Methods for designing, making, and using a personal appliance for producing water vapor

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for designing and employing a portable device for effecting a desired environment proximate to the device (including carrying out such methods under business arrangements encompassing two or more business entities). The effected environment includes, in part, temporary increases in the amount of water vapor as the device emits water vapor over some time duration, typically from about 1 or 2 minutes or so to about 15 to 30 minutes or so. Heat from a chemical heating engine is employed to drive off the water vapor. The device may also emit one or more ingredients adapted to be detected by olfaction. The device may be used to help address symptoms of various ailments, e.g., cold, flu, allergies, sinusitis, and the like. Also, the device may be employed to help promote a desired emotive state for the user of the device. The device promotes one or more desired states through auditory, tactile, visual, and/or olfactory signals. Furthermore, the device may be used to open pores in skin; or to treat skin or tissue.

1 . A method of addressing upper-respiratory health symptoms of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning in the hands of a user a personal vaporizer comprising
 a container adapted to contain liquid, the container comprising a body having a bottom wall, at least one sidewall connected to said bottom wall, and an opposing top wall connected to said sidewall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening; 
 a water-activated, chemical heating engine located inside said container; and 
 a wick, wherein the wick is located proximate to said chemical heating engine; 
   introducing liquid comprising water to the container so that the wick and chemical heating engine are in fluid communication with at least a portion of said water, thereby releasing heat and increasing the temperature of said water such that a portion of the water vaporizes; and   placing the vaporizer so that at least a portion of said vapor exiting the top wall may contact the nasal passages, throat, or lungs of a user.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein liquid comprising water is added to the container by a user of the personal vaporizer. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an additional material is added to the container by a user of the personal vaporizer. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the personal vaporizer further comprises a cell that holds liquid comprising water, and wherein the step of introducing liquid to the container is accomplished by a user releasing the liquid comprising water from said cell. 
   
   
       5 . A method of evoking a spa-like experience in the mind of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing in the hands of a user the package comprising
 a receptacle, wherein a statement is disposed on or in said receptacle, wherein said statement associates an enclosed personal vaporizer with an alphanumeric string, and wherein the alphanumeric string is “personal”, “vapor”, “relief”, “well”, “convenience”, “convenient”, “disposable”, “soothe”, “soothing”, “aroma”, “allergy”, “portable”, “non-electrical”, “warm”, “warmth”, “heat”, “pamper”, “pampering”, “ritual”, “spa”, “treatment”, “system”, “effective”, “disposable”, “botanical”, “vitamin”, “relax”, “peace”, “energy”, “energize”, “sex”, “sensuality”, “sensual”, “spirit”, “spiritual”, “clean”, “fresh”, “mountain”, “country”, “zest”, “sea”, “sky”, “health”, “hygiene”, “water”, “waterfall”, “refresh”, “recharge”, “rejuvenate”, “mind”, “senses”, “aromatherapy”,“harmony”, “balance”, “revitalize”, “invigorate”, “stimulate”, “caress”, “uplift”, “relief”, “biosphere”, “space”. 
 a personal vaporizer in said receptacle, the personal vaporizer comprising,
 a container adapted to contain liquid, the container comprising a body having a bottom wall, at least one sidewall connected to said bottom wall, and an opposing top wall connected to said sidewall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening; 
 a water-activated, chemical heating engine located inside said container, and 
 a wick, wherein the wick is located proximate to said chemical heating engine; 
 
   opening the receptacle to access the personal vaporizer;   introducing liquid comprising water to the container so that the wick and chemical heating engine are in fluid communication with at least a portion of said water, thereby releasing heat and increasing the temperature of said liquid such that a portion of the water vaporizes; and   placing the vaporizer so that a user may detect the vaporizer by sight, smell, sound, or touch.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein liquid comprising water is added to the container by a user of the personal vaporizer. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein an additional material is added to the container by a user of the personal vaporizer. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the personal vaporizer further comprises a cell that holds liquid comprising water, and wherein the step of introducing liquid to the container is accomplished by a user releasing the liquid comprising water from said cell. 
   
   
       9 . A method of directing water vapor to skin or tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning in the hands of a user a personal vaporizer comprising
 a container adapted to contain liquid, the container comprising a body having a bottom wall,
 at least one sidewall connected to said bottom wall, and an opposing top wall connected to said sidewall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening; 
 
 a water-activated, chemical heating engine located inside said container; and 
 a wick, wherein the wick is located proximate to said chemical heating engine; 
   introducing liquid comprising water to the container so that the wick and chemical heating engine are in fluid communication with at least a portion of said water, thereby releasing heat and increasing the temperature of said water such that a portion of the water vaporizes; and   placing the vaporizer so that at least a portion of said vapor exiting the top end may contact skin or tissue of the user.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein liquid comprising water is added to the container by a user of the personal vaporizer. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein an additional material is added to the container by a user of the personal vaporizer. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the personal vaporizer further comprises a cell that holds liquid comprising water, and wherein the step of introducing liquid to the container is accomplished by a user releasing the liquid comprising water from said cell. 
   
   
       13 . A method of designing a personal vaporizer, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting a container volume;   selecting a container shape;   selecting one or more chemical reactants that participate in an exothermic reaction when the ingredients contact water, wherein the exothermic reaction is characterized by a theoretical heat of reaction;   selecting a mass of water to contact the chemical ingredients when a user at the personal vaporizer activates the vaporizer, said mass of water characterized by a theoretical caloric heat in put necessary to raise the temperature of, and vaporize, at least a portion of the selected mass of water;   selecting a mass of the selected chemical reactants that, when in contact with the selected mass of water, produces heat that is theoretically sufficient to vaporize some portion of the selected mass of water, based on the theoretical heat of reaction corresponding to the selected chemical ingredients and the theoretical caloric heat input necessary to vaporize at least a portion of the selected mass of water; and   making a personal vaporizer comprising
 a container adapted to contain liquid, the container comprising a body having a bottom wall, at least one sidewall connected to said bottom wall, and an opposing top wall connected to said sidewall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening, and wherein the container has the selected volume and shape; 
 a water-activated, chemical heating engine located inside said container, wherein the chemical heating engine comprises the selected mass of the selected chemical ingredients; and 
 a wick located proximate to said chemical heating engine, wherein said wick is adapted to be in fluid communication with water. 
   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of testing the personal vaporizer by contacting the chemical heating engine with the selected amount of water. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the method is used to design and test a plurality of personal vaporizers. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the method is used to optimize a personal vaporizer using consumer use-test responses to evaluate the plurality of personal vaporizers. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the method is used to optimize a personal vaporizer using a measurement to evaluate the plurality of personal vaporizers. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the measurement is grams of vapor produced per unit time. 
   
   
       19 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of making a personal vaporizer, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a container adapted to contain liquid, the container comprising a body having a bottom wall, and at least one sidewall connected to said bottom wall;   providing a water-activated, chemical heating engine;   providing a wick;   placing said water-activated, chemical heating engine and wick inside said container; and   connecting a top wall to said sidewall after placement of the chemical heating engine and wick inside said container, wherein said top wall comprises at least one opening.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least some portion of the wick is interposed between the chemical heating engine and the at least one opening in the top wall. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a rupturable cell adapted to contain a liquid comprising water; and
 placing said rupturable cell inside said container before said top wall is connected to said side wall.