CPC A24F 40/48 (2020.01) [A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01); A24F 40/44 (2020.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. A vaporizer comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain a liquid vaporizable material, the reservoir at least partially defined by at least one wall, the reservoir comprising a storage chamber and an overflow volume;
an atomizer configured to convert the liquid vaporizable material to a gas-phase state;
a primary passageway comprising a first channel for conveying the liquid vaporizable material from the storage chamber to the atomizer; and
a collector disposed in the overflow volume, the collector comprising a capillary structure having a secondary passageway configured to retain a volume of the liquid vaporizable material in fluid contact with the storage chamber, the secondary passageway comprising a microfluidic feature configured to prevent air and liquid from bypassing each other during filling and emptying of the collector, the microfluidic feature allowing the liquid vaporizable material to move along a length of the secondary passageway only with a meniscus fully covering a cross-sectional area of the secondary passageway such that ambient air can enter the storage chamber through the secondary passageway and such that the liquid vaporizable material that enters the secondary passageway from the storage chamber is at least temporarily retained within the overflow volume thereby preventing the liquid vaporizable material from leaking from the vaporizer cartridge;
wherein the primary passageway and the secondary passageway are each separately and fluidly connected to the storage chamber and to the atomizer.
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