Patent Application
20160221707
The field of the invention is liquid-filled ampules, and specifically disposable refill ampules that may be used in connection with storing and refilling liquid in electronic cigarettes and similar vaporizer devices.
The use of electronic cigarettes and similar vaporizer products is becoming more common. As users are puffing more and more flavored liquid, the devices that vaporize the flavored liquid have diversified and include multiple types of refillable devices. In other words, a single vaporizer device may be used to puff more flavored liquid than is contained and carried in the vaporizer device. Accordingly, users typically carry small bottles of the flavored liquid that they then use to refill liquid in their vaporizer device. Depending on the flavored liquid bottle size, it is not always convenient to carry an extra bottle of flavored liquid. Additionally, these bottles of flavored liquid may be carried in a pocket or purse and, if not tightened after each use, or as a result of pressure or temperature change, may leak and cause a mess.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing drawbacks with respect to conventional liquid refill bottles and ampules.
In one example, a disposable refill ampule includes a hollow plastic body containing a liquid-filled reservoir sealed therein. The plastic body has a needle-nose projection extending outwardly from the plastic body. The projection includes a hollow center bore and a proximate end in fluid connection with the liquid in the plastic body. The projection is sealed on a distal end of the projection whereby the liquid is sealed inside the projection. A connector is fixed to the needle-nose projection near the distal end of the projection. The needle-nose projection is adapted to be snapped off along the projection between the distal end and the connector to make the liquid available. The connector may include a ring fixed to the needle-nose projection. The liquid sealed in the body may comprise a flavored vaporizing liquid. The length of the needle-nose projection between the plastic body and the connector is about one-quarter to ten inches, or alternatively one-half to two inches or about one inch. The needle-nose projection may comprise a preweakened breakpoint therein so that the projection is adapted to be snapped in two at the breakpoint. The breakpoint may be near the connector. The connector may comprise indicia that indicates a property of the liquid contained inside the ampule.
In another example, an electronic vaporizer refill set comprises a plurality of the disposable refill ampules described above. Further, a loop is placed in the plurality of ampule connectors and holds the ampules together. The loop may be a rigid key chain. The refill set may comprise at least six refill ampules connected by the loop.
The disposable refill ampule disclosed herein is engineered to be sold in a set or bundle of ampules. The plastic ampule has a connector integral or connected to the distal end of the needle-nose portion of the ampule. The ampule may be deployed for any use including, but not limited to, eye drops or breath fresheners. Another application is for dispensing liquid for refilling electronic cigarettes or other vaporizer devices. The connector is positioned at the end of the needle-nose projection so that multiple ampules may be strung or clipped together for easy storage, use and retail sale.
Turning now to
The hollow plastic body portion 12 is engineered to store a predetermined volume or aliquot of liquid 30 therein. As shown in the Figures, the ampule 10 is an integral single piece of plastic that includes the handle 14 on one end of the plastic body 12 and the needle-nose projection 16 on the other end of the plastic body 12 from the handle 14. The needle-nose projection 16 includes a proximal end 18 adjacent the plastic body 12. A distal end 20 of the projection 16 is at the end of the projection farthest away from the body 12. The projection 16 includes a hollow bore 17 open to the reservoir 13 so that the liquid 30 is allowed to flow freely between the body 12 and the bore of the projection 16.
Attached to, and as shown integral with, a connector 22 is positioned at the distal end 20 of the projection 16. In this example, the connector 22 includes a circular aperture 24 therein. This aperture 24 is adapted to be used with a loop or chain or ring. The connector 22 is shown as integral with the projection 16, but it could equally be adhered or clipped or otherwise bonded to the projection as well. Additionally, the connector 22 has enough surface area to enable some visual indicia on it including, for instance, a label or other information tag.
In use, the body 12, handle 14 and projection 16 sections of the ampule 10 are snapped off of and separated from the connector 22. The projection 16 as shown includes a preweakened notch 21 around the projection 16. This enables a clean break of the body 12 including the liquid 30 from the connector 22. A break at the notch 21, as shown in
Turning now to
The material that forms the ampule may be essentially any type of material. The body portion of an ampule needs to be flexible so that it may be squeezed to force the liquid out of the ampule. The projection may be relatively stiffer than the body of the ampule. Similarly, the handle can be any material as that material is preferably only a stiff material able to be held by a user. The projection portion of an ampule needs to be stiff enough to break cleanly when the projection is broken apart to give access to the liquid. Additionally, the material that forms the ampule should be impermeable to prevent the loss of liquid from inside of the ampule and to also prevent the ingress of air from outside the ampule. Suitable polymers that the ampule may be formed from include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, copolymers thereof, laminates or coextrusions thereof, or other composite materials. In one example, the ampule is LDPE.
The size of the ampule is variable. The body of the ampule needs to be large enough to handle but small enough to be easily stored and carried. A size of ampule may hold enough liquid to recharge an electronic cigarette or vaporizer reservoir volume, for example, 0.5 ml for an electronic cigarette up to 5 ml for a large vaporizer. The ampule reservoir can be larger or smaller as needed, for instance 0.25 ml to 20 ml, or alternatively, 0.5 ml to 5 ml. The ampule is a single use and disposable item, so the size of the ampule needs to be engineered accordingly. There is no need for any extra volume other than the single use that is intended.
The size and length of the projection will vary depending on the application and use of the ampule. The projection must be small enough in diameter cross-section that a relatively small stream will flow from the ampule, in other words that it does not come out too quickly. The projection must be long enough that the liquid can be applied and dispensed in a narrow, tight spot, for instance, for electronic cigarettes. The projection may be about one-quarter to ten inches in length, or alternatively, about one-half to two inches. One example of a projection size includes a hollow bore diameter cross-section of about 1 to 6 mm, or alternatively about 1.5 to 3 mm, or about 2 mm. The connector portion of the ampule has an opening of any relevant size or shape. The connector is positioned on the distal end of the projection so that no extra liquid from the body of the ampule is retained on the key ring or loop that carries multiple ampules. As indicated earlier, the connector itself may have labeling thereon. The connector can show some indicia of the ampule that is attached or was previously attached to the key ring or loop.
A label or indicia can appear on the connector or on the handle portions of the ampule, or both. The written brand may be displayed. Contents information may be provided, for instance the flavor and amount of nicotine in a liquid that may be used for electronic cigarettes and vaporizers. The ampule may be comprised of a particular color or visual pattern or shape that is distinctive to a brand or an attribute of the contents. Alternatively, a separate label or product information surface can be connected to the loop or ring that describes what is contained in each of the plurality of ampules that is likewise connected to the ring or loop.
The set or plurality of ampules may be engineered for a particular purpose. There are multiple disposable ampules, because there is no reuse after the single use. The set of ampules may be sized and/or numbered to last a predetermined amount of time. The set of ampules may likewise be sized to correspond to a traditional amount of puffing, like a pack of cigarettes. The set of ampules may comprise two to ten ampules, or alternatively, four to six ampules.
Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. It is intended that the specification and Figures be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
