Vaporizer apparatus

Abstract

Vaporizers apparatuses, including cartridges and vaporizers having fluid-level windows through the body of the vaporizer allowing visualization into the cartridge and the vaporizer; the cartridge is magnetically coupled to the vaporizer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vaporizer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a cartridge having:
 an elongate and transparent storage compartment holding a liquid vaporizable material, wherein the elongate and transparent storage compartment comprises a distal end and a proximal end; 
 an opaque mouthpiece at the proximal end of the elongate and transparent storage compartment; 
 a pair of electrical contacts at a distal end of the cartridge; 
 a heater at the distal end of the elongate and transparent storage compartment, wherein the heater comprises a heating chamber, a wick within the heating chamber, and a resistive heating element in thermal contact with the wick; and 
 a channel within the elongate and transparent storage compartment extending from the heater to the proximal end of the elongate and transparent storage compartment, wherein the channel is visible through the elongate and transparent storage compartment, further wherein the channel forms a fluid connection between the heating chamber and the opaque mouthpiece from which vaporized liquid vaporizable material may be inhaled; and 
   a vaporizer, the vaporizer having:
 an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a cartridge receptacle formed at the proximal end of the elongate body, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a proximal-facing opening into the proximal end of the elongate body, further wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a proximal edge around the distal-facing opening; 
 an window though a side of the cartridge receptacle so that at least a portion of the elongate and transparent storage compartment is visible through the window when the cartridge is held within the cartridge receptacle; 
 a pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle configured to connect to the pair of electrical contacts at the distal end of the cartridge when the cartridge is held within the cartridge receptacle; and 
 a first magnetic coupling configured to magnetically secure the cartridge in the cartridge receptacle; and 
 a second magnetic coupling configured to magnetically couple the vaporizer to a charger. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the window in the side of the elongate and opaque body comprises a rectangular, triangular or oval cutout region. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel within the elongate and transparent storage compartment is visible through the window when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel within the elongate and transparent storage compartment is transparent. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a channel along a side of the elongate and transparent storage compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate and transparent body has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle comprises pogo pins. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further wherein the second magnetic coupling is at the distal end of the vaporizer. 
     
     
         9 . A vaporizer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a cartridge having:
 an elongate and transparent storage compartment holding a liquid vaporizable material, wherein the elongate and transparent storage compartment comprises a distal end and a proximal end; 
 an opaque mouthpiece at the proximal end of the elongate and transparent storage compartment; 
 a pair of electrical contacts at a distal end of the cartridge; 
 a heater at the distal end of the elongate and transparent storage compartment, wherein the heater comprises a heating chamber, a wick within the heating chamber, and a resistive heating element in thermal contact with the wick; and 
 a channel within the elongate and transparent storage compartment extending through the liquid vaporizable material from the heater to the proximal end of the elongate and transparent storage compartment, wherein the channel is visible through the elongate and transparent storage compartment, further wherein the channel forms a fluid connection between the heating chamber and the opaque mouthpiece from which vaporized liquid vaporizable material may be inhaled; and 
   a vaporizer, the vaporizer having:
 an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a cartridge receptacle formed at the proximal end of the elongate body, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a proximal-facing opening into the distal end of the elongate body, further wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a proximal edge around the distal-facing opening; 
 an window though a side of the cartridge receptacle into the cartridge receptacle so that at least a portion of the elongate and transparent storage compartment and the channel is visible through the window when the cartridge is held within the cartridge receptacle; 
 a pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle configured to connect to the pair of electrical contacts at the distal end of the cartridge when the cartridge is held within the cartridge receptacle; and 
 a first magnetic coupling configured to magnetically secure the cartridge in the cartridge receptacle; and 
 a second magnetic coupling at a distal end of the vaporizer configured to magnetically couple the vaporizer to a charger. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the window in the side of the elongate and opaque body comprises a rectangular, triangular or oval cutout region. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a channel within the elongate and transparent storage compartment is visible through the window when the cartridge is housed within the cartridge receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the channel is transparent. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the channel comprises a channel along a side of the elongate and transparent storage compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate and transparent body has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of electrical contacts in a distal surface within the cartridge receptacle comprises pogo pins.