Patent Application
20200078541
The present disclosure relates to aerosolizer docking stations and more particularly to an aerosolizer docking station having time and duration controls that can accommodate any individual aerosolizer device for in situ use while interchangeably also accommodating liquid-filled aerosolizer cartridges.
Inhalation therapy, in the form of the inhalation of aerosolized liquids, has gained recent popularity. Aromatherapy diffusers and other aerosolization devices can be used for the delivery of essential oils, herbs, vitamins, Tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), Cannabidiol (“CBD”), nicotine, medicines and any other substances that can be aerosolized. Individual-use aerosolization devices also provide an effective way to deliver medicaments or other types of aerosolized substances directly to a user.
Typical aerosolization devices include a chamber for housing the liquids that are to be aerosolized and a delivery mechanism whereby a user can inhale the aerosolized liquid. However, direct delivery of the aerosolized liquid in this fashion may not always be desired. Often, in situ aerosolization may be desirous, and it may be preferred to dispense the aerosolized liquids into an ambient space, rather than individually and one at a time through an aerosolization device. For example, a number of people in a room may wish to partake in an aromatherapy session and the use of individual inhalation devices would not be optimal. Individual aerosolization devices cannot be used for this purpose. Currently, there is no adequate mechanism that allows a user to alternate between a personal inhalation device and an aerosolizer docking station.
As a further example of current aerosolization devices, aromatherapy diffusers are either mechanical or ultrasonic. If the diffuser is mechanical, then the end-user must buy essential oils separately and add the essential oils to the pad (wick) inside the diffuser. If the diffuser is ultrasonic, then the end-user must add water and essential oils. This can be cumbersome and inefficient.
What is therefore needed is a docking station that improves upon the deficiencies of prior art aerosolization devices.
The apparatus described in the present disclosure allows one to be able to go from a personal inhalation device to a docking station (and vice versa). For example, a person may drive to work using an individual (and easily portable) vaporizer pen (“vape pen”) with energizing essential oils and then dock the device when they get to their office, thus allowing them to continue to use and enjoy the benefits of the vape pen while working (which can be shared or not shared with someone else). The apparatus of the present disclosure makes aerosolization more convenient and also easier. With the apparatus described in the present disclosure, the oil is already inside the inhalation device or the inside the pod, ready for use.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, an aerosolizer docking station is provided. The docking station includes an adjustable docking port configured to receive an individual aerosolizer, at least one air intake port to receive air, an air pump configured to pump the received air to the individual aerosolizer via an air hose, the pumped air facilitating aerosolization of liquid contained in the individual aerosolizer for dispersion to an ambient area, and processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to control and monitor delivery of the aerosolized liquid from the individual aerosolizer.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, an aerosolizer docking station is provided. The docking station includes a docking port configured to receive an individual aerosolizer, the individual aerosolizer having at least one air intake port for receiving air, an intake conduit configured to receive aerosolized liquid from the individual aerosolizer, an aerosol exit tube configured to disperse aerosolized liquid to an ambient area, an air pump having a first end and a second end, the air pump connected to the intake conduit at the first end and the aerosol exit tube at the second end, the pump configured to pump the aerosolized liquid from the intake conduit through the aerosol exit tube, and processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to control and monitor delivery of the aerosolized liquid dispersed from the aerosol exit tube.
According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, an aerosolizer docking station is provided where the docking station includes an adjustable docking port configured to receive an individual aerosolizer, a power source, at least one electrode for providing an electrical connection with the individual aerosolizer, the power source providing power to the individual aerosolizer via the electrical connection if the individual aerosolizer does not have its own power source, at least one air intake port to receive air, and an air pump configured to pump the received air to the individual aerosolizer via an air hose, the pumped air facilitating aerosolization of liquid contained in the individual aerosolizer for dispersion to an ambient area. The docking station further includes processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to determine at least one of a duration of time of an aerosolization, a duration of time between successive aerosolizations, a number of total aerosolizations within a predetermined time period, a time when a next allowed aerosolization is permitted for a particular use, and a time when an aerosolization at least one of began and ended. The docking station also includes a display for displaying at least one of the duration of time of an aerosolization, the duration of time between successive aerosolizations, the number of total aerosolizations within a predetermined time period, the time when the next allowed aerosolization is permitted for a particular user, and the time when an aerosolization at least one of began and ended.
A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to
In one embodiment, docking port 14 may include swivel member 15. Once individual aerosolizer device 12 is inserted within docking port 14, swivel member 15 allows individual aerosolizer device 12 to be rotated 360 degrees. Advantageously, this allows for the dispensing of aerosolized liquids in various directions. Individual aerosolizer device 12 may be configured to aerosolize any type of liquid, for example, nutrients, vitamins, herbs, oils, aromatic waters, homeopathics, nutraceuticals and medicines. Docking port 14 may also include docking collar 16, which secures individual aerosolizer device 12 within housing 11. Thus, a user desiring to use dispense aerosolized liquids into a surrounding area, for example, during an aromatherapy session, would insert an individual aerosolizer device 12 within the docking port 14 of the housing 11 of aerosolizer docking station 10. As will be explained below, aerosolized liquid is dispensed to the surrounding area either through individual aerosolizer device 12 (as in the embodiment shown in
The embodiment depicted in
Continuing to refer to
In one embodiment, housing 11 also includes a burst button 30, which provides an instant burse of aerosol from individual aerosolizer 12. Thus, utilizing burst button 30, a user can override the programmed time intervals that the aerosolized liquid is to be dispersed. Activation of burst button 30 provides a burst of air to be sent to motor pump 26 and directed towards individual aerosolize 12 via hose 28. Housing 11 may also include a series of timing switches, the inside 20 of which can be seen in
In one embodiment, display 32 may be disposed on the exterior of housing 11 of aerosolizer docking station 10. Display 32 may display various settings that have been selected by the user (or pre-programmed) via timing switches 34 thus allowing a user to quickly and easily see what the current settings are. These may include, for example, the time duration of each aerosol dispersion, the time between aerosol dispersions, the total number of aerosol dispersions within a given time period, and the time until the next allowed aerosol dispersion. Different settings can be selected for different users. Display 32 may be, in one embodiment, an LED display. In other embodiments, the various displays (e.g., time duration of each aerosol dispersion, the time between aerosol dispersions, the total number of aerosol dispersions within a given time period, and the time until the next allowed aerosol dispersion) may be represented in a different, unique color. The present disclosure is not limited to what may be displayed on display 32 and other settings, other than those discussed herein, may be displayed.
In yet another embodiment, aerosolizer docking station 10 may be controlled remotely via a remote control device or a mobile device such as a cellular/smart phone. For example, a person can activate/deactivate docking station 10, set or change the settings on the timing switches including, for example, setting or changing the aerosol dispersion time intervals and activating or deactivating sleep mode, all via a wireless connection with the user's remote control device or mobile phone.
What follows is a non-limiting exemplary use case, describing how aerosolizer docking station 10 can be programmed via timing switches 34 to allow multiple users to use aerosolizer docking station 10 with different individual aerosolizers 12. For example, during a first aromatherapy session, User A may be using individual aerosolizer 12 with certain medicaments, herbs, or nutrients and requires these medicaments to be dispersed and inhaled at selected time intervals and for selected durations. User A can have the settings entered by using timing switches 34 to program aerosolizer docking station 10 to provide aerosolized liquid to be dispersed from individual aerosolizer 12 at prescribed times. Thus, in one non-limiting scenario, timing switches 34 are used to program aerosolizer docking station 10 program for individual aerosolizer 12 to provide aerosol bursts of 15 minute durations, with 15 minute intervals between successive aerosol bursts. For example, this might occur twice a day, in the morning and then again in the early evening. Thus, User A may inhale the aerosol starting at 7:30 AM until 8:45 AM at the selected durations and intervals. This cycle may then be programmed to be repeated in the evening between 6 PM and 7 PM.
User B, perhaps someone living in the same house as User A, may be using a different individual aerosolizer 12 for their own aromatherapy session. For example, User B enjoys aromatherapy in the evenings after a long day of work. User B can remove the first individual aerosolizer 12 that was being used by User A and replace it with a second individual aerosolizer 12 that contains essential oils that, once aerosolized, provide pleasing aromas to the surrounding area. Advantageously, aerosolizer docking station 10 can accommodate the second individual aerosolizer 12 by either an adjustment of docking port 14 to receive the second individual aerosolizer 12 which may have a different configuration or be of a different size than first individual aerosolizer 12, or by replacing docking port 14 with a different docking port 14 to accommodate individual aerosolizers of different dimensions and sizes. Aerosolizer docking station 10 may be programmed specifically for User B to allow the second individual aerosolizer 12 to release aerosolized liquid for an aromatherapy session starting at, for example, 8:30 PM, for a duration of 20 minute, with 15 minute intervals in between, ending at 10 PM, when aerosolizer docking station 10 enters sleep mode, and aerosolizer docking station 10 shuts off. The sessions for User A and User B may be repeated again the next evening or for any period of time.
Referring to
In the embodiment depicted in
As in the earlier embodiment, contained within housing 11 are a battery 22 and/or USB connector port 23 which allows docking station 10 can be power via a remote power source. Docking port 14 receives individual aerosolizer 12 and may be adjusted to receive individual aerosolizers of different sizes and dimensions. Alternately, docking port 14 may be adjusted to account for differently sized individual aerosolizers. Docking collar helps secure individual aerosolizer 12 within docking station 10. Swivel 38 allows aerosol exit tube 40 to be rotated in various directions such that aerosol existing aerosol exit tub 40 can be directed in any direction the user wishes. A series of timing switches (the inside frame of which is seen in
An alternate embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in
Thus, the embodiment illustrated in
Aerosolizer docking station 10 is advantageously configured to receive and secure an individual aerosolizer 12 as shown in
In one embodiment, aerosolizer pods 44 are designed to only be compatible with aerosolizer docking station 10. In one embodiment, docking station 10 can be packaged with an empty aerosolizer pod 44, and the user can separately purchase different liquids to be aerosolized. In another embodiment, aerosolizer pod 44 can be pre-filled with any type of aromatherapy liquid, much as coffee refill cups can be filled with any type of coffee. In another embodiment, aerosolizer pod 44 is purchased separately, and used with aerosolizer docking station 10. The present disclosure does not limit aerosolizer pod 44 to a particular shape, size, or configuration. Pod 44 includes a housing sized to receive liquid for aerosolization, and to be received and secured by pod-receiving docking port 46 of aerosolizer docking station 10. Battery 22 or an external power supply supplies the electrical power to pod 44, and electrical contacts 48 provide the electrical connection between aerosolizer docking station 10 and aerosolizer pod 44.
Pods 44 may aerosolize the liquid contained therein via the use of heating coils or by ultrasound. The use of heating coils or ultrasound to aerosolize the liquid does not affect how pods 44 are affixed to docking station 10. In either embodiment, pods 44 are attached to docking station 10 via pod-receiving docking port 46 and electrical contacts 48 and receive power from battery 22 (or an external power source) of docking station 10. If pod 44 is to aerosolize the liquid using ultrasound, pod 44 includes an ultrasonic nebulizer module electrically connected to battery 22 in aerosolizer docking station 10. As is known in the art, ultrasonic nebulizer module includes a vibration module, where the ultrasonic nebulizer module uses ultrasonic frequency to vibrate the vibration module to release particles of the liquid.
Using an ultrasonic pod 44 produces smaller aerosolized droplets than a heating coil pod 44, and will also eliminate the use of propylene glycol that is used with the heating coil pod 44. Ultrasonic pods 44 may be used interchangeably with an ultrasonic dosage vaporizers.
In a non-limiting use-based example, a user may use docking station 10 in the following manner. For example, a user, while driving to work in the morning, may initiate an aromatherapy session by using an individualized individual aerosolizer 12 to diffuse a preferred aerosolized oil. When the user gets to their office, they may wish to continue their aromatherapy session using the same aerosolized oils but instead of using an individual aerosolizer 12, may wish to have the oils dispersed within their office. The user inserts the individual aerosolizer 12 within docking station 10 in the manner described above. The oils are aerosolized in situ such that the user can enjoy the session while working and/or for others to enjoy when they visit the user in the office. On the ride home that evening, the user can simply remove the individual aerosolizer 12 from docking station 10 and continue the session on the drive home using only the individual aerosolizer 12.
In another non-limiting use-based example, a user purchases an individual pod 44 for use with docking station 10. The pod 44 is designed to be compatible only with docking station 10. Pod 44 contains a particular liquid that the user wishes to aerosolize for an aromatherapy session. The user can use pod 44 in an individual aerosolizer 12 and/or also use pod 44 with docking station 10 in the manner described above, thus creating a “mod-pod” configuration where pods 44 can be used interchangeably with an individual aerosolizer 12 or docking station 10 of the present disclosure. The user can purchase different pods 44, each containing a different liquid, to thus create a variety of different aromatherapy sessions.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
