Electronic Cigarette Assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides improved devices, components, and conduit assemblies for delivery of a breathable/inhalable fluid stream containing a solvation-enhancing atomized liquid, the fluid stream carrying a functional liquid component. In one aspect, devices of the invention incorporate an exchangeable fluid-permeable body, such as a cartridge comprising a fluid-permeable packing material, containing the functional liquid. In another aspect, devices of the invention incorporate an electronic control system configured to detect and store physical states, settings, modes/configurations, and/or usage of the device over time. Optionally, the detected states may be exported to a separate electronic device via a Wi-Fi or other suitable remote connection. In other embodiments, the electronic control system provides passcode authorization for actuating an atomizing element and/or toggling the device between locked and unlocked states.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for delivering an inhalable fluid stream containing a functional fluid component, comprising
 a mouthpiece including a distal opening in fluid communication with a proximal opening;   a first fluid-permeable body, the first fluid permeable body disposed in a fluid conduit for permitting a vacuum applied at the distal mouthpiece opening to draw a fluid stream comprising an inhalable base fluid through the first packing material, into the mouthpiece through the proximal mouthpiece opening, and out of the mouthpiece through the distal mouthpiece opening, the first packing material containing a functional liquid disposed to be introduced into the fluid stream as the fluid stream passes through the first packing material and to be carried in the fluid stream in an inhalable form when the fluid stream passes out of the mouthpiece through the distal opening;   an atomizing mechanism disposed in operative communication with a first atomizing liquid in an atomizing chamber located upstream of the first fluid permeable body; and   a power source configured to supply electrical power to the atomizing mechanism to initiate atomization of the first atomizing liquid for introduction of the first atomizing liquid into said fluid stream upstream of the first fluid permeable body.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising an atomizing mechanism disposed in operative communication with a second atomizing liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 2 , the second atomizing liquid comprising the functional liquid contained in said fluid permeable body. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fluid permeable body containing a second functional fluid disposed to be introduced into a breathable fluid stream passing through the second fluid permeable body, each of the first and second fluid permeable bodies disposed in a fluid conduit extending between the atomizing chamber and the proximal opening of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller operatively connected to the power source and the atomizing mechanism and configured to automatically initiate the supply of power to the atomizing mechanism in response to a user drawing breath from the distal opening of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 an electronic controller including a memory storage component storing a passcode and operatively connected to the power source and the atomizing mechanism and configured to initiate the supply of power to the atomizing mechanism subject to user input of a passcode matching the stored passcode; and   an input device configured to receive passcode input from a user.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 at least one state sensor configured to detect at least one physical usage state of the device at a plurality of times;   an electronic controller configured to store data representing usage states of the device in a memory comprising an electronic data storage medium;   a user input device configured to receive a user command to display data representing a requested usage history comprising a specified usage state; and   a display device, the controller causing the data representing the specified usage state to be displayed in response to the user command.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 7 , the specified usage state comprising a past usage state at a specified time. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 7 , said at least one physical usage state being selected from the group consisting of
 a temperature of a part of the device;   a liquid level in a part of the device;   a liquid volume in a part of the device;   a moisture concentration of a gas in a part of the device;   a presence or concentration of a particular chemical species in a part of the device;   a connection to or removal from the fluid delivery device of a particular component;   a fluid flow rate or velocity at a location within the device;   a pressure drop between two different locations defined with respect to the device; and   an electrical current or voltage supplied by a power supply of the device.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 7 , further comprising a remote signal transmitting component configured to transmit said stored usage data to a separate electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote signal receiving component, said electronic controller being configured to change a state of the fluid delivery device in response to a command received from a separate electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . A conduit assembly for a breathable fluid delivery device comprising
 a fluid-permeable body disposed in a main fluid channel, the fluid-permeable body containing a functional liquid disposed to be introduced in a breathable form into a breathable base fluid flowing in the main fluid channel through the fluid-permeable body;   a source of the breathable base fluid in fluid communication with an upstream end of the fluid-permeable body;   a mouthpiece in fluid communication with a downstream end of the fluid-permeable body; and   an adjustable valve system for adjusting the flow impedance of a bypass channel relative to the flow impedance of a portion of the main channel extending through the fluid-permeable body, the bypass channel connecting a portion of the main channel upstream of the fluid-permeable body to a portion of the main channel downstream of the fluid-permeable body,   the adjustable valve system comprising first and second relatively movable components, said first and second components configured to change at least one of said flow impedances when one is moved relative to the other, and a snap-lock mechanism for snapping the first component into a movable connection permitting a predetermined adjustable range of positions relative to the second component.   
     
     
         13 . The conduit assembly of  claim 12 , an inserted one of said relatively movable components being slidingly insertable into a receiving one of said relatively movable components, said snap-lock mechanism including:
 a grooved one of said relatively movable components comprising a groove in a surface that faces the other relatively movable component, the groove configured to receive a spring member mounted in a fixed longitudinal position relative to the other relatively movable component, the spring member being biased in a transverse direction into the groove and having a longitudinal dimension smaller than a longitudinal dimension of the groove, to permit relatively unrestrained longitudinal movement of the spring member within the longitudinal dimension of the groove; and   the grooved relatively movable component further comprising a skid region positioned adjacent a longitudinal end of the groove extending towards the other component;   longitudinal relative movement of spring member past said longitudinal end of the groove and onto said skid region requiring a transverse force on said spring member to overcome said spring bias in the transverse direction into the groove.   
     
     
         14 . A device for delivering an inhalable fluid stream containing a functional fluid component, comprising
 a mouthpiece including a distal opening in fluid communication with a proximal opening;   an atomizing mechanism disposed in operative communication with a first atomizing liquid in an atomizing chamber in fluid communication with the mouthpiece proximal opening;   a power source configured to supply electrical power to the atomizing mechanism to initiate atomization of the first atomizing liquid for introducing atomized liquid into an inhaled fluid stream passing from the atomizing chamber through the mouthpiece; at least one state sensor configured to detect at least one physical usage state of the device at a plurality of times;   an electronic controller configured to store data representing usage states of the device in a memory comprising an electronic data storage medium;   a user input device configured to receive a user command to display data representing a requested usage history comprising a specified usage state; and   a display device, the controller causing the data representing the specified usage state to be displayed in response to the user command.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 14 , the specified usage state comprising a past usage state at a specified time. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 14 , said at least one physical usage state being selected from the group consisting of a temperature of a part of the device;
 a liquid level in a part of the device;   a liquid volume in a part of the device;   a moisture concentration of a gas in a part of the device;   a presence or concentration of a particular chemical species in a part of the device;   a connection to or removal from the fluid delivery device of a particular component;   a fluid flow rate or velocity at a location within the device;   a pressure drop between two different locations defined with respect to the device; and   an electrical current or voltage supplied by a power supply of the device.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 14 , further comprising a remote signal transmitting component configured to transmit said stored usage data to a separate electronic device.