Apparatus comprising a check valve for dispensing e-liquids

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a check valve may be utilized to transfer E-liquid from a storage container into an electronic vaporization device, such that unintended leakage of the E-liquid may not occur. An apparatus comprising a check valve, wherein the apparatus is pre-loaded with E-liquid, may be used to dispense liquid into an electronic vaporization device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing E-liquid into a chamber of an electronic vaporization device, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing comprising a top and a base and enclosing a void that is configured to contain the E-liquid, wherein:
 ii. the top comprises:
 1. a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which the E-liquid is dispensed into the chamber; and 
 2. a first engagement means configured to attach the apparatus to the chamber so that the first fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the chamber; and 
 
 ii. the base comprises: 
 1. a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which E-liquid from an E-liquid container is dispensed into the apparatus; and 
 2. a second engagement means configured to attach the base to an E-liquid container so that the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the E-liquid container; 
   (b) a check valve that regulates flow of the E-liquid through the first fluid passageway into the chamber, the check valve comprising:
 i. a closing member; and 
 ii. a biasing member that biases the closing member into a sealing relationship with the first fluid passageway. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber of the electronic vaporization device contains a vapor chimney and the closing member is configured to seal the vapor chimney when the apparatus is attached to the chamber, while allowing E-liquid to be dispensed into the chamber through the first fluid passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first fluid passageway comprises an opening in the top of the apparatus, and the biasing member biases the closing member into a sealing relationship with the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein closing member has a shape selected from the group of: spherical, hemispherical, rectangular, conical, cubical, pyramidal, prismatic, and frusticonical. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is selected from the group of: springs; sealed air chambers; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an E-liquid container attached to the base of the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement means is selected from the group of: slots; silicone seals; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid passageway comprises a structure selected from the group of a hole; o-ring; port; metal ring; rubber ring; silicone ring; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the E-liquid contains a substance to be vaporized, wherein the substance is selected from the group of: glycerin; propylene glycol; flavorings; nicotine; medicaments; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter that is configured to couple the apparatus with the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for dispensing E-liquid into a chamber of an electronic vaporization device, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing comprising a top and a base and enclosing a void that is configured to contain the E-liquid, wherein:
 i. the top comprises:
 1. a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which the E-liquid is dispensed into the chamber; and 
 2. a first engagement means configured to attach the apparatus to the chamber so that the first fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the chamber; and 
 
 ii. the base comprises:
 1. a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which E-liquid from an E-liquid container is dispensed into the apparatus; and 
 2. a second engagement means configured to attach the base to an E-liquid container so that the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the E-liquid container; 
 
   (b) a check valve that regulates flow of the E-liquid through the second fluid passageway into the apparatus from the E-liquid container, the check valve comprising:
 i. a closing member; and 
 ii. a biasing member that biases the closing member into a sealing relationship with the second fluid passageway. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the top is configured to insert into an opening in the chamber when the apparatus is attached to the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein chamber comprises a vapor chimney, and the at least a portion of the top is configured to seal the vapor chimney when the apparatus is attached to the chamber while allowing E-liquid to be dispensed into the chamber through the first fluid passageway. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the second fluid passageway comprises an opening in the base of the apparatus, and the biasing member biases the closing member into a sealing relationship with the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising an E-liquid storage container attached to the bottom of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is selected from the group of: springs; sealed air chambers; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of dispensing an E-liquid into the chamber of an electronic vaporization device, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an apparatus comprising a top and a base, and enclosing a void that is configured to contain the E-liquid, wherein:
 ii. the top comprises:
 1. a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which the E-liquid is dispensed into the chamber; and 
 2. a first engagement means configured to attach the apparatus to the chamber so that the first fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the chamber; 
 
 ii. the base comprises:
 1. a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which E-liquid from an E-liquid container is dispensed into the apparatus; and 
 2. a second engagement means configured to attach the base to an E-liquid container so that the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the E-liquid container; and 
 
   wherein flow of the E-liquid through the apparatus is regulated by a check valve comprising:
 i. a closing member; and 
 ii. a biasing member; 
   (b) attaching the apparatus to the chamber via the first engagement means to form a first assembly; and   (c) dispensing the E-liquid through the first fluid passageway into the chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the chamber contains a vapor chimney, the method further comprising the step of sealing the vapor chimney with the closing member. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of attaching an E-liquid container to the base of the apparatus via the second engagement means to form a second assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising inverting the second assembly and dispensing E-liquid from the E-liquid container into the first fluid passageway, through the void, through the second passageway and into the chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the void is pre-filled with E-liquid prior to attaching the apparatus to the chamber to form the first assembly. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for dispensing E-liquid into a chamber of an electronic vaporization device, wherein the apparatus is pre-loaded with the E-liquid and comprises:
 (a) a housing comprising a top and a base and enclosing a void that is configured to contain the E-liquid, wherein:
 ii. the top comprises:
 1. a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with the void and through which the E-liquid is dispensed into the chamber; and 
 2. a first engagement means configured to attach the apparatus to the chamber so that the first fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the chamber; and 
 
   (b) a check valve that regulates flow of the E-liquid through the first fluid passageway into the chamber, the check valve comprising:
 i. a closing member; and 
 ii. a biasing member that biases the closing member into a sealing relationship with the first fluid passageway.