Patents by Inventor Ariel Atkins
Ariel Atkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11129414Abstract: Vaporizers having a thermal wick are provided. A thermal wick may include a combination of an electrically insulating porous wicking material surrounding, enclosing, covering or embedded within a thermally conductive material. The thermally conductive material has a thermal conductance greater than that of the porous wicking material. The thermal wick reduces the viscosity of vaporizable material by transferring heat throughout the wick and warming the vaporizable material and providing a high void volume. The thermal wick allows for substantially higher total particulate masses of vaporizable material than traditional wicks.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2017Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Alexander J. Gould, Esteban Leon Duque, James Monsees
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Publication number: 20210268206Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer apparatuses, and methods for making, using and delivering vapor to a user, that are leak-resistant for use with cannabinoids. In particular, described herein are leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges and apparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materials including cannabis oils.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Nicholas Jay Hatton, Steven Christensen, Esteban Leon Duque, Ariel Atkins, James Monsees, Adam Bowen
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Publication number: 20210268208Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer apparatuses, and methods for making, using and delivering vapor to a user, that are leak-resistant for use with cannabinoids. In particular, described herein are leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges and apparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materials including cannabis oils.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Nicholas Jay Hatton, Steven Christensen, Esteban Leon Duque, Ariel Atkins, James Monsees, Adam Bowen
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Publication number: 20210268207Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer apparatuses, and methods for making, using and delivering vapor to a user, that are leak-resistant for use with cannabinoids. In particular, described herein are leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges and apparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materials including cannabis oils.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Nicholas Jay Hatton, Steven Christensen, Esteban Leon Duque, Ariel Atkins, James Monsees, Adam Bowen
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Publication number: 20210220576Abstract: A heating element for a vaporizer cartridge is provided. The vaporizer cartridge may include a reservoir containing vaporizable material and a wicking element in fluid communication with the reservoir. The heating element may include a heating portion, a cartridge contact, and a leg. The heating portion includes at least two tines spaced apart from one another. The cartridge contact may be in in electrical communication with a power source. The leg extends between the heating portion and the cartridge contact. The heating portion may be crimped around the wicking element such that the heating portion secures the wicking element to the heating element and contacts at least two surfaces of the wicking element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Christopher L. Belisle, Steven Christensen, Alexander M. Hoopai, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, Esteban Leon Duque, Matthew Rios, Christopher James Rosser, Andrew J. Stratton, Alim Thawer, James P. Westley
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Publication number: 20210219386Abstract: Vaporization devices and methods of operating them. In particular, described herein are vaporizer cartridges for controlling the power applied to a resistive heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Steven Christensen, Nicholas Jay Hatton
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Publication number: 20210145074Abstract: Vaporization devices and methods of operating them. In particular, described herein are methods for controlling the power applied to a resistive heater of a vaporization device by measuring the resistance of the resistive heater at discrete intervals. Changes in the resistance during heating may be used to control the power applied to heat the resistive heater during operation. Also described herein are vaporization devices that are configured to measure the resistance of the resistive heater during heating and to control the application of power to the resistive heater based on the resistance values.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Steven Christensen, Nicholas J. Hatton
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Publication number: 20210112874Abstract: Vaporizer devices and methods for detecting inhalation through a vaporizer using a heating element are provided. A resistive heater of a vaporizer may function as both a heater and as an anemometer to detect inhalation. Alternatively or additionally, a separate resistive heater may be included in an air path through the vaporizer to detect a user inhaling through the vaporizer. A heating control mechanism utilizes the already existing heating element in an anemometric correlation to when the vaporizer is idle and when it is being used (where being used implies the user is taking a puff/inhalation on the vaporizer). Using this information, a controller of the vaporizer accordingly controls heating to the vaporizer as required.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Alexander J. Gould
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Patent number: 10912333Abstract: Vaporization devices and methods of operating them. In particular, described herein are methods for controlling the power applied to a resistive heater of a vaporization device by measuring the resistance of the resistive heater at discrete intervals. Changes in the resistance during heating may be used to control the power applied to heat the resistive heater during operation. Also described herein are vaporization devices that are configured to measure the resistance of the resistive heater during heating and to control the application of power to the resistive heater based on the resistance values.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Steven Christensen, Nicholas J. Hatton
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Patent number: 10912331Abstract: Vaporization devices and methods of operating them are described. In particular, apparatuses with a resistive heating element, electrical circuitry for measuring a voltage between the resistive heating element and a reference resistor, and a microcontroller for controlling a temperature of the resistive heating element in response to a determined resistance are described. The electrical circuitry may comprise the reference resistor, a first switch operable to interrupt the flow of current from the power source through the resistive heating element, a second switch operable to add the reference resistor in series with the resistive heating element when the flow of current from the power source through the resistive heating element is interrupted by operation of the first switch, and a voltage divider configured to measure a voltage between the resistive heating element and the reference resistor.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Juul Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Steven Christensen, Nicholas Jay Hatton, James Monsees
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Patent number: 10905167Abstract: On-demand, hand-held vaporizer that operates primarily by convection. The vaporizer is configured to permit very rapid (e.g., within a few seconds) heating of air drawn through an oven chamber to a predetermined or selectable vaporizing temperature to vaporize a material (e.g., loose leaf plant material, etc.) that is held in the oven chamber. The vaporizer provides efficient transfer of air being heated as well as rapid delivery of vaporizable material to a user.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Steven Christensen, Esteban Leon Duque, Alexander J. Gould, Nicholas J. Hatton, Kevin Lomeli, James Monsees, Matthew J. Taschner
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Patent number: 10905835Abstract: A heating element for a vaporizer cartridge is provided. The vaporizer cartridge may include a reservoir containing vaporizable material and a wicking element in fluid communication with the reservoir. The heating element may include a heating portion, a cartridge contact, and a leg. The heating portion includes at least two tines spaced apart from one another. The cartridge contact may be in electrical communication with a power source. The leg extends between the heating portion and the cartridge contact. The heating portion may be crimped around the wicking element such that the heating portion secures the wicking element to the heating element and contacts at least two surfaces of the wicking element.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Christopher L. Belisle, Steven Christensen, Alexander M. Hoopai, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, Esteban Leon Duque, Matthew Rios, Christopher James Rosser, Andrew J. Stratton, Alim Thawer, James P. Westley
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Patent number: 10865001Abstract: Vaporizer device cartridges are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge comprises a storage compartment having first and second opposing ends, a sealing material sealing the second end, and a wick positioned proximate to the first end. The storage compartment is configured to hold a liquid vaporizable material. The sealing material is configured for insertion of a needle through the sealing material for dispensing the liquid vaporizable material into the storage compartment. The wick comprises opposing ends in communication with the storage compartment and is configured to allow a volume of air to exit the storage compartment through the wick when the storage compartment is being filled with the liquid vaporizable material.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Steven Christensen, Aaron Keller, James Monsees
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Publication number: 20200352249Abstract: Vaporizers and vaporizer systems, which can include a device in communication with a vaporizer, can include one or more features related to control of functions and/or features of the vaporizer, identification of a cartridge and/or a vaporizable material in the cartridge, data exchange (either one-way or two-way) between a cartridge and a vaporizer with which the cartridge is engaged, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2018Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Nicholas Achtien, Raffi Aghapekian, Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Brandon Cheung, Gal A. Cohen, Alexander J. Gould, Nicholas J. Hatton, Jacob Honig, Chelsea Kania, James Monsees, Roxolana Wacyk, Chenyue Xing, Casey Yost
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Publication number: 20200297948Abstract: An apparatus for vaporizing a concentrate and/or a non-concentrate material is provided. The apparatus can include a housing, a reservoir, a vessel, and a heating element. The reservoir can be coupled to a lid of the apparatus and configured to hold the concentrate. The vessel can be disposed at least partially inside of the housing and can be configured to receive the reservoir when the lid of the apparatus is in a closed position with respect to the housing. The heating element can be configured to generate heat for heating the vessel, thereby vaporizing the concentrate in the reservoir to form an aerosol. Coupling the reservoir to the lid of the apparatus can enable the apparatus to be used for vaporizing the concentrate while decoupling the reservoir from the lid of the apparatus can enable the apparatus to be used for vaporizing the non-concentrate material. Related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Alexander J. Gould, Adam Bowen, Ariel Atkins, Kevin Lomeli
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Patent number: 10779574Abstract: Vaporizer devices and methods for detecting inhalation through a vaporizer using a heating element are provided. A resistive heater of a vaporizer may function as both a heater and as an anemometer to detect inhalation. Alternatively or additionally, a separate resistive heater may be included in an air path through the vaporizer to detect a user inhaling through the vaporizer. A heating control mechanism utilizes the already existing heating element in an anemometric correlation to when the vaporizer is idle and when it is being used (where being used implies the user is taking a puff/inhalation on the vaporizer). Using this information, a controller of the vaporizer accordingly controls heating to the vaporizer as required.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Alexander J. Gould
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Publication number: 20200275696Abstract: A cartridge may include a cartridge housing, a reservoir and a wick housing disposed inside the cartridge housing, a heating element, and a wicking element. The cartridge housing may be configured to extend below an open top of a receptacle in the vaporizer device when the cartridge is coupled with the vaporizer device. The reservoir may be configured to contain a vaporizable material. The heating element may include a heating portion disposed at least partially inside the wick housing and a contact portion disposed at least partially outside the wick housing. The contact portion may include cartridge contacts that form an electric coupling with receptacle contacts in the receptacle. The wicking element may be disposed within the wick housing and proximate to the heating portion of the heating element. The wicking element may be configured to draw the vaporizable material to the wick housing for vaporization by the heating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Christopher L. Belisle, Tsuey Chang, Brandon Cheung, Steven Christensen, Dylan E. Entelis, Alexander M. Hoopai, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, Esteban Leon Duque, YongChao Li, Huei-Huei Liang, Matthew J. Malone, James Monsees, Nathan N. Ng, Claire O'Malley, Matthew Rios, Christopher James Rosser, Zachary T. Scott, Andrew J. Stratton, Alim Thawer, Norbert Wesely, James P. Westley, Hao Yin, XueHai Zhang, XueQing Zhang
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Patent number: 10729179Abstract: Vaporizer devices and methods for detecting inhalation through a vaporizer using a heating element are provided. A resistive heater of a vaporizer may function as both a heater and as an anemometer to detect inhalation. Alternatively or additionally, a separate resistive heater may be included in an air path through the vaporizer to detect a user inhaling through the vaporizer. A heating control mechanism utilizes the already existing heating element in an anemometric correlation to when the vaporizer is idle and when it is being used (where being used implies the user is taking a puff/inhalation on the vaporizer). Using this information, a controller of the vaporizer accordingly controls heating to the vaporizer as required.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Juul Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Alexander J. Gould
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Publication number: 20200221771Abstract: A vaporization device includes a wick with improved aerosol production properties relative to a traditional wick, for example one formed of silica fiberglass cord. According to some aspects, the wick is formed of discontinuous fibers that are not packed together and that have varying orientations, creating a plurality of voids, or spaces, between the various fibers and along the length of the wick. This design of voids along the length of the wick allows for rapid wick saturation and air exchange. Because of this, a user can take successive long puffs without noticing much difference in vapor production, as the liquid quickly (e.g., within seconds) replenishes in the wick.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2018Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Esteban Leon Duque
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Patent number: 10667560Abstract: Cartridges for use with a vaporizer device are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge having a first end and a second end comprises a mouthpiece, a wick assembly comprising a heating element and a wicking material, a wick housing comprising a base having a hole and a first pair of mating members comprising first and second U-shaped members, a tank, and a tube connected with the hole. The tank includes an end wall proximate to the second end (having a vent) and a second pair of mating members, extending from the end wall towards the first end of the cartridge, comprising third and fourth U-shaped members. The first and second pair of mating members hold the wick assembly within the tank and define a chamber comprising at least part of the wick assembly and a reservoir configured to hold vaporizable material.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Steven Christensen, Christopher Nicholas HibmaCronan, Aaron Keller, James Monsees, Joshua Morenstein, Bryan White