Disposable tank electronic cigarette

Abstract

A disposable tank for a vaping device comprises a liquid chamber, an outer wall including an air inlet and a mouthpiece, an atomizer for vaporizing a liquid within the chamber. A seal assembly includes a plurality of seal members enclosing a lower end of the chamber, and is disposed within a lower rim of the outer wall. An upper end of a vapor tube may be attached with the mouthpiece, a lower end of the vapor tube coupled with at least one of a plurality of seal members of the seal assembly, and a central portion of the vapor tube extends through the liquid chamber. The air inlet may be above the atomizer and an air flow path from the air inlet to the mouthpiece may extend below the atomizer before extending upwards to the mouthpiece such that a portion of the air flow path extends below the atomizer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable tank for a vaping device, comprising:
 a liquid chamber;   an outer wall including an air inlet and a mouthpiece;   an atomizer configured to vaporize a liquid contained within the liquid chamber; and   a seal assembly including a plurality of seal members enclosing a lower end of the liquid chamber, the seal assembly disposed within a lower rim of the outer wall;   wherein an upper end of a vapor tube is attached with the mouthpiece, a lower end of the vapor tube is coupled with at least one of a plurality of seal members of the seal assembly, and a central portion of the vapor tube extends through the liquid chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable tank of any of  claim 1 , wherein an air flow path extends from the air inlet through the seal assembly, and through the vapor tube to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the atomizer is disposed along the air flow path such that vapor emitted from the atomizer can enter the air flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the atomizer is disposed within the seal assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the seal assembly includes at least one liquid well providing fluid communication between the liquid chamber and the atomizer. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the central portion of the vapor tube between the first and second ends is surrounded by liquid within the liquid chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the air inlet is above the lower end of the vapor tube and below the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the air inlet is above the atomizer and the air flow path extends below the atomizer before extending upwards to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein a portion of the air flow path extends below the atomizer. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , further comprising a secondary air inlet aligned with a pressure sensor in a reusable housing, the pressure sensor configured to initiate a delivery of power to the atomizer. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , further comprising an inner wall separating the air flow path adjacent to the air inlet from the liquid chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein a first seal member of the plurality of seal members includes a first aperture for receiving the lower end of the vapor tube, a first aperture for the air flow path, and two liquid wells in communication with the liquid chamber on opposite sides of the first aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein a second seal member includes a second aperture that aligns with the first aperture, two liquid wells in communication with the liquid chamber on opposite sides of the second aperture, and an interior chamber for receiving the atomizer. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein a third seal member includes a third aperture along the air flow path and first and second electrode apertures with first and second electrodes disposed therein, the electrodes contacting the atomizer. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein a fourth seal member includes a shoulder for clipping within a reusable base of the vaping device, a secondary air inlet in fluid communication with the air flow path, and first and second electrical post apertures with the first and second electrodes disposed therein and accessible from the reusable base. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein a fifth seal member includes a two liquid well in fluid communication with the liquid chamber and the atomizer is disposed within an interior cavity of the fifth seal member with a bottom surface and portions of a side surface of the atomizer exposed to the air flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein an axis of the vapor tube is aligned with a lateral wall of the second seal member forming the interior chamber and the air flow path passes through the third aperture, splits into two branches that extend past two opposite side surfaces of the atomizer and recombine into the air flow path at the lower end of the vapor tube. 
     
     
         18 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein an axis of the vapor tube is aligned with a lateral wall of the second seal member forming the interior chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein the second seal member is nested within the first seal member, the fifth seal member is nested within the second seal member, the second and third seal members are nested within the fourth seal member, and the fourth seal member is nested within the lower rim of the outer wall. 
     
     
         20 . The disposable tank of  any of the above claims , wherein one or more pairs of corresponding apertures and tabs of the second seal member and the fourth seal member are engaged and one or more pairs of corresponding apertures and tabs of the fourth seal member and the outer wall are engaged. 
     
     
         21 . A disposable tank for a vaping device, comprising:
 a liquid chamber;   an outer wall including an air inlet and a mouthpiece;   an atomizer configured to vaporize a liquid contained within the liquid chamber, the atomizer located below the liquid chamber;   a seal assembly including a plurality of seal members enclosing a lower end of the liquid chamber, the seal assembly disposed within a lower rim of the outer wall;   wherein the air inlet is above the atomizer and an air flow path from the air inlet to the mouthpiece extends below the atomizer before extending upwards to the mouthpiece such that a portion of the air flow path extends below the atomizer.   
     
     
         22 . The disposable tank of  claim 21 , wherein the atomizer is disposed along the air flow path such that vapor emitted from the atomizer can enter the air flow path. 
     
     
         23 . The disposable tank of  claim 21 or 22 , wherein the atomizer is disposed within the seal assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The disposable tank of  claim 21, 22 or 23 , wherein the seal assembly includes at least one liquid well providing fluid communication between the liquid chamber and the atomizer. 
     
     
         25 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-24 , wherein the central portion of the vapor tube between the first and second ends is surrounded by liquid within the liquid chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-25 , wherein a lower end of a vapor tube couples with the seal assembly and an upper end of the vapor tube attaches with the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         27 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-26 , wherein the air inlet is above the lower end of the vapor tube and below the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         28 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-27 , further comprising a secondary air inlet aligned with a pressure sensor in a reusable housing, the pressure sensor configured to initiate a delivery of power to the atomizer. 
     
     
         29 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-28 , further comprising an inner wall separating the air flow path adjacent to the air inlet from the liquid chamber. 
     
     
         30 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-29 , wherein a first seal member of the plurality of seal members includes a first aperture for receiving the lower end of the vapor tube, a first aperture for the air flow path, and two liquid wells in communication with the liquid chamber on opposite sides of the first aperture. 
     
     
         31 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-30 , wherein a second seal member includes a second aperture that aligns with the first aperture, two liquid wells in communication with the liquid chamber on opposite sides of the second aperture, and an interior chamber for receiving the atomizer. 
     
     
         32 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-31 , wherein a third seal member includes a third aperture along the air flow path and first and second electrode apertures with first and second electrodes disposed therein, the electrodes contacting the atomizer. 
     
     
         33 . The disposable tank of any of the  claims 21-32 , wherein a fourth seal member includes a shoulder for clipping within a reusable base of the vaping device, a secondary air inlet in fluid communication with the air flow path, and first and second electrical post apertures with the first and second electrodes disposed therein and accessible from the reusable base. 
     
     
         34 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-33 , wherein a fifth seal member includes a two liquid well in fluid communication with the liquid chamber and the atomizer is disposed within an interior cavity of the fifth seal member with a bottom surface and portions of a side surface of the atomizer exposed to the air flow path. 
     
     
         35 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-34 , wherein an axis of the vapor tube is aligned with a lateral wall of the second seal member forming the interior chamber and the air flow path passes through the third aperture, splits into two branches that extend past two opposite side surfaces of the atomizer and recombine into the air flow path at the lower end of the vapor tube. 
     
     
         36 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-35 , wherein an axis of the vapor tube is aligned with a lateral wall of the second seal member forming the interior chamber. 
     
     
         37 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-36 , wherein the second seal member is nested within the first seal member, the fifth seal member is nested within the second seal member, the second and third seal members are nested within the fourth seal member, and the fourth seal member is nested within the lower rim of the outer wall. 
     
     
         38 . The disposable tank of any of  claims 21-37 , wherein one or more pairs of corresponding apertures and tabs of the second seal member and the fourth seal member are engaged and one or more pairs of corresponding apertures and tabs of the fourth seal member and the outer wall are engaged. 
     
     
         39 . A vaping device, comprising:
 a reusable housing containing a battery and including a tank receptacle with a pressure sensor;   a disposable tank according to any of claims  3  to  39 .   
     
     
         40 . A vaping device including the disposable tank of any of  claims 3 to 39 , the vaping device comprising:
 a battery with electrical contacts configured to contact electrodes of the disposable tank to deliver power to the atomizer thereof; and   a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure drop from the passage of air along the air flow path and trigger delivery of power from the battery to the atomizer.   
     
     
         41 . A vaping device, comprising:
 a reusable housing containing a battery and including a tank receptacle with a pressure sensor;   a disposable tank, comprising:   an outer wall with a first end including a mouthpiece and a second end including a lower rim;   a liquid chamber;   an air inlet through the outer wall;   an inner wall separating the liquid chamber from an air flow path in fluid communication with the air inlet;   a vapor tube extending through the liquid chamber, the vapor tube including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled with the mouthpiece and in fluid communication with the air flow path;   an atomizer assembly disposed within the lower rim, comprising:   a first seal member disposed within the outer wall and enclosing a bottom of the liquid chamber, comprising:   a first gasket disposed around an outer periphery and seals with an inner surface of the outer wall and the inner wall;   a first air passage through a first upper surface, the distal end of the vapor tube received within the first air passage, the first air passage is in fluid communication with the air flow path;   a first well through the upper surface, the first well in fluid communication with the liquid chamber,   a second seal member disposed at least partially within the first seal member, comprising:   a second gasket disposed around an outer periphery and seal with an inner surface of the first seal member;   a second air passage through a second upper surface, the second air passage in fluid communication with the air flow path;   a second well through the upper surface, the second well in fluid communication with the liquid chamber;   a third seal member, comprising:   first and second electrode apertures; and   a third air passage in fluid communication with the air flow path;   a fourth seal member, comprising:   a fourth gasket disposed around an outer periphery and seal with the inner surface of the outer wall;   a lower wall, including first and second electrode apertures and a secondary air inlet in fluid communication with the air flow path and the pressure sensor;   a fifth seal member disposed within a well receptacle of the second seal member, comprising:   a fifth gasket disposed around an outer periphery and seal with an inner surface of the well receptacle of the second seal member; and   a fifth well in fluid communication with the liquid chamber; and   an atomizer disposed within the fifth seal member, the atomizer comprising:   a concave region in fluid communication with the liquid chamber;   a base with first and second electrical contacts; and   an upper wall disposed about the concave region;   first and second electrical contacts disposed in the respective first and second electrode apertures both the third and fourth seal members and in electrical contact with the atomizer;   wherein drawing air along the air flow path at the mouthpiece through the air inlet and the secondary air inlet triggers the pressure sensor can causes the reusable housing to deliver power from the battery to the atomizer;   wherein the atomizer is configured to vaporize a liquid from the liquid chamber to form a vapor that escapes into the air flow path and is drawn to the mouthpiece; and   wherein a middle portion of the vapor tube between the first and second ends is surrounded by the liquid chamber, the air inlet is above the lower end of the vapor tube and below the mouthpiece, and the air flow path passes below the atomizer.