Vaporizer Unit Having A Heating Element With An Electrically Conductive Cover Or Coating

Abstract

A vaporizer unit for a personal vaporizer device, especially an electronic smoking article, includes a housing which encloses a reservoir for storing a liquid to be vaporized; a heating element configured and arranged for heating the liquid to be vaporized to generate a vapour to be inhaled; and a liquid delivery element which is configured to convey the liquid from the reservoir to the heating element for vaporization. The liquid delivery element includes at least a first side configured to be in contact with or to form a wall of the reservoir and a second side in contact with the heating element fluidly connected with the first side and wherein the heating element includes an electrically conductive cover or coating applied to the second side of the liquid delivery element. A personal vaporizer device includes the vaporizer unit.

1 . A personal vaporizer device, especially an electronic smoking article, the personal vaporizer device comprising:
 an exterior housing which encloses a reservoir for storing a liquid to be vaporized;   an airflow path or passage including a channel that extends through the exterior housing for guiding vapor toward a mouthpiece;   a cap forming part of the exterior housing at an end-portion of the personal vaporizer device, the cap comprising at least one air inlet hole;   a heating element configured and arranged for heating the liquid to be vaporized to generate a vapor to be inhaled; and   a liquid delivery means which is configured to convey liquid from the reservoir toward the heating element for vaporization;   wherein the liquid delivery means comprises at least a first side configured to be in contact with or to form a wall of the reservoir and a second side in contact with the heating element fluidly connected with the first side, and wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive coating applied to the second side of the liquid delivery means, wherein the electrically conductive coating faces and interfaces directly with the airflow path or passage through the exterior housing.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid delivery means at least partially defines the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid delivery means comprises a porous material configured to convey the liquid from the reservoir toward the heating element, and wherein the electrically conductive coating at least partially extends into at least a portion of individual pores on a surface of the porous material forming the liquid delivery means. 
     
     
         4 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid delivery means forms at least a part of the wall of the reservoir for storing the liquid to be vaporized, the electrically conductive coating at least partially covering an outer surface of the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is intimately associated and/or integrated with the liquid delivery means. 
     
     
         6 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid delivery means comprises a porous material, and the heating element penetrates a pore structure of the porous material of the liquid delivery means, thereby integrating the heating element with the liquid delivery means. 
     
     
         7 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid delivery means comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         8 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive coating is comprised of at least one of aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, or titanium, or from an alloy of at least one of aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, or titanium. 
     
     
         9 . A personal vaporizer device, especially an electronic smoking article, the personal vaporizer device comprising:
 an exterior housing which encloses a reservoir for storing a liquid to be vaporized;   an airflow path or passage including a channel that extends through the exterior housing for guiding vapor toward a mouthpiece;   a heating element configured and arranged for heating the liquid to be vaporized to generate a vapor to be inhaled; and   a porous ceramic body which is configured to convey the liquid from the reservoir toward the heating element for vaporization;   wherein the porous ceramic body comprises at least a first side configured to be in contact with or to form a wall of the reservoir and a second side in contact with the heating element fluidly connected with the first side, and wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive coating deposited on the second side of the porous ceramic body so that the electrically conductive coating is integrated with the porous ceramic body, wherein the electrically conductive coating faces and interfaces directly with the airflow path or passage through the exterior housing, and   wherein the electrically conductive coating at least partially extends into at least a portion of individual pores on a surface of the porous ceramic body.   
     
     
         10 . The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the porous ceramic body at least partially defines the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 9 , further comprising a cap that forms part of the exterior housing at an end-portion of the personal vaporizer device, the cap comprising at least one air inlet hole. 
     
     
         12 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 9 , wherein the porous ceramic body forms at least a part of the wall of the reservoir for storing the liquid to be vaporized, the electrically conductive coating at least partially covering an outer surface of the wall. 
     
     
         13 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive coating is comprised of at least one of aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, or titanium, or from an alloy of at least one of aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, or titanium. 
     
     
         14 . A personal vaporizer device, especially an electronic smoking article, the personal vaporizer device comprising:
 an exterior housing which encloses a reservoir for storing a liquid to be vaporized;   an airflow path or passage including a channel that extends through the exterior housing for guiding vapor toward a mouthpiece;   a heating element configured and arranged for heating the liquid to be vaporized to generate a vapor to be inhaled; and   a porous ceramic body which is configured to convey the liquid from the reservoir toward the heating element for vaporization;   wherein the porous ceramic body comprises at least a first side configured to be in contact with or to form a wall of the reservoir and a second side in contact with the heating element fluidly connected with the first side, and wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive coating deposited on the second side of the porous ceramic body so that the electrically conductive coating is integrated with the porous ceramic body, wherein the electrically conductive coating faces and interfaces directly with the airflow path or passage through the exterior housing, and   wherein the porous ceramic body forms at least a part of the wall of the reservoir for storing the liquid to be vaporized, the electrically conductive coating at least partially covering an outer surface of the wall.   
     
     
         15 . The vaporizer of  claim 14 , wherein the porous ceramic body at least partially defines the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 14 , further comprising a cap that forms part of the exterior housing at an end-portion of the personal vaporizer device, the cap comprising at least one air inlet hole. 
     
     
         17 . The personal vaporizer device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrically conductive coating is comprised of at least one of aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, or titanium, or from an alloy of at least one of aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, or titanium.