking system.

12. The case system of claim 1 , in which the refillable PV is approximately the same size as a cigarette and it includes no ‘on’ button.

13. The case system of claim 1 , in which the refillable PV ceases to work once e-liquid equivalent to a single cigarette has been consumed, but will resume after re-filling in the case.

14. The case system of claim 1 , in which the PV includes indicators that show when e-liquid equivalent to a single cigarette is present in the PV.

15. The case system of claim 1 , in which the PV includes indicators that show when e-liquid equivalent to a single cigarette has been consumed.

16. The case system of claim 1 in which the pump is a peristaltic pump.

17. The case system of claim 1 , in which the reservoir is not user-refillable.

18. The case system of claim 1 , in which the reservoir includes a unique identifier chip.

19. The case system of claim 1 in which the user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir fits in the case or is otherwise attached to the case.

20. The case system of claim 1 in which the user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir is designed in normal use to permit e-liquid to escape only if the reservoir is correctly positioned in the case.

21. The case system of claim 1 in which the e-liquid capacity of the user replaceable reservoir is at least three times greater than the e-liquid capacity of the chamber in the PV.

22. The case system of claim 1 in which the case includes an overflow channel or return path that enables excess e-liquid that is pumped up from the reservoir but is not stored in the PV to be captured and returned to the reservoir.

23. The case system of claim 1 in which the case or the user-replaceable reservoir detects the level of e-liquid or the quantity of e-liquid in the user-replaceable reservoir.

24. The case system of claim 1 which includes a data processor that controls sending a signal requesting a replacement for the user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir in the case.

25. The case system of claim 1 which includes a data processor that controls sending a signal reminding the user that a replacement is needed for the user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir in the case.

26. A user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir for dispensing e-liquid, inserted into, or otherwise attached to, a portable, personal storage and carrying case for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV and engaging with an electrical or electronic pump fluid transfer system in the case, the case forming part of a case system, the case system including:
(a) the e-liquid e-cigarette PV, which is a refillable PV that is removable from the case;
(b) an electrical power source in the case for re-charging a rechargeable battery in the PV; and
(c) an electrical or electronic pump in the case, being configured to transfer e-liquid from the e-liquid reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir;
and in which the case is configured to automatically fully re-fill the PV with e-liquid and fully charge the PV so that the PV is in a fully re-filled and re-charged state when it is removed from the case.

27. A method of operating a portable, personal e-cigarette system, the method including the steps of:
(a) inserting a refillable PV into a storage and carrying case for the PV;
(b) inserting or attaching a user-replaceable reservoir for holding e-liquid to the case;
(c) recharging the PV with an electrical power source in the case;
(d) operating an electrical or electronic pump in the case to transfer e-liquid from the reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir;
and in which the case is configured to automatically fully re-fill the PV with e-liquid and fully charge the PV so that the PV is in a fully re-filled and re-charged state when it is removed from the case.

Assignees

• Beyond Twenty Ltd

Inventors

• Memari Kaveh
• Bennett Adrian
• Murison Ian
• Marsh Stephen

Classifications

• A24F40/50

  Control or monitoring · CPC title

• A24F40/40

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• A24F40/485

  Valves; Apertures · CPC title

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title