CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present PCT patent application claims priority benefit of the U.S. Utility patent application number 15/648,353 entitled "A Storage and Dispensing Device" filed on 12-JUL-2017 under 35 USC 111(a). The contents of this related patent application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting hereof.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection by the author thereof. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure for the purposes of referencing as patent prior art, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELEVANT PRIOR ART

[0003] One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to vaporizing devices.

More particularly, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a vaporizer that may be able to provide storage and dispensing of substances produced in a semi-solid to solid consistency.

[0004] The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. It is believed that some individuals may use personal vaporizers for inhaling vapor from semi-solid to solid substances such as, but not limited to, solid plant material, extracts, wax concentrates, or substances in gel form. A multiplicity of suitable ingredients may be used to form these substances including, without limitation, cannabis, hemp, herbs, tobacco, flowers, other types of plants, and nicotine. Individuals may use such vaporizers for medicinal or recreational purposes. Personal vaporizers designed for inhaling the vapor from semi-solid to solid substances typically involve manually placing the substance directly onto a heat source such as, but not limited to, a convection element, a combustion element, or another type of heating element. An air-chamber may then be placed over the heat source. Upon heating the substance, the vaporized material passes through the air-chamber and out a mouth piece, where the material may be inhaled.

[0005] The following is an example of a specific aspect in the related technology that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, an aspect of the related technology generally useful to be aware of is that, in some currently available vaporizers designed for use with semi-solid to solid substances, the heat source typically holds a small amount of the substance. One may expect that users of such vaporizers may need to fill the heat source with substance as often as each time vaporizing is performed. Other currently available vaporizers may utilize a larger cavity, or bowl, to hold more of the substance for heating, thereby reducing the need for filling the heat source as often. In such vaporizers, the entire amount of substance within this larger cavity is typically heated during each vaporization session. It is believed that repeated heating of the substance may result in degradation of the beneficial properties and/or flavor of the substance. Other currently available vaporizers may allow for the controllable dispensing of a large quantity of a substance that is in oil or liquid form. Such devices typically comprise a holding chamber commonly known as a 'tank' or 'cartridge' that contains the oil or liquid.

[0006] In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

[0008] Figures 1A, IB, and 1C illustrate an exemplary dispenser assembly for a vaporizer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1A is a perspective side view of the dispenser assembly, Figure IB is an exploded side view of the dispenser assembly, and Figure 1C is a cross sectional side view of the dispenser assembly;

[0009] Figure 2 is a perspective inner view of a mouth tip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary plunger assembly for a dispenser mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3A is a side perspective view, and Figure 3B is an exploded view; and

[0011] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate an exemplary load tool in use loading a substance into a storage chamber of a vaporizer providing storage and a dispensing of the substance, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4A is a perspective side view with the storage chamber within an air chamber, and Figure 4B is an exploded view in which the air chamber is not shown.

[0012] Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.

[0014] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures.

However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

[0015] It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to "an element" is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to "a step" or "a means" is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word "or" should be understood as having the definition of a logical "or" rather than that of a logical "exclusive or" unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0016] All words of approximation as used in the present disclosure and claims should be construed to mean "approximate," rather than "perfect," and may accordingly be employed as a meaningful modifier to any other word, specified parameter, quantity, quality, or concept. Words of approximation, include, yet are not limited to terms such as "substantial", "nearly", "almost", "about", "generally", "largely", "essentially", "closely approximate", etc.

[0017] As will be established in some detail below, it is well settled law, as early as 1939, that words of approximation are not indefinite in the claims even when such limits are not defined or specified in the specification. [0018] For example, see Ex parte Mallory, 52 USPQ 297, 297 (Pat. Off. Bd. App. 1941) where the court said "The examiner has held that most of the claims are inaccurate because apparently the laminar film will not be entirely eliminated. The claims specify that the film is "substantially" eliminated and for the intended purpose, it is believed that the slight portion of the film which may remain is negligible. We are of the view, therefore, that the claims may be regarded as sufficiently accurate."

[0019] Note that claims need only "reasonably apprise those skilled in the art" as to their scope to satisfy the definiteness requirement. See Energy Absorption Sys., Inc. v. Roadway Safety Servs., Inc., Civ. App. 96-1264, slip op. at 10 (Fed. Cir. July 3, 1997) (unpublished) Hybridtech v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., 802 F.2d 1367, 1385, 231 USPQ 81, 94 (Fed. Cir. 1986), cert, denied, 480 U.S. 947 (1987). In addition, the use of modifiers in the claim, like "generally" and

"substantial," does not by itself render the claims indefinite. See Seattle Box Co. v. Industrial Crating & Packing, Inc., 731 F.2d 818, 828-29, 221 USPQ 568, 575-76 (Fed. Cir. 1984).

[0020] Moreover, the ordinary and customary meaning of terms like "substantially" includes

"reasonably close to: nearly, almost, about", connoting a term of approximation. See In re Frye, Appeal No. 2009-006013, 94 USPQ2d 1072, 1077, 2010 WL 889747 (B.P.A.I. 2010). Depending on its usage, the word "substantially" can denote either language of approximation or language of magnitude. Deering Precision Instruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distribution Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (recognizing the "dual ordinary meaning of th[e] term ["substantially"] as connoting a term of approximation or a term of magnitude"). Here, when referring to the

"substantially halfway" limitation, the Specification uses the word "approximately" as a substitute for the word "substantially" (Fact 4). (Fact 4). The ordinary meaning of "substantially halfway" is thus reasonably close to or nearly at the midpoint between the forwardmost point of the upper or outsole and the rearwardmost point of the upper or outsole.

[0021] Similarly, the term 'substantially' is well recognized in case law to have the dual ordinary meaning of connoting a term of approximation or a term of magnitude. See Dana Corp. v. American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Civ. App. 04-1116, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 18265, * 13-14 (Fed. Cir. August 27, 2004) (unpublished). The term "substantially" is commonly used by claim drafters to indicate approximation. See Cordis Corp. v. Medtronic AVE Inc., 339 F.3d 1352, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("The patents do not set out any numerical standard by which to determine whether the thickness of the wall surface is 'substantially uniform.' The term 'substantially,' as used in this context, denotes approximation. Thus, the walls must be of largely or approximately uniform thickness."); see also Deering Precision Instruments, LLC v. Vector Distribution Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Epcon Gas Sys., Inc. v. Bauer Compressors, Inc., 279 F.3d 1022, 1031 (Fed. Cir. 2002). We find that the term "substantially" was used in just such a manner in the claims of the patents-in-suit: "substantially uniform wall thickness" denotes a wall thickness with approximate uniformity.

[0022] It should also be noted that such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing clearly limits the scope of claims such as saying 'generally parallel' such that the adverb 'generally' does not broaden the meaning of parallel. Accordingly, it is well settled that such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing (e.g., like the phrase 'generally parallel') envisions some amount of deviation from perfection (e.g., not exactly parallel), and that such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing are descriptive terms commonly used in patent claims to avoid a strict numerical boundary to the specified parameter. To the extent that the plain language of the claims relying on such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing are clear and uncontradicted by anything in the written description herein or the figures thereof, it is improper to rely upon the present written description, the figures, or the prosecution history to add limitations to any of the claim of the present invention with respect to such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing. That is, under such circumstances, relying on the written description and prosecution history to reject the ordinary and customary meanings of the words themselves is impermissible. See, for example, Liquid Dynamics Corp. v. Vaughan Co., 355 F.3d 1361, 69 USPQ2d 1595, 1600-01 (Fed. Cir. 2004). The plain language of phrase 2 requires a "substantial helical flow." The term "substantial" is a meaningful modifier implying "approximate," rather than "perfect." In Cordis Corp. v. Medtronic AVE, Inc., 339 F.3d 1352, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2003), the district court imposed a precise numeric constraint on the term "substantially uniform thickness." We noted that the proper interpretation of this term was "of largely or approximately uniform thickness" unless something in the prosecution history imposed the "clear and unmistakable disclaimer" needed for narrowing beyond this simple-language interpretation. Id. In Anchor Wall Systems v. Rockwood Retaining Walls, Inc., 340 F.3d 1298, 1311 (Fed. Cir. 2003)" Id. at 1311. Similarly, the plain language of Claim 1 requires neither a perfectly helical flow nor a flow that returns precisely to the center after one rotation (a limitation that arises only as a logical

consequence of requiring a perfectly helical flow).

[0023] The reader should appreciate that case law generally recognizes a dual ordinary meaning of such words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, as connoting a term of approximation or a term of magnitude; e.g., see Deering Precision Instruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distrib. Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 68 USPQ2d 1716, 1721 (Fed. Cir. 2003), cert, denied, 124 S. Ct. 1426 (2004) where the court was asked to construe the meaning of the term "substantially" in a patent claim. Also see Epcon, 279 F.3d at 1031 ("The phrase 'substantially constant' denotes language of approximation, while the phrase 'substantially below' signifies language of magnitude, i.e., not insubstantial "). Also, see, e.g., Epcon Gas Sys., Inc. v. Bauer Compressors, Inc., 279 F.3d 1022 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (construing the terms "substantially constant" and "substantially below"); Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. v. Hoffinger Indus., Inc., 206 F.3d 1408 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (construing the term "substantially inward"); York Prods., Inc. v. Cent. Tractor Farm & Family Ctr., 99 F.3d 1568 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (construing the term "substantially the entire height thereof); Tex. Instruments Inc. v. Cypress Semiconductor Corp., 90 F.3d 1558 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (construing the term "substantially in the common plane"). In conducting their analysis, the court instructed to begin with the ordinary meaning of the claim terms to one of ordinary skill in the art. Prima Tek, 318 F.3d at 1148.

Reference to dictionaries and our cases indicates that the term "substantially" has numerous ordinary meanings. As the district court stated, "substantially" can mean "significantly" or "considerably." The term "substantially" can also mean "largely" or "essentially." Webster's New 20th Century Dictionary 1817 (1983).

[0024] Words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, may also be used in phrases establishing approximate ranges or limits, where the end points are inclusive and approximate, not perfect; e.g., see AK Steel Corp. v. Sollac, 344 F.3d 1234, 68 USPQ2d 1280, 1285 (Fed. Cir. 2003) where it where the court said [W]e conclude that the ordinary meaning of the phrase "up to about 10%" includes the "about 10%" endpoint. As pointed out by AK Steel, when an object of the preposition "up to" is nonnumeric, the most natural meaning is to exclude the object (e.g., painting the wall up to the door). On the other hand, as pointed out by Sollac, when the object is a numerical limit, the normal meaning is to include that upper numerical limit (e.g., counting up to ten, seating capacity for up to seven passengers). Because we have here a numerical limit— "about 10%"— the ordinary meaning is that that endpoint is included.

[0025] In the present specification and claims, a goal of employment of such words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, is to avoid a strict numerical boundary to the modified specified parameter, as sanctioned by Pall Corp. v. Micron Separations, Inc., 66 F.3d 1211, 1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229 (Fed. Cir. 1995) where it states "It is well established that when the term "substantially" serves reasonably to describe the subject matter so that its scope would be understood by persons in the field of the invention, and to distinguish the claimed subject matter from the prior art, it is not indefinite." Likewise see Verve LLC v. Crane Cams Inc., 311 F.3d 1116, 65 USPQ2d 1051, 1054 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Expressions such as "substantially" are used in patent documents when warranted by the nature of the invention, in order to accommodate the minor variations that may be appropriate to secure the invention. Such usage may well satisfy the charge to "particularly point out and distinctly claim" the invention, 35 U.S.C. §112, and indeed may be necessary in order to provide the inventor with the benefit of his invention. In Andrew Corp. v. Gabriel Elecs. Inc., 847 F.2d 819, 821-22, 6 USPQ2d 2010, 2013 (Fed. Cir. 1988) the court explained that usages such as "substantially equal" and "closely approximate" may serve to describe the invention with precision appropriate to the technology and without intruding on the prior art. The court again explained in Ecolab Inc. v. Envirochem, Inc., 264 F.3d 1358, 1367, 60 USPQ2d 1173, 1179 (Fed. Cir. 2001) that "like the term 'about,' the term 'substantially' is a descriptive term commonly used in patent claims to avoid a strict numerical boundary to the specified parameter," see Ecolab Inc. v. Envirochem Inc., 264 F.3d 1358, 60 USPQ2d 1173, 1179 (Fed. Cir. 2001) where the court found that the use of the term "substantially" to modify the term "uniform" does not render this phrase so unclear such that there is no means by which to ascertain the claim scope.

[0026] Similarly, other courts have noted that like the term "about," the term "substantially" is a descriptive term commonly used in patent claims to "avoid a strict numerical boundary to the specified parameter."; e.g., see Pall Corp. v. Micron Seps., 66 F.3d 1211, 1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229 (Fed. Cir. 1995); see, e.g., Andrew Corp. v. Gabriel Elecs. Inc., 847 F.2d 819, 821-22, 6 USPQ2d 2010, 2013 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (noting that terms such as "approach each other," "close to," "substantially equal," and "closely approximate" are ubiquitously used in patent claims and that such usages, when serving reasonably to describe the claimed subject matter to those of skill in the field of the invention, and to distinguish the claimed subject matter from the prior art, have been accepted in patent examination and upheld by the courts). In this case, "substantially" avoids the strict 100% nonuniformity boundary.

[0027] Indeed, the foregoing sanctioning of such words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, has been established as early as 1939, see Ex parte Mallory, 52 USPQ 297, 297 (Pat. Off. Bd. App. 1941) where, for example, the court said "the claims specify that the film is

"substantially" eliminated and for the intended purpose, it is believed that the slight portion of the film which may remain is negligible. We are of the view, therefore, that the claims may be regarded as sufficiently accurate." Similarly, In re Hutchison, 104 F.2d 829, 42 USPQ 90, 93 (C.C.P.A. 1939) the court said "It is realized that "substantial distance" is a relative and somewhat indefinite term, or phrase, but terms and phrases of this character are not uncommon in patents in cases where, according to the art involved, the meaning can be determined with reasonable clearness."

[0028] Hence, for at least the forgoing reason, Applicants submit that it is improper for any examiner to hold as indefinite any claims of the present patent that employ any words of

approximation.

[0029] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0030] References to a "device," an "apparatus," a "system," etc., in the preamble of a claim should be construed broadly to mean "any structure meeting the claim terms" exempt for any specific structure(s)/type(s) that has/(have) been explicitly disavowed or excluded or

admitted/implied as prior art in the present specification or incapable of enabling an

object/aspect/goal of the invention. Furthermore, where the present specification discloses an object, aspect, function, goal, result, or advantage of the invention that a specific prior art structure and/or method step is similarly capable of performing yet in a very different way, the present invention disclosure is intended to and shall also implicitly include and cover additional corresponding alternative embodiments that are otherwise identical to that explicitly disclosed except that they exclude such prior art structure(s)/step(s), and shall accordingly be deemed as providing sufficient disclosure to support a corresponding negative limitation in a claim claiming such alternative embodiment s), which exclude such very different prior art structure(s)/step(s) way(s).

[0031] From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. [0032] Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

[0033] Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.

[0034] References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example embodiment," "various embodiments," "some embodiments," "embodiments of the invention," etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible embodiment of the invention necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one embodiment," or "in an exemplary embodiment," "an embodiment," do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. Moreover, any use of phrases like "embodiments" in connection with "the invention" are never meant to characterize that all embodiments of the invention must include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and should instead be understood to mean "at least some embodiments of the invention" includes the stated particular feature, structure, or

characteristic.

[0035] References to "user", or any similar term, as used herein, may mean a human or non- human user thereof. Moreover, "user", or any similar term, as used herein, unless expressly stipulated otherwise, is contemplated to mean users at any stage of the usage process, to include, without limitation, direct user(s), intermediate user(s), indirect user(s), and end user(s). The meaning of "user", or any similar term, as used herein, should not be otherwise inferred or induced by any pattern(s) of description, embodiments, examples, or referenced prior-art that may (or may not) be provided in the present patent. [0036] References to "end user", or any similar term, as used herein, is generally intended to mean late stage user(s) as opposed to early stage user(s). Hence, it is contemplated that there may be a multiplicity of different types of "end user" near the end stage of the usage process. Where applicable, especially with respect to distribution channels of embodiments of the invention comprising consumed retail products/services thereof (as opposed to sellers/vendors or Original Equipment Manufacturers), examples of an "end user" may include, without limitation, a

"consumer", "buyer", "customer", "purchaser", "shopper", "enjoyer", "viewer", or individual person or non-human thing benefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of, or interaction with, some aspect of the present invention.

[0037] In some situations, some embodiments of the present invention may provide beneficial usage to more than one stage or type of usage in the foregoing usage process. In such cases where multiple embodiments targeting various stages of the usage process are described, references to "end user", or any similar term, as used therein, are generally intended to not include the user that is the furthest removed, in the foregoing usage process, from the final user therein of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Where applicable, especially with respect to retail distribution channels of

embodiments of the invention, intermediate user(s) may include, without limitation, any individual person or non-human thing benefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of, or interaction with, some aspect of the present invention with respect to selling, vending, Original Equipment Manufacturing, marketing, merchandising, distributing, service providing, and the like thereof.

[0039] References to "person", "individual", "human", "a party", "animal", "creature", or any similar term, as used herein, even if the context or particular embodiment implies living user, maker, or participant, it should be understood that such characterizations are sole by way of example, and not limitation, in that it is contemplated that any such usage, making, or participation by a living entity in connection with making, using, and/or participating, in any way, with embodiments of the present invention may be substituted by such similar performed by a suitably configured non-living entity, to include, without limitation, automated machines, robots, humanoids, computational systems, information processing systems, artificially intelligent systems, and the like. It is further contemplated that those skilled in the art will readily recognize the practical situations where such living makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention may be in whole, or in part, replaced with such non-living makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention. Likewise, when those skilled in the art identify such practical situations where such living makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention may be in whole, or in part, replaced with such non-living makers, it will be readily apparent in light of the teachings of the present invention how to adapt the described embodiments to be suitable for such non-living makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention. Thus, the invention is thus to also cover all such modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of such adaptations and modifications, at least in part, for such non-living entities.

[0040] Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0041] The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0042] It is understood that the use of specific component, device and/or parameter names are for example only and not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. The invention may thus be implemented with different nomenclature/terminology utilized to describe the

mechanisms/units/structures/components/devices/parameters herein, without limitation. Each term utilized herein is to be given its broadest interpretation given the context in which that term is utilized.

[0043] Terminology. The following paragraphs provide definitions and/or context for terms found in this disclosure (including the appended claims):

[0044] "Comprising." This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims, this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider a claim that recites: "A memory controller comprising a system cache..." Such a claim does not foreclose the memory controller from including additional components (e.g., a memory channel unit, a switch).

[0045] "Configured To." Various units, circuits, or other components may be described or claimed as "configured to" perform a task or tasks. In such contexts, "configured to" or "operable for" is used to connote structure by indicating that the mechanisms/units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry and/or mechanisms) that performs the task or tasks during operation. As such, the mechanisms/unit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to (or be operable) for perform(ing) the task even when the specified mechanisms/unit/circuit/component is not currently operational (e.g., is not on). The mechanisms/units/circuits/components used with the "configured to" or "operable for" language include hardware—for example, mechanisms, structures, electronics, circuits, memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that a mechanism/unit/circuit/component is "configured to" or "operable for" perform(ing) one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. sctn. l 12, sixth paragraph, for that mechanism/unit/circuit/component. "Configured to" may also include adapting a manufacturing process to fabricate devices or components that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.

[0046] "Based On." As used herein, this term is used to describe one or more factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose additional factors that may affect a

determination. That is, a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors. Consider the phrase "determine A based on B." While B may be a factor that affects the determination of A, such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also being based on C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B.

[0047] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0048] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing conditions, concentrations, dimensions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending at least upon a specific analytical technique.

[0049] The term "comprising," which is synonymous with "including," "containing," or

"characterized by" is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. "Comprising" is a term of art used in claim language which means that the named claim elements are essential, but other claim elements may be added and still form a construct within the scope of the claim.

[0050] As used herein, the phase "consisting of excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. When the phrase "consists of (or variations thereof) appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim as a whole. As used herein, the phase "consisting essentially of and "consisting of limits the scope of a claim to the specified elements or method steps, plus those that do not materially affect the basis and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter (see Norian Corp. v Stryker Corp., 363 F.3d 1321, 1331-32, 70 USPQ2d 1508, Fed. Cir. 2004). Moreover, for any claim of the present invention which claims an embodiment "consisting essentially of or "consisting of a certain set of elements of any herein described embodiment it shall be understood as obvious by those skilled in the art that the present invention also covers all possible varying scope variants of any described embodiment s) that are each exclusively (i.e., "consisting essentially of) functional subsets or functional combination thereof such that each of these plurality of exclusive varying scope variants each consists essentially of any functional subset(s) and/or functional combination(s) of any set of elements of any described embodiment s) to the exclusion of any others not set forth therein. That is, it is contemplated that it will be obvious to those skilled how to create a multiplicity of alternate embodiments of the present invention that simply consisting essentially of a certain functional combination of elements of any described embodiment s) to the exclusion of any others not set forth therein, and the invention thus covers all such exclusive embodiments as if they were each described herein.

[0051] With respect to the terms "comprising," "consisting of," and "consisting essentially of," where one of these three terms is used herein, the presently disclosed and claimed subject matter may include the use of either of the other two terms. Thus in some embodiments not otherwise explicitly recited, any instance of "comprising" may be replaced by "consisting of or, alternatively, by "consisting essentially of, and thus, for the purposes of claim support and construction for "consisting of format claims, such replacements operate to create yet other alternative embodiments "consisting essentially of only the elements recited in the original

"comprising" embodiment to the exclusion of all other elements.

[0052] Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[0053] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention. [0054] As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

[0055] It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details.

[0056] An embodiment of the present invention may provide safe storage, controllable dispensing and pleasant vaporizing of substances such as, but not limited to, medicinal cannabis, recreational cannabis, hemp, herbal extracts, pharmaceutical medicines, tobacco, and nicotine produced in concentrate form ranging from a semi-solid to solid consistency. Some embodiments may be implemented as a personal vaporizer comprising a storage chamber and a dispensing mechanism that may enable a substantially large quantity of semi-solid to solid substance to be stored in the vaporizer and controllably dispensed onto a heating element for vaporization.

[0057] Figures 1A, IB, and 1C illustrate an exemplary dispenser assembly for a vaporizer 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 A is a perspective side view of the dispenser assembly, Figure IB is an exploded side view of the dispenser assembly, and Figure 1C is a cross sectional side view of the dispenser assembly. In the present embodiment, vaporizer 10 may comprise a storage chamber 106, a dispensing mechanism 102, a mouth tip 104, and an air chamber 100. Air-chamber 100 houses various components including, without limitation, storage chamber 106. The dispensing mechanism, a handle 110 and a plunger 108 may be housed in the air chamber 100, inside the storage chamber 106. Dispensing mechanism 102 may engage with air- chamber 100 at a sleeve port 200. It is contemplated that various different means may be used to achieve an engagement between air-chamber 100 and dispensing mechanism 102 such as, but not limited to, interconnecting threading, snap-fit pieces, or a friction fit. The sleeve 100 and dispensing mechanism 102 may connect together using threads. It could also be magnetized. The air chamber 100 and storage chamber 106 may be fabricated as one piece. The 'sleeve port' may be an opening to insert the storage chamber. Storage chamber 106 may be inserted into air-chamber 100 through sleeve port 200. A lip 204 of storage chamber 106 may rest on the top edge of sleeve port 200.

When dispensing mechanism 102 is engaged with air-chamber 100, storage chamber 106 may be secured in place substantially within air-chamber 100 with lip 204 typically held between air- chamber 100 and dispensing mechanism 102. Storage chamber 106 may be able to store a substantially large amount of a substance 308 to be vaporized that may be in a semi-solid to solid form, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 1C. Mouth tip 104 may include a grooved inner portion and typically engages with and may be configured to manipulate dispensing mechanism 102. An outer shell of dispensing mechanism 102 may comprise O-ring grooves 214 at the upper end that typically allow for the placement of rubber or plastic O-rings 118 to create a snug fit with mouth tip 104 while typically enabling mouth tip 104 to be rotated. In alternate embodiments, a multiplicity of suitable means may be used to allow for the engagement of dispensing mechanism 102 and mouth tip 104 such as, but not limited to, a portion of mouth tip 104 that snaps into a channel in dispensing mechanism 102. In addition, it can thread on, latch on, or be magnetized to stay in place. In the present embodiment, a heating element 300 may be included to provide heat for the vaporization of various substances. One or more batteries 304 may be provided to activate a heat source 302 in heating element 300. Depending on the type of heating element 300, air-chamber 100 may thread onto, slide onto, or otherwise engage with heating element 300. The thread pattern and/or dimensions of the opening of air-chamber 100 may be altered to fit various sizes and types of heating elements 300 including magnetized heating elements.

[0058] In the present embodiment, vaporizer 10 may comprise means for allowing air and vapor to travel through vaporizer 10 from heating element 300 to mouth tip 104. Air-chamber 100 may comprise one or more air mix holes 226 that may enable air to be drawn into air-chamber 100 to mix with vapor from substance 308 being vaporized on heat source 302. Storage chamber 106 may comprise passages 202 on the outer surface to allow for the passage of air and vapor around storage chamber 106 and through air-chamber 100. Storage chamber 106 may also comprise an exit port 208 at the lower portion to typically allow for the controlled dispensing of a stored substance 308 and an upper opening 206 through which substance 308 may be inserted into storage chamber 106. The length and/or shape of storage chamber 106 may vary to typically ensure exit port 208 is sufficiently close to heating element 300 to allow for the melting of substance 308 onto heat source 302. Dispensing mechanism 102 may comprise a platform comprising a threaded hole 220 that supports a plunger rod 110 and air holes 216 that may allow for the continued passage of air and vapor previously traveling through passages 202 of storage chamber 106. Once the air and vapor passes through air holes 216, the air and vapor may travel through mouth tip 104 and out an air portal 218 where a user may inhale the air and vapor. It is contemplated that the configuration of holes and passages that may enable air and vapor to travel through vaporizer 10 may vary in alternate embodiments. For example, without limitation, holes of different shapes and sizes may be utilized in some embodiments, and in some embodiments the location of the holes and/or passages may vary.

[0059] In the present embodiment, dispensing mechanism 102 may comprise multiple components that, when combined, may be used to controllably dispense a determined amount of substance 308 from storage chamber 106 onto heat source 302. Dispensing mechanism 102 may comprise a plunger 108 which may be attached to the end of threaded plunger rod 110. Plunger 108 may be configured to fit snugly against the inner walls of storage chamber 106 so that, when plunger 108 advances within storage chamber 106, substance 308 may be efficiently pushed toward heating element 300. Plunger 108 may be made of plastic or a similar material such as, but not limited to, rubber, wood, or metal. Mouth tip 104 may be fitted onto a plunger rod head or dispenser rod handle 112 by means of an inner slot that fits over plunger rod head or dispenser rod handle 112, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 2. The inner slot may be configured to that when mouth tip 104 is rotated plunger rod 110 also rotates. This rotation typically causes the threading of plunger rod 110 to interact with the threading of threaded hole 220 to advance plunger rod 110, which in turn lowers plunger 108 to extrude the desired amount of substance 308 through exit port 208.

Optionally, mouth tip indexing markers 212 may be located around mouth tip 104 and may correspond to equally spaced dispensing mechanism indexing markers 210 on dispensing

mechanism 102. Together, indexing markers 210 and 212 may facilitate visual determination of the amount of substance 308 being dispensed. In the present embodiment, indexing markers 210 and 212 are shown at the quarter marks around mouth tip 104 and dispensing mechanism 102. In alternate embodiments the indexing markers may be spaced at various different intervals to indicate when an appropriate amount of substance is dispensed, which may be determined by various different factors such as, but not limited to, the diameter of the vaporizer, the size of the plunger rod, the type of components in the dispensing mechanism, and the size of the storage chamber. In some applications, mouth tip 104 may be removed so that plunger rod 110 may be manually turned to dispense substance 308. Then, mouth tip 104 may be reengaged with dispensing mechanism 102 so that a user may inhale from vaporizer 10. In such applications mouth tip 104 may be implemented without a slot to fit over plunger rod head or dispenser rod handle 112. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that in some embodiments a multiplicity of suitable methods may be used for dispensing the semi-solid to solid substance including, without limitation, methods using electronics, push button mechanisms, ratcheting mechanisms, or sliding mechanisms. For example, without limitation, in some

embodiments a disk may be connected to the head of the plunger rod in a manner in which at least a portion of the disk is accessible from the outside of the vaporizer. In order to dispense the substance within the storage chamber, a user may turn this disc to rotate the plunger rod and lower the plunger. In other embodiments a spring-loaded push button activator may be implemented along with a ratcheting mechanism similar to a mechanical pencil. In additional embodiments, a lever could be used. The lever handle would lay flat against the battery and be lifted to push material down. This could be notched so that each lift of the handle dispensed a specific amount. -Rather than fitting the mouth tip over the handle 110 of the dispensing, the handle could be one part of a ratchet system. The handle 110 would have notches that engage with a two piece mouth tip, where one part ratchets the notches when depressed (to lower the handle).

In some embodiments, for getting the material out of the storage chamber and onto a heating element is to warm the material sufficiently to melt. The heating element comprises a heating wire disposed to the exterior or interior of the storage chamber. The heating element may be activated with a small battery, like a watch battery, which would replace the dispensing mechanism. Instead of the plunger/dispenser mechanism, the battery, wires and an activation button would be housed in this area. The wires should not get hot enough to compromise the integrity of the material, but just hot enough to melt a small amount at the bottom of the storage chamber.

[0060] It is contemplated that the various components of vaporizer 10 may be made of stainless steel or of virtually any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as, but not limited to, aluminum, titanium, plastic, glass, or a combination of different materials. In the present embodiment, vaporizer 10 is illustrated by way of example as a portable electronic device in which heating element 300 may typically be powered by one or more batteries 304 to heat an electronic heat source 302 such as, but not limited to, heat coils or a hot plate. However, a multiplicity of suitable types of heating elements may be used in alternate embodiments. For example, without limitation, a non-portable vaporizer may be powered by an electrical cord that may plug into a wall outlet. In other embodiments the heating element may be heated by a flame from a device such as, but not limited to, a lighter or match.

[0061] Figure 2 is a perspective inner view of a mouth tip 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, mouth tip 104 may comprise an air portal 218 and an inner slot 224 that may be configured to fit over a head of a plunger rod for a dispensing mechanism as illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 A, IB, 1C, 3A, and 3B. Slot 224 may be sized and shaped to engage with the plunger rod in such a way that when mouth tip 104 is rotated the plunger rod typically rotates along with mouth tip 104.

[0062] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary plunger assembly for a dispenser mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 A is a side perspective view, and Figure 3B is an exploded view. In the present embodiment, a threaded plunger rod 110 may be inserted through a plunger bushing 114. Threads 228 may be secured into a plunger 108 which is further secured by bushing retainer clip 116. In alternate embodiments, plunger rod 110 may be secured to plunger 108 using various different means such as, but not limited to, welding, adhesive, or being threaded directly together with no bushing. In the present embodiment, a head 112 of plunger rod 110 may comprise a flattened shape to correspond with a slot in a mouth tip. In alternate embodiments the shape of the head may be shaped differently to correspond to differently shaped mouth tips.

[0063] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate an exemplary load tool 306 in use loading a substance

308 into a storage chamber 106 of a vaporizer providing storage and a dispensing of substance 308, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4A is a perspective side view with storage chamber 106 within an air chamber 100, and Figure 4B is an exploded view in which air chamber 100 is not shown. Such a load tool 306 may be provided as an optional feature. In the present embodiment, load tool 306 may be fabricated with various different materials such as, but not limited to, food-grade plastic or stainless steel. A groove 402 on load tool 306 may indicate the maximum fill level for substance 308 within storage chamber 106. A typical method for loading storage chamber 106 may be as follows. Substance 308, which may be of a semi-solid to solid consistency, may be formed into a cylindrical shape and inserted into storage chamber 106.

Substance 308 may then be compacted using the flat end of load tool 306 to substantially remove air pockets within substance 308. Additional amounts of substance 308 may be added until storage chamber 106 is filled to the point where groove 402 on load tool 306 is aligned with a lip 204 of storage chamber 106. In the present embodiment, storage chamber 106 may typically be able to store more of substance 308 than is normally consumed at one time. Once storage chamber 106 is filled with substance 308, substance 308 may be able to exit storage chamber 106 through an exit port 208 to melt onto a heat source in heating element 300 for vaporizing. A tip 400 of load tool 306 may be utilized to clean out exit port 208 when needed. Alternately, substance 308 may be loaded into storage chamber 106 without load tool 306. For example, without limitation, the plunger of the dispensing mechanism may be used in some applications to load storage chamber 106. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that in some embodiments storage chambers may be produced from disposable or recyclable material such as, but not limited to, plastic or aluminum to be provided as pre-filled cartridges that may be removed and replaced by a new pre-filled cartridge when empty or when a user desires to vaporize a different type of substance.

[0064] In typical use of an embodiment represented by the drawings described in the foregoing, once storage chamber 106 has been filled with substance 308, dispensing mechanism 102 may be engaged with air chamber 100 and mouth tip 104 may be engaged with dispensing mechanism 102. Then, a user may rotate mouth tip 104 so that plunger rod 110 rotates and advances plunger 108, thereby extruding a portion of substance 308 out exit port 208. If this is the first use after loading storage chamber 106, the user may do this prior to engaging heating element 300 with air chamber 100 to typically be able to look into the bottom of air chamber 100 to see when a small amount of substance 308 protrudes from exit port 208. Then air chamber 100 may be engaged with heating element 300. Mouth tip 104 may then be turned to dispense the desired amount of substance 308 onto heat source 302 using dispensing mechanism indexing markers 210 and mouth tip indexing markers 212 as a guide. The user may then activate heating element 300 to vaporize substance 308 near heat source 302. Since storage chamber 106 may typically be located above and away from heating element 300, substance 308 remaining in storage chamber 106 normally does not undergo heating. It is believed that this may enable substance 308 to maintain the integrity of its medicinal properties, benefits, and/or taste until stored substance 308 is needed. When the user draws on mouth tip 104 by mouth, air may be pulled into air chamber 100 through air mix holes 226, which may allow for dilution of concentrated vapor as the vapor passes through the airspace between storage chamber 106 and air chamber 100 to form a vapor that may be inhaled and may be substantially less harsh to the user's lungs. The vapor flows through the passages 202, through air holes 216 located at the top of dispensing mechanism 102 and through air portal 218 of mouth tip 104. When heat source 302 is empty, mouth tip 104 may be rotated again to advance more material 308 onto heat source 302 optionally using dispensing mechanism indexing markers 210 and mouth tip indexing markers 212 as a guide. If mouth tip 104 no longer turns, storage chamber 106 is most likely empty, indicating the need to refill storage chamber 106 with material 308 for continued use. To refill, vaporizer 10 may be disassembled. If desired, load tool 306 may be inserted into storage chamber 106 with clean out tip 400 pointing toward exit port 208 to push out any remaining material 308 prior to refilling. Storage chamber 106 may then be filled, and vaporizer 10 may be reassemble as described by way of example in the foregoing. In additional embodiments, load a material that comes pre-formed and housed in a blister pack (like those that hold individual capsules or pills). This would eliminate the need for the load tool or having to touch the material with one's hands.

[0065] The mandatory air flow/passage happens between the top of the battery [housing] where the heating element attaches, and inside the heating element 300 itself. Typically the battery top has cut out slots and the bottom of the heating element is not completely sealed. This

combination allows the air to enter and travel up through the heating element to mix with the material thereby producing the vapor.

[0066] It is believed that some embodiments of the present invention may allow for the consumption by vaporization of semi-solid and solid concentrates in a convenient, easy, and discreet manner. Indexing markers provided on some embodiments may enable proper dosing while away from home to be substantially safer and easier than some current approaches. Some embodiments may reduce nuisance and waste that may be experienced when refilling a vaporizer before every use. Moreover, the semi-solid to solid consistency of the substance stored within the storage chamber may substantially inhibit leakage. Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention may provide a delivery system for a potentially new semi-solid to solid formulation of hemp CBD that can be vaporized. Currently CBDs are typically distilled into liquid forms such as tinctures and oils or provided in pill form. Such approaches may not allow for vaporizing of the CBD and may be relatively expensive to manufacture.

[0067] Some alternate embodiments of the present invention may be configured with the dispensing mechanisms located under the heat sources. In such embodiments the dispensing mechanisms may be activated by rotating the heating element or a handle, knob, dial, button, lever, etc. added below the heating element. Some embodiments may be implemented with a multiplicity of suitable additional features such as, but not limited to, a transparent portion in the air chamber and storage chamber for viewing the amount of substance in the storage chamber, a cap for covering the mouth tip, and one or more filters to substantially inhibit any portion of the substance that is not vaporized to be drawn up through the vaporizer.

[0068] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of the foregoing steps may be suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps may be inserted depending upon the needs of the particular application. Moreover, the prescribed method steps of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any physical and/or hardware system that those skilled in the art will readily know is suitable in light of the foregoing teachings. For any method steps described in the present application that can be carried out on a computing machine, a typical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention may be embodied. Such computing systems may display temperature readings, exact amounts consumed, etc. Thus, the present invention is not limited to any particular tangible means of implementation.

[0069] All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0070] It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC §112 (1), all claims must be supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patent specification, and any material known to those skilled in the art need not be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC §112 (6) requires that structures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patent specification. Moreover, the USPTO's Examination policy of initially treating and searching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a "mean for" claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on 112(6) functional limitation would have to be conducted to support a legally valid Examination on that USPTO policy for broadest interpretation of "mean for" claims. Accordingly, the USPTO will have discovered a multiplicity of prior art documents including disclosure of specific structures and elements which are suitable to act as corresponding structures to satisfy all functional limitations in the below claims that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) when such corresponding structures are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification. Therefore, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, yet do exist in the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of USPTO searching, Applicant(s) incorporate all such functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material herein by reference for the purpose of providing explicit structures that implement the functional means claimed. Applicant(s) request(s) that fact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/or examination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporate only the portions of each of these documents discovered during the broadest interpretation search of 35 USC §112 (6) limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of normal USPTO searching and or supplied to the USPTO during prosecution. Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference the bibliographic citation information to identify all such documents comprising functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise any information disclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patent application by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3 ^rd parties. Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the present application to explicitly include citations to such documents and/or explicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which were incorporate by reference above.

[0071] Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s) have explicitly prescribed which documents and material to include the otherwise missing disclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portions of such patent and/or non-patent documents should be incorporated by such reference for the purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirements of 35 USC §112 (6).

Applicant(s) note that all the identified documents above which are incorporated by reference to satisfy 35 USC §112 (6) necessarily have a filing and/or publication date prior to that of the instant application, and thus are valid prior documents to incorporated by reference in the instant application.

[0072] Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a vaporizer that may be able to provide storage and dispensing of substances produced in a semi-solid to solid consistency according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the vaporizers may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way of example, and not limitation, the vaporizers described in the foregoing were principally directed to substantially small implementations; however, similar techniques may instead be applied to larger vaporizers such as, but not limited to, desktop vaporizers and hookahs, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.

[0073] Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

[0074] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

[0075] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0076] The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. That is, the Abstract is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims.

[0077] The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.