System and method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge

Abstract

A system and method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge provide an efficient means to refill a cartridge of an electronic cigarette with an e-liquid. The system includes a refillable cartridge operable inside an electronic cigarette. The cartridge has an elongated cavity that contains an e-liquid. The cartridge also has a closed-end and an open end. A silicone seal covers the open end. An injection needle penetrates the seal to inject an e-liquid into the cavity. Adjacent to the injection needle, a vent needle penetrates the airtight silicone seal to create a passageway for air to simultaneously escape the airtight cartridge while e-liquid is being injected therein. In this manner, an equilibrium is formed inside the cavity, creating a smoother refilling. In alternative embodiments, the retail package encapsulates the cartridge, whereby injection and vent needles penetrate both the retail package and the seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge, the system comprising:
 a cartridge operable inside an electronic cigarette, the cartridge being defined by an elongated cavity, the cartridge further being defined by a closed end and an open end;   a seal covering the open end of the cartridge, whereby an airtight environment forms in the cavity of the cartridge;   an injection needle defined by an inlet passageway having an e-liquid discharge end and an e-liquid discharge end, the e-liquid discharge end being sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal; and   a vent needle defined by an outlet passageway having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, the air inlet end being sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal, the outlet passageway being operable to carry air out of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient container, the resilient container encapsulating the cartridge and the seal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the e-liquid discharge end of the injection needle is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the resilient container and the seal for discharging the e-liquid into the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the air inlet end of the vent needle is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the resilient container and the seal for carrying air from the cavity of the cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the injection needle is operable to inject a gas into the resilient container. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the resilient container is a sealable bag. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the cartridge is sized and dimensioned to contain an e-liquid, the e-liquid being adapted to vaporize and release flavor when heated. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the e-liquid discharge end is sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal and discharge the e-liquid into the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the outlet passageway being operable to carry air out of the cavity while the e-liquid is discharged into the cavity 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a cubical shape. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a connector for detachable attachment with the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a cap. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the cap is defined by one or more apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a silicone seal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the seal is operable to self-seal on the open end of the cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . A system for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge, the system comprising:
 a cartridge operable inside an electronic cigarette, the cartridge being defined by an elongated cavity sized and dimensioned to contain an e-liquid, the e-liquid being adapted to vaporize and release flavor when heated, the cartridge further being defined by a closed end and an open end, the cartridge comprising a connector for detachable attachment with the electronic cigarette, the cartridge comprising a cap, the cap being defined by one or more apertures;   a seal covering the open end of the cartridge, whereby an airtight environment forms in the cavity of the cartridge;   an injection needle defined by an inlet passageway having an e-liquid discharge end and an e-liquid discharge end, the e-liquid discharge end being sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal and discharge the e-liquid into the cavity;   a vent needle defined by an outlet passageway having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, the air inlet end being sized and dimensioned to penetrate the seal, the outlet passageway being operable to carry air out of the cavity while the e-liquid is discharged into the cavity; and   a resilient container, the resilient container encapsulating the cartridge and the seal.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the injection needle is operable to inject a gas into the resilient container. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the seal is operable to self-seal on the open end of the cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . A method for refilling an electronic cigarette cartridge with a system, the method comprising:
 depleting an e-liquid contained in a cavity of a refillable cartridge of an electronic cigarette, the cartridge being defined by a closed end and an open end, a seal forming across the open end;   detaching the cartridge from the electronic cigarette;   penetrating an injection needle through the seal;   penetrating a vent needle through the seal, adjacent to the injection needle;   injecting, through the injection needle, an e-liquid into the cavity of the cartridge;   venting, through the vent needle, air from the cavity, simultaneous with the injection of e-liquid;   attaching the cartridge to the electronic cigarette; and   heating the e-liquid to vaporize and release flavor for smoking.