E-cigarette personal vaporizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12501943-B2
Application number	US-202318464774-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2023
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 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 an 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 that is configured to receive the PV, and in which the recess is configured to be exposed along its length; and the portable charger includes, at one end of the recess, a stem or protuberance configured to engage with a hollow or shaft region positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the PV; and at the opposite end of the recess, the portable charger includes a locking mechanism that is configured to engage with one end of the PV to secure that end of the PV in position in a storage region.

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

3 . 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.

4 . 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.

5 . 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.

6 . 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.

7 . The system of claim 6 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.

8 . The system of claim 6 in which the spring biased mechanism is configured to engage with a channel around a top of the PV.

9 . The system of claim 6 in which when the spring biased mechanism disengages with the PV, the PV can be extracted from the portable charger.

10 . 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.

11 . 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 performance of the system.

12 . 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.

13 . 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.

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

15 . 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.

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

17 . 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 the charge level of the secondary battery is sufficient.

18 . The system of claim 17 in which the signal includes an indicator light, or touch feedback, or a haptic or vibration signal.

19 . 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.

20 . 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.

21 . 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.

22 . 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.

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

24 . 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.

25 . 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.

26 . The system of claim 1 in which the PV is configured to receive a user-replaceable, consumable item that includes nicotine, when the PV is not stored in a portable charger.

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