# US 10,865,001 B2 · Fillable vaporizer cartridge and method of filling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,001 B2 - Document ID: US10865001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/404,693 - Filed: 2019-05-06 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-11 - Assignees: JUUL Labs, Inc. - Applicants: JUUL Labs, Inc. - Inventors: Ariel Atkins; Steven Christensen; Aaron Keller; James Monsees - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865001B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/44: Wicks - B65B 3/003: {Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like} - B65B 3/14: pneumatically - B65B 3/18: Controlling escape of air from containers or receptacles during filling - B65B 25/041: {combined with their conservation} - A24F 15/015: with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Vaporizer device cartridges are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge comprises a storage compartment having first and second opposing ends, a sealing material sealing the second end, and a wick positioned proximate to the first end. The storage compartment is configured to hold a liquid vaporizable material. The sealing material is configured for insertion of a needle through the sealing material for dispensing the liquid vaporizable material into the storage compartment. The wick comprises opposing ends in communication with the storage compartment and is configured to allow a volume of air to exit the storage compartment through the wick when the storage compartment is being filled with the liquid vaporizable material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vaporizer device cartridge, comprising: a storage compartment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the storage compartment configured to hold a liquid vaporizable material; a sealing material sealing the second end, the sealing material configured for insertion of a needle through the sealing material for dispensing the liquid vaporizable material into the storage compartment; and a wick positioned proximate to the first end, the wick comprising opposing ends in communication with the storage compartment, the wick configured to allow a volume of air to exit the storage compartment through the wick when the storage compartment is being filled with the liquid vaporizable material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the wick is configured to allow the volume of air to exit the storage compartment through one or both of the opposing ends of the wick. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 2, wherein the opposing ends of the wick are disposed in the storage compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sealing material is further configured to seal after removal of the needle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sealing material comprises an elastomeric material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, further comprising: a heating element configured to heat the liquid vaporizable material to generate an aerosol, wherein the heating element is in thermal contact with the wick. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 6, further comprising: electrical contacts electrically coupled to the heating element, the electrical contacts exposed proximate to the first end of the storage compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises the liquid vaporizable material, and wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises a nicotine formulation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 8, wherein the nicotine formulation comprises nicotine and an organic acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the wick further comprises a central region between the opposing ends of the wick, and wherein the opposing ends of the wick are configured to draw the liquid vaporizable material towards the central region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 10, further comprising: a tank comprising the storage compartment and a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises the central region of the wick. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the wick comprises woven, braided, fibrous, or knitted material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is translucent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, further comprising: a mouthpiece proximate to the second end of the storage compartment, the mouthpiece comprising at least one aerosol outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vaporizer cartridge of claim 14, further comprising: a first absorbent pad; and a second absorbent pad, the mouthpiece comprising a cavity, the first absorbent pad and the second absorbent pad held within the cavity, proximate to opposite sides of the mouthpiece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 1, further comprising: a tank comprising the storage compartment and a chamber, the chamber configured to receive and hold at least a portion of the wick. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 16, further comprising: a heating element configured to heat the liquid vaporizable material within the chamber to generate an aerosol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 17, further comprising: a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the heating element, wherein part of the first electrical contact is disposed within the chamber; and a second electrical contact electrically coupled to the heating element, wherein part of the second electrical contact is disposed within the chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 16, further comprising: a wick housing comprising a first pair of mating members, the tank further comprising a second pair of mating members, the first pair of mating members configured to mate with the second pair of mating members to define the chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 19, wherein the first pair of mating members extends along part of at least one side wall of the tank. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 20, wherein the at least one side wall comprises a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, and wherein the first pair of mating members extends along part of the first side wall and part of the second side wall. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 19, further comprising: an airpath tube configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and a mouthpiece. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 22, wherein the wick housing comprises a hole configured to receive the airpath tube. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 22, wherein the storage compartment comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the airpath tube is disposed to impede flow of the liquid vaporizable material from the first region of the storage compartment to the second region of the storage compartment. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 22, wherein the airpath tube comprises a cylindrical tube. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 25, wherein the storage compartment has a first dimension between the first end and the second end, wherein the storage compartment has a second dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the first dimension. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 26, wherein the storage compartment has a substantially rectangular cross-section along the second dimension. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The vaporizer device cartridge of claim 27, wherein the cylindrical tube extends along the first dimension, and wherein the wick extends along the second dimension.