Vaporizer assembly for contactless vapor delivery

Abstract

A novel vaporizer assembly is disclosed for operating with a cartridge having a fluid conduit disposed from a proximal to a distal end thereof and a heating element assembly disposed proximate the distal end and fluid conduit passing between the cartridge proximal and distal ends. The cartridge comprising an inner storage volume being configured to store a vaporizable material, wherein the inner storage volume is enclosed by a cartridge housing and the heating element assembly in fluid and thermal communication with the fluid conduit and the storage compartment. The vaporizer assembly includes an electrical power and forced air coupling fluidly and electrically coupled with the cartridge distal, the control circuit assembly for controllably providing of electrical power to the cartridge through the electrical power and forced air coupling port where electrical power is controllably provided to the heating element assembly and the vaporizable material is heated to create a vapor for being emitted into the fluid conduit and for vapor to be emitted from the cartridge with the proximal end of the cartridge oriented gravitationally higher than the distal end of the cartridge for facilitating flow of vaporizable material contained within the inner storage volume towards the distal end of the cartridge and towards the cartridge heating element assembly.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A vaporizer assembly for receiving of a cartridge having a fluid conduit disposed from a proximal to a distal end thereof, a heating element assembly disposed proximate the distal end and fluid conduit passing between the cartridge proximal and distal ends, the fluid conduit fluidly coupling of the heating element assembly with a proximal port and a distal port formed at opposite ends of the fluid conduit, the cartridge comprising a storage compartment being configured to store a vaporizable material, the storage compartment comprising an inner storage volume wherein the vaporizable material is storable in the inner storage volume, wherein the inner storage volume is enclosed by a cartridge housing and the heating element assembly in fluid and thermal communication with the fluid conduit and the storage compartment, the vaporizer assembly comprising:
 an assembly body comprising a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end and a primary housing;   a control circuit assembly for receiving of electrical power from a power source, both disposed within the primary housing;   an electrical power and forced air coupling fluidly and electrically coupled with the cartridge distal, the control circuit assembly for controllably providing of electrical power to the cartridge through the electrical power and forced air coupling port;   a fluid delivery channel formed within the assembly body, the fluid delivery channel having a proximal end for being fluidly coupled with a forced air generator and electrically coupled with the control circuit assembly, the fluid delivery channel having a distal end for being fluidly coupled with the electrical power and forced air coupling,   wherein when the cartridge distal end is engaged with the electrical power and forced air coupling, the cartridge is substantially enclosed by the primary housing and upon activation of the control circuit assembly, electrical power is controllably provided to the heating element assembly and the vaporizable material is heated to create a vapor for being emitted into the fluid conduit,   where the forced air generator is for receiving of ambient air and for compressing the ambient air for delivering of compressed air through the electrical power and forced air coupling for propagating the vapor through the fluid conduit and for the vapor to be emitted from the proximal end of the cartridge,   wherein in use, the proximal end of the cartridge is oriented gravitationally higher than the distal end of the cartridge for facilitating flow of vaporizable material contained within the inner storage volume towards the distal end of the cartridge and towards the cartridge heating element assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 1  comprising:
 a fluid delivery member external to a primary housing of the vaporizer assembly, the fluid delivery member comprising a vapor delivery channel therein, the vapor delivery channel having a proximal end for being fluidly coupled with a proximal end of a cartridge and a vapor delivery channel distal end comprising a vapor delivery port, the vapor delivery port for being disposed proximate a rim or lip of a container having an access opening at a proximal end and a container cavity formed therein, the container cavity terminating at a distal end, wherein upon applying of electrical power to the heating element, the heating element creates a vapor from the vaporizable material and the vaporizable material vapor is emitted into the fluid conduit and the compressed air flows through the fluid conduit and forces the vapor to flow from the cartridge proximal port for flowing through the vapor delivery port and past the container access opening and into the container for the vapor to flow along an inner sidewall of the container and to gather substantially within the cavity of the container. 
 
     
     
         3 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the container comprises a transparent material comprising one of glass and plastic and allows for the vapor contained within the cavity to be visible from an outside of the container. 
     
     
         4 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the vapor delivery channel proximal end is for frictionally engaging of the proximal end of the cartridge and for this frictionally engagement to fluidly seal the cartridge proximal end with the vapor delivery channel and wherein the electrical power and forced air coupling is for fluidly sealing of the fluid conduit with the fluid delivery channel. 
     
     
         5 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the control circuit assembly comprises a user interface, wherein the control circuit assembly is enabled upon a user interacting with the user interface and upon this interaction the control circuit assembly for applying of electrical power to the heating element and for a waiting period of time to commence prior to the forced air generator being enabled for delivering of compressed air through the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         6 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the electrical power and forced air coupling comprises two electrical connections that are insulated from each other that are coaxial with the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         7 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the electrical power and forced air coupling comprise three electrical connections that are insulated from each other and where at least two are radially spaced from the fluid conduit that is for receiving of the compressed air through the electrical power and forced air coupling, where one of the electrical connections is for propagating of cartridge identifier data electrical signals to the control circuit assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A vaporizer assembly for receiving of a cartridge having a fluid conduit disposed from a proximal to a distal end thereof, a heating element assembly disposed proximate the distal end and fluid conduit passing between the cartridge proximal and distal ends, the fluid conduit fluidly coupling of the heating element assembly with a proximal port and a distal port formed at opposite ends of the fluid conduit, the cartridge comprising a storage compartment being configured to store a vaporizable material, the storage compartment comprising an inner storage volume wherein the vaporizable material is storable in the inner storage volume, wherein the inner storage volume is enclosed by a cartridge housing and the heating element assembly in fluid and thermal communication with the fluid conduit and the storage compartment, the vaporizer assembly comprising:
 providing an assembly body having fluid delivery channel formed therein from an ambient air input port to an electrical power and forced air coupling port;   providing a forced air generator fluidly coupled with the electrical power and forced air coupling and for receiving of ambient air and for compressing the ambient for delivering of compressed air through the electrical power and forced air coupling port,   releasably fluidity and electrically coupling of the cartridge distal end with the electrical power and forced air coupling port;   gravitationally orienting the proximal end of the cartridge higher than the distal end of the cartridge for facilitating flow of vaporizable material towards the distal end of the cartridge and towards the cartridge heating element assembly when the cartridge is releasably engaged with the electrical power and forced air coupling port,   providing a control circuit assembly for receiving of electrical power from a power source and the control circuit assembly for controllably providing of electrical power to the cartridge through the electrical power and forced air coupling port   the compressed air for creating a forced vapor to be emitted from the proximate end of the cartridge.   
     
     
         9 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 8  comprising:
 a fluid delivery member external to a primary housing of the assembly body, the fluid delivery member comprising a vapor delivery channel therein, the vapor delivery channel having a proximal end for being fluidly coupled with a proximal end of a cartridge and a vapor delivery channel distal end comprising a vapor delivery port, the vapor delivery port for being disposed proximate a rim or lip of a container having an access opening at a proximal end and a container cavity formed therein, the container cavity terminating at a distal end, wherein upon applying of electrical power to the heating element, the heating element creates a vapor from the vaporizable material and the vaporizable material vapor is emitted into the fluid conduit and the compressed air flows through the fluid conduit and forces the vapor to flow from the cartridge proximal port for flowing through the vapor delivery port and past the container access opening and into the container for the vapor to flow along an inner sidewall of the container and to gather substantially within the cavity of the container. 
 
     
     
         10 . A vaporizer assembly for receiving of a cartridge having a fluid conduit disposed from a proximal to a distal end thereof, a heating element assembly disposed proximate the distal end and fluid conduit passing between the cartridge proximal and distal ends, the fluid conduit fluidly coupling of the heating element assembly with a proximal port and a distal port formed at opposite ends of the fluid conduit, the cartridge comprising a storage compartment being configured to store a vaporizable material, the storage compartment comprising an inner storage volume wherein the vaporizable material is storable in the inner storage volume, wherein the inner storage volume is enclosed by a cartridge housing and the heating element assembly in fluid and thermal communication with the fluid conduit and the storage compartment, the vaporizer assembly comprising:
 a cartridge support member comprising a first end cap, a body portion and a second end cap,   the first end cap for fluidly and electrically coupling with the distal end of the cartridge, where the electrical contacts are for electrically coupling with the heating element assembly of the cartridge, the first end cap coupled with the distal end of the cartridge for being inserted into the body portion, such that the body portion substantially surrounds the cartridge fluid conduit and the storage compartment, the first end cap comprising a first fluid aperture;   the second end cap frictionally engaging the cartridge proximal, the second end cap comprising a second fluid aperture and coupled with an opposite end of the body portion opposite the first end cap, the cartridge enclosed and bounded by the first and second end caps and the body portion, the electrical contacts propagating through the body portion where the electrical contacts are disposed both at extreme ends of the first and second end caps with the first and second fluid apertures coupling both end caps with the cartridge fluid conduit;   an assembly body comprising a fluid delivery channel formed within, the fluid delivery channel having a distal end for being fluidly coupled with an electrical power and forced air coupling, the electrical power and forced air coupling for electrically and fluidly being coupled with one of the first end cap and the second end cap;   a control circuit assembly for receiving of electrical power from a power source;   a forced air generator electrically coupled with the control circuit assembly and fluidly coupled with the electrical power and forced air coupling, the forced air generator for receiving of ambient air and for compressing the ambient for delivering of compressed air through the electrical power and forced air coupling upon being activated by the control circuit assembly,   wherein the control circuit assembly is for controllably providing electrical power to the heating element assembly when one of:   the second end cap is fluidly and electrically coupled with the electrical power and forced air coupling, the cartridge distal end is gravitationally lower than the cartridge proximal end and a vapor delivery port is formed at the first fluid aperture; and   the first end cap is fluidly and electrically coupled with the electrical power and forced air coupling, the cartridge proximal end is gravitationally higher than the cartridge distal end and the vapor delivery port is formed at the second fluid aperture.   
     
     
         11 . A vaporizer assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the cartridge support member comprises a gravity sensor disposed therein, the gravity sensor for determining an orientation of heating element assembly of the cartridge and based on the gravitational orientation the heating element and for providing a, the heating element other than being enabled when the proximal cartridge end is gravitationally lower than the distal cartridge end and the heating element should be enabled when the proximal cartridge end is gravitationally higher than the distal cartridge end.