METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRETREATING AN ATOMIZER

Abstract

Various embodiments of the subject technology may provide methods and apparatus for pretreating an atomizer. The methods and apparatus for pretreating the atomizer may include applying an aerosol-forming mixture to the atomizer during a first time period. The methods and apparatus for pretreating the atomizer may further include applying a terpene mixture to the atomizer during a second time period.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/221,386, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, and incorporates the disclosure of the application in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

State of the Art

“Vape” devices and heat-not-burn (HNB) devices (collectively, the “vaporizer devices”) present an alternative to smoking and work by vaporizing a consumable flower, such as cannabis, tobacco, etc. by heating the flower at a lower temperature than an open flame so that a user can inhale the flower in vapor form, rather than smoke.

A conventional vaporizer device typically has a chamber for holding the flower and a small, heated coil, in contact with the chamber. A current is typically passed through the coil, heating the chamber and the flower contained therein. However, the flower contained in the chamber of a conventional vaporizer device is ineffective at producing enough vapor when heated. Accordingly, a conventional vaporizer device may be ineffective at activating various terpenes found in the flower, thereby failing to bring out pleasant flavors and aromas of the flower.

Existing systems and methods have attempted various solutions by, for example, re-engineering the flower, such as by treating it with a variety of humectants, but they have not sufficiently addressed the need of the vaporizer industry owing to their ineffectiveness and complexity. Thus, conventional systems and methods, if implemented, have not been successful in effectively activating various flavors and aromas of the flower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the subject technology may provide methods and apparatus for pretreating an atomizer. The methods and apparatus for pretreating the atomizer may comprise applying an aerosol-forming mixture to the atomizer during a first time period. The methods and apparatus for pretreating the atomizer may further comprise applying a terpene mixture to the atomizer during a second time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the subject technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vaporizer system in accordance with an embodiment of the subject technology;

FIG. 2 representatively illustrates an atomizer in accordance with an embodiment of the subject technology; and

FIG. 3 representatively illustrates a flow diagram for pretreating an atomizer in accordance with an embodiment of the subject technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The subject technology may be described in terms of functional block components. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the subject technology may employ various aerosol-forming mixtures, atomizers, batteries, chambers, containers, circuitry, coils, heating elements, inlets, layers, outlets, terpene mixtures, mixtures, solutions, wires, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the subject technology may be practiced in conjunction with any number of atomizers, and the atomizer described herein is merely one exemplary application for the technology.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, in various embodiments, a vaporizer system 100 may comprise an atomizer 105 adapted to be inserted into a housing 111 of a “vape” device or heat-not-burn (HNB) device (the “vaporizer device 110”). The atomizer 105 may comprise a chamber 115 disposed within the atomizer 105 and a container 118 disposed within the chamber 115. The container 118 may be configured to hold a vaporizable material, such as cannabis flower, tobacco flower, concentrates, oils, and the like. The atomizer 105 may also comprise a heating element 120. The heating element 120 may be in contact with the chamber 115 and may heat the vaporizable material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the vaporizable material. The vaporizer system 100 may further comprise a base portion 112 connected to the housing 111 via wires 119, where the base portion 112 may comprise a control circuit 135 for controllably operating the heating element 120 and a battery 140 for supplying power to various components of the vaporizer system 100.

According to various embodiments, the container 118 may comprise an interior surface 116 and an exterior surface 117. The container 118 may be configured to absorb a pre-treated mixture. The container 118 may be constructed from any suitable porous material, such as cellulose, ceramic, and the like. It will be appreciated that the porous material may have any suitable pore size and/or porosity. The pore size and/or porosity may be selected depending on the desired thermal conductivity of the container 118. For example, a container with small-sized pores and a high porosity may have a higher thermal conductivity than a container with large-sized pores and a low porosity.

According to various embodiments, the interior surface 116 of the container 118 may be pretreated in an aerosol-forming mixture during a first time period. The first time period may be between about thirty (30) minutes and about two (2) hours. The aerosol-forming mixture may facilitate the formation of steam inside the container 118 by lowering the boiling point of the vaporizable material. Because the boiling point of the vaporizable material may be lowered, the vaporizable material may be less prone to experiencing thermal degradations, i.e., molecular deterioration as a result of overheating, thereby effectively activating various compounds (e.g., terpenes) within the vaporizable material to provide improved flavors and aromas.

In one embodiment, the aerosol-forming mixture may comprise water and an aerosol-forming agent. The aerosol-forming agent may comprise vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof. The concentration of the water may be between about 60% and about 70% by weight of the aerosol-forming mixture. The concentration of the aerosol-forming agent may be between about 25% and about 40% by weight of the aerosol-forming mixture. For example, in the case where the interior surface 116 is constructed from a 100 milligram (mg) porous cellulose substrate, the 100 mg porous cellulose substrate may be pre-treated with an aerosol-forming mixture comprising 40 milligrams of the aerosol-forming agent and 60 milligrams of water.

Because the aerosol-forming mixture may have a higher heat capacity than the air inside the chamber 115, the pre-treated container 118 may be effective in transmitting the heat produced by the heating element 120, in the form of thermal energy, to the vaporizable material contained therein. Accordingly, the vaporizer device 110 may conserve a greater amount of total energy, thereby allowing a user to utilize the vaporizer device 110 many times before having to change or recharge the battery 140.

The aerosol-forming mixture may further comprise a carrier-compound mixture. In one embodiment, the carrier-compound mixture may comprise a terpene mixture. Because terpenes are generally lipophilic and have a propensity to metabolize lipophilic compounds, they may aid in effectively carrying a variety of lipophilic compounds contained in the vaporizable material to the deep lungs of the user where a high concentration of such compounds may be rapidly absorbed into the user's bloodstream, thereby increasing sensations of pleasure. As an example, in the case where the vaporizable material comprises cannabis flower, the lipophilic, cannabinoid-derived compounds of the cannabis flower may comprise tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG)).

The terpene mixture may comprise a first terpene, a second terpene, and a third terpene. The first terpene may comprise myrcene, nerolidol, or a combination thereof. The second terpene may comprise limonene, pinene, linalool, terpineol, terpinolene, terpineol, menthol, or a combination thereof. The third terpene may comprise caryophyllene, borneol, phytol, or a combination thereof. The terpene mixture may, however, comprise a variety of suitable terpenes, such as bisabolol, camphene, camphor, cedrene, cymene, eucalyptol, fenchol, geraniol, geranyl acetate, guaiene, guaiol, humulene, isopulegol, ocimene, phellandrene, pulegone, sabinene, valencene, or any combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the concentration of the first terpene may be about 50% by weight of the terpene mixture. The concentration of the second terpene may be about 40% by weight of the terpene mixture. The concentration of the third terpene may be about 10% by weight of the terpene mixture. The concentration of the first terpene, second terpene, and third terpene may be between about 1% and about 5% by weight of the combined aerosol-forming mixture and terpene mixture.

It will be appreciated that the terpenes may be selected according to their therapeutic and medicinal properties. For example, myrcene may provide a relaxing, sedating, and musky aroma. Limonene may have anxiolytic and anti-cancer properties and may provide a citrus aroma. Caryophyllene may have certain pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, pinene may help protect against ulcers, and ocimene may have anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Given that moderate to high concentrations of CBD may be particularly effective at reducing anxiety and preventing panic attacks, a terpene mixture comprising caryophyllene and/or myrcene that also contains a high concentration of CBD, such as at least 10% by weight, may be particularly effective at reducing anxiety and panic attacks.

The container 118 may be made of biodegradable material and configured in any suitable manner such that minimal cleaning of the container 118 may be required. In addition, in some embodiments, the container 118 may not be in direct contact with the chamber 115 to eliminate contamination and prevent the vaporizable material contained inside the container 118 from combusting.

In operation, and referring now to FIGS. 1-3, pre-treating the atomizer 105 (300) may comprise applying the aerosol-forming mixture to the atomizer 105 (305). Specifically, the aerosol-forming mixture may be applied to the interior surface 116 of the container 118 during a first time period, where the first time period may be from about thirty (30) minutes to about two (2) hours. In addition, pre-treating the atomizer 105 may further comprise applying the terpene mixture to the atomizer 105 (310). Specifically, the terpene mixture may be applied to the interior surface 116 of the container 118 during a second time period. The second time period may immediately follow the first time period, and the second time period may be from about thirty (30) minutes to about two (2) hours. Once the atomizer 105 is pre-treated, it may be used with the vaporizer device 110.

The pre-treated atomizer 105 may be inserted into the vaporizer device 110, and the vaporizer device 110 may be turned on by a sensor 114 or by pressing a button or switch. For example, in the case where the vaporizer device 110 is “draw-activated”, a user may turn on the vaporizer device 110 by drawing air into the vaporizer device 110 via an inlet 125 of the vaporizer device 110 by inhaling through a mouthpiece (not shown) connected to an outlet 130 of the vaporizer device 110. When the user inhales, a negative pressure may be induced inside the vaporizer device 110. The negative pressure induced inside the vaporizer device 110 may cause the sensor 114 to close a pressure switch (not shown), thereby closing a circuit between the battery 140 and the various components of the vaporizer device 110. Once the pressure switch (not shown) is closed, the battery 140 may supply power to various components of the vaporizer device 110, including the heating element 120.

Once the heating element 120 is enabled, the battery 140 may supply a current to the enabled heating element 120, where the current may flow through a coil 121 of the enabled heating element 120. Because the coil 121 may be a resistive element, the coil may dissipate heat when the current flows through it. Further, because the heating element 120 may be in contact with the chamber 115, the resulting heat may be transferred to the chamber 115. Accordingly, the heating element 120 may vaporize a portion of the vaporizable material by heating the chamber 115 to a temperature sufficient to generate the vapor. For example, in the case of cannabis flower, the flower within the container 118 may be heated to a temperature of approximately 215 to 480° F. to create an aerosolized vapor therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 1, once the vapor is produced, it may mix with the air drawn into the atomizer 105 via the inlet 125, and the resulting aerosol (vapor and airflow) may travel as an aerosol stream along the airflow path A where it may be expelled via the outlet 130 and inhaled through the mouthpiece. Because the pre-treated container 118 may have a higher heat capacity than the air inside the chamber 115, the pretreated container 118 may be effective in transmitting the heat produced by the heating element 120, in the form of thermal energy, to the vaporizable material contained therein. Accordingly, the vaporizer device 110 may conserve a greater amount of energy, thereby allowing a user to use the vaporizer device 110 more often before having to change or recharge the battery 140.

The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the subject technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the apparatus may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connections and points of contact shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary physical relationships between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

In the foregoing description, the technology has been described with reference to specific embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the subject technology as set forth. The description and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined by the generic embodiments described and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the specific examples described above. For example, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus embodiment may be combined in a variety of permutations to produce substantially the same result as the subject technology and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the specific examples.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments. Any benefit, advantage, solution to problems or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or to become more pronounced, however, is not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component.

The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition, or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the subject technology, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied, or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

The subject technology has been described above with reference to an embodiment. However, changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the subject technology. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the subject technology.

Claims

1. A method for pretreating an atomizer, comprising:

applying an aerosol-forming mixture to the atomizer during a first time period; and

applying a terpene mixture to the atomizer during a second time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time period immediately follows the first time period, and wherein the first time period and the second time period are each between about 30 minutes and about 120 minutes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the aerosol-forming mixture comprises water and an aerosol-forming agent; and

the terpene mixture comprises a first terpene, a second terpene, and a third terpene.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the concentration of the first terpene is about 50% by weight of the terpene mixture;

the concentration of the second terpene is about 40% by weight of the terpene mixture; and

the concentration of the third terpene is about 10% by weight of the terpene mixture.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the concentration of the first terpene, second terpene, and third terpene is between about 1% and about 5% by weight of the combined aerosol-forming mixture and terpene mixture.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the aerosol-forming agent comprises vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first terpene comprises myrcene, nerolidol, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the second terpene comprises limonene, pinene, linalool, terpineol, terpinolene, terpineol, menthol, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the third terpene comprises caryophyllene, borneol, phytol, or a combination thereof.

10. An atomizer for use with a vaporizer device, comprising:

a container configured to hold a vaporizable material, wherein the container is pretreated with an aerosol-forming mixture and a terpene mixture; and

a heating element configured to apply heat to the container.

11. The atomizer of claim 10, wherein:

the aerosol-forming mixture comprises water and an aerosol forming agent; and

the terpene mixture comprises a first terpene, a second terpene, and a third terpene.

12. The atomizer of claim 11, wherein:

the concentration of the first terpene is about 50% by weight of the terpene mixture;

the concentration of the second terpene is about 40% by weight of the terpene mixture; and

the concentration of the third terpene is about 10% by weight of the terpene mixture.

13. The atomizer of claim 11, wherein the concentration of the first terpene, second terpene, and third terpene is between about 1% and about 5% by weight of the combined aerosol-forming mixture and terpene mixture.

14. The atomizer of claim 11, wherein the first terpene comprises myrcene, nerolidol, or a combination thereof.

15. The atomizer of claim 11, wherein the second terpene comprises limonene, pinene, linalool, terpineol, terpinolene, terpineol, menthol, or a combination thereof.