Portable vaporizer for plant material

Abstract

A portable vaporizer for plant material has an inhalation tube having a distal end for insertion into a cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle. An electrical heating element within the inhalation tube is powered by the vehicle's electrical system when the inserted into the cigarette lighter receptacle. A plant material chamber on the proximal end of the inhalation tube has openings allowing air from the inhalation tube to be drawn through the inhalation tube, heated by the electrical heating element, and then drawn through the plant material held in the plant material chamber. A housing having a mouthpiece and baffles surrounds the plant material chamber to reduce the temperature of the heated air and vaporized plant material. The user inhales the mixture of heated air and vaporized plant material through the mouthpiece by drawing air through the inhalation tube, plant material chamber and housing.

1 . A portable vaporizer for plant material comprising:
 an inhalation tube having a distal end for insertion into a cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle;   an electrical heating element within the inhalation tube powered by the electrical system of the vehicle when the inhalation tube is inserted into a cigarette lighter receptacle, said inhalation tube enabling air to be drawn through the inhalation tube and heated by the electrical heating element;   a plant material chamber for holding plant material having openings allowing heated air from the inhalation tube to be drawn through the plant material; and   a housing having a mouthpiece for drawing air through the inhalation tube, plant material chamber and housing to produce a mixture of heated air and vaporized plant material.   
   
   
       2 . The vaporizer of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises baffles between the plant material chamber and mouthpiece. 
   
   
       3 . The vaporizer of  claim 1  further comprising a heat transfer element in the inhalation tube transferring heat from the electrical heating element to air in the inhalation tube. 
   
   
       4 . The vaporizer of  claim 1  wherein the electrical heating element is within the distal end of the inhalation tube to make electrical connection with electrical contacts in a cigarette lighter receptacle when the inhalation tube is inserted into a cigarette lighter receptacle. 
   
   
       5 . The vaporizer of  claim 1  further comprising an outer housing surrounding the distal end of the inhalation tube, and a spring between the outer housing and inhalation tube to partially eject the vaporizer from a cigarette lighter receptacle when the electrical heating element reaches a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       6 . The vaporizer of  claim 1  wherein the plant material chamber is within the housing and attached to the proximal end of the inhalation tube. 
   
   
       7 . The vaporizer of  claim 6  wherein the plant material chamber has an external opening extending through the housing to receive plant material, and further comprising a removable cap covering the opening of the plant material chamber. 
   
   
       8 . A portable vaporizer for plant material comprising:
 an inhalation tube having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into a cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle;   an electrical heating element within the distal end of the inhalation tube powered by the electrical system of the vehicle when the inhalation tube is inserted into a cigarette lighter receptacle;   a housing having an interior and a mouthpiece; and   a plant material chamber for holding plant material on the proximal end of the inhalation tube and enclosed within the housing, said plant material chamber having at least one opening into the interior of the housing;   wherein negative pressure at the mouthpiece of the housing draws air through the inhalation tube where the air is heated by the heated element and then drawn through the plant material chamber to produce a mixture of heated air and vaporized plant material.   
   
   
       9 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  further comprising baffles between the plant material chamber and the mouthpiece. 
   
   
       10 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  further comprising a heat transfer element in the inhalation tube transferring heat from the electrical heating element to air in the inhalation tube. 
   
   
       11 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  wherein the electrical heating element is within the distal end of the inhalation tube to make electrical connection with electrical contacts in a cigarette lighter receptacle when the inhalation tube is inserted into a cigarette lighter receptacle. 
   
   
       12 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  further comprising an outer housing surrounding the distal end of the inhalation tube, and a spring between the outer housing and inhalation tube to partially eject the vaporizer from a cigarette lighter receptacle when the electrical heating element reaches a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       13 . The vaporizer of  claim 8  wherein the plant material chamber has an external opening extending through the housing to receive plant material, and further comprising a removable cap covering the opening of the plant material chamber. 
   
   
       14 . A method for vaporizing plant material comprising:
 providing a portable vaporizer having:   (a) an inhalation tube with a distal end insertable into the cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle;   (b) a electrical heating element powered by the electrical system of a vehicle when the inhalation tube is inserted into a cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle;   (c) a housing having a mouthpiece; and   (d) a plant material chamber on the proximal end of the inhalation tube within the housing and having openings allowing air to be drawn through the inhalation tube, plant material chamber and housing;   placing a quantity of plant material into the plant material chamber of the vaporizer;   inserting the distal end of the inhalation tube into the cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle to connect the electrical heating element to the electrical system of the vehicle;   withdrawing the inhalation tube from the cigarette light receptacle after the electrical heating element has heated;   inhaling through the mouthpiece of the vaporizer to draw heated air from the heating element through the plant material chamber and receive a mixture of heated air and vaporized plant material.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of placing plant material into the plant material chamber comprises:
 removing a cap covering an external opening to the plant material chamber;   inserting plant material into the plant material chamber; and   replacing the cap to close the external opening of the plant material chamber.