Thermal vaporization apparatus and method

Abstract

A vaporizer apparatus for vaporizing medical herbs and essences is described that uses an electrical power driven medium to vaporize the herbs and essences. The vaporizer apparatus has a heating element assembly mounted at an angle within an enclosure. The heating element assembly also includes an insulating shield which covers the heating element and which has a mating section for mating with a hand piece. The hand piece includes a vaporization chamber where herbs are packed, an inlet for connecting with the mating section of the shield, and an outlet for inhalation by a user. Methods for using the vaporizer apparatus is also discussed.

1 . A vaporizer apparatus for extracting active ingredients from a specimen, the vaporizer apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a plurality of walls including a front wall having a first height and a perimeter defining a regulator opening, a side wall comprising a first side edge of a first edge height and a second side edge of a second edge height, and a top wall; the plurality of walls defining an interior space;   a heating element assembly operable with electrical power positioned in the interior space comprising an elongated heating element for heating intake air, the heating element defining a shaft having an attached end and a free end;   a power regulator for regulating power to the heating element assembly having a component projecting through the regulator opening of the front wall;   a user opening formed in part by the second edge height of the side wall, which is higher than the first edge height, and the top wall being positioned, at least in part, higher than an upper edge of the front wall, the user opening sized and configured for coupling a hand piece to the elongated heating element; and   a mounting assembly in contact with at least one of the top wall and the side wall for positioning the free end of the heating element closer to the second side edge than the first side edge of the side wall.   
   
   
       2 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user opening defines a plane and wherein the plane is at a non-right angle to a base wall. 
   
   
       3 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting assembly is in contact with both the top wall and the side wall. 
   
   
       4 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a knob coupled on an end of an elongated control member. 
   
   
       5 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ventilation opening located on a base wall. 
   
   
       6 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lamp, the lamp is electrically coupled to the power regulator and wherein the power regulator regulates both the lamp and the heating element assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the user opening along the plane has an upper edge and a lower edge and wherein the lower edge is positioned below the upper edge. 
   
   
       8 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall comprises a recessed space for receiving the power regulator. 
   
   
       9 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a base wall made from a plastic material, the base wall being bounded along at least one edge by a groove. 
   
   
       10 . A vaporizer apparatus for extracting essences from a carrier, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a plurality of walls including a base wall, a top wall, two side walls each having a sloping edge relative to the base wall, and a front wall comprising a perimeter defining a regulator opening; the plurality of walls defining an interior space;   a heating element operable with electric power positioned in the interior space of the housing;   a power regulator for regulating the electric power consumed by the heating element having a component projecting through the regulator opening of the front wall;   a user opening defining a plane, the plane being offset and at a non-right angle to a front surface of the front wall; the user opening defined, at least in part, by the two sloping edges of the two side walls and the top wall; wherein the user opening is sized and configured for coupling a hand piece to the heating element; and   a mounting assembly for mounting the heating element inside the interior space of the housing having a mounting surface, which acts as a shoulder for the heating element, positioned generally orthogonally of the top wall.   
   
   
       11 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each side wall comprises a second sloping edge relative to the base wall. 
   
   
       12 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the access opening along the plane comprises an upper edge and a lower edge and wherein the lower edge is positioned below the upper edge. 
   
   
       13 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the base wall is made from a plastic material and is bounded along at least one edge by a groove. 
   
   
       14 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting assembly is in contact with the top wall and the two side walls. 
   
   
       15 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the base wall comprises a ventilation opening. 
   
   
       16 . The vaporizer apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the front wall comprises a recessed space for receiving the power regulator. 
   
   
       17 . A method for extracting active ingredients from a carrier, said method comprising the steps:
 placing a housing comprising a heating element on a surface so that a control knob, a user opening, and a free end of the heating element are all closer to a user than further from the user;   sending current to the heating element by plugging a power cord into a power outlet.   loading a hand piece with the carrier and moving the hand piece at a non-right angle relative to the surface through the user opening to place the hand piece in communication with the heating element; and   providing a heated air stream to the carrier to heat the carrier to a temperature that is higher than ambient temperature.   
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of walls including a base wall, a top wall, two side walls each having a sloping edge relative to the base wall, and a front wall comprising a perimeter defining a regulator opening. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the heating element is positioned on a mounting assembly and wherein the mounting assembly is in contact with both the top wall and the two side walls. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a base wall comprising a ventilation opening.