The present invention relates to a vaporization device or atomizer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vaporization device or atomizer having a set of indicators that illuminate upon inhalation by a user.
Vaporization devices, also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, having a light source visible to a user when the device is operating are known in the prior art. For example, Liu, U.S. Pat. No. 9,949,510 discloses a lamp assembly comprised of one or more light-emitting diode (LED) lights, where the lamp assembly is disclosed to function as an indication to alert a user that an atomizer assembly is on.
In another example, Alarcon, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 10,143,241 discloses a plurality of LEDs having an intensity of illumination that is dependent upon a user's draw strength. The intensity of each of the plurality of LEDs can also be individually varied to create a smoldering effect to mimic a conventional cigarette.
In another prior art example, Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 10,231,486 discloses a vaporization device having an entertainment or game mode that comprises illumination of a plurality of LEDs comprising one or more colors. In one embodiment, a user puts the device into the entertainment mode by “drawing on the device in a particular pattern, duration or frequency.” In another embodiment, the plurality of LEDs illuminates in a pattern dependent upon the orientation of the device.
In yet another example, Leung U.S. Pat. No. 10,334,878 discloses an LED light element that illuminates with an intensity dependent upon the strength of a user's draw. To indicate dosage, battery level, and other parameters, the LED light element displays various colors and flashing sequences. It can be useful to a user of a vaporization device to know the length of their draws on the device. However, the prior art does not disclose a system for indicating the length of a draw to a user. Therefore, a need exists for a multi-stage indicator of a user's draw on a vaporization device. A visual indication, for example, one or more lights that illuminate in a sequence or pattern of illumination in response to the length of a user's draw is an effective way to indicate the length of the user's draw to the user.
According to one aspect of the invention, a vaporization device comprises a body, a plurality of illuminating indicators disposed within or on the body and visible from outside the body, and control circuitry disposed within the body. The control circuitry operatively connects one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators with a power source disposed within the body to illuminate the one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators in a sequence in response to a predetermined event.
According to another aspect of the invention, a vaporization device comprises a body having an airflow aperture disposed through an exterior surface of the body, a plurality of illuminating indicators disposed within or on the body and visible from outside the body, and a sensor disposed within the device in fluid communication with the airflow aperture. Control circuitry disposed within the device is operatively connected to the sensor, a power source disposed within the body, and the plurality of illuminating indicators. The control circuitry provides one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators with power from the power source to illuminate the one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators in a sequence in response to a draw on the airflow aperture.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a draw indicator for a vaporization device comprises a plurality of illuminating indicators disposed within or on the vaporization device and visible at an exterior surface of the device. An airflow aperture is disposed through an exterior surface of the device. A sensor is disposed within the device in fluid communication with the airflow aperture. Control circuitry is disposed within the device, wherein the control circuitry is operatively connected to the sensor, a power source disposed within the body, and the plurality of illuminating indicators. The control circuitry provides one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators with power from the power source to illuminate the one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators in a sequence in response to a draw on the airflow aperture.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numerals.
The following detailed embodiments presented herein are for illustrative purposes. That is, these detailed embodiments are intended to be exemplary of the present invention for the purposes of providing and aiding a person skilled in the pertinent art to readily understand how to make and use of the present invention.
Referring to
In one embodiment the vaporization device 100 has an airflow aperture 111 disposed through an exterior surface of the body 101, for example, through the first end 110 thereof. In other embodiments the airflow aperture 111 is disposed through the exterior surface of the body 101 at other positions on the body 101. In one embodiment a window 115 is disposed on the side surface 130 to provide visual access to the contents of an electronic vaporizing liquid (e-liquid) tank or reservoir 150 (see
The vaporization device 100 includes a visual indicator 140. For example, in one embodiment the visual indicator comprises a plurality of illuminating indicators 140. In one embodiment the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 (described in further detail below with regard to
Referring to
As known in the art, the wick or other porous material (not shown) contacts and transports the e-liquid by capillary action from the e-liquid reservoir 150 to the heating coil 151. In some embodiments the wick or other porous material (not shown) contacts the heating coil 151 but in other embodiments the wick or other porous material (not shown) does not contact the heating coil 151, but is disposed, for example, within or in proximity to the heating coil 151. Regardless of the relative geometry of the heating coil 151 to the wick or other porous material (not shown), the heating coil 151 produces sufficient heat to vaporize the e-liquid delivered thereto from the e-liquid reservoir 150 for ultimate inhalation by a user.
In one embodiment the vaporization device 100 includes a power source 160 within the body 101. For example, in one embodiment the power source 160 comprises a battery 160 disposed inside the elongate body 101 positioned between the e-liquid reservoir 150 and the second end 120 as indicated schematically by the brackets in
Referring to
In one embodiment as illustrated in
As is known in the art, the control circuitry 170 electrically connects the power source 160, the heating coil 151, and the sensor 175. The sensor 175 is further disposed within a portion of the body 101 that is in fluid communication with the airflow aperture 111. In operation, when a user provides a suction or vacuum on the airflow aperture 111, where such suction or vacuum is commonly referred to as a draw, the sensor 175 detects the draw, for example without limitation, by one or more of a resultant drop in pressure or a flow of gas thereby. The sensor 175 signals detection of the draw, for example without limitation, by a change in output voltage, to the control circuitry 170, which in response to the signal activates the heating coil 151 by connecting it to the power source 160 to vaporize e-liquid for inhalation by the user. In addition to activating the heating coil 151, in the current invention the control circuitry 170 also provides one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 with power from the power source 160 to activate the one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 as is further described hereinbelow.
Referring to
In one exemplary embodiment the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 is configured in a V-shape as visible in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In operation the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 provides an indication of the occurrence of a predetermined event. For example, in one embodiment the predetermined event is that a user is drawing on the airflow aperture 111. In another embodiment, the predetermined event is that a user has stopped drawing on the airflow aperture 111, or alternatively, an end of the predetermined event is when the user has stopped drawing on the airflow aperture 111.
In another embodiment, the predetermined event is the pressing of a switch or pushbutton, for example without limitation, pushbutton 185 disposed anywhere on the vaporization device 100, and illustrated in different positions in
In a further embodiment, the predetermined event is the connection of the vaporization device 100 to a charger (not shown) for the purpose of recharging the power source 160, for example, a rechargeable battery 160. The connection to the charger may be via a wired connection or an unwired connection utilizing inductive charging of the power source 160. In the case of a wired connection, a jack or plug 190 is disposed anywhere on the vaporization device 100, and illustrated in different positions in
In one embodiment, the indication that a predetermined event has occurred comprises a visual indication. In one embodiment the visual indication comprises one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 illuminating steadily for a predetermined time. In another embodiment the visual indication comprises a flashing of one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140, where each flash comprises a predetermined period of illumination followed by a predetermined period of no illumination.
In another embodiment, a visual indication comprises a sequence or pattern of illumination where, for example, a first one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 illuminates or flashes and is followed after a first predetermined time period by a second one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 illuminating or flashing. The first one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 remains illuminated or continues to flash in this embodiment; however, in other embodiments upon illumination of the second one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 the first one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators is turned off. In some embodiments, a third one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 illuminates or flashes after a second predetermined time period. The first and second one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 remain illuminated or continue to flash in one embodiment; however, in other embodiments upon illumination of the third one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 the first and/or the second one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators is turned off.
In other embodiments the sequence of illuminations can continue to a fourth one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 illuminating or flashing after a third predetermined time period, and to a fifth one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 illuminating or flashing after a fourth predetermined time period, and so on, for as many of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 that exist. After each new illumination in the sequence, one or more of the prior one or more illuminated indicators 140 can remain illuminated or continue flashing or can be turned off. After a last one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 is illuminated or flashes for a last predetermined time period, one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators are turned off.
In other embodiments the indication that a predetermined event has occurred comprises a combination of two or more visual indications, for example without limitation, as described above. Any of the predetermined time periods for illumination can comprise any length of time as needed to achieve any desired visual effect, for example without limitation, any predetermined time period for illumination can be as short as about 0.00001 second or as long as about 60 minutes.
In addition, in an embodiment having one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 flashing, flashes are defined as sequentially repeating cycles consisting of a period of flash illumination followed by a period of no illumination. Any of the periods of flash illumination and no illumination for a flashing indicator can comprise any lengths of time as needed to achieve any desired visual effect. For example without limitation, any predetermined time period of flash illumination for any flashing indicator can be as short as about 0.00001 second or as long as about 60 minutes. Further, for example without limitation, any predetermined time period of no illumination for any flashing indicator can be as short as about 0.00001 second or as long as about 60 minutes.
Given that one exemplary predetermined event comprises a user's draw on the airflow aperture 111, the predetermined periods for illumination or flash illumination (or for no illumination) in one embodiment generally correspond to the length of the user's draw. For example, in one embodiment any predetermined time period for illumination or flash illumination (or for no illumination) can range between about 0.0001 second and about 60 seconds. In another embodiment any predetermined time period for illumination or flash illumination (or for no illumination) can range between about 0.001 second and about 10 seconds. In a further embodiment any predetermined time period for illumination or flash illumination (or for no illumination) can range between about 0.01 second and about 5 seconds, or between about 0.01 second and about 1 second.
In another embodiment any of the predetermined time periods for illumination, flash illumination, or no illumination except for the last predetermined time period in a sequence can be in a range between about 0.00001 second and about 30 seconds, and the last predetermined time period in the sequence can be in a range between about 0.00001 second and about 60 seconds.
Applicable to any of the embodiments for any of the sequences of visual indications described herein, if the predetermined event is continuing, for example, if a user is still drawing on the airflow aperture 111, all of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 that are illuminated or flashing at that point remain illuminated or flashing until the predetermined event stops, for example, until the user stops drawing on the airflow aperture 111, at which time all of the illuminating indicators 140 are turned off.
For example, referring to
After a first predetermined time period, for example, 0.75 second, the second pair of illuminating indicators 142 illuminates in a second color, for example, red, while the first pair of illuminating indicators 141 remains illuminated. In other embodiments upon illumination of the second pair of illuminating indicators 142 the first pair of illuminating indicators 141 is turned off. In other embodiments, if the draw of the user stops before passage of the first predetermined time period, then the first pair of illuminating indicators 141 turn off when the draw stops, so that the second pair of illuminating indicators 142 do not illuminate.
Still referring to
Still referring to
In one embodiment, after illumination of the second single illuminating indicator 144, which is the last of the one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 being illuminated in this visual indication sequence, all of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 remain illuminated for a fourth predetermined time period, for example, 2.75 seconds, after which all of the illuminating indicators 140 are turned off. In another embodiment, if the user is still drawing on the airflow aperture 111 after the third predetermined time period has passed, all of the plurality of illuminating indicators 140 remain illuminated until the user stops drawing on the airflow aperture 111, at which time all of the illuminating indicators 140 are turned off.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described, and that each embodiment is also provided with features that may be applicable to other embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
A vaporization device is provided with a draw indicator that provides an indication of a user's length of draw on the device. The draw indicator comprises a plurality of illuminating indicators disposed within or on the vaporization device and visible at an exterior surface of the device. Control circuitry disposed within the device receives a signal from a sensor indicating a user's draw. In response to the signal the control circuitry provides one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators with power from a power source within the device to illuminate the one or more of the plurality of illuminating indicators in a sequence. The vaporization device can be manufactured in industry for use by consumers.
Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved. All patents, patent publications and applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.