Portable electronic vapor-producing device and method

Abstract

The present invention is a portable electronic vapor-producing device which converts chemical substances in liquid form to a gaseous form so that active ingredient(s) can be inhaled by the user for therapeutic or medicinal purposes. The device includes: a power module; a primary module; and an auxiliary module that may be enclosed separately in exterior hollow casings and fitted together, or enclosed together in one single exterior hollow casing. The primary module includes: an anode assembly; a cask assembly; and a heater assembly. The anode assembly includes an anode barrel, which is hollow, fixed permanently in place and contacts the battery; a cathode mount, which is fixed permanently in place and contacts the heater assembly; and an anode mount, which moves between contacting the and not contacting the cathode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable vapor-producing device that converts liquid into gaseous form for inhalation by a user, comprising:
 a battery;   an anode assembly comprising a first anode member electrically connected to said battery, a cathode at a distance from said first anode member, and a movable anode member moveable from a first position not in contact with said cathode to a second position in contact with said cathode, said moveable anode member magnetically attracted to said first anode member;   a cask for storage of a liquid substance;   a heating element;   a casing for containing said battery, said anode assembly, said cask and said heating element, said casing having an air inlet and a mouthpiece, said casing defining an airflow passage through said cask assembly wherein the air traveling through said airflow passage is moistened by said liquid substance, and said airflow then passes by said heating element, said heating element heating said liquid substance to produce vapor; and then said airflow passing through said mouthpiece;   wherein when a user's action of sucking through the said mouthpiece causes air to be drawn into said inlet, and the pressure of the air pulls said movable anode member from said first position to said second position to close the circuit and activate the heating element, the air is drawn through said cask where it is moistened by the liquid substance, and then through said heating element where it is heated to produce a vapour that travels through said mouthpiece and is inhaled by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 1  wherein said cask comprises a refillable liquid storage container having a storage cavity, a protruding needle, a one-way valve, and mesh plug suitable for absorbing liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 2  wherein said casing is configured to prevent said liquid substance in said storage cavity from coming into contact with a user in a liquid form. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 1  wherein the liquid storage cavity is separated from said mouthpiece by said heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 1  wherein the liquid substance is drawn to the heating element by airflow pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 5  wherein the direction of the airflow is the same as the direction of the liquid being drawn to the heating element. 
     
     
         7 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 1  further comprising an air intake control switch to regulate the amount of air drawn into the device. 
     
     
         8 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 1  wherein the liquid is stored in a container that is replaceable or removable. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor-producing device of  claim 1  wherein the power to operate the device is activated when air is drawn into the anode assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A portable, battery-operated, electronic vapor-producing device that converts a liquid into gaseous form for inhalation by a user, wherein the device comprises:
 a battery;   a cask assembly for holding the liquid;   a heating assembly having a heating element for heating the liquid to a gaseous form; and   a switch to activate said heating element.   
     
     
         11 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein the liquid contains an active ingredient heatable into a gaseous form for inhalation by a user for therapeutic or medicinal purposes. 
     
     
         12 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  further comprising a first and second part casing chamber for containing said battery, cask assembly, heating assembly and switch, wherein said first and second parts are snap-fittable together to form a singular primary casing chamber enclosed by first and second end caps. 
     
     
         13 . The vapor producing device of  claim 12  further comprising an aperture running a length of a mouth piece through which the user can, with a sucking action, draw air into the casing chamber, by the liquid contained in the cask assembly, and then through the heating assembly where the liquid is converted into a gaseous form that the user is able to inhale. 
     
     
         14 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery that is insertable and removable by removal of an end cap. 
     
     
         15 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein said switch comprises an anode in electrical contact with said battery, a cathode and a moveable connecting member in contact with said anode, said connecting member moveable from a first position wherein there is distance between connecting member and said cathode, and a second position wherein said moveable member is connected to said cathode, thereby completing a circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The vapour producing device of  claim 15  wherein said moveable member is magnetically attracted to said anode, and is configured to move to said second position when air flows through said device. 
     
     
         17 . The vapor producing device of  claim 16  further comprising a second switch, actuable by a user, said second switch, when actuated, placing a barrier between said moveable member and said cathode to prevent actuation of said heating element. 
     
     
         18 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  further comprising a second switch, actuable by a user, said second switch, when actuated, placing a barrier to prevent actuation of said heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein the cask assembly comprises a primary cavity containing a needle to prick a liquid-filled capsule placed in said cavity; and a one-way valve through which the liquid in the capsule flows into a secondary cavity containing a mesh plug to absorb the liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein the heating element assembly is a metal coil surrounded by a fine mesh and enclosed on exterior cylindrical sides by a ceramic insulation, and through which air is drawn containing liquid particles to be heated and converted into gaseous form for inhalation. 
     
     
         21 . The vapour producing device of  claim 20  wherein the heating element assembly is encased in a polycarbonate cavity that is coated with a heat-absorbing substance to insulate the outer casing. 
     
     
         22 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  further comprising::
 a second nonrechargeable battery; 
 a printed circuit board; 
 a microprocessor; 
 a moisture sensor with probe; 
 an LED light; 
 an LED display panel; 
 a button; 
 an airflow sensor 
 an audio signal; and 
 a USB port. 
 
     
     
         23 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein said switch comprises an anode in electrical contact with said battery, a cathode and a ball bearing, said ball bearing moveable from a first position wherein it is not in contact with said anode and said cathode, and a second position wherein said ball bearing is in contact with said anode and said cathode, said ball bearing magnetically biased to said first position. 
     
     
         24 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  wherein said air is drawn into a casing thereby activating a switch, and said air is then drawn through said cask assembly to pick up liquid droplets, and is then drawn through said heating assembly wherein said liquid droplets are turned to vapour, and then said air exits said device through a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         25 . The vapour producing device of  claim 24  further comprising a second heating assembly, said cask assembly positioned between said first and second heating assemblies. 
     
     
         26 . The vapor producing device of  claim 10  further comprising a mouthpiece, and wherein said battery, switch, cask assembly, and heating assembly are aligned in a casing.