Versatile Vaporizer Containing an Amount of Product for Multiple Use

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a vaporizer capable of storing an amount of product sufficient for multiple uses of said product. The product may be stored in a casing or cartridge of the invention. The invention may comprise a heating chamber and heating mechanism for which to heat the product to create vapor that may be inhaled by a user. The invention may comprise a mouthpiece. The invention may comprise means for moving product from the casing or cartridge into the heating chamber. In some embodiments, said means may be a piston movable my use of a knob and screw, motor and screw, plunger, or linear actuator. Various embodiments of the invention comprise different features and/or forms of the same feature so that the invention may be used to vaporize multiple types of product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vaporizer comprising:
 a casing, said casing further comprising a mouthpiece;   a heating chamber disposed distal to the mouthpiece, said heating chamber further comprising a heating element;   a piston configured within the casing distal to the heating chamber, the piston being configured to accept an amount of product, said piston being interfaced with a moving mechanism disposed distal to the piston, in which the moving mechanism is configured to translate the piston proximally or distally relative to the mouthpiece, said translation of the piston being configured to move the product proximally, causing at least a portion of said product to enter the heating chamber;   a battery configured to provide an electrical current to the heating element, in which the heating element may heat the product within the heating chamber in a manner producing vapor, in which vapor may subsequently be emitted through the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a screw;   wherein the moving mechanism is a rotational mechanism;   wherein the screw is rotatably mated to a proximal end of the rotational mechanism, and wherein the screw is further rotatably mated to a distal end of the piston;   wherein the rotational mechanism is configured to rotate in a first direction to cause the piston to translate proximally;   and wherein the rotational mechanism is configured to rotate in a second direction to cause the piston to translate distally.   
     
     
         3 . The vaporizer of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the rotational mechanism is a knob;   and wherein the knob is rotated manually by a user.   
     
     
         4 . The vaporizer of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the rotational mechanism is a motor;   wherein the motor is powered by the battery.   
     
     
         5 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanism is a linear mechanism, said linear mechanism mated to the distal end of the piston such that moving the linear mechanism proximally correspondingly moves the piston proximally, and such that moving the linear mechanism distally correspondingly moves the piston distally. 
     
     
         6 . The vaporizer of  claim 5 , wherein the linear mechanism is a plunger, and wherein the plunger is configured to be moved manually by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The vaporizer of  claim 5 , wherein the linear mechanism is a linear actuator, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to be moved by electric current supplied by the battery. 
     
     
         8 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plate, said plate further comprising a hole, said plate being disposed distally to the heating chamber and proximally to the piston;   wherein the proximal translation of the piston passes the portion of the product through the hole of the plate to enter the heating chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mesh disposed distally to the heating chamber and proximally to the piston;   wherein the proximal translation of the piston passes the portion of the product through the mesh to enter the heating chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a dry herb, concentrated oil, or semi-dry, semi-solid extract. 
     
     
         11 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of cups, said cups being removably disposed within the cases proximal to the piston;   each of said cups being configured to contain an amount of the product;   wherein the plurality of cups are disposed linearly within the casing, each cup being so disposed removably, the linear disposition of cups forming a stack;   wherein the stack is moved by the proximal translation of the piston to the heating chamber, said heating chamber being configured to accept one of said cups comprising the stack at a time, said heating chamber being further configured to vaporize product disposed within said cup.   
     
     
         12 . The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cartridge configured to accept the product;   wherein the casing is further configured to removably integrate the cartridge distal to the heating chamber;   and wherein the cartridge is configured to allow the translation of the piston to move the product proximally such that the product may enter the heating chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The vaporizer and cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the battery is disposed within the cartridge rather than the casing, and where the casing is further configured to accept electrical current from the battery within the cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . A method for vaporizing a product, the method comprising:
 providing an amount of product;   encasing the amount of product within a casing;   causing a piston to translate proximally or distally within the casing, said translation causing movement of a portion of the amount of product into a heating chamber;   supplying electrical current from a battery to a heating element integrated with the heating chamber, such that the portion of the amount of product is vaporized;   and emitting vapor created by the vaporization.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the translation of the piston is achieved by use of a moving mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the moving mechanism is a rotational mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the moving mechanism is a linear mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the amount of product is contained within a plurality of cups, said cups being removably stacked linearly within the casing to create a stack; said stack being moved by translation of the piston to move one cup at a time into the heating chamber for vaporization as claimed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the product is a dry herb, concentrated oil, or semi-dry, semi-solid extract. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heating mechanism is configured to heat the product by induction.