Methods and systems for variable-viscosity carrier vaporizers

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system includes a cartridge assembly configured to be coupled to a vaporizer pen assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening, a housing including an upper surface and a sidewall, and a heating subassembly. The upper surface and the sidewall of the housing and the heating subassembly define a reservoir. The sidewall of the housing defines an inlet, and the sidewall and the heating subassembly can define a first flow path from the inlet to a bottom surface of a permeable cup portion of the heating subassembly. The sidewall of the housing also defines a second flow path away from the permeable cup portion of the heating subassembly toward the mouthpiece opening.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A system, comprising:
 a pen assembly; and   a cartridge assembly configured to be removably coupled to the pen assembly, the cartridge assembly comprising:
 a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening, 
 a housing including an upper wall and a sidewall, and 
 a heating subassembly, 
 wherein the upper wall and the sidewall of the housing in combination with the heating subassembly define a reservoir, the sidewall and the heating subassembly defining a first flow path between an inlet of the housing and a bottom surface of a portion of the heating subassembly, the sidewall of the housing further defining a portion of a second flow path away from the heating subassembly toward the mouthpiece opening. 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a first channel, a second channel, and a curved channel portion are collectively defined by an upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and a lower surface of the mouthpiece, the first channel disposed parallel to the second channel and fluidically coupled via the curved channel portion. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the inlet is defined through the sidewall of the housing of the cartridge assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the inlet includes a gap defined on an edge of the sidewall of the housing of the cartridge assembly that is proximate to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the pen assembly includes a pen assembly housing, the pen assembly housing defining a notch configured to be aligned with the inlet when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the pen assembly includes a pen assembly housing, and   the mouthpiece includes a plurality of protrusions such that, when the cartridge assembly is coupled with the pen assembly, each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions engage the pen assembly housing such that a gap is defined between the pen assembly housing and the mouthpiece to allow air to be drawn therethrough.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the housing of the cartridge assembly includes a flange along an upper front edge thereof, the flange configured to engage the pen assembly housing when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a gap is defined between a portion of the housing and the mouthpiece, the gap forming the inlet. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the first flow path includes a first flow path portion of the housing and a first flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the first flow path portion of the housing extending between the inlet and the first flow path portion of the heating subassembly,   the second flow path includes a second flow path portion of the housing and a second flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the second flow path portion of the housing extending between the second flow path portion of the heating subassembly and a space defined between an upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and a lower surface of the mouthpiece, and   the cartridge assembly defines a third flow path including a passageway defined by the heating subassembly and a third flow path portion defined by the housing, the third flow path portion defined by the housing disposed between the passageway of the heating subassembly and the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first flow path portion of the heating subassembly extends from the first flow path portion of the housing to a wick assembly included in the heating subassembly, and the second flow path portion of the heating subassembly extends from the wick assembly to the second flow path portion of the housing. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece includes a first channel, a second channel, and a curved channel portion each collectively defined by an upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and a lower surface of the mouthpiece, the first channel disposed parallel to the second channel and fluidically coupled via the curved channel portion,
 the pen assembly including a draw sensor configured such that, when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly, the mouthpiece opening is in fluid communication with the draw sensor via the third flow path, the third flow path including a portion of the second channel, the third flow path portion of the housing, a third flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the passageway of the heating subassembly, and an opening defined in an draw sensor cover of the draw sensor.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the second flow path extends from the bottom surface of the heating subassembly to the mouthpiece opening and does not overlap with the third flow path. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first flow path is fluidically coupled to the mouthpiece opening via the second flow path, and a cross-sectional area along the first flow path and the second flow path increases in size from the inlet to the mouthpiece opening. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the cartridge assembly includes an elastomeric plug disposable within an opening to the reservoir defined in the upper wall of the housing so as to seal the opening to the reservoir. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the third flow path portion defined by the housing and the passageway of the heating subassembly are disposed in parallel and are coupled to each other via a third flow path portion defined by the heating subassembly. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece includes a first channel fluidically coupling the second flow path portion defined by the housing to the mouthpiece opening and a second channel fluidically coupling the third flow path portion defined by the housing to the mouthpiece opening. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first flow path portion of the housing, the second flow path portion of the housing, and the third flow path portion of the housing are disposed in parallel. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of the second flow path portion of the housing is greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the first flow path portion of the housing. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the second flow path portion of the housing is coupled to the mouthpiece opening via the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the pen assembly includes a pen housing, the pen housing defining a plurality of inlets.