Electronic smoking article with improved storage of aerosol precursor compositions

• US 10,531,690 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Dooly, Grady Lance, Sears, Stephen Benson, Williams, Karen V., Dull, Gary M., Worm, Steven L., Jones, Wesley Steven, Alderman, Steven Lee, Brinkley, Paul A., Flinchum, Jr., Jack Gray
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed Ali, Mohamed K
• Application Number:
  US15/964,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20180242647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid 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: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0015 located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/06 Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/266 for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants B65D51/244, B65D51/30 take precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electronic smoking articles exhibiting improved moisture control of a reservoir contained therein. The reservoir can be formed of fibrous materials, such as cellulose acetate fiber, thermoplastic fiber, non-thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The disclosure further provides methods for forming electronic smoking articles and methods of packaging electronic smoking articles (including cartridges thereof) so as to improve moisture control of the reservoir.

Claims

1. A method of assembling an electronic smoking article, the method comprising:

providing a reservoir that is configured to hold an aerosol precursor fluid, the reservoir comprising a woven or nonwoven fabric;

inserting the reservoir into a hollow housing; and

adding the aerosol precursor fluid to the reservoir before or after said inserting;

wherein the method of assembling carried out under an ambient relative humidity of no greater than about 40%, wherein the reservoir has a saturation capacity; and

wherein the aerosol precursor fluid is added in an amount such that the weight of aerosol precursor fluid held by the reservoir relative to the saturation capacity of the reservoir is no greater than about 80%.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method of assembling is carried out under an inert atmosphere.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the inert atmosphere is an argon atmosphere.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the woven or nonwoven fabric has a basis weight of about 120 gsm or greater.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises cellulose acetate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reservoir saturation capacity is about 800% to about 2,000% by weight relative to the aerosol precursor fluid.