The present invention relates generally to packaging of material for vaporizers and inhalers.
Inhalers and vaporizers are conventionally used for medicinal and recreational purposes to deliver an inhalable substance in a gaseous form to a user. Vaporizers have been used recreationally with the use of recreational substances such as tobacco, hookah, and cannabis. Meanwhile, rescue inhalers have been used by people having asthma or other medical uses. Furthermore, some medicine may be delivered by an inhaler for some respiratory diseases.
Generally, users of vaporizers, hookahs, electronic hookahs, and so-called “e-cigarettes” insert a loose form of an inhalable substance into a chamber of the corresponding device. However, loose packing of the inhalable substance requires portioning out the inhalable substance and sometimes grinding or packing the inhalable substance prior to insertion into the corresponding device. These actions can be frustrating for users looking to enjoy or benefit from the inhaled substance. Alternatively, some existing solutions prepackage the inhalable substance with a conventional wrapper. However, the conventional wrapper can give off toxic or unpleasant chemicals that modify the experience of consuming the inhalable substance. Thus, there is a need in the art for improved inhalable substance wrapping methods.
While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments.
Embodiments disclosed herein include an improved wrapper for prepackaging an inhalable substance for use in a vaporizer or similar device. The wrapper may have the same or similar combustion properties to the inhalable substance allowing the entirety of the wrapped cartridge to be placed into a chamber of a vaporizer where the inhalable substance and the wrapping is vaporized to generate a gaseous version of the inhalable substance, such as tobacco vapor, marijuana vapor, atomized medicine, or other substances capable of being vaporized without burning of or contamination by the wrapper. In some embodiments, the inhalable substance can comprise a blend of herbal materials (e.g. a blend of tobacco materials, a blend of marijuana materials, or a blend of tobacco and marijuana materials). For example, the wrapper of the exemplary embodiments can have the same or similar combustion temperature and vaporization temperature as the inhalable substance, such that when heat from a vaporizer heat source is applied at a temperature lower than the combustion temperature of the wrapper such that the heat from the heat source transfers through the wrapper at a substantially similar temperature that does not burn the wrapper. Forming a pre-packaged cartridge with a wrapper having the same or similar combustion properties to the inhalable substance prevents a user from inhaling certain undesirable contaminants, such as carcinogens, paper ash, etc. In some embodiments, the wrapper portion of the pre-packaged cartridge can be pressed firmly against a heat surface of the vaporizer heat source.
Referring now to
According to an exemplary embodiment, the prepackaged cartridge 20 can include medicated measurements varying in size from 0.05 grams to 0.10 grams, 0.2 grams, 0.25 grams, 0.3 grams, 0.4 grams, 0.5 grams, 0.6 grams, ¼ oz., ½ oz., 1 lb., and 1 kilogram.
In one embodiment, the compressed form 24 may be packed into a three-dimensional form (e.g. preferably rectangular) as shown in
Referring now to
The vaporizer devices 26A and 26B can also comprise a heating element (not shown) that vaporizes the inhalable substance within the prepackaged cartridge 20. The heating element can include a heating element of any type, include a coil, a convection heater, a conduction heater, laser, or a flame. The heat generated by the heating element can vaporize the inhalable substance through the wrapper 22.
In some embodiments, prepackaged cartridge 20 may be placed into a device, such as a hookah, an electronic hookah, and an e-cigarette. In other embodiments, prepackaged cartridge 20 may be placed into a combustion device that burns the inhalable substance along with the wrapper 22 to simulate the experience of smoking the inhalable substance. In this embodiment, wrapper 22 may comprise a paper material or alternative materials similar to paper.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the bag 32 may be made of a biodegradable substance (e.g. hemp paper, hemp cloth, cannabis paper, cannabis cloth, leaf paper, leaf cloth, etc.) that has the same or similar combustion properties (e.g. temperature) as the inhalable substance within the bag 32. Because the bag 32 may have the same or similar combustion properties as the inhalable substance, the entire prepackaged cartridge 30 may be placed into a vaporizer, and vaporization of the inhalable substance may be achieved without risking burning of bag 32, which if allowed to burn may be toxic or may distort the taste of the inhalable substance. In some embodiments, the bag 32 may not be sized to easily fit into a small or oddly shaped chamber. The bag 32 may be configured to contain the inhalable substance while a user compresses or manipulates the bag 32 so as to fit the bag into the small or oddly shaped chamber.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the user fillable cartridge 40 may be made of a biodegradable substance (e.g. hemp paper, hemp cloth, cannabis paper, cannabis cloth, leaf paper, leaf cloth, etc.) that has a similar or the same combustion properties (e.g. temperature) as the inhalable substance it is containing. The user fillable cartridge 40 having the same or similar combustion properties as the inhalable substance allows placement of the entire user fillable cartridge 40 into a vaporizer and vaporization of any inhalable substance placed inside without risking burning of the user fillable cartridge 40, which if allowed to burn may be toxic or may distort the taste of the inhalable substance. In some embodiments, the user fillable cartridge 40 may not be sized to easily fit into a small or oddly shaped chamber. The user fillable cartridge 40 may be configured to contain the inhalable substance while a user compresses or manipulates the user fillable cartridge 40 so as to fit the bag into the small or oddly shaped chamber.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the prepackaged cartridge 30 may be placed into a device, such as a hookah, an electronic hookah, and an e-cigarette. In other embodiments, the prepackaged cartridge 30 may be placed into a combustions device that burns the inhalable substance along with the prepackaged cartridge 30 to simulate the experience of smoking the inhalable substance. In the burning embodiment, prepackaged cartridge 30 may comprise a paper material.
Some embodiments may be directed to a method for packing an inhalable substance into single portion cartridges for using in a vaporizer or other device. In some embodiments, such a method may include compressing a select amount of an inhaled substance into a three-dimensional shape (e.g. rectangular). The three-dimensional shape may be placed on a wrapping material having the same or similar combustion properties as the inhalable substance. In one embodiment, the wrapping material may be precut to a size for wrapping a single three-dimensional shape. In another embodiment, multiple three-dimensional shapes are placed onto a large sheet of the wrapping material and the wrapping material is then cut to a size for wrapping each single three-dimensional shape. The wrapping material may be folded around the three-dimensional shape such that it encloses and seals the inhalable substance. The cartridge comprising the wrapping material and the three-dimensional shape may be placed into a vaporizer or similar device for consumption of the inhalable substance.
Vaporizer devices such as 26A and 26B (see
Referring to
According to an exemplary embodiment, the replaceable strip 320 may include any number of cartridges 322, although
Referring now to
In an exemplary embodiment, processor 52 of the vaporizer device 48 is configured to change particular settings of the vaporizer device 48 and convey information through visual indicator 62 and the haptic indicator 64 in response to user input received through mouthpiece 54. The processor 52 may also convey the current state of the various components of the vaporizer device 48 through the visual indicator 62 and/or the haptic indicator 64. In one embodiment, the user input may be a breath intake through mouthpiece 54 measured as a function of airflow through the body 50. In some embodiments, the user input in the form of breath intake may activate the heating unit
In one embodiment, processor 52 may be configured to determine the number of breath intakes or air flow “pulls”, the speed the pulls though mouthpiece 54, and change the setting of vaporizer 80 in response based on a signal from an airflow sensor or an airflow switch.
Processor 52 may be configured to display a battery status for vaporizer device 48 in response to receiving a predetermined signal such as a predetermined number of breaths (e.g. 3) over a preprogrammed period of time (e.g. in quick succession) through mouthpiece 54. In response, processor 52 may display a particular color on visual indicator 62 to represent a current charge state of battery 56. In one embodiment, processor 52 may distinguish between multiple separate charge states. For example, the multiple separate charge states may be a full, an intermediate, and a low state and may display a different color on visual indicator 62 to represent each state. In an exemplary embodiment, the full state may indicate a battery charge between full and 60%, the intermediate state may indicate a battery charge between 60% and 20%, and the low state may indicate a battery charge below 20%. In an exemplary embodiment, the respective colors for the full, intermediate, and low states may be white, green, and red respectively.
In an exemplary embodiment, processor 52 may activate the vaporizer device 48 from a cold/off state or standby state in response to identifying a predetermined activation signal through mouthpiece 54, such as a single sharp breath intake or any type of breath intake. The processor 52 may determine the sharp breath intake by receiving a high airflow speed measurement from an airflow sensor. In response, processor 52 may blink a first color (e.g. blue) over a periodic interval (e.g. once a second) on visual indicator 62 and engage a heating section of vaporizer 80 or the heating unit to heat the chamber 60 to a first temperature threshold. In an exemplary embodiment, the first temperature threshold may be 180 degrees Celsius. In exemplary embodiments, chamber 60 may reach the first temperature threshold in 22 seconds when starting from a cold state. When chamber 60 reaches the first temperature threshold, processor 52 may change the visual indicator to display a solid steady second color (e.g. cyan) and transmit a first alert signal (e.g. 2 vibrations) using haptic indicator 64. The first alert signal may indicate that the vaporizer is ready to vaporize an inhalable substance.
Following the initial activation of vaporizer 80, processor 52 may raise the temperature of chamber 60 by an incremental amount (e.g. 3 or less degrees Celsius) every time the activation signal is detected (e.g. by detecting airflow by the user) and change the visual indicator 62 to brighter shade of a particular third color (e.g. purple). For example, the second “pull” may be at 181.5 degrees Celsius, the third pull may be at 183 degrees Celsius, and the fourth pull may be 184.5 degrees Celsius. When chamber 60 reaches the new temperature, processor 52 may transmit a second alert signal (e.g. X number of vibrations) using haptic indicator 64. In one embodiment, second alert signal may be the same as the first alert signal. In an exemplary embodiment, processor 52 may continue to raise the temperature by the incremental amount each time the activation signal is detected until a maximum temperature (e.g. 215 degrees Celsius) is reached. When chamber 60 reaches the maximum temperature, the processor 52 may change the visual indicator 62 to a fourth color (e.g. red) and transmit a third alert signal using haptic indicator 64. The transition from the second color to the fourth color may be gradual along the color spectrum. In one embodiment, the third alert signal may comprise 5 rapid vibrations followed by a 15 second pause concluding with 5 more rapid vibrations.
In one embodiment, processor 52 may transition vaporizer 80 into a standby mode if no activation signal has been received within a first predetermined time period (e.g. 30 seconds). When transitioning vaporizer 80 into standby mode, processor 52 may drop the temperature of chamber 60 to a lower standby temperature (e.g. 130 degrees Celsius), and the heating unit may simply keep the chamber 60 warm. In the event that no activation signal is received within a second predetermined time period (e.g. 30 seconds) while vaporizer 80 is in standby mode, processor 52 will transition vaporizer 80 into the off state. In one embodiment, when an activation signal is received following a transition of vaporizer 80 into standby mode or the off state, processor 52 may raise the temperature of chamber 60 to the same temperature level chamber 60 was at prior to transition into standby mode. The computer-readable medium may store the temperature of chamber 60, and the processor will vaporize the inhalable substance at the stored temperature upon reactivation. For example, if the user last inhaled the inhalable substance at 183 degrees Celsius, the processor 52 will store the temperature 184.5 degrees Celsius. The processor 52 will heat the chamber 60 to the stored temperature (here 184.5) whenever the user activates the vaporizer by inhaling through the vaporizer again for the third pull, regardless of the amount of time between pulls.
Processor 52 may reset the temperature setting back to the initial temperature threshold when micro switch 68 associated with chamber 60 is activated (and a door is opened), which indicates opening of chamber 60 to replace the inhalable substance.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the wrapper 1420 may not completely enclose the compact form 1424 such that the circular sides 1426 of the cylindrical cartridge 1420 are not covered or wrapped by the wrapper. Forming the cylindrical cartridge 1420 in this shape and configuration may be easier to form in the manufacturing process while still conveying all of the benefits of the other embodiments described above. The wrapper 1420 shown in
Referring now to
The pod 1522 may be formed using two circular pieces of biodegradable substance fabric 1526, 1528 sewn, sonically sealed, or by compressing together with a connection point 1530 proximate to the circumference or edges of the two circular pieces of fabric. The connection step may occur before or after the inhalable substance 1524 is packed into the pod cartridge 1422. In this way, the pod 1522 may be similar in structure to the embodiment described above in
Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows described above do not require the particular order described, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the invention.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific system or method described herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the sprit and scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part application, which claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 16/314,547, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/497,296, filed on Jul. 17, 2017 and titled “BIODEGRADABLE WRAPPING FOR CARTRIDGES”. U.S. Application No. 62/497,296 is hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/US18/41797, filed on Jul. 12, 2018 and titled “BIODEGRADABLE WRAPPING FOR CARTRIDGES”. PCT Application No. PCT/US18/41797 is also hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62497296 | Jul 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16314547 | Dec 2018 | US |
Child | 18184195 | US |