# US 11,439,774 B2 · Vaporizer devices and cartridges with folded mesh > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,774 B2 - Document ID: US11439774B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/674,609 - Filed: 2019-11-05 - Published: 2020-05-07 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-05 - Assignees: JUUL Labs, Inc. - Applicants: JUUL Labs, Inc. - Inventors: Emily K. Pettitt; Andrew J. Stratton; James P. Westley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439774B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A61M 15/006: {the used dosages being discarded out of the inhaler's housing} - A61M 16/209: {Relief valves} - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - 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)} ## Abstract Cartridges for vaporizer devices are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the cartridge can include a reservoir housing, an airflow tube that extends through the reservoir housing, and a folded mesh that is disposed within the airflow tube and includes a plurality of folds. The airflow tube defines a passageway extending therethrough and at least a portion of the airflow tube is permeable to the vaporizable material, in which the permeable portion of the airflow tube is configured to draw vaporizable material from the reservoir housing into the airflow tube for vaporization. The folded mesh is configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the activated state, the folded mesh is configured to generate an amount of heat that is sufficient to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material drawn from the reservoir housing. Vaporizer devices are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge for a vaporizer device, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir housing being configured to hold a vaporizable material; an airflow tube extending through the reservoir housing, the airflow tube defining a passageway extending therethrough, at least a portion of the airflow tube being permeable to the vaporizable material, the permeable portion of the airflow tube being configured to draw the vaporizable material from the reservoir housing into the airflow tube for vaporization; and a folded mesh that is disposed within the airflow tube and includes a plurality of folds, the folded mesh having a capillary path and an electrical path such that the folded mesh is configured to draw vaporizable material directly from the reservoir housing and vaporize at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material; wherein the folded mesh is configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the activated state, the folded mesh is configured to generate an amount of heat that is sufficient to vaporize the at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material; and wherein the capillary path extends along a width of the folded mesh, the width extending between adjacent folds of the plurality of folds, and wherein the electrical path extends a length of the folded mesh, the length extending from a first end to an opposing second end of the folded mesh. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the permeable portion of the airflow tube includes a plurality of holes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the length of the folded mesh is less than a predetermined length of the folded mesh in an unfolded state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the airflow tube has a tube length that extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the tube length is greater than the length of the folded mesh. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the width of the folded mesh is greater than a radius of the airflow tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a pressure equilibrium is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the reservoir housing and the passageway when the folded mesh is in the deactivated state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a pressure differential is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the reservoir housing and the passageway when the folded mesh is in the activated state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the vaporizable material flows from the reservoir housing into the airflow tube through the permeable portion of the airflow tube when the pressure differential is created. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the pressure differential is created in response to the vaporization of at least a portion of the vaporizable material when the folded mesh is in the activated state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a portion of the vaporizable material is within the airflow tube when the folded mesh is in the deactivated state. ### Claim 11 A vaporizer device, comprising: a vaporizer body; and a cartridge that is selectively coupled to and removable from the vaporizer body, the cartridge including: a reservoir housing being configured to hold a vaporizable material, an airflow tube extending through the reservoir housing, the airflow tube defining a passageway extending therethrough, at least a portion of the airflow tube being permeable to the vaporizable material, the permeable portion of the airflow tube being configured to draw the vaporizable material from the reservoir housing into the airflow tube for vaporization, and a folded mesh that is disposed within the airflow tube and includes a plurality of folds, the folded mesh having a capillary path and an electrical path such that the folded mesh is configured to draw vaporizable material directly from the reservoir housing and vaporize at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material; wherein the folded mesh is configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the activated state, the folded mesh is configured to generate an amount of heat that is sufficient to vaporize the at least a portion of the drawn vaporizable material into vaporized material; and wherein the capillary path extends along a width of the folded mesh, the width extending between adjacent folds of the plurality of folds, and wherein the electrical path extends a length of the folded mesh, the length extending from a first end to an opposing second end of the folded mesh. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the vaporizer body includes a power source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the permeable portion of the airflow tube includes a plurality of holes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the length of the folded mesh is less than a predetermined length of the folded mesh in an unfolded state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the width of the folded mesh is greater than a radius of the airflow tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein a pressure equilibrium is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the reservoir housing and the passageway when the folded mesh is in the deactivated state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein a pressure differential is created across the permeable portion of the airflow tube between the reservoir housing and the passageway when the folded mesh is in the activated state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the vaporizable material flows from the reservoir housing into the airflow tube through permeable portion of the airflow tube when the pressure differential is created. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the pressure differential is created in response to the vaporization of at least a portion of the vaporizable material when the folded mesh is in the activated state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein a portion of the vaporizable material is within the airflow tube when the folded mesh is in the deactivated state.