Aerosol delivery device

• US 10,531,691 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Sears, Stephen Benson, Nestor, Timothy Brian, Novak, III, Charles Jacob, Alderman, Steven Lee, Galloway, Michael Ryan, Guenther, Jr., Quentin Paul, Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Henry, Jr., Raymond C., East, Allen Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yaary, Eric
• Application Number:
  US16/022,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/00 Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
• 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 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces

Abstract

Smoking articles, and methods for forming such smoking articles, such as an electronic smoking article, are provided. An exemplary smoking article comprises a control body portion having a control body engagement end, and having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion includes a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further includes a consumable arrangement comprising at least an aerosol precursor composition and at least one heating element operably engaged therewith, and a second control component. At least the consumable arrangement is configured to be in communication with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising:

a control body portion having a control body engagement end, the control body portion having a control component therein; and

a cartridge body portion configured to engage the control body portion, the cartridge body portion having a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end and a mouth end defining an opening at an end opposite the cartridge body engagement end, the cartridge body including;

a consumable arrangement comprising;

a reservoir storing at least an aerosol precursor composition, wherein the aerosol precursor composition comprises a liquid consisting of at least one of polyhydric alcohol, nicotine, a flavorant, and an acid;

a resistive heating element operably engaged with the aerosol precursor composition and defining a heating zone in proximity thereto;

a wick configured to extend from the reservoir to the resistive heating element to draw the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir and into the heating zone for aerosolization of the aerosol precursor composition; and

a fluid passage extending from the heating zone to the mouth end, the fluid passage being configured to direct the aerosolized aerosol precursor composition from the heating zone to the opening in the mouth end in response to suction applied thereto,

wherein the control component is configured to;

determine engagement of the control body portion with the cartridge body portion;

output a first electrical current flow in response to determining engagement of the control body portion with the cartridge body portion and authenticating the cartridge body portion;

in response to the authenticated cartridge body portion, designate the smoking article as being of an active status and actuate a first status indicator indicative of the active status;

actuate a second status indicator in response to detection of the suction applied to the opening in the mouth end of the smoking article;

output a second electrical current flow from an electrical power source to the resistive heating element in response to the suction applied to the opening in the mouth end of the smoking article so as to aerosolize the aerosol precursor composition to form an aerosol; and

selectively regulate the second electrical current flow through a regulator component of the control component and based at least in part on a resistance associated with the resistive heating element through a regulator component of the control component.

2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source is included in the control body portion.

3. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, and combinations thereof.

4. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the control body includes a memory device in communication with the control component.

5. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the fluid passage extending from the heating zone includes an opening adjacent to the heating zone adapted for exit of the aerosolized aerosol precursor composition from the heating zone.

6. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the smoking article comprises charging contacts for interaction with corresponding contacts in a charging unit.

7. The smoking article of claim 6, wherein the charging unit includes a USB connection.

8. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the smoking article comprises a USB connection configured to enable recharging of the electrical power source.

9. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source is configured for non-contact, inductive charging from an external power source.

10. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the cartridge body portion includes an air intake.

11. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein one or more of the control component and an associated sensor are configured to:

detect the suction applied to the opening in the mouth end of the smoking article using the associated sensor;

determine cessation of the suction applied to the opening in the mouth end of the smoking article and, in response to the cessation of the suction applied to the opening in the mouth end of the smoking article, discontinue provision of the second electrical current flow to the resistive heating element; and

determine that a defined time lapse has occurred since cessation of the suction applied to the opening in the mouth end of the smoking article and deactivate a function of the smoking article.

12. The smoking article of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the smoking article is configured to provide a function in response to motion detected by the accelerometer.

13. The smoking article of claim 12, wherein the function comprises illumination of the first status indicator comprising an indicator light.

14. The smoking article of claim 13, wherein illumination of the indicator light comprises illumination of the indicator light in one of a plurality of available colors selected based on a status of the smoking article.

15. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the control component is configured to perform a function in response to engagement of the cartridge body portion with the control body portion.

16. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein the control component is configured to cause illumination of an indicator light after engagement of the control body portion with the cartridge body portion.

17. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the cartridge body portion is configured to engage the control body portion through a press-fit engagement.

18. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the cartridge body portion is configured to engage the control body portion through magnetic engagement.

19. A kit comprising packaging containing at least:

a control body portion according to claim 1;

at least one cartridge body portion according to claim 1; and

a charging component configured to engage the control body portion.