Tobacco-containing smoking article

• US 10,231,488 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Robinson, John Howard, Griffith, Jr., David William, Conner, Billy Tyrone, Crooks, Evon Llwellyn, Brewer, Jr., Dempsey Bailey
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu H
• Application Number:
  US15/879,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 13/02 Flakes or shreds of tobacco
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/12 of reconstituted tobacco
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/167 in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 3/14 Forming reconstituted tobacco products, e.g. wrapper materials, sheets, imitation leaves, rods, cakes; Forms of such products delustering A24C1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 1/002 with additives, e.g. for flavouring preparing tobacco, e.g. flavouring, A24B
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 1/20 Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible

Abstract

A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating smoking article comprising:

an outer housing;

an electrical resistance heater configured for electrical connection with an electrical power source;

a substrate carrier positioned in a first segment of the outer housing, the substrate carrier including an aerosol-generating material; and

tobacco positioned in a second segment of the outer housing;

wherein the substrate carrier is operatively positioned such that the aerosol-generating material can be wicked into contact with the electrical resistance heater for volatilization to produce an aerosol; and

wherein the tobacco is operatively positioned such that the produced aerosol can be drawn through the tobacco and into the mouth of a user of the smoking article.

2. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof.

3. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco is incorporated within a cartridge.

4. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 3, wherein the cartridge is formed of a plastic material.

5. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco includes a flavoring material.

6. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 5, wherein the flavoring material includes menthol.

7. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the substrate carrier comprises a fibrous material.

8. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating material is positioned in fluid communication with the tobacco such that air drawn through the outer housing can be drawn through both the aerosol-generating material and the tobacco, thereby generating an aerosol that includes volatilized portions of the aerosol-generating material and volatilized components derived from the tobacco.

9. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, further comprising a puff-actuated controller adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for sensing draw on the aerosol generating smoking article by the user.

10. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco is at least partially supported in a mouth-end piece that is removably attached to the outer housing.

11. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 10, wherein the mouth-end piece includes a filter element.

12. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco is in the form of pieces or pellets.

13. An aerosol generating smoking article comprising:

a tubular outer housing having a mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-end;

an electrical power source;

an electrical resistance heater within the tubular outer housing in electrical connection with the electrical power source;

a puff-actuated controller adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for sensing draw on the aerosol generating smoking article by a user;

a substrate carrier that is an adsorbent material with an aerosol-generating material absorbed therein, wherein the substrate carrier is operatively positioned such that the aerosol-generating material can be wicked into contact with the electrical resistance heater for volatilization to produce an aerosol; and

a mouth-end piece removably positioned at the mouth-end of the tubular outer housing, the mouth-end piece at least partially supporting a tobacco material.

14. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 13, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof.

15. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 13, wherein the mouth-end piece is formed of a plastic material.

16. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 13, wherein the tobacco material includes a flavoring material.

17. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 16, wherein the flavoring material includes menthol.

18. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 13, wherein the substrate carrier comprises a fibrous material.

19. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 13, wherein the aerosol-generating material is positioned in fluid communication with the tobacco material such that air drawn through the outer housing can be drawn through both the aerosol-generating material and the tobacco material, thereby generating an aerosol that includes volatilized portions of the aerosol-generating material and volatilized components derived from the tobacco material.

20. The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 13, wherein the mouth-end piece includes a filter element.