Liquid Cartridge for a Personal Vaporizer Device

Abstract

A cartridge for use in a personal vaporizer device, especially for use in an electronic cigarette, includes a housing enclosing a reservoir for storing a liquid to be vaporized in the personal vaporizer device, specifically in an electronic cigarette, the housing having an opening. The cartridge further includes at least one permeable member arranged within the housing, the permeable member being configured to convey liquid from the reservoir to the opening in the housing by capillary action. At least one membrane compartment is set into the opening in a top portion of the housing. The at least one permeable member is arranged in the at least

1 . A cartridge for use in an electronic cigarette, the cartridge comprising:
 a housing enclosing a reservoir for storing a liquid to be vaporized in the electronic cigarette, the housing having an opening;   at least one permeable member arranged within the housing and configured to convey liquid from the reservoir to the opening in the housing by capillary action, at least one compartment being set into the opening in a top portion of the housing, the at least one permeable member being arranged in the at least one compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an airflow channel extending along a central axis of symmetry of the housing through the reservoir.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape with an axial longitudinal extension, a first distal end and a second distal end, the opening being located at the first distal end or the second distal end. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment comprises a compartment wall having a plurality of compartment openings. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one permeable member is formed of a wicking material selected from one of or a combination of the group of an open cell polymer foam, a natural fibrous textile, a synthetic textile, porous ceramics, ceramic wools, silica twines, silica braids, a stainless steel mesh, and nanoporous material having an organic or inorganic framework supporting a regular, porous structure. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the at least one permeable member is flush with a top rim of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the at least one permeable member is recessed within the housing by a setback distance with respect to a top rim of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a tear-off film arranged over the top rim of the housing and sealing the at least one permeable member within the cartridge in a liquid-tight manner.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , the at least one compartment comprising at least two compartments arranged symmetrically around a central axis of symmetry of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein components of the at least two compartments are separated by gaps between respective compartment walls. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is substantially tubular in shape, the at least two compartments having the shape of a ring or a ring segment. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made from a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         13 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a removable the cartridge according to  claim 1 ;   a main body, the main body having a cartridge seating configured to receive the removable cartridge and an atomizer having a heater and a fluid transfer element connected to the heater, the at least one permeable member configured to convey liquid by capillary action from the reservoir of the cartridge to the opening in the cartridge, so that liquid is conveyed from the reservoir to the atomizer when the fluid transfer element is brought into contact with the at least one permeable member.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one fluid transfer element is configured to be in direct contact with the permeable member of the cartridge upon placing the cartridge into the cartridge seating of the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one fluid transfer element is configured to compress the permeable member such that the fluid transfer element at least partially protrudes into the cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a mouthpiece removably attached to the main body and enclosing the cartridge seating, the mouthpiece being configured to transfer vaporized liquid from the atomizer through an airflow channel running along a central axis of symmetry of the main body through the reservoir of the cartridge to a mouthpiece opening and then to a user of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid transfer element is arranged at a bottom portion of the cartridge seating. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid transfer element is formed of a wicking material selected from one of or a combination of the group of silica twines, silica braids, cotton, a stainless steel mesh, and nanoporous material having an organic or inorganic framework supporting a regular, porous structure. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a tear-off film arranged over the top rim of the housing and sealing the at least one permeable member within the cartridge in a liquid-tight manner.   
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic is polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, or polyethylene.