# US 12,213,535 B2 · Vaporizer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,535 B2 - Document ID: US12213535B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/366,357 - Filed: 2021-07-02 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-12 - Assignees: VMR Products, LLC - Applicants: VMR Products LLC - Inventors: Jan Andries Verleur; Dan Recio; Yifeng Lu; Yinjun Zhang; Arturo Fajardo; Hans Verleur - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213535B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/90: Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof - A24F 40/00: Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/44: Wicks - A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/53: Monitoring, e.g. fault detection - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 2205/07: having air pumping means - A61M 2205/332: Force measuring means - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3633: thermally insulated - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61M 2205/584: having a color code - A61M 2205/6027: Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes - A61M 2205/6081: Colour codes - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2205/8237: Charging means - A61M 2206/20: having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively - A61M 2209/06: Packaging for specific medical equipment - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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)} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An electronic cigarette or vaporizer may include a shell and a cartomizer receivable within a chamber within a portion of the shell. A basin may be included in the cartomizer to hold a vaporizable fluid, dry substance, or other vaporizable substance such as a wax. A heating element may be provided within the basin which may have a flexible non-conductive material and a flexible conductive material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vaporizer, comprising: a cartomizer having a cartomizer insertion end and a cartomizer mouthpiece end opposite the cartomizer insertion end, the cartomizer comprising: a cartomizer body configured to hold a liquid vaporizable substance; a heating element and a wick within the cartomizer body, the heating element being in at least partial contact with the wick, the wick configured to contact the liquid vaporizable substance held in the cartomizer body and draw the liquid vaporizable substance to the heating element; an inhalation tube in fluid communication with the heating element and the wick, wherein the inhalation tube is positioned downstream of the heating element and wick and upstream of the cartomizer mouthpiece end; and a plurality of cartomizer electrical contacts positioned on or proximate to the cartomizer insertion end; and a battery portion having a cartomizer receiving end and a second battery portion end opposite the cartomizer receiving end, the battery portion comprising: a battery; a chamber having a chamber base end distal from the cartomizer receiving end and a chamber insertion end proximal to the cartomizer receiving end, the chamber configured to insertably receive an insertable portion of the cartomizer body, the insertable portion of the cartomizer body comprising the cartomizer insertion end; and an electrical connector comprising a plurality of pogo pin contacts, the electrical connector positioned at the chamber base end such that the plurality of pogo pin contacts extend into the chamber when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is not inserted into the chamber and retract at least partially toward the second battery portion end when the plurality of cartomizer electrical contacts press against the plurality of pogo pin contacts when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber; wherein the heating element is disposed between the chamber insertion end and the chamber base end when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartomizer vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the cartomizer body comprises glass or plastic configured to allow viewing of the liquid vaporizable substance held in the cartomizer body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the cartomizer further comprises a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the inhalation tube, the mouthpiece operable for a user to inhale a portion of the liquid vaporizable substance vaporized by the heating element, the mouthpiece provided on the cartomizer body at or proximate to the cartomizer mouthpiece end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the battery portion further comprises one or more chamber magnets in or proximate to the chamber, and the cartomizer further comprises one or more cartomizer metallic surfaces at or proximate to the cartomizer insertion end, the one or more chamber magnets and the one or more cartomizer metallic surfaces configured to secure the insertable portion of the cartomizer body in the chamber when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a snap fit connector and/or a friction fit structure configured to secure the insertable portion of the cartomizer body in the chamber when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the battery portion comprises an outer shell having a first shell end at or proximate the cartomizer receiving end and a second shell end at or proximate the second battery portion end, and wherein the inhalation tube is also in fluid communication with one or more holes or ducts provided in one or more sides of the outer shell when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 7 A vaporizer comprising: a cartomizer having a mouthpiece end and a cartomizer insertion end disposed opposite the mouthpiece end along a cartomizer longitudinal axis, the cartomizer comprising: a cartomizer body having a volume defined therein, the volume configured to hold a free-standing liquid vaporizable substance; a heating element within the cartomizer body, the heating element operable to cause a portion of the free-standing liquid vaporizable substance drawn to the heating element to be vaporized for inhalation by a user through the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer; a wick within the cartomizer body and in contact with the heating element, the wick operable to draw the portion of the free-standing liquid vaporizable substance to the heating element; cartomizer electrical contacts operable to direct current to the heating element, the cartomizer electrical contacts positioned at or proximate to the cartomizer insertion end and arranged along a line perpendicular to the cartomizer longitudinal axis; and an inhalation tube in fluid communication with the heating element and the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer; and a battery portion having a cartomizer receiving end and a second battery portion end opposite the cartomizer receiving end, the battery portion comprising: a battery housing segment containing a battery; a catromizer receiving segment comprising a chamber having a chamber base end proximal to the battery housing segment and a chamber insertion end distal from the battery housing segment and proximal to the cartomizer receiving end of the battery portion, the chamber configured to insertably receive an insertable portion of the cartomizer body that comprises the cartomizer insertion end; an outer shell shared by the battery housing segment and the cartomizer receing segment; a plurality of battery portion electrical contacts within the chamber, the plurality of battery electrical contacts positioned to contact the cartomizer electrical contacts when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber; and battery portion electrical circuitry operable to direct an electrical current between the battery, the plurality of battery portion electrical contacts, the cartomizer electrical contacts, and the heating element when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber; wherein at least part of the heating element is positioned within the chamber when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the cartomizer body comprises glass or plastic configured to allow viewing of the free-standing liquid vaporizable substance held in the cartomizer body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the free-standing liquid vaporizable substance comprises nicotine. ### Claim 10 A vaporizer comprising: a cartomizer having a mouthpiece end and an insertable portion comprising a cartomizer insertion end that is disposed opposite the mouthpiece end, the cartomizer comprising: a cartomizer body having a volume defined therein, the volume configured to hold a vaporizable substance; a heating element within the cartomizer body; an inhalation tube that extends downstream of the heating element toward the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer; and a battery portion having a cartomizer receiving end and a second battery portion end opposite the cartomizer receiving end, the battery portion comprising: a battery housing segment comprising a battery; a cartomizer receiving segment comprising a chamber having a chamber insertion end proximal to the cartomizer receiving end of the battery portion and a chamber base end distal from the cartomizer receiving end of the battery portion, the chamber configured to insertably receive an insertable portion of the cartomizer body; an outer shell shared by the battery housing segment and the cartomizer receiving segment; battery portion electrical circuitry operable to cause an electrical current in the heating element when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber; and a structure that secures the cartomizer in the chamber when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber, the structure comprising at least one of a friction fit connection, a snap fit connection, or a magnet, the magnet configured to magnetically couple with a metallic part of the cartomizer; wherein at least part of the heating element is positioned within the chamber when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the cartomizer body comprises glass or plastic configured to permit viewing of the vaporizable substance held in the cartomizer body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the vaporizable substance comprises nicotine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the battery portion has a battery portion longitudinal axis extending between the cartomizer receiving end and the second battery portion end, and wherein a battery housing segment comprising the battery is disposed between the chamber base end and the second battery portion end along the battery portion longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the inhalation tube is in fluid communication with one or more holes or ducts provided in one or more sides of the outer shell to permit air flow through the cartomizer body between the cartomizer insertion end and the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the cartomizer further comprises a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the inhalation tube, the mouthpiece operable for a user to inhale a portion of the free-standing liquid vaporizable substance vaporized by the heating element, the mouthpiece provided on the cartomizer body at or proximate to the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the inhalation tube is in fluid communication with one or more holes or ducts provided in one or more sides of the outer shell to permit air flow through the cartomizer body between the cartomizer insertion end and the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer when the insertable portion of the cartomizer body is inserted into the chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the cartomizer further comprises a wick in contact with the heating element and configured to draw the vaporizable substance to the heating element, and wherein the vaporizable substance is a liquid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vaporizer of claim 17, wherein the liquid comprises nicotine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the cartomizer further comprises a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the inhalation tube, the mouthpiece operable for a user to inhale a portion of the vaporizable substance vaporized by the heating element, the mouthpiece provided on the cartomizer body at or proximate to the mouthpiece end of the cartomizer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) The vaporizer of claim 6, wherein the outer shell is at least partially formed of metal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 6) The vaporizer of claim 6, further comprising a window that comprises a slit cut into the outer shell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the battery portion further comprises at least one protrusion on and extending inward from an inner surface of the chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the battery portion comprises an indicator operable to indicate a status of the vaporizer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The vaporizer of claim 23, wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The vaporizer of claim 23, wherein the status comprises power remaining in the battery, a charge state of the battery, an activation state of the vaporizer, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 26 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the battery portion further comprises at least one protrusion on and extending inward from an inner surface of the chamber. ### Claim 27 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the outer shell is at least partially formed of metal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, wherein the battery portion comprises an indicator operable to indicate a status of the vaporizer. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The vaporizer of claim 28, wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The vaporizer of claim 28, wherein the status comprises power remaining in the battery, a charge state of the battery, an activation state of the vaporizer, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 31 (depends on 7) The vaporizer of claim 7, further comprising a window that comprises a slit cut into the outer shell. ### Claim 32 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the battery portion further comprises at least one protrusion on and extending inward from an inner surface of the chamber. ### Claim 33 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the outer shell is at least partially formed of metal. ### Claim 34 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the battery portion comprises an indicator operable to indicate a status of the vaporizer. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The vaporizer of claim 34, wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The vaporizer of claim 34, wherein the status comprises power remaining in the battery, a charge state of the battery, an activation state of the vaporizer, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 37 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, further comprising a window that comprises a slit cut into the outer shell. ### Claim 38 (depends on 10) The vaporizer of claim 10, wherein the vaporizable material comprises tobacco.