Electronic smoking article with improved storage of aerosol precursor compositions

• US 10,721,968 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• 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:
  US15/964,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20180242646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 131328, 131329
• 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. An electronic smoking article comprising:

a cartridge defined by a housing, the housing having a first end that is adapted to interconnect with a control body includes a battery, the first end having an air inlet adapted for entry of air into the housing, and the housing having a second end having an air outlet adapted for exit of a formed aerosol, the inlet and the outlet having an air passage therebetween;

a reservoir within the housing that is configured to hold an aerosol precursor liquid;

a heater within the housing;

a transport element configured to transport the aerosol precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heater;

a first check valve positioned at the air inlet; and

a second check valve positioned at the air outlet, wherein the first check valve and the second check valve open only in the direction of air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet.

2. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the first check valve and the second check valve are both one way check valves.

3. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first check valve and the second check valve form a liquid impermeable seal when in the closed position.

4. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the heater is positioned at least partially within the air passage.

5. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, further comprising an absorptive material positioned within the housing.

6. The electronic smoking article of claim 5, wherein the absorptive material forms a lining along all or part of an inner wall of the housing.