OVEN ASSEMBLY FOR PERSONAL ELECTRONIC VAPORIZER
The disclosure relates to an oven assembly configured for use with a personal electronic vaporizer. Some versions of the oven assembly may include features such as a base, an outer wall extending from the base, a first chamber defined by the outer wall and the base, an oven element disposed in the first chamber, a second chamber defined by the oven element, and at least one opening defined by the oven element. Some versions of oven assembly may be configured to pass heated air therethrough. Some versions of oven assembly may include features such as a heating element disposed in the chamber and configured to be electrically coupled with the vaporizer when the oven assembly is disposed in an oven receiving area of the vaporizer. The heating element may be configured to heat air within the chamber.
The present disclosure is directed to personal electronic vaporizers, which may be used to generate vapor from a number of substances, such as by using heating chambers or oven assemblies comprising unexposed heating elements.
BACKGROUNDSmoking devices, such as cigarette holders and pipes, are well known in the art for providing flavored vapor from a smokable substance to a user for smoking pleasure. However, such devices provide no means of controlling the heating and combustion of tobacco and other products. As a result, the devices tend to produce by-products which may impart a bitter and/or burnt taste to the mouth of a user, including combustion byproducts.
In an effort to overcome these issues, there have been numerous attempts to provide a device for delivering an active ingredient to a consumer through vaporization rather than combustion. For instance, many of the personal electronic vaporizers that are currently on the market heat a substance without burning it in order to release a vapor that contains the active ingredient(s) to be delivered to the user. In some instances, the vapor is created by placing the substance in contact with a metallic heating coil inside of a chamber, which may also be made of metal. Airflow is directed past the heated substance and exposed coil, often through pathways constructed of metal, resulting in the desired delivery of the vapor to the user. However, contact with metal may impart the vapor with undesirable flavor or vaporized metal particles.
In addition to eliminating issues with the taste of vapor, most personal electronic vaporizers do not provide means for customizing the vaping experience. For example, many personal electronic vaporizers utilize the same heating profiles regardless of type of substance to be vaporized, e.g. a solid, liquid or wax. As a result, the user may not have the option to heat the substance to an ideal temperature that will maximize vapor generation without combusting the substance. Moreover, many personal electronic vaporizers fail to provide the user with an integrated means of filtering the vapor, and/or adjusting the flow of vapor to the user in a desired amount. For these and other reasons, there remains a need for a personal electronic vaporizer that allows for the delivery of a good tasting vapor to a user, while providing the user with a customizable vaping experience. While a variety of personal electronic vaporizers have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used an invention as described herein.
While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which:
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following description of certain examples of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
It will be appreciated that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, versions, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, versions, examples, etc. that are described herein. The following-described teachings, expressions, versions, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
The elements or features of the various embodiments are described in detail hereinafter. Any reference to a singular characteristic or limitation of the present disclosure shall include the corresponding plural characteristics or limitations, and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.
The apparatuses and methods described herein may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the elements and features of the disclosure described herein, as well as any additional or optional components, or features described herein or otherwise useful in relation to the aforementioned apparatuses and methods.
The term “personal electronic vaporizer,” which is used interchangeably herein with “PEV,” means a hand held electronic device which vaporizes one or more substances for consumption including, but not limited to, via inhalation, by a consumer. Non-limiting examples of substances include solids, liquids, gels and waxes. The PEV may take any shape to allow for the internal components as described below to be integrated therein.
I. Personal Electronic Vaporizer
Referring now to
Mouthpiece assembly 7 defines a mouthpiece channel 29 surrounded by a material such as glass, ceramics, polycarbonate, or silicone. Mouthpiece assembly 7 includes a shaft 34 extending outwardly away from and continuing the channel 29 therethrough. Shaft 34 transitions into a shoulder 47 and a boss 49, with channel 29 extending therethrough. As shown in
Top shell assembly 9 extends from a top end 39 to a bottom end 41 and includes a display screen 19 and a button 21. Display screen 19 may be configured to be situated behind a mirrored or otherwise one way transparent outer surface 23 of top shell assembly 9, whereby the display screen 19 projects through the outer surface 23 when energized and illuminated, and does not project through the outer surface 23 when the display is not illuminated. Display screen 19 may be a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, or any other mechanism for displaying visual information. Top shell assembly 9 further includes an annular lip 43 and a corresponding annular shoulder 44 proximate second end 41 for use in securing top shell assembly 9 to battery compartment assembly 17.
Top shell assembly 9 further includes a ring 31 proximate the top end 39. Ring 31 defines a primary intake opening 35 and a secondary intake opening 37 and is rotatable in the direction of Arrow A and Arrow B. Primary intake opening 35 may be rotated with respect to a corresponding underlying opening to adjust the size of the overall fluid pathway leading into the PEV 1. Similarly, secondary air intake opening 37 may be rotated with respect to a corresponding underlying opening to fine tune the size of the overall fluid pathway leading into the PEV 1. By rotating ring 31, the user can adjust the size of the openings for passing fluid into PEV 1 and ultimately affect the flow rate of fluid into the PEV 1. In another embodiment of PEV 1, ring 31 may be embodied by a ring 31A, disposed proximate the second end 41 of top shell assembly 9. Ring 31A operates similarly to ring 31, with a primary intake opening 35A and one or more secondary intake openings 37A. Ring 31A may be manually rotated by the user to open the intake openings in accordance with the preference of the user.
Container assembly 11 includes a hollow body 51 and a corresponding lid 53 for enclosing the hollow body 51. The container assembly 11 is shaped to define a recess 55 which generally corresponds to another portion of the PEV 1 such that the recess 55 mates with the other portion to be snuggly disposed thereon.
Battery compartment assembly 17 includes a battery 26 disposed proximate an outer wall 25. Outer wall 25 defines a series of dimples 27 or holes for aesthetic purposes. Alternatively outer wall 25 may define vent holes (not shown), configured to expel excess heat generated through use of the battery 26 or may utilize vent holes to allow sound to exit the PEV 1. Battery compartment assembly 17 further includes an annular lip 57 and a corresponding annular shoulder 59 sized and oriented to mate with annular lip 43 and annular shoulder 44 of top shell assembly 9 to selectively fittingly engage top shell assembly 9 with battery compartment assembly 17. Battery compartment assembly 17 further includes a pair of electrodes 61 configured to electronically couple with the positive and negative poles of the battery 26. The pair of electrodes 61 are shown in
Battery 26 is preferably a rechargeable battery, such as those that are currently used in electronic vaporizers (e.g., nickel cadmium batteries, lithium ion batteries, lithium ion polymer batteries, etc.). The battery may be recharged via an electrical wall outlet, a car charger, charging base, and/or a USB on a suitable power source (e.g., a computerized device).
As shown in
A preheating area 74 (
As shown in
In some version of oven assembly 13, the frit or glass filter may be disposed within ceramic tray 75, within aperture 78 and/or air holes 81, or layered between or adjacent to any of the various elements within oven assembly 13. For example, a frit layer may be disposed between plenum ring 77 and oven base 79 to slow the air passing through oven assembly 13 and allow a longer exposure to heating plate 73.
Oven assembly 13 may include zero, one, or two identification prongs. In the illustrated embodiment, oven assembly 13 includes a first identification prong 85 and a second identification prong 87. Identification prongs signal the intended heating profile of the particular oven assembly 13. As will be described in greater detail below, the identified heating profile is used by other components of PEV 1 to heat the oven assembly in accordance with specified criteria. In one embodiment of the present invention, the heating profile includes a goal temperature, wherein the PEV 1 heats the oven assembly 13 to the goal temperature specified by the heating profile. Inasmuch as both the first identification prong 85 and the second identification prong 87 may be present or absent in a particular oven assembly 13, the PEV 1 may use this presence or absence of these two components, or any combination thereof, as a signifier of a particular profile associated with the particular oven assembly 13. For example, the PEV 1 may be configured such that the presence of first identification prong 85 coupled with the absence of the second identification prong 87 indicates to the PEV 1 that a first heating profile is associated with the underlying oven assembly. If the first heating profile includes a goal temperature or goal temperature range of 345 to 355 degrees Fahrenheit, the PEV 1 will act to heat the medium in the oven assembly 13 to between 345 and 355 degrees. The temperature of the medium is determined through one or more sensors configured to sense or derive the temperature of the medium.
As discussed in greater detail below, PEV 1 may include temperature sensors. For example, infrared sensors, thermocouple style sensors, and/or thermistor style sensors for precise temperature sensing of the temperature. One major deficiency of in the prior art relates to temperature control. PEV's in the prior art simply measure a mechanical element of the PEV, such as the heating coil or a particular plate or surface, and thereafter base the actuation or termination of the heating on those measured temperatures. However, the temperature of a particular PEV element and the temperature of the underlying medium may vary wildly. Thus, the PEV may actuate or terminate heating in an inefficient manner, with respect to the requirements of the medium for proper and efficient vapor generation. PEV 1 includes multiple sensors and logic circuitry configured to determine or derive the temperature of the medium itself and actuates or terminates the heating based on whether the temperature of the medium is within the goal range. This results in a greater experience for the user through the increased efficiency of heating and vaporizing the medium.
Different smokable substances or mediums may be best suited for different heating profiles. For example, a solid substance may be best suited for a first heating profile, while a liquid substance may be best suited for a second heating profile. Still further, a wax substance may require a third heating profile. As such, the user may select a particular oven assembly 13 based on intended substance and the heating profile associated with the selected oven assembly 13. For example, if a user wishes to vaporize solid tobacco in PEV 1, the user will select the oven assembly 13 configured for use with solid substances and load the selected oven assembly 13 into PEV 1. Thereafter, based on the arrangement of the first identification prong 85 and the second identification prong 87, the PEV 1 will recognize the particular heating profile associated with the selected oven assembly 13 and will heat the oven assembly 13 in the manner best suited for a solid sub stance.
Correlating the presence or absence of identification prongs is a non-limiting example of a mechanism for signaling different heating profiles in the present invention. Oven assemblies 13 may include alternative mechanisms for signaling a heating profile. For example, in certain configurations of PEV 1, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or other similar identification methods may be used or incorporated into the signaling of different heating profiles.
As shown in
As shown in
Circuit board assembly 91 further includes a temperature sensor 115 extending from circuit board 105 and oriented to be proximate the oven assembly 13 when an oven assembly 13 is disposed in heater receptacle 95. Temperature sensor 115 is illustrative of one embodiment of the present invention, as circuit board assembly 91 may further include multiple infrared sensors (not shown), thermocouple style sensors (not shown), and thermistors style sensors (not shown) for precise sensing or derivation of the temperature of the medium for use in control of the heat directed at the smoking substance or medium. Circuit board assembly 91 further includes a jumper socket 116 configured to receive corresponding electrical wiring (not shown) from display screen 19 and button 21 and electronically and logically couple display screen 19, button 21, and microprocessor 103 such that microprocessor 103 may actuate display screen 19 in accordance with the logic stored therein and in accordance with actuation of the button 21 by the user. While circuit board assembly 91 is shown as a feature of oven mount assembly 15, in other embodiments of the present invention, circuit board assembly 91 or a similar element thereof, may be disposed in other assemblies or components of PEV 1. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, a circuit board assembly may be disposed in the top shell assembly 9. Alternatively, PEV 1 may include a master controller and slave controller disposed anywhere in the PEV 1 and in communication through various wiring and logic circuitry.
Backing plate 93 is sized and configured to brace circuit board assembly 91 and hold circuit board assembly 91 firmly between cap 89 and backing plate 93. As such, backing plate 93 includes a plurality of fastener receivers 117 for receiving a corresponding series of fasteners 119 therein, whereby fasteners 119 are configured to pin and hold the circuit board assembly 91 to backing plate 93. Backing plate 93 defines a pair of apertures 121 aligned and sized to allow electrodes 61 from battery 26 to pass through backing plate 93 and into receiving terminals 107 of circuit board assembly 91.
As shown in
PEV 1 may further include a speaker 127 electronically coupled with microprocessor 103 through corresponding wiring (not shown). Speaker 127 is configured to receive information and data from microprocessor 103 and transmit sound waves in accordance with the received information. For example, microprocessor 103 may provide musical data to speaker 127, whereby speaker 127 transmits this musical data as sound waves to the user through PEV 1. Speaker 127 may ultimately be controlled by a user through any combination of display screen 19, button 21, and interface application 125 on mobile communication device 123. While speaker 127 is depicted in
PEV 1 may further include a pathway 129 surrounded entirely by a material 131 and extending from inside the oven assembly 13 out through the mouthpiece channel 29 of the mouthpiece assembly 7. As shown in
In operation, a user may grasp PEV 1 and rotate top shell assembly 9 and battery compartment assembly 17 axially to disengage latch 63 and release the two components. This release exposes container assembly 11 to the user, which may be detached from around heater receptacle 95 of oven mount assembly 15. The user thereafter opens lid 53 of compartment assembly 17 to expose the medium stored in hollow body 51. Depending on the medium, the user thereafter selects the appropriate oven assembly 13. For example, if the medium is a solid, the user may select a corresponding oven assembly 13 configured to properly and efficiently heat a solid medium using a particular heating profile associated with the selected oven assembly 13. Alternatively, if the medium is a liquid or a wax, another more appropriate oven assembly 13 may be selected.
After the oven assembly 13 is selected, the user inserts the medium into the cylindrical shroud such that the medium rests on oven base 79. As illustrated in
Once the selected oven assembly 13 is loaded with the medium and inserted into the oven mount assembly 15, the user then aligns top shell assembly 9 with battery compartment assembly 17 and axially twists the two elements to engage latch 63 to firmly hold top shell assembly 9 to battery compartment assembly 17. If desired, the user may then remove the mouthpiece assembly 7 and fill bubbler area 30 with liquid, such as water, for filtering the vapors of the medium.
Once the mouthpiece assembly 7 is coupled with the top shell assembly 9 and the selected oven assembly 13 is disposed in the oven mount assembly 15, the PEV 1 is actuated to heat the medium in the oven assembly 13. The heating may be actuated by the user through manual manipulation of button 21 or through manipulation of interface application 125 on mobile communication device 123 and feedback may be provided to the user through display screen 19.
In response to a heating request by the user, the microprocessor 103 polls identification terminal 111 and identification terminal 113 to determine the particular configuration, through resistance or a combination of the presence or absence of the first identification prong 85 and the second identification prong 87 of the selected oven assembly 13. In one example, the presence or absence of the identification prongs correlates to a two digit binary number such as 00, 01, 10, or 11 stored in a lookup table in the microprocessor 103. The microprocessor 103 thereafter retrieves the particular heating profile associated with the configuration of the identification prongs and initiates heating of the heating plate 73 in accordance with the retrieved heating profile. The heating of heating plate 73 is performed by energizing heating plate 73 through a current supplied by battery 26 and tailored to the heating profile.
Next, the medium is heated in the oven assembly 13 through heating of the heating plate 73. The user thereafter orally engages mouth area 33 of mouthpiece assembly 7 and applies negative pressure on the mouthpiece assembly 7 to draw air through PEV 1. The negative pressure at mouthpiece assembly 7 draws air from primary intake opening 35 and secondary intake openings 37 through oven assembly 13 and around the heated medium. The vapors from the heated medium are drawn up through pathway 129, through bubbler area 30, and into mouthpiece channel 29, where the vapors are inhaled or otherwise utilized by the user. The user may selectively rotate ring 31 on top shell assembly 9 to expose or cover primary intake opening 35 and/or secondary intake openings 37 and customize the pressure and air flow through the PEV 1. The vapors from the heated medium travel along pathway 129, which is entirely surrounded by material 131 configured to not taint or chemically disrupt the vapors.
The entire experience may be enhanced by actuating PEV 1 to play music or other audible sounds through speaker 127.
As shown in
II. Wax Oven Assembly
Many wax vaporizing devices on the market use a bare wire heated to high temperatures to vaporizer wax. Bare wire wax vaporizers rapidly deplete the wax due to the high heat. One of the drawbacks to this approach is the typically short intervals between applications of the wax. Users are required to frequently stop vaping and replenish the wax supply. Further, the materials within the wax being vaporized do not require this relatively high heat. High heat provides a less desirable vaporizing experience for the user and can result in combustion.
More particularly, wax oven 201 generally extends from a top end 203 to a bottom end 205 and includes a heating assembly 207 and a wax pocket assembly 209. Wax oven 201 is configured to heat a wax substance through convection and free of a bare wire construction to minimize combustion of the material to be vaporized.
Heating assembly 207 includes various components directed to providing convection oven style heating to the contents of wax oven 201 and therefore provide a different taste profile when compared to bare wire wax vaporizers. Heating assembly 207 includes identification prongs 211 for electronically coupling with PEV 1 and receiving power therethrough. Identification prongs 211 may be configured to provide identification information to PEV 1 and may be associated with a particular heating profile, whereby PEV 1 recognizes wax oven 201 through the electrical resistance, number of identification prongs 211, orientation, placement of identification prongs 211, or any other feature that may provide identification information regarding wax oven 201. Once a heating profile is identified, PEV 1 heats wax oven 201 in accordance with the heating profile associated with wax oven 201.
Heating assembly 207 also includes heating element 213 electrically coupled with battery 26 of PEV 1 through identification prongs 211. Heating element 213 is configured to provide convection style heating to the wax pocket assembly 209 and any wax substances disposed therein.
Wax pocket assembly 209 includes a cylindrical shroud as an outer layer, referred to hereinafter as outer wall 215. Outer wall 215 surrounds baffle element 217 (
A chamber element 223 extends into lower opening 219 in a generally cylindrical shape and defines wax chamber 225 therein. Wax chamber 225 extends from a top opening 227 to a bottom surface 229. In some embodiments, the depth of wax chamber 225 is between one and thirteen millimeters. Top opening 227 is surrounded by an upper surface 231. Upper surface 231 may be in the form of a bowl or depression or may be angled towards top opening 227 to direct the wax substance towards wax chamber 225. To load upper surface 231 with a wax substance, the user may scrape or otherwise deposit the wax substance directly from the container of wax substance. Further, a tooth 233 extends upwardly from upper surface 231 and is configured to allow a user to scrape the wax substance out of a container and onto upper surface 231 for loading wax oven 201 with the wax substance.
In some embodiments, baffle element 217 is formed from a ceramic material with beneficial heat conducting characteristics. Baffle element 217 is configured and disposed within outer wall 215 to facilitate the flow of air through lower opening 219, through convection holes 221, around chamber element 223 and wax chamber 225, and out top end 203 of wax oven 201.
As shown in
As the user draws an amount of air through PEV 1, the air is heated by heating element 213 and directed around chamber element 223 in a convection style heating method. Wax substance 235 is heated, vaporized, and entrained in the stream of air flowing past wax oven 201 and to the user.
A method of using wax oven 201 is provided and discussed herein. The method starts with a user scraping wax substance 235 out of a container and onto upper surface 231 directly from the container of wax substance 235 or via the use of tooth 233 to scrape wax substance 235 out of the container. In some embodiments of wax oven 201, the loading of wax substance 235 onto upper surface 231 may be accomplished while wax oven 201 resides in PEV 1. In other embodiments, the user removes wax oven 201 to load wax substance 235 and thereafter places wax oven 201 back into PEV 1 and thereafter actuates PEV 1.
Battery 26 of PEV 1 provides power through identification prongs 11 in accordance with the heating profile of wax oven 201, and as indicated by one or more characteristics of identification prongs 211, such as electrical resistance, number of prongs 211, or placement of identification prongs 211. For example, wax oven 201 may include three prongs, which identifies to PEV 1 that wax oven 201 should be heated to 300 degrees. Another wax oven (not shown) may include two prongs 211, which signifies to PEV 1 that the wax oven should be heated to 200 degrees. The other wax oven may be formed from a different material with different heat requirements, or may be intended to heat a different style of substance, such as a liquid, rather than wax substance 235.
Once heating element 213 is actuated, heated air flows through lower opening 219, around chamber element 223, and through convection holes 221. This heated air also travels across upper surface 231 and tooth 233, heating wax substance 235 and decreasing the viscosity thereof. Once wax substance 235 is less viscous, wax substance 235 travels from upper surface 231 down into wax chamber 225. Once inside wax chamber 225, wax substance 235 is heated through the convection air traveling around chamber element 223. Inasmuch as wax chamber 225 is a deep, generally vertical chamber, a user may physically tip or angle PEV 1 without spilling wax substance 235 out of wax chamber 225.
Due to the convection style heating of wax substance 235 and the absence of a bare wire heater, a more efficient heating of wax substance 235 is achieved due to the lower temperatures required to vaporize the desired wax substances 235 when compared to direct combustion methods via more precise heat transfer. Thus, wax oven 201 minimizes loss to the surrounding oven environment and extends the vaping time between subsequent wax additions.
III. Convection Oven Assembly
More particularly, as shown in
A bottom area 306 of oven cup 309 defines a plurality of air openings 307 into the interior of oven cup 309. Openings 307 allow heated air in air channel 305 to enter the oven cup 309. As shown in
Heating disk 311 is positioned within chamber 302 and between outer wall 303, bottom area 306, and oven holder 304. Heating disk 311 may be metal, such as stainless steel or copper, glass, ceramic, or any other suitable medical grade material. In some versions of oven assembly 301, heating disk 311 is a thin heating film. In other versions, heating disk 311 is a heater encased in a glass, ceramic, or other suitable medical grade material. Heating disk 311 is electronically coupled with a power source, such as battery 26 of PEV 1 through identification prongs 316, which extend through oven holder 304 to electronically couple with heating disk 311.
Air may be drawn through or over a frit 313, positioned between heating disk 311 and bottom area 306 of oven cup 309. Frit 313 is porous and may be made from glass, ceramic, or any other suitable high temperature membrane. As shown in
In some version of oven assembly 301, chamber 310 is capped by a seal 317. Seal 317 may be formed using a silicon material or any other material suitable for the temperatures and environment. Seal 317 defines filter opening 319 with a frit filter 321 disposed therein to allow the heated air from chamber 310 to pass therethrough. A tube 323 is disposed on seal 317, opposite chamber 310, and generally aligned with frit filter 321 to all the heated air to pass therethrough and on to mouthpiece assembly 7. Some versions of tube 323 may be formed as a bubbler for holding a liquid 325 therein and providing an additional filtering component to the heated air and vaporized material.
In operation, the air within air channel 305 is heated by the heat generated by heating disk 311 and may also be heated by outer wall 303 in those versions of oven assembly 301 having a heated outer wall 303. The heated air is then circulated through air plenum 315 and chamber 310. The heated and circulated air thereby heats the walls of oven cup 309 to more evenly and efficiently heat the substance to be vaporized within oven cup 309. For instance, the heated and circulated air within air channel 305 provides a more even temperature distribution along the walls of oven cup 309. This may be prevent burning and/or uneven heating of the substance to be vaporized within oven cup 309. Frit 313 may further allow the air circulating through air channel 305 to be heated more efficiently as the air passes through frit 313 between heating disk 311 and air openings 307. Air plenum 315 may allow the heated air to accumulate before entering chamber 310 of oven cup 309. This heated air then passes through chamber openings 308 of oven cup 309 to heat the substance to be vaporized in chamber 310. The heated air and vaporized material thereafter exits chamber 310 through filter opening 319 and frit filter 321 to enter tube 323. Tube 323 may further filter the heated air and vaporized substance through a bubbler configuration or another mechanism. Thereafter, the vaporized substance in the heated air produced by oven assembly 301 travels to mouthpiece assembly 7 and ultimately to the user.
While opening 405 is depicted as a single opening, some versions of oven assembly 401 may include multiple openings 405. Some versions of second heating disk 403 may be metal, such as stainless steel or copper, glass, ceramic, or any other suitable medical grade material. Second heating disk 403 may comprise a thin heating film and/or second heating disk 403 may be encased in glass, ceramic, or any other suitable medical grade material. Second heating disk 403 is electronically coupled with a power source, such as a battery 26 of PEV 1 to provide power to heat second heating disk 403.
IV. Exemplary Combinations
The following examples relate to various non-exhaustive ways in which the teachings herein may be combined or applied. It should be understood that the following examples are not intended to restrict the coverage of any claims that may be presented at any time in this application or in subsequent filings of this application. No disclaimer is intended. The following examples are being provided for nothing more than merely illustrative purposes. It is contemplated that the various teachings herein may be arranged and applied in numerous other ways. It is also contemplated that some variations may omit certain features referred to in the below examples. Therefore, none of the aspects or features referred to below should be deemed critical unless otherwise explicitly indicated as such at a later date by the inventors or by a successor in interest to the inventors. If any claims are presented in this application or in subsequent filings related to this application that include additional features beyond those referred to below, those additional features shall not be presumed to have been added for any reason relating to patentability.
Example 1An oven assembly configured for use with a personal electronic vaporizer, the oven assembly comprising a base, an outer wall extending from the base, a first chamber defined by the outer wall and the base, an oven element disposed in the first chamber, a second chamber defined by the oven element, and at least one opening defined by the oven element.
Example 2The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising a heating element disposed in the first chamber.
Example 3The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the heating element is disposed between the base and the oven element.
Example 4The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising at least one identification prong electrically coupled with the heating element.
Example 5The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the identification prong extends from the heating element through the base.
Example 6The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising a heating profile, wherein an electrical resistance of the at least one identification prong is associated with the heating profile.
Example 7The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising a frit, wherein the frit is disposed between the heating element and the second chamber.
Example 8The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising an air plenum defined at least in part by the oven element, wherein the air plenum is disposed between the frit and the second chamber.
Example 9The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the oven element includes a wall, wherein the wall defines at least one chamber opening, wherein the at least one chamber opening extends between the air plenum and the second chamber.
Example 10The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the heating element is a first heating element and further comprising a second heating element, wherein the second heating element is disposed between the frit and the air plenum.
Example 11The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed in one of the first chamber and the second chamber.
Example 12The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the base comprises polyetheretherketone.
Example 13The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the oven element includes a tooth.
Example 14The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the oven element includes an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is sloped toward the second chamber.
Example 15The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the oven element is removable from the first chamber.
Example 16The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the oven element includes a seal, wherein the seal defines a filter opening, and wherein a filter is disposed in the filter opening.
Example 17An oven assembly sized to be received in an oven receiving area defined by a vaporizer, the oven assembly comprising a base, a chamber defined by the base, a heating element disposed in the chamber, wherein the heating element is configured to be electrically coupled with a vaporizer when the oven assembly is disposed in an oven receiving area of the vaporizer, wherein the heating element is configured to heat air within the chamber, and an oven element disposed in the chamber, wherein the oven element is configured to pass the heated air therethrough.
Example 18The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, wherein the chamber comprises a first chamber and further comprising a second chamber defined by the oven element.
Example 19The oven assembly of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, further comprising an outer wall extending from the base; and an air flow pathway defined at least in part by the outer wall and the oven element, wherein the air flow pathway is configured to direct air past the heating element to heat the air.
Example 20A vaporizer system configured to vaporize a substance, the vaporizer system comprising (a) a vaporizer comprising, a housing, a battery disposed in the housing, and an oven receiving area defined by the vaporizer; and (b) an oven assembly configured to be received in the oven receiving area, the oven assembly comprising, a base, an outer wall extending from the base, a first chamber defined by the outer wall and the base, an oven element disposed in the first chamber, a second chamber defined by the oven element, and at least one opening defined by the oven element.
V. Miscellaneous
It should be understood that any of the examples described herein may include various other features in addition to or in lieu of those described above. By way of example only, any of the examples described herein may also include one or more of the various features disclosed in any of the various references that are incorporated by reference herein.
It should be understood that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. The above-described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.
Having shown and described various versions of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, versions, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings.
Claims
1. An oven assembly configured for use with a personal electronic vaporizer, the oven assembly comprising:
- (a) a base;
- (b) an outer wall extending from the base;
- (c) a first chamber defined by the outer wall and the base;
- (d) an oven element disposed in the first chamber;
- (e) a second chamber defined by the oven element; and
- (f) at least one opening defined by the oven element.
2. The oven assembly of claim 1, further comprising a heating element disposed in the first chamber.
3. The oven assembly of claim 2, wherein the heating element is disposed between the base and the oven element.
4. The oven assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one identification prong electrically coupled with the heating element.
5. The oven assembly of claim 4, wherein the identification prong extends from the heating element through the base.
6. The oven assembly of claim 5, further comprising a heating profile, wherein an electrical resistance of the at least one identification prong is associated with the heating profile.
7. The oven assembly of claim 2, further comprising a frit, wherein the frit is disposed between the heating element and the second chamber.
8. The oven assembly of claim 7, further comprising an air plenum defined at least in part by the oven element, wherein the air plenum is disposed between the frit and the second chamber.
9. The oven assembly of claim 8, wherein the oven element includes a wall, wherein the wall defines at least one chamber opening, wherein the at least one chamber opening extends between the air plenum and the second chamber.
10. The oven assembly of claim 7, wherein the heating element is a first heating element and further comprising a second heating element, wherein the second heating element is disposed between the frit and the air plenum.
11. The oven assembly of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed in one of the first chamber and the second chamber.
12. The oven assembly of claim 1, wherein the base comprises polyetheretherketone.
13. The oven assembly of claim 1, wherein the oven element includes a tooth.
14. The oven assembly of claim 1, wherein the oven element includes an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is sloped toward the second chamber.
15. The oven assembly of claim 1, wherein the oven element is removable from the first chamber.
16. The oven assembly of claim 1, wherein the oven element includes a seal, wherein the seal defines a filter opening, and wherein a filter is disposed in the filter opening.
17. An oven assembly sized to be received in an oven receiving area defined by a vaporizer, the oven assembly comprising:
- (a) a base;
- (b) a chamber defined by the base;
- (c) a heating element disposed in the chamber, wherein the heating element is configured to be electrically coupled with a vaporizer when the oven assembly is disposed in an oven receiving area of the vaporizer, wherein the heating element is configured to heat air within the chamber; and
- (d) an oven element disposed in the chamber, wherein the oven element is configured to pass the heated air therethrough.
18. The oven assembly of claim 17, wherein the chamber comprises a first chamber and further comprising a second chamber defined by the oven element.
19. The oven assembly of claim 18, further comprising:
- (a) an outer wall extending from the base; and
- (b) an air flow pathway defined at least in part by the outer wall and the oven element, wherein the air flow pathway is configured to direct air past the heating element to heat the air.
20. A vaporizer system configured to vaporize a substance, the vaporizer system comprising:
- (a) a vaporizer comprising: (i) a housing, (ii) a battery disposed in the housing, (iii) an oven receiving area defined by the vaporizer; and
- (b) an oven assembly configured to be received in the oven receiving area, the oven assembly comprising: (i) a base, (ii) an outer wall extending from the base, (iii) a first chamber defined by the outer wall and the base, (iv) an oven element disposed in the first chamber, (v) a second chamber defined by the oven element, and (vi) at least one opening defined by the oven element.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 9, 2017
Publication Date: Dec 14, 2017
Inventors: David M. Johnson (Owensboro, KY), Charles H. Melander (Owensboro, KY), Michael G. Terry (Prospect, KY), Curtis R. Berry (Louisville, KY)
Application Number: 15/618,706