E-cigarette personal vaporizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12490776-B2
Application number	US-202318464807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2023
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

A user-replaceable e-liquid reservoir for dispensing e-liquid, the reservoir being inserted into, or otherwise attached to, a portable, personal e-cigarette device and engaging with an electrical or electronic pump fluid transfer system in the device, the device including: an electrical or electronic pump, being configured to transfer e-liquid from the e-liquid reservoir to an atomizing unit in the device, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the reservoir is not user-refillable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A portable, personal, battery powered, nicotine delivery system comprising: (a) a portable charger including a main battery; (b) a user-replaceable, consumable item that includes nicotine; (c) a personal vaporizing device (PV) that is storable in and removable from the portable charger and includes a secondary battery that is re-charged from the main battery; in which the user-replaceable, consumable item is configured to be pressed on to the end of the PV by an end-user and to securely engage with the PV;
in which the portable charger includes a recess positioned along one side of the portable charger and that is configured to receive the PV, and in which the recess is configured to be exposed along its length; and in which the portable charger includes a locking mechanism at one end of the recess that is configured to engage with one end of the PV to secure that end of the PV in position in the recess; and in which the PV includes circular electrical contacts that are configured to engage with electrical contact fingers in the portable charger when the PV is stored in the portable charger; and in which at least some of the electrical contact fingers in the portable charger are spring-biased.

2 . The system of claim 1 in which the circular electrical contacts are positioned at an end of the PV that is furthest from the end of the PV to which the user-replaceable, consumable item that includes nicotine is pressed.

3 . The system of claim 1 in which there are at least three electrical contact fingers that are spring-biased.

4 . The system of claim 1 in which the circular electrical contacts on the PV receive power and send data.

5 . The system of claim 1 in which the portable charger is generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the side, with a major axis passing through the generally rectangular shape;
and in which the portable charger is further configured to receive the PV only when the PV is presented to the portable charger at an angle to the major axis of the portable charger, and not when the PV is presented to the portable charger parallel to the major axis of the portable charger.

6 . The system of claim 5 in which the angle is approximately 15 to 20 degrees.

7 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is shaped as a generally cylindrical tube with, at one end, a tapering section with a substantially flat, end surface.

8 . The system of claim 1 in which the recess is configured to be exposed along a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the PV.

9 . The system of claim 1 in which, when the PV is stored in the recess, the PV is configured to be connected to electrical power contacts and to data contacts in the portable charger.

10 . The system of claim 1 in which the system automatically detects that the PV has been removed from the recess when electrical contact between the PV and charging contact in the portable charger is broken.

11 . The system of claim 1 in which the portable charger includes a spring biased mechanism that engages with an end section of the PV, locking the PV into position in the portable charger.

12 . The system of claim 11 in which the spring biased mechanism is configured to move linearly from a first position in which it is not physically engaged with the PV and a second position in which it secures the PV in position.

13 . The system of claim 11 in which the spring biased mechanism is configured to engage with a channel around the top of the PV.

14 . The system of claim 11 in which when the spring biased mechanism dis-engages with the PV, the PV can be extracted from the portable charger.

15 . The system of claim 1 which stores and transmits data, relating to consumption of the nicotine containing substance, from the system to another device, using a wireless or non-wireless connection.

16 . The system of claim 1 which includes a wireless connection circuit to connect the system to a smartphone app that enables a user to monitor and/or alter the performance of the system.

17 . The system of claim 1 which includes a wireless connection circuit to connect the system to a smartphone app that enables a user to monitor consumption of the nicotine containing substance.

18 . The system of claim 1 which includes a wireless connection circuit to connect the system to a smartphone app that enables a user to purchase or order the nicotine containing substance.

19 . The system of claim 1 which is configured to be locked or disabled to prevent under-age or unauthorised use.

20 . The system of claim 1 which is configured to be locked or disabled to prevent under-age or unauthorised use and can be unlocked using data sent or exchanged with an authorised user's smartphone.

21 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to provide an indication to show a charge level of the secondary battery.

22 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to provide a signal to a user that the PV is ready for use when a charge level of the secondary battery is sufficient.

23 . The system of claim 22 in which the signal includes an indicator light, or touch feedback, or a haptic or vibration signal.

24 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to display a light signal when the PV is due to cease to operate because nicotine substantially equivalent to smoking a single combustible cigarette has been consumed.

25 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to provide a haptic signal, when the PV is due to cease to operate because nicotine substantially equivalent to a single combustible cigarette has been consumed.

26 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to display an indication to a user that the PV is able to provide only one more puff or inhalation of nicotine vapor before it will cease to operate.

27 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to display an indication to a user that the PV is able to provide only two more puffs or inhalations of nicotine vapor before it will cease to operate.

28 . The system of claim 1 in which the user-replaceable, consumable item includes an amount of substance equivalent to a single cigarette.

29 . The system of claim 1 in which the user-replaceable, consumable item includes contents that are heatable by a heating element in the user-replaceable, consumable item, to create heated, inhalable nicotine vapour.

30 . The system of claim 1 in which the user-replaceable, consumable item that includes nicotine is in use heated by a heating element in the user-replaceable, consumable item, that (i) draws power from the secondary battery in the PV and (ii) is positioned along a long axis of the PV, or parallel to airflow that will in ordinary use pass over the heating element.

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• G01F23/00

  Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm · CPC title