Patent Application
20210120885
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge. More so, the present invention relates to a refilling system and method that provides a refillable cartridge for an electronic cigarette defined by an elongated cavity that contains an e-liquid adapted to vaporize and release flavor during smoking operations, a closed end, an open end, and an airtight silicone seal that covers the open end; whereby an injection needle penetrates the airtight seal to inject an e-liquid into the cavity, and an adjacent vent needle penetrates the airtight silicone seal to create a passageway for air to simultaneously escape the airtight cartridge while e-liquid is being injected, such that an equilibrium is formed inside the cavity; and in alternative embodiments, a retail package encapsulates the refillable cartridge, such that the needles penetrate both the retail package and the airtight silicone seal.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, electronic cigarettes provide smoking-substitute devices that allow a smoker to experience some of the physical and chemical sensations associated with smoking, without actually generating smoke or fire. As such, these devices do not contain the carcinogens and smoke that are detrimental to the health. Also, electronic cigarettes are not affected by the statutory restrictions, smoking bans, and social pressure to stop smoking.
Generally, electronic cigarettes are battery-powered electronic devices that resemble a standard tobacco cigarette. Often, the electronic cigarette comprises a cigarette-shaped tube and a mouthpiece. The cigarette-shaped tube typically includes a replaceable or refillable liquid cartridge, a heating element, and a power source. Once the replaceable or refillable liquid cartridge is emptied, it must either be replaced or refilled. Replacing cartridges can be expensive and messy. In prior art refilling methods, the juice is simply poured into the refillable cartridge, which created spillage and required a steady hand.
Other proposals have involved e-cigarette cartridge refilling devices and methods. The problem with these refilling means is that they do not create an anti-bacterial environment for refilling e-liquid into the cartridge. Also, the prior art does not evacuate air from the cartridge. Even though the above cited e-cigarette cartridge refilling devices and methods meet some of the needs of the market, a system and method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge, is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a system and method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge. The system and method provides an efficient means to refill a cartridge of an electronic cigarette with an e-liquid. The system comprises a refillable cartridge operable inside an electronic cigarette, along with a heating element, a vaporizer, and a power source. The refillable cartridge is defined by an elongated cavity that contains an e-liquid adapted to vaporize and release flavor while heated to a predetermined temperature, i.e., vaporization during smoking. The refillable cartridge is also defined by a closed end, an open end, and an airtight silicone seal that covers the open end.
In some embodiments, an injection needle penetrates the airtight silicone seal to inject an e-liquid into the cavity. Adjacent to the injection needle, a vent needle penetrates the airtight silicone seal to create a passageway for air to simultaneously escape the airtight cartridge while e-liquid is being injected. In this manner, an equilibrium is formed inside the cavity, creating a smoother refilling process. In alternative embodiments of the system and method, a retail package encapsulates the refillable cartridge, such that the needles penetrate both the retail package and the airtight silicone seal.
In one aspect, a system and method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge, comprises: a cartridge operable inside an electronic cigarette, the cartridge being defined by an elongated cavity sized and dimensioned to contain an e-liquid, the e-liquid being adapted to vaporize and release flavor when heated, the cartridge further being defined by a closed end and an open end; a seal covering the open end of the cartridge, whereby an airtight environment forms in the cavity of the cartridge; an injection needle defined by an inlet passageway having an e-liquid discharge end and an e-liquid discharge end, the e-liquid discharge end being sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal and discharge the e-liquid into the cavity; and a vent needle defined by an outlet passageway having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, the air inlet end being sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal, the outlet passageway being operable to carry air out of the cavity while the e-liquid is discharged into the cavity.
In another aspect, the system further comprises a resilient container, the resilient container encapsulating the cartridge and the seal.
In another aspect, the e-liquid discharge end of the injection needle is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the resilient container and the seal for discharging the e-liquid into the cavity.
In another aspect, the air inlet end is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the resilient container and the seal for carrying air from the cavity of the cartridge.
In another aspect, the injection needle is operable to inject a gas into the resilient container.
In another aspect, the resilient container is a bag.
In another aspect, the cartridge comprises a cylindrical shape.
In another aspect, the cartridge comprises a cubical shape.
In another aspect, the seal comprises a silicone seal.
In another aspect, the seal is operable to self-seal on the open end of the cartridge.
In another aspect, the e-liquid is adapted to vaporize and release flavor when heated to a predetermined temperature.
In another aspect, the electronic cigarette further comprises a heating element, a vaporizer, and a power source.
In another aspect, the cartridge comprises a connector for detachable attachment with the electronic cigarette.
In another aspect, the cartridge comprises a cap.
In another aspect, the cap comprises one or more apertures.
One objective of the present invention is to efficiently refill a cartridge of an electronic cigarette with an e-liquid.
Another objective is to allow air to escape the cartridge while it is being filled with e-liquid.
Yet another objective is to package the refillable cartridge in a retail bag that can be filled with air, or evacuated from air for facilitated shipping and storage.
Yet another objective is to provide an antibacterial packaging for the refillable cartridge.
Yet another objective is to make the seal configuration be self-sealing at the open end of the cartridge.
Yet another objective is to provide an inexpensive top manufacture refillable cartridge for electronic cigarettes.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
A system 100 and method 600 for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge 102 is referenced in
It should be understood that the above-described shapes of the cartridge 102 are exemplary and any other shapes can be adopted on various of embodiments of this disclosure.
Although the above embodiments disclose the e-liquid, it should be understood that other type of substances, such as liquid, solid, air (low-pressure air) or powder substances or combinations of different types of substances can be used to perform that the same function as the e-liquid. It should be understood that the above-described substances can comprise tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), hemp, vitamins, alcohol, or any types of substances which can achieve the same function.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the electronic cigarette and the cartridge 102 can be integrity, and in this manner, the cartridge 102 is embedded with to the electronic cigarette, so the cartridge 102 cannot be detached from the electronic cigarette. In other words, the electronic cigarette is integrity.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the system 100 provides a seal 110 that covers the open end 106 of the cartridge 102. The seal 110 is the component that creates an airtight environment inside the cavity 108 of the cartridge 102. In one possible embodiment, the seal 110 is a self-seal 110ing silicone seal 110 that is sized and dimensioned to completely cover the opening of the open end 106. This creates an airtight environment in the cavity 108 of the cartridge 102. The cubicle refillable cartridge 200 discussed above utilizes a square-shaped seal 206 to create the airtight environment in the cubicle refillable cartridge 200 (See
Looking again at
Further, the system 100 provides a vent needle 122 that correlates to the aforementioned injection needle 118. The injection needle 118 is operable to inject a gas into the resilient container. The vent needle 122 is defined by an outlet passageway 124c having an air inlet end 124a and an air outlet end 124b. The air inlet end 124a is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal 110. The outlet passageway 124c being operable to carry air out of the cavity 108.
In one embodiment, both of the injection needle 118 and the vent needle 122 may be operated to inject the e-liquid into the cartridge 102, and the system 100 further comprises a supplemental needle arranged in the middle of the injection needle 118 and the vent needle 122 and is operable to carry out the air out of the cavity 108. Although the above embodiments disclose using three needles, it should be understood that a predetermined number of the needles can be used to perform the same function.
In another embodiment, the air inlet end 124a of the vent needle 122 is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the resilient container and the seal 110 for carrying air from the cavity 108 of the cartridge 102. The outlet passageway is operable to carry air out of the cavity 108 while the e-liquid 126 is discharged into the cavity 108. Thus, a more efficient, smooth filling of e-liquid 126 into the cartridge 102 is possible. This use of two needles performing the separate functions of injecting e-liquid 126 and venting air from the cartridge 102 is a variance from the prior art e-cigarette cartridge 300.
In the prior art embodiments, an e-cigarette cartridge 300 is refilled in a more straightforward manner in which: air is not vented out of the cartridge, and no airtight seal is used to cover the opening of the cartridge. For example,
In other embodiment of the prior art embodiments, a first needle 302a, and a second needle 302b simultaneously inject e-liquid 126 into the cavity 108 (
Instill yet another embodiment, as shown in
In still yet another embodiment, as shown in
Accordingly, in the above-described embodiment, the cartridge 102 doesn't package. However, the cartridge 102 may be packaged as a packaged product. It should be understood that the above-described package or non-package configurations are exemplary and any other configuration can be adopted in various embodiments of this disclosure.
It should be understood that the above-described numbers of channels or needles are exemplary, and any numbers of channels and needles can be adopted in various embodiments of this disclosure.
Alternatively, the noble gases can be injected into the cartridge 102 through one of the needles 302a, 302b. Or, the noble gases can be injected into the cartridge 102 through one or more than one of the channels 3023a, 3024a, 3023b, 3024b, wherein the noble gases is at a constant temperature. In one aspect, the nobles gases is at a temperature approximately minus ten degrees to plus ten degrees.
In one embodiment, accordingly, the noble gases is delivered into the cartridge 102 to cool down the temperature of the e-liquid. In one aspect, the e-liquid is condensed to form a condensed e-liquid, so as to remain the condensed e-liquid inside the cartridge 102.
Turning now to
Furthermore, the resilient container 400 can be useful for shipping and marketing purposes. Also, this is useful for packaging food, pharmaceuticals, medicine, and other needs that require anti-bacterial protection. In one non-limiting embodiment, the resilient container is a seal 110able bag. The resilient container 400 is also effective for encasing a cubicle-shaped cartridge 102, as shown in
In one embodiment, a Step 608 comprises penetrating a vent needle through the seal, adjacent to the injection needle. A Step 610 includes injecting, through the injection needle, an e-liquid into the cavity of the cartridge. In some embodiments, a Step 612 may include venting, through the vent needle, air from the cavity, simultaneous with the injection of e-liquid. A Step 614 comprises selectively attaching the cartridge to the electronic cigarette. A final Step 616 includes heating the e-liquid to vaporize and release flavor for smoking.
In another embodiment, the method 600 further comprises a step 611 of stopping the injection of the e-liquid. The water or any liquid substance has cohesive force, so the e-liquid remaining inside the needle may continuously inject into the cavity of the cartridge even of no more e-liquid is fed into the needle. Therefore, a step 611 could remain the e-liquid inside the needle once the refilling method 600 is stopped.
Accordingly, the cartridge may be attached with the electronic cigarette, and in this manner, the cartridge is detachable 6041. In one aspect, the cartridge and the electronic cigarette are integrity, and in this manner, the cartridge is affixed with the electronic cigarette 6042.
In yet another embodiment, after step 612, venting the air from the cavity through the vent needle, the method 600 further comprises a step of finishing the step of refilling the electronic cigarette cartridge without detaching the cartridge from the electronic cigarette cause the cartridge and the electronic cigarette are integrity.
Although the process-flow diagrams show a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted from the process-flow diagrams for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all the process steps shown in the process flow diagrams can be combined into a single process
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
