CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/171,040, filed April 5, 2021, and entitled, “Vaporizer Device,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The current subject matter described herein relates generally to vaporizer devices, such as portable, personal vaporizer devices for generating and delivering an inhalable aerosol from one or more vaporizable materials.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Vaporizing devices, including electronic vaporizers or e-vaporizer devices, allow the delivery of vapor and aerosol containing one or more active ingredients by inhalation of the vapor and aerosol. Electronic vaporizer devices are gaining increasing popularity both for prescriptive medical use, in delivering medicaments, and for consumption of nicotine, tobacco, other liquid-based substances, and other plant-based smokeable materials, such as cannabis, including solid (e.g., loose-leaf or flower) materials, solid/liquid (e.g., suspensions, liquid-coated) materials, wax extracts, and prefilled pods (cartridges, wrapped containers, etc.) of such materials. Electronic vaporizer devices in particular may be portable, self-contained, and convenient for use.

SUMMARY

[0004] Aspects of the current disclosure relate to vaporizer devices that include various features for improving aerosol production by the vaporizer devices and for improving the user experience while using the vaporizer devices.

[0005] According to some aspects, a vaporizer device is provided. The vaporizer device may include a housing, a pre-packed consumable, and a mouthpiece. The housing may include a vessel configured to be heated. The vessel may include a side wall. The pre-packed consumable may define a bulk vaporizable material formed as a puck having a shape corresponding to a shape of the vessel to maximize contact between a side surface of the puck and the side wall of the vessel. The mouthpiece may be configured to deliver an aerosol generated when the heated vessel heats the pre-packed consumable. [0006] In some aspects, the puck has a height that is one-half a height of the vessel.

[0007] In some aspects, the puck has a height that is less than a maximum height of the vessel.

[0008] In some aspects, the bulk vaporizable material has a mass of 350 mg.

[0009] In some aspects, the bulk vaporizable material is a loose-leaf plant material.

[0010] In some aspects, the loose-leaf plant material is cannabis.

[0011] In some aspects, the puck has a height of 5 mm.

[0012] In some aspects, the pre-packed consumable is pre-shaped.

[0013] In some aspects, the shape of the puck is one or more of a donut, a rectangular prism, an elongated strip, a cylinder, a tube, and a racetrack.

[0014] In some aspects, the puck includes one or more channels extending through a height of the bulk vaporizable material.

[0015] In some aspects, the one or more channels includes a single channel that extends through a center of the puck.

[0016] In some aspects, the pre-packed consumable is heated by at least one of conduction and convection.

[0017] In some aspects, the puck is formed by a process including: compressing the bulk vaporizable material into a mold matching the shape of the vessel to a stopping height. The process may also include maintaining the compressing of the bulk vaporizable material at the stopping height for a holding time. The process may also include allowing the compressed vaporizable material to relax to a relaxed height that is greater than the stopping height. The puck positioned within the vessel may have the relaxed height.

[0018] In some aspects, the stopping height is 2 mm to 4 mm.

[0019] In some aspects, the relaxed height is 5 mm.

[0020] In some aspects, the relaxed height is less than one-half a height of the vessel.

[0021] In some aspects, the bulk vaporizable material includes at least two types of the vaporizable material.

[0022] In some aspects, the vaporizer device also includes a heating element coupled to the vessel. The heating element may include a first heating portion and a second heating portion.

[0023] In some aspects, the first heating portion is configured to contact a first portion of the puck and the second heating portion is configured to contact a second portion of the puck. [0024] In some aspects, the first portion of the puck is positioned along an inner surface of the puck and the second portion of the puck is positioned along an outer surface of the puck.

[0025] In some aspects, the first portion of the puck is positioned on a first side of the puck and the second portion of the puck is positioned on a second side of the puck, opposite the first side.

[0026] In some aspects, the first portion of the puck includes a first type of the bulk vaporizable material and the second portion of the puck includes a second type of the bulk vaporizable material.

[0027] In some aspects, the puck includes a central channel extending through a height of the puck.

[0028] In some aspects, an outer shape of the puck is one or more of a rectangular prism, an elongated strip, a cylinder, a tube, and a racetrack.

[0029] In some aspects, the first portion of the heating element is a first heating element; and the second portion of the heating element is a second heating element.

[0030] In some aspects, the pre-packed consumable is rotated to heat each of the at least two types of the vaporizable material.

[0031] In some aspects, the vaporizer device includes an inner shell. The inner shell may include the vessel.

[0032] In some aspects, the inner shell is slidable relative to the housing.

[0033] In some aspects, the inner shell is positioned at least partially within the housing.

[0034] In some aspects, the inner shell is slidable relative to the housing to expose the vessel to receive the pre-packed consumable.

[0035] According to some aspects, pre-packed consumable for a vaporizer device includes a bulk vaporizable material formed as a puck having a shape corresponding to a shape of a vessel of the vaporizer device to maximize contact between a side surface of the puck and a side wall of the vessel. The puck may be formed by a process including compressing the bulk vaporizable material into a mold matching the shape of the vessel to a stopping height. The process may also include maintaining the compressing of the bulk vaporizable material at the stopping height for a holding time. The process may also include allowing the compressed vaporizable material to relax to a relaxed height that is greater than the stopping height. The relaxed height may be one half a height of the vessel.

[0036] In some aspects, a method of forming a pre-packed consumable for the vaporizer device includes compressing a bulk vaporizable material into a mold matching a shape of a vessel of the vaporizer device to a stopping height. The method may also include maintaining the compressing of the bulk vaporizable material at the stopping height for a holding time. The method may also include allowing the compressed vaporizable material to relax to a relaxed height that is greater than the stopping height. The relaxed height may be one half a height of the vessel.

[0037] According to some aspects, a vaporizer device includes a vessel configured to receive a pre-packed consumable. The pre-packed consumable may define a vaporizable material. The vessel includes a shape corresponding to a shape of the pre-packed consumable, thereby maximizing a surface area of the pre-packed consumable in contact with the vessel. The vaporizer device may also include a heating element configured to cause the vaporizable material to be heated to generate an aerosol. The vaporizer device may also include a mouthpiece configured to deliver the generated aerosol to a user.

[0038] According to some aspects, a method may include receiving, by a vaporizer device, a pre-packed consumable. The method may also include activating the vaporizer device. The method may also include heating at least a portion of the pre-packed consumable.

[0039] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. The claims that follow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0042] FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0043] FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0044] FIG. 2C illustrates an example of a vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the current subject matter; [0045] FIG. 2D illustrates an example of a vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0046] FIG. 2E is a schematic block diagram illustrating features of a vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0047] FIG. 3A schematically illustrates a portion of an example vaporizer device including a vaporizer device and a pre-packed consumable consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0048] FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a portion of another example vaporizer device including a vaporizer device and a pre-packed consumable consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates an example vaporizer system including a vaporizer device and a pre-packed consumable consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0050] FIGS. 5A-5J schematically illustrate example pre-packed consumables consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates an example packaging for a pre-packed consumable consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0052] FIG. 7 is an example method of heating a pre-packed consumable consistent with implementations of the current subject matter; and

[0053] FIG. 8 is an example method of forming the pre-packed consumable consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.

[0054] When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures, features, or elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Implementations of the current subject matter include devices relating to vaporizing of one or more materials for inhalation by a user. The term “vaporizer” may be used generically in the following description and may refer to a vaporizer device, such as an electronic vaporizer. Vaporizers consistent with the current subject matter may be referred to by various terms such as inhalable aerosol devices, aerosolizers, vaporization devices, electronic vaping devices, electronic vaporizers, vape pens, etc. Examples of vaporizers consistent with implementations of the current subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or the like. In general, such vaporizers are often portable, hand-held devices that heat a vaporizable material to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizer may include a heater configured to heat a vaporizable material which results in the production of one or more gas-phase components of the vaporizable material. A vaporizable material may include liquid and/or oil-type plant materials, or a semi-solid like a wax, or plant material such as leaves or flowers, either raw or processed. The gas-phase components of the vaporizable material may condense after being vaporized such that an aerosol is formed in a flowing air stream that is deliverable for inhalation by a user. The vaporizers may, in some implementations of the current subject matter, be particularly adapted for use with a plant material, such as a loose-leaf and/or full bud plant material (e.g., cannabis plant material), a concentrate material, and/or an oil-based vaporizable material, such as cannabis-derived, cannabidol-derived, and/or Tetrahydrocannabinol-derived oils although other types of vaporizable materials may be used as well.

[0056] Generally, a vaporizer device may store a vaporizable material, such as a plant material. In order to load the plant material into a storage compartment of the vaporizer device, where the plant material is heated for generating an aerosol, a user may first grind the plant material, such as from a bud of the plant material, and then manually load the ground plant material into the storage compartment of the vaporizer device. Users may use a grinder to grind the plant material, which often results in inconsistently ground plant material, such as inconsistent sizes of the granules of the ground plant material, and the like. Also, when loading the ground plant material into the storage compartment, the user may need to sufficiently pack the ground plant material into the storage compartment to achieve a desired air flow around and/or through the plant material in use to sufficiently heat and/or vaporize the plant material.

[0057] Manually packing the plant material in the storage compartment, even when using packing tools, may still lead to inconsistently packed (e.g., inconsistent packing density), under-packed, and/or over-packed storage compartments, resulting in inconsistent and/or inefficient heating of the plant material. Thus, manually grinding and/or packing the plant material into the storage compartment of the vaporizer device may take a long time and lead to a poor user experience. For example, the vaporizer device may exhibit poor aerosol generation, such as when the poorly packed vaporizable material is inefficiently heated by the heater of the vaporizer device. Additionally, or alternatively, a loosely packed or otherwise improperly packed vaporizable material may result in increased airflow, but may decrease aerosol generation and reduce heating of the vaporizable material. Also, as noted above, when a user manually packs the storage compartment, users often do not track an amount of the plant material that is packed into the storage compartment. As a result, users are often unaware of the dose of the vaporizable material consumed over the course of a session or multiple sessions using the vaporizer device.

[0058] The vaporizer device consistent with implementations of the current subject matter may be used with a pre-packed consumable. The pre-packed consumable may include the plant material, such as a pre-packed, pre-shaped, and/or pre-formed plant material. By pre packing the plant material defining the pre-packed consumable, the quality of the grinding, packing, and loading process may be more easily controlled, resulting in a better quality aerosol generated from the pre-packed consumable, and an improved user experience. For example, the quality of the user experience may be better controlled because the density, shape, size, potency, strain amount, and/or strain type of the pre-packed consumable may be known and controlled, and the packing and/or grinding of the plant material may be more consistently controlled. This allows for better dose control, because the user would know exactly how much of the vaporizable material is consumed during a session. Such configurations may also be more convenient for the user, as the user may load the pre-packed consumable into the storage compartment of the vaporizer device more quickly, easily, and/or conveniently, without needing to manually grind, pack, and/or otherwise prepare the plant material for loading onto the vaporizer device. Thus, the vaporizer device described herein may more effectively, consistently, and efficiently heat the pre-packed consumable, thereby improving the user experience when using the vaporizer device.

[0059] Additionally and/or alternatively, the pre-packed consumable may be pre packed into a shape, size, and/or density that is desirable for maximizing heat transfer between the vaporizer device and the pre-packed consumable. For example, the pre-packed consumable may have dimensions (e.g., a height, length, width, and the like) and/or a shape that matches a shape and/or size of the oven into which the pre-packed consumable is positioned. This may allow for the pre-packed consumable to be tightly pushed into the oven such that at least a side surface of the pre-packed consumable is in contact with heated surfaces of the oven, to maximize a surface area of the pre-packed consumable in contact with the heated surface of the oven and improve heating of the pre-packed consumable.

[0060] Additionally and/or alternatively, particular dimensions of the pre-packed consumable may be controlled to improve heating of the pre-packed consumable. For example, the pre-packed consumable may have a height that is approximately one-half a height of the oven in which the pre-packed consumable is positioned, or may have another height that is less than an overall height of the oven. Positioning the pre-packed consumable within the oven such that there is a sufficient amount of unoccupied volume between the pre-packed consumable and a lid of the oven may improve airflow within the oven, heating of the pre-packed consumable, and aerosol generation. Additionally and/or alternatively, compressing and/or forming the pre-packed consumable in a specific manner may help to improve the consistency in heating the pre-packed consumable. The vaporizer device may additionally and/or alternatively include a storage compartment having a shape and/or size corresponding to a shape and/or size of the pre-packed consumable to maximize contact between a heated surface of the storage compartment and/or heating element and the pre-packed consumable for more effective, consistent, and efficient heating of the pre-packed consumable.

[0061] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to a vaporizer device that vaporizes a vaporizable material, such as loose-leaf and/or full bud plant material (e.g., cannabis plant material), a concentrate material (e.g., wax, shatter, budder, butane hash oil, and the like), and/or one or more liquids, such as oils, extracts, aqueous or other solutions, etc., of one or more substances, among other vaporizable materials as described herein that may be desirably provided in the form of an inhalable aerosol. In some instances, the vaporizable material is provided in one or more of a cartridge (also referred to as a vaporizer cartridge or pod) and a reusable vaporizer device body (also referred to as a vaporizer device base, a body, a vaporizer body, or a base), which may be employed with a suitable vaporizable material (where suitable refers in this context to being usable with a device whose properties, settings, etc. are configured or configurable to be compatible for use with the vaporizable material). In such configurations, the cartridge may be inserted into the vaporizer body, and then the vaporizable material may be heated which results in the inhalable aerosol.

[0062] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to heating of the vaporizable material stored in the vaporizer device (e.g., a vaporizer cartridge, a vaporizer body, and/or the like). As heating of a vaporizable material is directly correlated with aerosol production, adequate heating of the vaporizable material aids in providing a user a consistent and desired experience. A greater variability in the heating of the vaporizable material when a user puffs on the vaporizer device results in a greater variability in the amount of aerosol produced by the vaporizer device, which may lead to an inconsistent, unsatisfying, and/or undesirable user experience. Greater variability in the heating of the vaporizable material may also make it more difficult to control and/or monitor a precise amount of generated aerosol. Moreover, variability in aerosol production correlates to variability in dosage, which may be of particular concern in medicinal applications. Aspects of the current subject matter provide for improved heating of the vaporizable material for improved aerosol production.

[0063] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a vaporizer device 10, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. The vaporizer device 10 includes a vessel 12 contained within a housing or vaporizer body 14, and further includes a heating element 16 that is configured to elevate a temperature of the vessel 12 and/or within the vessel 12 to a level and/or range that is suitable for vaporizing a vaporizable material. The vessel 12 may be positioned within a cavity of the vaporizer body 14 of the vaporizer device 10.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 1, the vaporizer device 10 may include or be coupled with an oven. The oven may form at least a part of a heating element 16. For example, the oven may be heated, may include the heating element 16, and/or may be coupled to the heating element 16. In some implementations, the oven is defined by the vessel 12. The oven may be configured to contact at least a portion of the vaporizable material to heat the vaporizable material.

[0065] In some implementations, the vaporizer device 10 includes a lid 22 that closes and/or fits over at least a portion of an open end of the vaporizer body 14 of the vaporizer device that includes the vessel 12, forming an air chamber. The lid 22 is configured to enclose the vessel 12, such as when the vaporizable material is positioned within the vessel 12. When the heating element 16 is activated, the vaporizer device 10 heats and vaporizes the vaporizable material when the vaporizable material is placed within the vessel 12. Heat transfer occurs between the vessel 12, and the heating element 16, and the vaporizable material contained therein. For example, the heater may include a conduction, a convection, and/or an induction heating system. Thus, the heater may heat the vaporizable material stored within the vessel 12 via conduction, convection, and/or induction. When the heater heats the vaporizable material, at least a portion of the vaporizable material may rapidly vaporize and mix with air in the air chamber to form an aerosol. The aerosol travels through an air path 17 through the vaporizer body 14 and exits from the vaporizer body 14 through a mouthpiece 18. The mouthpiece 18 is configured to enable a user to draw, for example through inhalation, the aerosol from the vaporizer device. The vaporizer device 10 may have an elongated cylindrical shape, an elongated flattened shape, and/or the lie. While FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the vaporizer device 10 with the vessel 12 positioned at a distal end of the vaporizer device 10 and the mouthpiece 18 positioned at a proximal end of the vaporizer device 10 opposite the distal end, other configurations are contemplated, such that the vessel 12 may be positioned at a same end of the vaporizer body 14 as the mouthpiece 18, and/or the vessel 12 may be positioned at another portion of the vaporizer body 14, such as between the proximal end and the distal end of the vaporizer body 14.

[0066] The vaporizer body 14 and/or the lid 22 may include one or more apertures configured to allow air to enter into the vessel 12 from, for example, outside of the vaporizer device 10. A user inhaling from the mouthpiece 18 of the vaporizer device 10 causes an intake of air into the reservoir 102. The incoming air mixes with the vapor generated by the vaporization of vaporizable material. The resulting air flow carries the aerosol through the air path 17 to the mouthpiece 18 where the aerosol is delivered to the user.

[0067] The lid 22 and/or vaporizer body 14 may include one or more mechanisms, for example, snaps, latches, grooves, threading, magnets, clips, quick connect, sliding mechanisms, quarter turn release, friction fit, and the like, configured to position and/or secure the lid 22 against the vaporizer body 14.

[0068] An outer shell 20 (which may surround all or a portion of the housing 14) or cover of the vaporizer device 10 may be made of various types of materials, including for example aluminum (e.g., AL6063, AL6061), stainless steel, glass, ceramic, titanium, plastic (e.g., Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Nylon, Polycarbonate (PC), Polyether Sulfone (PESU), and the like), fiberglass, carbon fiber, and any hard, durable material.

[0069] FIG. 2A shows a side perspective view of an exemplary vaporizer device 10 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom perspective view of the vaporizer device 10 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. As shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B, the vaporizer device 10 includes a vaporizer body 14, a mouthpiece 18, and a lid 22. The lid 22 may be removed (see FIG. 2B) from the vaporizer body 14, exposing the vessel 12, which as described herein may define an oven or vaporization chamber where the vaporizable material stored within the vessel is heated to generate an aerosol. The mouthpiece 18 may be flat and have a side opening region through which the aerosol may exit. Additionally and/or alternatively, the mouthpiece may extend from the vaporizer body 14 and include an opening through which the vapor may exit.

[0070] Further the mouthpiece 18 may be made of any appropriate material, including both conductive and non-conductive materials. For example, the mouthpiece 18 may be polymeric (e.g., silicone), plastic, metal, ceramic, and the like. The vaporizer body 14 can be a single extruded aluminum outer body. Further, the mouthpiece 18 can be removable from the vaporizer body 14. The vaporizer device 10 may further include an indicator 136, such as an LED indicator. In some implementations, the indicator 136 can indicate a temperature status and/or activation status of the device 10.

[0071] FIGS. 2C and 2D schematically illustrates an example of the vaporizer device 10 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. A shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the vaporizer device 10 may include the mouthpiece 18 adjacent to which a capacitive sensor 153 is attached, which may be used to sense contact with the user (e.g. the users lip or mouth) in contact with the mouthpiece. This input (sensor or capacitive sensor) may be connected to a controller 128 (see FIG. 2E). A battery 124 may provide power to the vaporizer device 10 and may be rechargeable or disposable. The heating element 16 may be controlled by the controller 128. In some variations an oven (e.g., the vessel 12) is coupled to the heating element 16 for vaporizing the vaporizable material, as described herein.

[0072] In some implementations, the vaporizer device 10 may be configured to accommodate a vaporizer cartridge (not shown) comprising vaporizable material. In some implementations, the vaporizer cartridge may include an atomizer for heating the vaporizable material. The atomizer may include a wick and/or a heating element.

[0073] FIG. 2E is a schematic block diagram illustrating components of the vaporizer device 10 a vaporizer body or housing 14 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. Included in the vaporizer body 14 is a controller 128 that includes at least one processor and/or at least one memory configured to control and manage various operations among the components of the vaporizer device 10 described herein.

[0074] Heater control circuitry 130 of the vaporizer body 14 controls the heating element 16. The heating element 16 may generate heat to provide vaporization of the vaporizable material. For example, the heating element 16 may include a heating coil, resistive wire (e.g., a resistive heater), inductive heating system, conduction heating system, convection heating system, and/or other heating element in thermal contact with the vaporizable material, as described in further detail below.

[0075] A battery 124 is included in the vaporizer body 14, and the controller 128 may control and/or communicate with a voltage monitor 131 which includes circuitry configured to monitor the battery voltage, a reset circuit 132 configured to reset (e.g., shut down the vaporizer device 10 and/or restart the vaporizer device 10 in a certain state), a battery charger 133, and a battery regulator 134 (which may regulate the battery output, regulate charging/discharging of the battery, and provide alerts to indicate when the battery charge is low, etc.). The controller 128 may regulate the power flow (e.g., an amount or current and/or a voltage amount) to control a temperature at which the heating element 16 heats the vaporizable material contained in the vessel 12.

[0076] The controller 128 may control and/or communicate with optics circuitry 135 (which controls and/or communicates with one or more displays such as LEDs 136 which can provide user interface output indications), a pressure sensor 137, an ambient pressure sensor 138, an accelerometer 139, and/or a speaker 140 configured to generate sound or other feedback to a user.

[0077] The pressure sensor 137 may be configured to sense a user drawing (e.g., inhaling) on the mouthpiece 18 and activate the heater control circuitry 130 of the vaporizer body 14 to accordingly control the heating element 16. In this way, the amount of current supplied to the heating element 16 may be varied according the user’s draw (e.g., additional current may be supplied during a draw, but reduced when there is not a draw taking place). The ambient pressure sensor 138 may be included for atmospheric reference to reduce sensitivity to ambient pressure changes and may be utilized to reduce false positives potentially detected by the pressure sensor 137 when measuring draws from the mouthpiece 18.

[0078] The accelerometer 139 (and/or other motion sensors, capacitive sensors, flow sensors, strain gauge(s), or the like) may be used to detect user handling and interaction, for example, to detect movement of the vaporizer body 14 (such as, for example, tapping, rolling, and/or any other deliberate movement associated with the vaporizer body 14). The detected movements may be interpreted by the controller 128 as one or more predefined user commands. For example, one particular movement may be a user command to gradually increase the temperature of the heating element 16 as the user intends to begin using the vaporizer device 10

[0079] The vaporizer body 14, as shown in FIG. 2C, includes wireless communication circuity 142 that is connected to and/or controlled by the controller 128. The wireless communication circuity 142 may include a near-field communication (NFC) antenna that is configured to read from and/or write to a tag, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, the wireless communication circuity 142 may be configured to automatically detect the vaporizer cartridge when the cartridge is coupled with and/or inserted into the vaporizer body 14. Alternatively or additionally, the wireless communication circuity 142 may be configured to automatically detect the vaporizable material when the vaporizable material is inserted into the vaporizer body 14. [0080] The wireless communication circuitry 142 may include additional components including circuitry for other communication technology modes, such as Bluetooth circuitry, Bluetooth Low Energy circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry, cellular (e.g., LTE, 4G, and/or 5G) circuitry, and associated circuitry (e.g., control circuitry), for communication with other devices. For example, the vaporizer body 14 may be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote processor (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, wearable electronics, a cloud server, and/or processor based devices) through the wireless communication circuitry 142, and the vaporizer body 14 may through this communication receive information including control information (e.g., for setting temperature, resetting a dose counter, etc.) from and/or transmit output information (e.g., dose information, operational information, error information, temperature setting information, charge/battery information, etc.) to one or more of the remote processors.

[0081] The vaporizer body 14 may include a haptics system 144, such as an actuator, a linear resonant actuator (LRA), an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor, or the like that provide haptic feedback such as a vibration as a “find my device” feature or as a control or other type of user feedback signal. For example, using an app running on a user device (such as, for example, a user device), a user may indicate that he/she cannot locate his/her vaporizer device 10. Through communication via the wireless communication circuitry 142, the controller 128 sends a signal to the haptics system 144, instructing the haptics system 144 to provide haptic feedback (e.g., a vibration). The controller 128 may additionally or alternatively provide a signal to the speaker 140 to emit a sound or series of sounds. The haptics system 144 and/or speaker 140 may also provide control and usage feedback to the user of the vaporizer device 10; for example, providing haptic and/or audio feedback when a particular amount of a vaporizable material has been used or when a period of time since last use has elapsed. Alternatively or additionally, haptic and/or audio feedback may be provided as a user cycles through various settings of the vaporizer device 10. Alternatively or additionally, the haptics system 144 and/or speaker 140 may signal when a certain amount of battery power is left (e.g., a low battery warning and recharge needed warning) and/or when a certain amount of vaporizable material remains. Alternatively or additionally, the haptics system 144 and/or speaker 140 may also provide usage feedback and/or control of the configuration of the vaporizer device 10 (e.g., allowing the change of a configuration, such as target heating rate, heating rate, etc.). [0082] The vaporizer body 14 also includes the connection (e.g., USB-C connection, micro-USB connection, and/or other types of connectors) 118 for coupling the vaporizer body 14 to a charger to enable charging the internal battery 124. Alternatively or additionally, electrical inductive charging (also referred to as wireless charging) may be used, in which case the vaporizer body 14 would include inductive charging circuitry to enable charging. The connection 118 at FIG. 2C may also be used for a data connection between a computing device and the controller 128, which may facilitate development activities such as, for example, programming and debugging.

[0083] The vaporizer body 14 may also include a memory 146 that is part of the controller 128 or is in communication with the controller 128. The memory 146 may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory or provide data storage. In some implementations, the memory 146 may include 8 Mbit of flash memory, although the memory is not limited to this and other types of memory may be implemented as well.

[0084] The vaporizer device 10 also includes a vaporizing assembly of vapor generating components. The vapor-generating components may include the heating element 16 configured to heat the vaporizable material to a sufficient temperature that it may vaporize. The vapor-generating components may be arranged as an atomizer or cartomizer or oven. The vapor may be released to a vaporization chamber where the gas phase vapor may condense, forming an aerosol cloud having typical liquid vapor particles with particles having a diameter of average mass of approximately 0.1 micron or greater. In some cases, the diameter of average mass may be approximately 0.1 - 1 micron.

[0085] The heating element 16 of the vaporizing assembly may cause the vaporizable material to be converted from a condensed form (e.g., a solid, a liquid, a solution, a gel, a concentrate, a suspension, a part of an at least partially unprocessed plant material, etc.) to the gas phase. After conversion of the vaporizable material to the gas phase, and depending on the type of vaporizer, the physical and chemical properties of the vaporizable material, and/or other factors, at least some of the gas-phase vaporizable material may condense to form particulate matter in at least a partial local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol, which may form some or all of an inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer device 10 for a given puff or draw on the vaporizer device 10. It will be understood that the interplay between gas and condensed phases in an aerosol generated by a vaporizer may be complex and dynamic, as factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemistry, flow conditions in airflow paths (both inside the vaporizer and in the airways of a human or other animal), mixing of the gas-phase or aerosol-phase vaporizable material with other air streams, etc., may affect one or more physical parameters of an aerosol.

[0086] FIG. 3A schematically illustrates a portion of an example vaporizer system including a vaporizer device 10 and a pre-packed consumable 300, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a portion of another example vaporizer system including a vaporizer device 10 and a pre-packed consumable 300, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the vaporizer device 10 may include a vaporizer body or housing 14, a heating element 16, and a mouthpiece (not shown). The vaporizer body 14 may include a vessel 12. The vessel 12 may receive and/or store a vaporizable material, such as the pre-packed consumable 300.

[0087] The pre-packed consumable 300 may include a vaporizable material, such as a pre-packed, pre-shaped, and/or pre-formed plant material, which as described herein may include a cannabis plant material. By pre-packing the plant material defining the pre-packed consumable 300, the quality of the grinding, packing, and loading process may be more easily controlled, resulting in a better quality aerosol generated from the pre-packed consumable 300, and an improved user experience. For example, the quality of the user experience and dosage control may be better controlled because the density, shape, size, potency, strain amount, and/or strain type of the pre-packed consumable 300 may be known and controlled, and the preparation of the vaporizable material may be more consistently controlled. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the pre-packed consumable 300 may be separately packaged in a packaging 610 and can be directly inserted into the vessel 12 from the packaging 610 without any additional preparation.

[0088] The pre-packed consumable 300 may define a bulk vaporizable material, such as the pre-packed, pre-shaped, and/or pre-formed plant material. The bulk vaporizable material may be formed as a puck, which as described herein, may be positioned within the vessel 12. Formation of the puck is described in more detail below, such as with respect to FIG. 8. It will also be understood that, as used herein, the terms “puck” and “pre-packed consumable” may be used interchangeably. The puck may be formed based on one or more methods as described herein. For example, the puck may be pre-packed such that the vaporizable material, such as the loose-leaf plant material is compressed or otherwise packed to form a free-standing puck. The free-standing puck may be free-standing such that it is unsupported by another component or structure, such as a component of the vaporizer device. In other words, the free-standing puck may not include a wrapper or other holder (e.g., a cartridge) that maintains the shape of the puck such that the puck can be movable by a user and inserted (e.g. pressed into, pushed into, etc.) into the vaporizer device, such as into the vessel 12, without the use of the wrapper or other holder. Instead, the free-standing puck may support itself based on the formation of the puck. Additionally or alternatively, the puck is free-standing such that the puck maintains the shape of the puck and/or is unsupported by another structure at least before the puck is inserted into the vaporizer device. In some implementations, the puck maintains the shape of the puck and/or is unsupported by another structure before and/or during the time the puck is positioned within the vaporizer device, and/or after the puck is removed from the vaporizer device, such as after heating.

[0089] In some implementations, the bulk vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable 300 has a mass of approximately 350 mg. In other implementations, the bulk vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable 300 has a mass of approximately 250 to 300 mg, 300 to 350 mg, 350 to 400 mg, 400 to 500 mg, or other ranges therebetween. In some implementations, forming the puck by compressing the bulk vaporizable material may allow for a greater amount of vaporizable material to be positioned in the vessel of the vaporizer device for heating. This in turn may allow for greater aerosol production, and an improved user experience. For example, in some instances, the vessel 12 may have a capacity to hold approximately 350 mg of the vaporizable material when the vaporizable material is not formed as a puck. In other implementations, the vessel 12 has a capacity to hold approximately 175 mg of the vaporizable material when the vaporizable material is not formed as a puck, such as due to a smaller size of the vessel 12, the lid 10 extending into the vessel 12, and/or the like. In such configurations, the puck having a mass of approximately 350 mg, 250 to 300 mg, 300 to 350 mg, 350 to 400 mg, 400 to 500 mg, or other ranges therebetween, the puck may allow for a greater amount of vaporizable material, and in some instances at least double the mass, to be positioned within the vessel 12 for consumption.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the pre-packed consumable 300 may be positioned within the vessel 12. In some implementations, the pre-packed consumable 300 may be positioned within the vessel 12 such that there is an unoccupied volume 302 between one or more sidewalls of the vessel 12 and one or more side surfaces 314 (see FIG. 5J) of the pre packed consumable 300 (see FIG. 3A). Such implementations may be desirable, such as when the pre-packed consumable 300 is heated by the vaporizer device 10 via convection. For example, heated air would be permitted to flow around the pre-packed consumable 300 within the vessel 12. This may improve heating efficiency of the pre-packed consumable via convection. In other implementations, the pre-packed consumable 300 may be positioned within the vessel 12 such that there is no gap or unoccupied volume between one or more sidewalls of the vessel 12 and one or more side surfaces 314 (see FIG. 5J) of the pre-packed consumable 300 (see FIG. 3B). For example, the pre-packed consumable may be tightly positioned within the vessel 12 to maximize a surface area of the side surfaces 314 of the pre packed consumable 300 in contact with the heated side wall of the vessel 12. Such configurations may improve heating efficiency and heat transfer between the heated one or more heated side walls of the vessel 12 and the side surfaces 314 of the pre-packed consumable 300.

[0091] In addition to the volume of unoccupied air between the pre-packed consumable 300 and the one or more side walls of the vessel 12, the size (e.g., the height), amount of vaporizable material, shape, and/or compression of the pre-packed consumable 300 may be controlled for consistency and to improve aerosol generation. For example, a height 304 (see FIG. 3B and 5H) of the pre-packed consumable 300 can be controlled. The height 304 may be less than a maximum height of the vessel 12. In some implementations, this allows for an unoccupied volume of air between an end of the pre-packed consumable and the lid 22 of the vaporizer device 10. In other embodiments, the lid 22 includes a portion that extends into the interior of the vessel 12 to contact and/or push on the end of the pre-packed consumable. In some implementations, the height 304 is approximately one half the overall height of the vessel 12 in which the pre-packed consumable 300 is positioned. Such a height can help to improve consistent heating of the bulk vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable 300 throughout the bulk vaporizable material, thereby improving aerosol generation. In some instances, a greater height relative to the height of the vessel 12 may reduce aerosol generation as a greater thickness of the vaporizable material may need to be heated. In some instances, a lesser height relative to the height of the vessel 12 may additionally or alternatively reduce aerosol generation or performance as a lesser thickness of vaporizable material may heat too quickly. However, it should be appreciated that greater or lesser heights of the pre-packed consumable may be implemented, because in some instances, one or more other parameters of the pre-packed consumable may achieve desirable aerosol generation and heating of the vaporizable material. For example, in some implementations, the height 304 is approximately 1/8 a height of the vessel, 1/7 a height of the vessel, 1/6 a height of the vessel, 1/5 a height of the vessel, 1/4 a height of the vessel, 1/3 a height of the vessel, 3/5 a height of the vessel, 7/10 a height of the vessel, 5/6 a height of the vessel, or other ranges therebetween.

[0092] In some implementations the height 304 is approximately 5 mm. In other implementations, the height 304 may be 2 to 4 mm, 2 to 6 mm, 2 to 3 mm, 3 to 4 mm, 4 to 5 mm, 5 to 6 mm, 6 to 7 mm, 7 to 8 mm, 8 to 9 mm, 9 to 10 mm, greater, lesser, or other ranges therebetween. In some implementations, the overall height of the vessel 12 is approximately 10 mm. In other implementations, the overall height of the vessel 12 may be 4 to 8 mm, 4 to 12 mm, 4 to 6 mm, 6 to 8 mm, 8 to 10 mm, 10 to 12 mm, 12 to 14 mm, 14 to 16 mm, 16 to 18 mm, 18 to 20 mm, greater, lesser, or other ranges therebetween.

[0093] In some implementations, one or more other dimensions of the puck may be controlled. For example, the puck may have a maximum width 306 and/or a maximum depth 308 that can be controlled to improve heating performance and/or aerosol generation. The maximum width 306 may be approximately 18.5 mm, 31 mm, 1 to 5 mm, 5 to 10 mm, 10 to 15 mm, 15 to 20 mm, 20 to 25 mm, 25 to 30 mm, 30 to 35 mm, 35 to 40 mm, 40 to 45 mm, 45 to 50 mm, or other ranges therebetween. The maximum width of the vessel 12 may be approximately 18.5 mm, 31 mm, 1 to 5 mm, 5 to 10 mm, 10 to 15 mm, 15 to 20 mm, 20 to 25 mm, 25 to 30 mm, 30 to 35 mm, 35 to 40 mm, 40 to 45 mm, 45 to 50 mm, or other ranges therebetween. The maximum depth 308 may be approximately 8.6 mm, 21 mm, 1 to 5 mm, 5 to 10 mm, 10 to 15 mm, 15 to 20 mm, 20 to 25 mm, 25 to 30 mm, 30 to 35 mm, 35 to 40 mm, 40 to 45 mm, 45 to 50 mm, or other ranges therebetween. The maximum depth of the vessel 12 may be approximately 8.6 mm, 21 mm, 1 to 5 mm, 5 to 10 mm, 10 to 15 mm, 15 to 20 mm, 20 to 25 mm, 25 to 30 mm, 30 to 35 mm, 35 to 40 mm, 40 to 45 mm, 45 to 50 mm, or other ranges therebetween.

[0094] As noted above, the vessel 12 has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the pre packed consumable 300, which in some instances maximizes a surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 in contact with the vessel 12 to efficiently heat the vaporizable material. In other words, the pre-packed consumable 300 may have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the vessel 12, which in some instances maximizes a surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 in contact with the vessel 12 to efficiently heat the vaporizable material. Thus, the vessel 12 and/or the pre-packed consumable 300 may have a shape that increases the contact surface area between the vessel 12 and the pre-packed consumable 300 that allows for rapid, targeted, and more efficient heating of the vaporizable material. Additionally and/or alternatively, the vessel 12 and/or the pre-packed consumable 300 may have a shape that improves heating of the bulk vaporizable material, such as during convection, conduction, hybrid, or other heating approaches.

[0095] For example, the pre-packed consumable 300 and/or the vessel 12 may have a shape, such as a donut (see FIG. 5A), a rectangular prism (see FIG. 5B), an elongated strip (see FIG. 5C), a cylinder (see FIG. 5D), a tube (see FIG. 5E), a racetrack (see FIGS. 5F-5J) and/or a flattened shape, among other shapes. In particular, FIG. 5A shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 having a donut-shaped cross-section. FIG. 5B shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 having a rectangular prism-shaped cross-section. FIG. 5C shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 having an elongated strip-shaped cross section. FIG. 5D shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 having a cylindrical or circular-shaped cross-section. FIG. 5E shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 in a cylindrical shape with an opening through the center (as described in more detail below). FIG. 5F shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 having a donut-shaped cross-section.

[0096] FIG. 5G shows an example pre-packed consumable 300 having a racetrack shaped cross-section. The racetrack cross-section may have opposing flat side portions that are integrally formed with and connected by opposing rounded portions.

[0097] For example, FIGS. 5H-5J show an example pre-packed consumable 300 having a racetrack shape. The pre-packed consumable 300, such as the pre-packed consumable 300 having the racetrack shape, may have at least one side surface 314, an upper surface 310, and/or a lower surface 312. The lower surface 312 may be opposite and/or parallel to the upper surface 310. The at least one side surface 314 may include a single surface that wraps around a side of the pre-packed consumable 300. In other implementations, the at least one side surface 314 may include two, three, four, five, six, or more side surfaces coupled to one another. In some implementations, the lower surface 312 and the upper surface 310 are connected and/or separated by the at least one side surface 314.

[0098] In some implementations, one or more surfaces (e.g., only some or all of the surfaces) of the pre-packed consumable 300 may have a uniform texture. For example, the one or more surfaces of the pre-packed consumable 300 may have the same texture. The texture of the one or more surfaces may be smooth. For example, since the bulk vaporizable material is compressed into a mold, as described herein, the pre-packed consumable 300 may have one or more surfaces that are smooth. In other implementations, the pre-packed consumable 300 may have one or more surfaces that are non-uniform, such as not uniformly smooth. For example, one or more surfaces of the pre-packed consumable 300 may have a roughened appearance due to the loose-leaf plant material. In other words, at least some of the bulk vaporizable material may not be entirely compressed such that the one or more surfaces of the bulk vaporizable material are not entirely smooth. In some implementations, one or more side surfaces of the pre-packed consumable 300, such as the at least one side surface 314 may be smooth, while at least one of the lower surface 312 and the upper surface 310 may be non-uniform (e.g., non- uniformly smooth).

[0099] For conduction heating, maximizing the surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 in contact with the vessel 12 provides a greater heating surface to more consistently heat the vaporizable material. Thus, when the vessel 12 receives the pre-packed consumable 300, a maximum surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 contacts and/or is pressed against one or more side walls or surfaces of the vessel 12. Additionally and/or alternatively, the vessel 12 may include a removable liner that has the same or similar shape as the vessel 12. The liner may be removed to more quickly and easily clean the vessel 12 after use of the vaporizer device 10.

[0100] In some implementations, to maximize the surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 in contact with the vessel 12 and/or the heating element 16, the heating element 16 may include a first heating portion 16A and a second heating portion 16B. The first and second heating portions 16A, 16B may form a part of the same heating element 16 and/or may form separate heating elements 16. The first heating portion 16A is configured to contact a first portion of the pre-packed consumable and the second heating portion 16B is configured to contact a second portion of the pre-packed consumable. In some implementations, such as in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the first portion of the pre-packed consumable is positioned along an inner surface of the pre-packed consumable, and the second portion of the pre-packed consumable is positioned along an outer surface of the pre-packed consumable. This allows for the pre-packed consumable to be heated along multiple surfaces of the pre packed consumable.

[0101] In some implementations, the pre-packed consumable 300 includes at least two types of the vaporizable material. For example, as shown in FIG. 5F, the pre-packed consumable 300 may include a first type of vaporizable material 300 A and a second type of vaporizable material 300B, which may include the same or different type of vaporizable material. The type of vaporizable material may include one or more of strain of the vaporizable material, a sativa, an indica, a hybrid blend of sativa and indica, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol having a certain potency, and/or the like. Such configurations may allow the user to select one or more types of the vaporizable material for vaporization during a session. For example, based upon the selected type of vaporizable material, the heating element 16 may cause the first type of the vaporizable material 300 A and/or the second type of vaporizable material 300B to be heated to generate the aerosol. In some implementations, the first type of the vaporizable material 300 A may be positioned on a first side of the pre-packed consumable 300, and the second type of the vaporizable material 300B may be positioned on a second side of the pre-packed consumable 300, opposite the first side (see FIG. 5F). In some implementations, the first heating portion 16A of the heating element 16 may heat the first type of the vaporizable material 300 A and the second heating portion 16B of the heating element 16 may heat the second type of the vaporizable material 300B. This provides the user with greater variety of vaporizable materials without needing to unload and re-load the vaporizer device 10 with a different vaporizable material.

[0102] Referring to FIG. 5E, in some implementations, the pre-packed consumable 300 may include one or more channels 330. The one or more channels 330 may help to increase airflow through the pre-packed consumable 300. In some instances, such as during convection heating, the one or more channels 330 can desirably improve aerosol generation and heating of the bulk vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable 300. The one or more channels 330 may include a central channel as shown in FIG. 5E. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more channels 330 may include one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more channels. The one or more channels 330 may be dispersed throughout the bulk vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable. The one or more channels 330 may extend through the height, such as the entire height or thickness of the pre-packed consumable. The one or more channels 330 may extend laterally through one or more sidewalls of the pre-packed consumable 300. The one or more channels 330 may have various shapes, orientations, and/or sizes to improve airflow and aerosol production.

[0103] Again referring to FIG. 5E, the central channel allows for additional surfaces of the pre-packed consumable 300 to be heated. For example, as described above with respect to FIG. 4, this may allow for the pre-packed consumable 300 to be heated along multiple surfaces of the pre-packed consumable, such as the first portion positioned along an inner surface of the pre-packed consumable, and the second portion positioned along an outer surface of the pre packed consumable. In such configurations, the vaporizer device 10 may include a central heater (e.g., a spike, a heater extension, or the like) that is configured to extend through the central channel to heat the vaporizable material. In some implementations, the central heater may be an attachment that couples with the vessel 12 and extends through the central channel. The central heater may in some implementations assist with guiding the pre-packed consumable 300 into the vessel 12.

[0104] Referring back to FIGS. 3A and 3B, and as described herein, the vessel 12 has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the pre-packed consumable 300 to maximize a surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 in contact with the vessel 12 to efficiently heat the vaporizable material. The heating element 16 may cause the vaporizable material, such as via conduction between the heated surfaces of the vessel 12 and the pre-packed consumable 300, to be heated to generate an aerosol. Air may enter the vessel 12 and flow through the pre packed consumable 300, such as through the thickness or height of the pre-packed consumable 300. The generated aerosol may become entrained in the air passing through the bulk vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable 300. The aerosol may flow through the air path 17 to the mouthpiece 18 to be delivered to a user, such as when the user draws on the vaporizer device 10. In some implementations, the heating element 16 may form a part of a convection, conduction, and/or induction heating system that rapidly heats the vaporizable material stored within the vessel 12 to generate the aerosol.

[0105] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the vaporizer device 10, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. As shown in FIG. 4, the vaporizer device 10 may also include an inner shell 304 that is slidable relative to the vaporizer body or housing 14. For example, the inner shell 304 may be positioned at least partially within the vaporizer body 14. Such configurations may not include a lid to enclose the vessel 12, as the inner shell 304 is slidably coupled to the vaporizer body to expose the vessel 14. This allows for the inner shell 304 to slide out from within the vaporizer body 14 to expose the vessel 12 for receiving the pre-packed consumable 300. Once the vessel 12 receives the pre-packed consumable 300, the inner shell 304 can be translated into the interior of the vaporizer body 14 to secure the pre packed consumable 300 within the vaporizer body 14.

[0106] Thus, the pre-packed consumable 300 may be more convenient for the user, as the user may load the pre-packed consumable into the vessel 12 more quickly, easily, and/or conveniently, without needing to manually grind, pack, and/or otherwise prepare the plant material for loading onto the vaporizer device 10. Thus, the vaporizer device 10 may more effectively, consistently, and efficiently heat the pre-packed consumable, thereby improving the user experience when using the vaporizer device. [0107] FIG. 7 illustrates an example method 700 of heating a pre-packed consumable, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. At 702, the vaporizer device 10, such as the vessel 12, may receive the pre-packed consumable 300. As described herein, the pre-packed consumable 300 may be received by the vessel 12 without any additional preparation. When the pre-packed consumable 300 is received by the vessel 12, one or more surfaces of the vessel 12 and/or the heating element 16 may contact the pre-packed consumable 300 to maximize the surface area of the pre-packed consumable 300 in contact with the vessel 12 and/or the heating element 16 to maximize heating efficiency.

[0108] At 704, the vaporizer device 10 may be activated. For example, the vaporizer device 10 may be activated by drawing (e.g., inhaling) through the mouthpiece, receipt of contact with a button or another portion of the vaporizer device 10, such as the mouthpiece, and/or the like. In some implementations, the device 10 may detect a draw (e.g., using a pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, flow sensors, a sensor configured to detect a change in temperature or power applied to the heating element, and/or the like) and may increase the power to a predetermined temperature preset. The power may be regulated by the controller of the vaporizer device 10.

[0109] At 706, the heating element 16 may cause at least a portion of the pre-packed consumable 300 stored within the vaporizer device 10 to be heated to generate an aerosol. For example, the heating element 16 may, via conduction, convection, and/or induction, cause at least a portion of the vaporizable material of the pre-packed consumable 300 stored within the vessel 12 to be heated to generate the aerosol. The aerosol may be delivered to the user through the air path 17 and the mouthpiece 18.

[0110] FIG. 8 illustrates an example method 800 of forming the pre-packed consumable 300, including the puck, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.

[0111] At 802, a loose-leaf plant material (e.g., the bulk vaporizable material) may be compressed into a mold matching a shape of the vessel 12. The loose-leaf plant material may be compressed to a stopping height. The stopping height may be adjusted based on the amount of compression applied to the loose-leaf plant material, an amount of time of compression, and a desired relaxed height of the puck. In some implementations, the loose-leaf plant material is compressed using a compression force (e.g., a compression pressure) of approximately 5 psi, 50 psi, or the like. In other implementations, the loose-leaf plant material is compressed using a compression force of approximately 1 to 2 psi, 2 to 3 psi, 3 to 4 psi, 4 to 5 psi, 5 to 6 psi, 6 to 7 psi, 7 to 8 psi, 8 to 10 psi, 10 to 20 psi, 20 to 30 psi, 30 to 40 psi, 40 to 50 psi, 50 to 60 psi, 50 to 70 psi, 70 to 80 psi, 80 to 90 psi, 90 to 100 psi, less than 5 psi, less than 50 psi, and/or the like. In some implementations, the stopping height is approximately 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 1 to 2 mm, 2 to 4 mm, 4 to 6 mm, 5 to 10 mm, 1 to 5 mm, or other ranges therebetween. In some implementations, the stopping height is less than the relaxed or desired height of the puck, as explained in more detail below.

[0112] At 804, the compressing of the loose-leaf plant material may be maintained (e.g., held) at the stopping height for a period of time, such as a holding time. As noted above, the stopping height and/or the holding time may be adjusted based on the desired relaxed height of the puck. In some implementations, a longer holding time may be desired when less compression force is used. In other implementations, a shorter holding time when greater compression force is used. Thus, in some instances, the holding time is inversely proportional to the amount of compression force applied to the loose-leaf plant material. The holding time may include 1 second to 60 seconds, 10 to 20 seconds, 15 to 20 seconds, 20 to 30 seconds, 30 to 40 seconds, 40 to 50 seconds, 50 to 60 seconds, less than one minute, less than one hour, 1 to 6 hours, 6 to 12 hours, 12 to 18 hours, 18 to 24 hours, less than 24 hours, or greater, or other ranges therebetween. In some implementations, the compression force is constant throughout the duration of the holding time. In other implementations, the compression force is variable throughout the duration of the holding time. For example, the compression force may initially be greater, and decrease or otherwise change throughout the holding time. In some implementations, the holding time may be modulated (e.g., increased, decreased, held constant, etc.) by adjusting a temperature at which the compressing is performed.

[0113] At 806, the compressed loose-leaf plant material may be allowed to relax to a relaxed height that is greater than the stopping height. The relaxed height may be the final desired height of the puck. The compressed loose-leaf plant material may be allowed to relax to the relaxed height when the compression force is removed and/or reduced. Allowing the compressed loose-leaf plant material to relax to the relaxed height allows for the puck to maintain the desired shape, height, and/or size, and can help to improve the consistency and stability of the puck. Such configurations may also allow for the puck to maintain its compression during heating. This may be desirable since heating performance can be improved when the compression is maintained throughout the duration of heating the pre-packed consumable 300. As described herein, the relaxed height may be one half a height of the vessel 12. Additionally or alternatively, the relaxed height may be approximately 5 mm, 2 to 4 mm, 2 to 6 mm, 2 to 3 mm, 3 to 4 mm, 4 to 5 mm, 5 to 6 mm, 6 to 7 mm, 7 to 8 mm, 8 to 9 mm, 9 to 10 mm, greater, lesser, or other ranges therebetween.

[0114] After the puck is formed, the puck may be positioned in an oven of the vaporizer device, such as within the vessel described herein. Consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, the vessel may be positioned at a same side of the vaporizer device as the mouthpiece, at a different side of the vaporizer device as the mouthpiece such as at an opposite side from the mouthpiece, along a side of the vaporizer device, and/or the like. Consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, the puck may be heated within the oven to generate an aerosol to be inhaled by a user, such as via the mouthpiece of the vaporizer device.

[0115] In some examples, the vaporizable material may include a plant material, such as a cannabis plant material. Additionally and/or alternatively, in some examples, the vaporizable material may include a viscous liquid such as, for example a cannabis oil and/or concentrate (e.g., wax, shatter, budder, butane hash oil, and the like). In some variations, the viscous liquid comprises between 0.3% and 100% cannabis oil extract. The viscous liquid may include a carrier for improving vapor formation, such as, for example, propylene glycol, glycerol, medium chain triglycerides (MCT) including lauric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, caproic acid, etc., at between 0.01% and 25% (e.g., between 0. 1% and 22%, between 1% and 20%, between 1% and 15%, and/or the like). In some variations the vapor-forming carrier is 1,3-Propanediol. A cannabis liquid may include a cannabinoid or cannabinoids (natural and/or synthetic), and/or a terpene or terpenes derived from organic materials such as for example fruits and flowers. For example, any of the vaporizable materials described herein may include one or more (e.g., a mixture of) cannabinoid including one or more of: CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (Cannabichromene), CBL (Cannabicyclol), CBV (Cannabivarin), THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), CBDV (Cannabidivarin), CBCV (Cannabichromevarin), CBGV (Cannabigerovarin), CBGM (Cannabigerol Monomethyl Ether), Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA), Cannabidioloc Acid (CBDA), Tetrahydrocannabivarinic Acid (THCV A), one or more Endocannabinoids (e.g., anandamide, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, 2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether, N-Arachidonoyl dopamine, Virodhamine, Lysophosphatidylinositol), and/or a synthetic cannabinoids such as, for example, one or more of: JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-55940, Dimethylheptylpyran, HU-210, HU-331, SR144528, WIN 55,212-2, JWH-133, Levonantradol (Nantrodolum), and AM-2201. The oil vaporization material may include one or more terpene, such as, for example, Hemiterpenes , Monoterpenes (e.g., geraniol, terpineol, limonene, myrcene, linalool, pinene, Iridoids), Sesquiterpenes (e.g., humulene, farnesenes, farnesol), Diterpenes (e.g., cafestol, kahweol, cembrene and taxadiene), Sesterterpenes, (e.g., geranylfarnesol), Triterpenes (e.g., squalene), Sesquarterpenes (e.g, ferrugicadiol and tetraprenylcurcumene), Tetraterpenes (lycopene, gamma-carotene, alpha- and beta-carotenes), Polyterpenes, and Norisoprenoids. For example, a liquid (e.g., oil and/or concentrate) vaporization material as described herein may include between 0.3-100% cannabinoids (e.g., 0.5-98%, 10-95%, 20-92%, 30-90%, 40-80%, 50-75%, 60-80%, etc.), 0-40% terpenes (e.g., 1- 30%, 10-30%, 10-20%, etc.), and 0-25% carrier (e.g., medium chain triglycerides (MCT)).

[0116] In any of the liquid and/or semi-liquid vaporizable materials described herein (including in particular, the cannabinoid-based vaporizable materials), the viscosity may be within a predetermined range. The range may be between, at room temperature (23° C) about 30 cP (centipoise) and 115 kcP (kilocentipoise), between 30cP and 200 kcP, although higher viscosities and/or lower viscosities may be implemented as well. For example, the viscosity may be between 40 cP and 113 kcP at room temperature. Outside of this range, the vaporizable material may fail in some instances to wick appropriately to form a vapor as described herein. In particular, it is typically desired that the liquid and/or semi-liquid may be made sufficiently thin to both permit transporting at a rate that is useful with the apparatuses described herein, while also limiting leaking (e.g., viscosities below that of ~30 cP at room temperature might result in problems with leaking).

[0117] Although the disclosure, including the figures, described herein may described and/or exemplify these different variations separately, it should be understood that all or some, or components of them, may be combined.

[0118] Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of a number of changes may be made to various embodiments. For example, the order in which various described method steps are performed may often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.

[0119] When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. References to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

[0120] Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.

[0121] Spatially relative terms, such as, for example, “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0122] Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed below could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed below could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings provided herein.

[0123] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” means various components can be co-jointly employed in the methods and articles (e.g., compositions and apparatuses including device and methods). For example, the term “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of any stated elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other elements or steps.

[0124] As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” “or “approximately” may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/- 0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 2% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given herein should also be understood to include about or approximately that value, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0125] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments may be utilized and derived there from, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, are possible.

[0126] In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as, for example, “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term “and/or” may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B;” “one or more of A and B;” and “A and/or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C;” “one or more of A, B, and C;” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” Use of the term “based on,” above and in the claims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.

[0127] The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail herein, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub combinations of one or more features further to those disclosed herein. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. The scope of the following claims may include other implementations or embodiments.