Aromatherapy Vaporization Device

Abstract

A novel aromatherapy vaporization device is disclosed having a heating chamber first portion for receiving of phyto material and a heating chamber second portion. In a first mode of operation phyto material is loaded into the heating chamber first portion having a first conductive heating element disposed therein and in a second mode of operation an angle of a hinge is varied that brings the heating chamber second portion in proximity to the heating chamber first portion. In the second mode of operation electrical current flows from a first battery to a first conductive heating element and the phyto material is heated to a predetermined temperature and vapor is emitted from the heating of the phyto material and is captured in the heating chamber second portion and flows through a heating chamber first portion aperture and propagates through a fluid pathway for inhalation from an inhalation aperture.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A vaporization device comprising:
 a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion moveably coupled to the first housing portion;   a heating unit having a first heating chamber section positioned in the first housing portion, a second heating chamber section positioned in the second housing portion, and at least one heating element;   a power source electrically coupled to the at least one heating element;   an inhalation aperture; and   a fluid pathway extending through the housing from the heating chamber to the inhalation aperture;   wherein   the second housing portion is moveable between a closed position in which the first heating chamber section and second heating chamber section are in a facing arrangement defining an enclosed heating chamber therebetween and an open position in which the first heating chamber section and section heating chamber section are exposed; and   when the second housing portion is in the closed position and phyto material is positioned in the heating chamber, the at least one heating element is operable to heat the phyto material to a predetermined temperature whereby vapor is emitted from the heated phyto material to propagate through the fluid pathway to the inhalation aperture.   
     
     
         21 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , further comprising a control circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the at least one heating element, the control circuit operable to control heating of the at least one heating element;
 wherein the control circuit is positioned in the second housing portion.   
     
     
         22 . The vaporization device of  claim 21 , further comprising a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is operable to selectively heat the at least one heating element in response to the switch being actuated. 
     
     
         23 . The vaporization device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor coupled to the control circuit and thermally coupled to the heating chamber; and   a temperature setting input operable to adjust the predetermined temperature; wherein the control circuit is operable to selectively heat the at least one heating element to the predetermined temperature defined by the temperature setting.   
     
     
         24 . The vaporization device of  claim 21 , further comprising a position sensor electrically coupled to the control circuit, the position sensor operable to detect when the second housing portion is in the closed position. 
     
     
         25 . The vaporization device of  claim 22 , wherein the position sensor comprises:
 a first electrical contact positioned on the first housing portion that is electrically coupled to the control circuit; and   a second electrical contact positioned on the second housing portion that is electrically coupled to the control circuit;   wherein   when the second housing portion is in the closed position, the first electrical contact and second electrical contact are in electrical contact.   
     
     
         26 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , further comprising a pair of engageable closure member, one closure member provided on each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the closure members are engageable with one another to maintain the second housing portion in the closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The vaporization device of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the closure members comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         28 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , wherein the heating chamber further comprises an ambient air input port, the ambient air input port provided by a gap between the first heating chamber section and the second heating chamber section when the second housing portion is in the closed position. 
     
     
         29 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , wherein the heating chamber further comprises an ambient air input port, and the ambient air input port comprises a one-way airflow valve to prevent vapor from exiting the heating chamber via the ambient air input port. 
     
     
         30 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a first heating element disposed within the heating chamber on the first housing portion and a second heating element disposed within the heating chamber on the second housing portion. 
     
     
         31 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid pathway comprises thermally conductive walls, whereby vapor propagating therethrough is cooled by ambient air external to the fluid pathway. 
     
     
         32 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , wherein in the open position the first housing portion and the second housing portion extend inline. 
     
     
         33 . The vaporization device of  claim 20 , wherein in the closed position an angle between the first housing portion and the second housing portion is approximately 2 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . A vaporization device comprising:
 a base having an upper base surface;   a lid moveably coupled to the base, the lid having a first lid surface;   the lid is moveable between a closed position in which the first lid surface and the upper base surface define an enclosed heating chamber therebetween and an open position in which access is provided to the heating chamber;   at least one heating element positioned in the heating chamber;   a power source electrically coupled to the at least one heating element;   an inhalation aperture;   a fluid pathway extending through the housing from the heating chamber to the inhalation aperture;   a control circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the at least one heating element; and   a position sensor electrically coupled to the control circuit, the position sensor operable to detect when the lid is in the closed position;   wherein   the control circuit is operable to control heating of the at least one heating element in response to the position sensor detecting that the lid is in the closed position, and when phyto material is positioned in the heating chamber, the at least one heating element is operable to heat the phyto material to a predetermined temperature whereby vapor is emitted from the heated phyto material to propagate through the fluid pathway to the inhalation aperture.   
     
     
         35 . The vaporization device of  claim 34 , wherein the position sensor comprises:
 a first electrical contact positioned on the base that is electrically coupled to the control circuit; and   a second electrical contact positioned on the lid that is electrically coupled to the control circuit;   wherein   when the lid is in the closed position, the first electrical contact and second electrical contact are in electrical contact.   
     
     
         36 . The vaporization device of  claim 34 , further comprising a pair of engageable closure member, with one closure member provided on each of the base and the lid, the closure members being engageable with one another to maintain the lid in the closed position. 
     
     
         37 . The vaporization device of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the closure members comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         38 . The vaporization device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a first heating element disposed on the upper base surface within the heating chamber and a second heating element disposed on the first lid surface within the heating chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The vaporization device of  claim 34 , further comprising a switch coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is operable to selectively heat the at least one heating element in response to the switch being actuated.